James Ballentine "Uptown" VFW Post #246

2916 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408, USA

Address:	2916 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408, USA
Phone:	+1 612-823-6233
Site:	uptownvfw.org
Rating:	4.2
Working:	11AM–12AM 11AM–2AM 11AM–2AM 11AM–2AM 11AM–2AM 8AM–2AM 8AM–2AM

Location

Photos 1

Reviews 7

Jeff B

Cool Bar. Decent selection of taps & can/bottle options. Popular Kareoke bar. Ive been there twice now. Serious 45-60+ minute rotation by 10 or 11. Diverse crowd & many age brackets. Only negative thing I can say is that BOTH TIMES a pack of Millennials have acted absolutely rude. 1st time some dbags kept pushed my chair, how about a tap & an excuse me? Thats what adults do. Second time, my wife caught a dude trying to take a picture of a "sub-par" singer. She asked him, "are you going to sing?" as she busted him doing whatever dbag mockery thing he had planned. BOTH TIMES....Millennials crowded the front multiple times when their friends went up to sing, completely suck & act like "their moment" was special when it was nothing but a screeching train-wreck. They also offered zero encouragement to anyone outside their little pack of me-mes. Not even a head-nod or a freaking golf clap to the dude who just killed it & brought down the house? Just because they are not in your clan? Also, both times, Millennials giving the KJ grief. The place is super-crowded, pay attention when you are in the hole, on-deck or when its your turn & they call your name 10 times. Also if your gonna be a Kareoke Diva, at least dont be a terrible American Idol screechy, outtake who sucks. I do not despise Millennials. The young-guns at my gym are stand-up, Im proud to know them & offer help or perspective when appropriate. Maybe this place is too divey, hipster or in Uptown....so it attracts dbag Millennials. Ill give this place 1 more chance.

No Name Da Truth

I dont go out to bars very often or at least the same bar often but was asked to come to have a drink here by a friend a few times and finally accepted the offer and found older friends and family there. As ive said I dont go out often but ive been there 6 times in 3 weeks..lbvs! Brought friends and family visiting from out of town and in town. Let me also say this is no VFW like you have ever seen. Diverse age groups and ethnicities are represented here on a Friday or Saturday night in both the patrons and in the staffing. The way all uptown bars should be. Usually a live band in one part of place karaoke in back and a more hipster and mixed crowd up front. So its moving around to 3 different type of bars in the same building. Security staff are friendly and engaging but are definitely on the job keeping the place safe and fun. Remember this is uptown and youll see several young or old patrons who cant handle their liquor and get a little out of hand. Their politely excorted out and the party continues. Most of bartenders are friendly but dont expect a stiffer drink no matter how much you tip doesnt work that way here like in most other bars/clubs but doesnt spoil the experience at all. Least uppity bar in uptown but has more of an uptown feel....Good job guys!

Melissa hernandez

Worst experience ever! We went here last night at 1:45am which right when we walked in they said last call, which we knew that. We walked immediately up to the bar so we could place an order. A bartender by the name of Desiree asked us what we wanted, my boyfriend asked me and I simply asked what do you have for light beers and she said in a very rude manner, "Everything is right in front of you." We obviously saw that, but some bars have cans/bottles. When my boyfriend turned to me to ask me if I wanted a Miller Lite, she very rudely, again, said "Hurry up last call was 5 minutes ago." Ummm no it wasnt, we just walked in and went straight up to the bar it was still 1:45am when this was happening. My boyfriend said do you have Coors Light? She said "Yes, in a can." So apparently her comment of "Everything is right in front of you" wasnt necessary, because they did have cans. Im sorry, but if you are in a customer service industry (like myself) you never talk to someone like that. I get it that it was the end of the night and she must have been tired, but there was no need to be rude and mean because you want to leave. Long story short, I will NEVER go back there again. Did I mention that that was our first time going there? First and last time.

Mindy Ondich

OMG I cant express enough how much I cant stand this place after 11PM. Before 11, the bar is a bit more quiet, you can move around, get a drink, find a table, etc. Drinks are good, cheap, strong, staff is friendly. I like the back bar with the karaoke. After 10:30/11PM though, the place is insanely busy. Its so packed you can barely walk through. Forget about getting table if you didnt get there before 9 to claim one. Which also means you have to leave at least one person behind to hold the table. Theres always a line of sketchy looking guys standing against the wall in the main room who absolutely stink of weed. Im sure its the best vantage point to check out all the girls coming in, but its a bit creepy and theyre often in the way. The rest of the crowd varies from really young/college age to old vets. There are some cool people, and some really good people watching. I want to love this place, but its chaos when its busy. If you can find a night where its a bit more quiet, or go early and get out, youll probably love it.

Carin Skowronsky

From the years that Ive lived in Uptown to the later years that Ive bought a house and have become more "refined", this place still remains one of my favorites in the Twin Cities. And its even better now following the model. This VFW is now a 3 room adventure, with each room having a different feel: sports bar, karaoke room and dance club. Something for everyone. Perhaps youve over-served yourself and need a snack? The menu in the bar area is pretty killer and very reasonably priced. Their burgers are great and their wings even better. If in doubt, get a Heggies pizza. You can never go wrong there. Drinks are poured strong, but service can be slow. Bring your patient pants, but dont be one of those ass hats that snaps or claps at the bartenders or you might never get served.

Kevin Vi

I was very rudely kicked out of the VFW last night for using the womens restroom. Everywhere I had been all night had changed their restrooms to be gender neutral so I honestly was not looking for signs while trying to find a place to urinate. I simply used the facilities and washed my hands. When I walked out of the restroom, I was physically grabbed by a bouncer and taken out of the building. I cannot believe that in this day and age, in Minneapolis, with our current state of affairs, that a gay man using the womens restroom would be the worst of the bouncers worries that they had to forcefully remove me from the premises. I have to wonder how the VFW would treat their transgendered or gender queer patrons. I have to advise that lgbtq people should not come here.

John Van Beek

At the Uptown VFW last night, playing darts at 1:52am. The lights come on and the bouncer comes up to us and says, "were closed, you need to leave." We asked, "can we finish our game?" Immediate response: "Are we gonna have a problem here?" ...talks into his walkie talkie and another bouncer shows up. Literally 50 other people still inside the bar not leaving yet.. This type of experience is becoming common. People go out to have a good time, not to be harassed and threatened by giant bouncers because you asked to finish your dart game as the bar clears out. Based on that interaction, I can probably find another bar to chill at from now on.