07/20/09

just for a drink

by star75

We have been a few times as we live around the corner -- I wish this place would clean up there act. I agree with the other comments regarding wait staff and food -- long wait for just OK food.

However I think it's charming that people bring dogs and kids -- very european!

• Pros: location
• Cons: poor service, mediocre food

03/01/09

Possibly the worst service in Atlanta.

by galacr

An hour and a half of your life to get good pub grub? Never again!

My friend that lives in Oakhurst insisted we eat at the UJoint 3/1/2009 at 6pm, it is convenient as

a neighborhood eatery. The problem with the U joint is that the only waiter in this tiny

restaurant is a surly little tatted man who takes cig breaks out front while his tables wait, and

wait, and wait, if he remembers to ever come back to your table, which in our case he did not, it is

at his leisure. You need to place your food order... tough. You need beverage refills... tough.

You actually want to get your meal after an hour and fifteen minutes... tough. You think he should

show up back at the table to check and see if the food that never came out is ok... tough.

My date did not want me to say anything after 30 min, after 45 min, after an hour, after all, this

is her neighborhood eatery, finally after an hour and fifteen minutes she spoke to the waiter, after

another 15 minutes, one (1) of the two orders came out, this was all I could take, I asked for the

manager.

It is not that the manager didn't take care of getting the order right after an hour and forty five

minutes, and she did comp the meal for us... (the least she could do) what she should do is fire this incompetent waiter and get a couple of competent waiters that understand and provide good service.

We eat out almost every night, (just doing our part to stimulate the economy) just not at the Ujoint any more. As I said to the manager, Atlanta has too many good restaurants, with good service, to ever endure the Ujoint again.

• Pros: The food is actually good if you can get it.
• Cons: Service so far below acceptable, never again.

04/07/08

Nice Cozy spot..

by Decutta

This was my first visit to this spot cozy mellow and good service. Its been a while since I have visited this area but renovations and upgrades make it look good and gives you a safe feeling. Didn't get to try the food the kitchen closes at 12 am, Me and my date had a couple of drinks(pretty good). I plan on returning to see how the food is, but I would reccomend this spot to anyone who just wants a spot to chill and have good conversation..

• Pros: Plenty of room..
• Cons: No late night food service..

09/04/07

Good Pie- Cartman

by wingking17

I love this place. Unlike the "chef's right" dude, I like places with character; and I find the staff engaging, not a bunch of monkey trained nimrods that give answers to the questions they are trained to answer (aka, corporate, cookie cutter, no risk bars). I own a competing restaurant but had to respond to this review because of the type of person you are . You go into a place and expect a server up your --- ASAP and to stay there until you finish your two Stella Artouis and 6 waters, (yet I know you wait 45 mins in line at taco ria del sol then rave about how great the service is).... and then complain about your $6 hamburger. Have fun at Hoolihans and get an extra order of fried jalapeno poppers on me. Oh, and I checked into it and the stucko was added to the building in the early nineties, so next time don't comment on facts you know nothing about. -- Fat Pete

• Pros: its got character and great food
• Cons: i don't work there

08/18/07

I have to agree with: U Joint: true to it's roots and good at it.

by foodie7575

I love the Universal Joint. The patio is great and, in my opinion, one of the best in Decatur. I go to the UJ 2-3 times a week (and certainly haven?t seen anything that would ?violate? health codes. The food is consistently good. Again, it is bar food not 5-star dining. I love having this bar in my neighborhood. It welcomes all types of people including kids and people with pets. I?m just happy the chef doesn?t own the universal joint or most of us with kids and dogs wouldn?t be welcome.

• Pros: Patio, price, people watching
• Cons: Can be slow when restaurant is busy

08/16/07

Chef Is Right

by nelliebelle1197

I have lived in Oakhurst for over a decade, and like chef, I sepnt over a dozen years in the restaurant industry.

I was really excited when the lovely old brick gas station went under renovation. But these people got it wrong from the beginning. They covered a beautiful facade with stucco, hired - and continue to hire- the worst wait staff in town and don't seem to understand how to train them, and consistently produce boring, barely edible food. Since I live a block away, I give it a try once or twice a year in a hope these people have learned how to run a restaurant and adhere to health codes, but to no avail.

two examples: Last time I was in, I heard the table behind me discussing the fact they always regret giving this place a try because the service is pathetic. Also, I once saw the waitress who used to bring her dogs to work go directly from petting her animals to running food. Without washing her hands.

07/31/07

yum

by melmelcoolj

yum mmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmm

• Pros: outdoor dining & people watching

07/30/07

U Joint: true to it's roots and good at it.

by pattylocksmith

Sounds like the local "chef" expects haute cuisine at a bar. Predictable. The U Joint has my favorite lunch in town: mushroom swiss chicken sandwich with onion straws (you have to sub the burger for chicken.) But make no mistake, this is pub food. If you're expecting Rathbun's, stop for a coffee on the way home 'cause you'll be up complaining online when you get there. I love the U Joint because it is EXACTLY what a neighborhood bar should be. Relaxed... DOGS and BABIES are welcome, so if you are too uptight for that you should reconsider where you hang out. (Or move back to the suburbs where the TGI Friday's servers aren't allowed to have opinions.) Some peoples comfort levels are different than others and that's just not the U Joints fault. Thank goodness one person's opinion can't ruin a restaurant's rating on citysearch.

07/09/07

Some of the worst service in town--DON'T GO HERE!!

by chefaubrey

This is why I don't understand the Citysearch system. Mostly bad reviews and still has a 4 1/2 star rating? Anyway, I live spitting distance from the U-Joint and I hardly ever go there and when I do, it's because I'm feeling lazy and just want to walk to the nearest bar instead of driving. They have had in my opinion (and I have over ten years in the industry) some of the worst service in the city. Unless you sit at the bar, it could take you 30 mins. or more to get another drink. On top of that, the food generally stinks. Just like all of the places these guys own (Brake Pad, 97 Estoria, Flatiron, etc.) the food is about as interesting as any Taco Mac suburban hell hole you would find outside the city. Nice patio, but it's usually full of barking dogs and parents who think it's cool to take their kids with them while they get drunk. You don't have to take your kids or your dog everywhere people, especially a bar where I just want to relax. Not babysit your kids and listen to your dog bark everytime someone walks by. I love Oakhurst and Decatur, but the U-Joint stinks.

• Pros: none
• Cons: everything about the place

03/27/07

U-Joint- Expect the very worse service in the industry.

by lpainter

You would think this neighborhood joint would treat their regulars/locals with respect and with curtsey, but this is not the case. I will say, great atmosphere and halfway decent pub grub. But the wait staff goes out of their way to be rude, slack, and treat the customers as if they are an inconvenience. Having lived and worked in this community for 7+ years, I've always gone out of my way to support our n'hood businesses. Certainly not the U-Joint. Spending my hard earned money where I'm treated like I am not welcomed? I don't think so. I know I speak for many of my friends, neighbors and co-workers too. Their reputation has taken a nose dive in very recent months. I will say, Decatur is full of great pubs and restaurants with great service who respect their patrons. However, the Universal Joint definitely not one of them.. My advice; spend your time and money where you are appreciated-

• Pros: Nice patio, dog friendly, location
• Cons: Nasty servers, poor mgmt,