At 17th and Rhode Island, the location of the sun-filled bar is convenient for an after work drink or a lazy weekend afternoon. There are great specials, a fancy new roof deck and the building renovation of the Governor’s House Hotel is a pleasing addition to the neighborhood. The formula for a great new hotel bar all adds up except for one thing. Service. While everyone smiles and is pleasant enough, the servers seem to forget that part of their job is to take an order.

During several visits to this bar at slow late afternoon times, I have waited over 15 minutes to order a beer while a bartender watched tv and servers flit about and rolled napkins. Even after ordering a beer on tap, it took three people to get it to my table — one to take the order, one to relay it to the bartender, the bartender to finally pour, and then I watched my beer sit there and sweat until another server retrieved it. And I left out the other 5 minute interval when everyone just decided to take a break. I have tried to give Beacon the benefit of the doubt only to endure similar painful experiences. Hopefully they are just working out the kinks since they are only a year and a half on the scene, but their newness is getting old.