Twisted Willow

When you have a weird, conflicting experience at a hotel bar that has no Unilocal reviews, it’s time for another episode of…
PROS AND CONS:
Pro: After sitting in the uncomfortable high chairs at McGinty’s for one too many Sundays of NFL football, the Sunday Ticket banner below the Doubletree Hotel drew me in at 12:30pm on a Sunday.
Con: The bar and dining room were empty, save one other guest who was staying at the hotel. Almost no atmosphere, at all, but I wanted to give it a try and see if it had any kind of life.
Pro: I sat in a cushioned, backed chair at the bar at the bar and asked the bartender what games would be on, and he kindly put on the game I wanted and told me about a few beer specials. I ordered a cheap Yuengling and some nachos and started chatting up the other guest and bartender; trying to liven the place up.
Con: The nachos came out at the same time as the other guests’ flatbreads (which had been recommended by the bartender) The nachos were average, the chips might have been a bit stale, and the pork was bland and unseasoned. I might have sent it back, but the other guys’ flatbreads were so gross that he sent them back, and then the bartender was gone for a while. I ate about half and just decided to grab something later since apparently the kitchen went 0-​for-​2.
Pro: A few more guests showed up. Some Chargers fans (a rare sight in MD) and an older couple who ordered some drinks. A few of the games had big plays, and the Yuengling kept flowing, and we were having a moderately good time.
Con: Then the bartender took a break, and a new guy came in and he had little-​to-​no personality. After a few minutes, he somehow took issue with a Chargers cup on the fans’ table and asked them to put it away. He was a horrible communicator, he misconstrued every question about the cup as an offense, and in about 3 minutes decided to get security and kick the fans out. I’ll just point out that everyone in the room was stunned by his actions.
Pro: Once the manager found out what had happened (from the other customers, because the Chargers fans were so emotionally shocked that they couldn’t really make sense), he sent the new bartender away, brought the first one back, and even offered drinks to the Chargers fans, who decided to leave anyways.
Con: But MAN did that suck the life out of the room! The atmosphere never recovered, and I left about 20 minutes later to watch the games at home.
I’m sure that it isn’t like that every Sunday, but at the same time, the Twisted Willow gave me no reason to return. I can’t imagine trying it again.