Frosty's Christmastime Bar & Lounge | What to Expect

It goes without saying that if you’ve got nothing nice to say….write a complaint letter to corporate and expect to receive a free gift card in the next 2-3 business days. Although this may be true, I'm just kidding. Having worked in the hospitality industry for over 7 years there is nothing I hate more than guests who come in and complain JUST to expect a free meal or discount. Needless to say, if the reason is apparent enough, things must be said.

photographed taken by Nicole Angelique Acevedo

In between the seven years of working in the hospitality industry, I've been a fiesta bartender for Chevy's Fresh Tex Mex Grill, a barista at Starbucks, a safari guide at the Rainforest Café, and server for places like: Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, and The Cheesecake Factory. So hearing about Frosty's Christmastime Bar & Lounge , you can bet your ass I was gonna be there. So let me be the one to tell you how it went down.

I arrived approximately at 9pm. The bar was hidden behind tinted windows which was almost too easy to miss. However, by the volume of people inside the bar, no one seemed to have missed it. The bar was packed of people lingering over the bar top trying to get an order of their specialty drinks, girls were snapchatting taking selfies with the 6'4 Santa statue, while the sound of broken glass and laughter in the background filled the air. The tacky Christmas streamers, occasional fake snowfall, and antique Christmas decorations definitely made the Floridian humidity of July feel like we were in the middle of December. It wasn’t until my mother and I made our way to the bar that our "Christmas" experience wouldn’t turn out so jolly. 

photographed taken by Nicole Angelique Acevedo

The bartender took a minute to take notice to us which was fine, it was pretty busy. She approached us and question "what can I get you?" we took a quick look at the menu and before I can finish the sentence "can I get two coconuts roasting ov-..." she immediately walked away from us to the other side of the bar. Now before one can assume that I'm to nit pick at every detail of the restaurant, I am aware that the bar is busy. The first two words of the drink could have indicated what obvious drink I wanted. However, when going to a themed bar, especially at its first week opening, quality customer service is always expected. The bartender literally did not give a sh*t.

photographed taken by Nicole Angelique Acevedo

My mother and I both looked at each other with a "wtf" look on our face and just waited for the drinks to arrive. Now the way the drinks are served are with crushed ice to give the appearance of snow, cool right? Well when the drinks were served the crushed ice was nearly half off the glass and due to the room temperature alcohol, it practically melted half the crushed ice and turned my cocktail into slush. The drink tasted like cheap rum and were lightly poured and we were done with our drinks within 5 sips. Although the drinks were cheap and only $8 each, we left the bartender $20 and told her to keep the change. Not only were we ignored, she cashed in the $20 and practically tossed back our $4 back (in case anyone is wondering $4 on $16 is over a 20% tip.) After a whopping 19 minutes of being there, we were already over the place. 

photographed taken by Nicole Angelique Acevedo

Arriving to the bar was disappointing in all levels, the customer service being the main one. However, being a server and bartender I am familiar with the stress of a busy restaurant and a million things happening at once. So instead of bashing the place for my first time experience for the bar's busy night, I decided to show up again. This time, on a Monday afternoon.

photographed taken by Nicole Angelique Acevedo

When I arrived to the bar I was able to get a better view of the bar and it is truly magical, with such lovely decorations anyone would be excited to spend time there.

photographed taken by Nicole Angelique Acevedo

I noticed the bartender that served me two nights before, was at the bar doing paper work. I approached her and asked if it was fine I take pictures of the bar. She looked at me up and down and replied "what? Are you some kind of blogger?" To my hesitant response I felt it'd be too pretentious to immediately call myself a blogger since I am just starting out and don’t really know the true requirements of being considered one. So I scoffed with laughter and said "no. I'm an aspiring writer and wanted to write a fun article of this cool new bar in Orlando for my friends." I wasn’t sure my bullshit cover up would suffice but she looked down and said "well as long as you don’t bash this place. We have lives you know, and for some of us this is our life."

I took a step back to reconsider my motives of writing about this bar since I am aware that I am in no place or rather no person to judge a business or the owner for how they choose to run it. If I didn’t like it, I don’t have to come back.

photographed taken by Nicole Angelique Acevedo [Taken that Monday afternoon where the drink was better prepared]

I found it quite humorous that before I walked away from her she felt the need to inform me she was the owner of the bar. As I walked away and went about my business to take pictures a gentleman approached me and asked me if I was a blogger. When I told him my purpose of being there, I also noted I had already asked the owner if it was fine I take pictures. He nearly cut me off when I made that statement and said "oh you mean the manager? Because I'm the owner." I stood there in silence and replied "oh I'm sorry when I spoke to her this is what was said, maybe I understood differently."

Side note: Not sure how long this bar might last. So this is what I will say about the bar.

photographed taken by Nicole Angelique Acevedo

If you are expecting hobbit elves prancing around making candy cane infused cocktail drinks with a Christmas carol song and dance follow, its not going to happen here. If you are also expecting a Disney like Christmas experience and a kiss of a frostbite on your nose, stay in the Disney area by all means. Frosty's Christmastime Bar and Lounge is a hole in the wall bar that has Christmas decorations. There will be no Christmas songs in the background, just 80's rock 'n roll. There will be no dance floor or Christmas games, just high top tables and disgruntled bartenders. If you want Christmas wait until December.