Natalie's Bar and Grill (Skip and Jan's) - Bar Rescue Update

Photo - Facebook

In the season 9 premiere episode of Bar Rescue, Jon Taffer and crew are in Gilbert, Arizona to rescue Skip and Jan's Sports Grill.  The bar is owned by Natalie Phyllis who originally worked at the bar and then decided to purchase it with her husband. Natalie had to step away from the bar for a bit due to a divorce and the bar has gone downhill with no leadership.  During recon, Jon thinks the kitchen is one of the worst he has ever seen.  The fryers are filthy and there are cockroaches in the kitchen.

During the Bar Rescue makeover, Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Skip and Jan's to Natalie's Bar and Grill and the bar has kept the name. Let's take a look at some information, reviews, and updates for Natalie's Bar and Grill since Bar Rescue came and made all of the changes to the bar (All reviews are post-Bar Rescue):

Positive Reviews:

• "I love this place. Been there a few times, shot some pool with some friends. The food is great, and the atmosphere is fun!"
• "Been here 2 times in a week because we were very happy with our first experience! Went here for the first time on a Sunday and it was pretty empty, but service was great and food was good. I got a grilled cheese and fries (so it's not that impressive but at least it tasted like a good grilled cheese and the fries were on point lol). They have a lot of pool tables in a separate room from the bar area. 2nd time was a Thurs and they had karaoke going on the bar side and the pool table side wasn't overpowered with the noise. Very cool place. We will be regulars soon lol"
• "Great place really good food and amazing staff. Lots of TV's, and inexpensive drinks. Lots of beers on tap for beer drinkers"
• "Love this place ! the turkey bacon wrap is my favorite! They always have a dive bar atmosphere but with great food and drinks which is the best combo !"
• "I love this place!! It's now called Natalie's but same owner as Skip and Jans!! This will always be my favorite local watering hole! Great food and great service! Bar Rescue remodeled everything, and it looks great! So happy the owner Natalie stayed, she's the best!!!"
• "This place was cool. A little divey. But the service was good and the pool hall was nice. **Edit*** this place had a massive makeover. No longer what it used to be. It has changed for the better. Anything you knew from before erase from your mind and go back and check the new place out! The owner, Natalie is so real, so sweet... she really wants the best for everyone she comes across"
• "I found this on a whim and so glad I did. Fun neighborhood bar with good food and plenty of pool tables. I'll definitely be back!"
• "Great bar and an even nicer owner! It was my first time there and impressed with the look and atmosphere inside"

Negative Reviews:

• "Place isn't bad inside , not super loud , food isn't bad , but SERVICE IS AWFUL !!! Rudddddddde bartender trying to work by herself, crazy attitude ; no manners at all ! I said thank you multiple times for her to not say a word in all my years of going out never ever have I ran into a ruder employee for no reason ! Seemed friendly enough to "Dan" and other regulars but I guess because I'm not a local bar fly we weren't valued in the same way !"
• "If you are not a regular do not come here. came here on a Saturday. sat for 20 minutes waiting to get served and they weren't even busy. and the tacos were so greasy thought I was at jack in the box. and if no one pays for music it will be dead silent in the bar, how weird?"
• "If you're coming to sing and you're NOT a regular, DON'T COME. There is no rhyme or reason to the order that Sid Riddle chooses. But regulars sing at least 50% more. Three and a half hours here, $15 tip, and I've sang once even though it is dead."
• "Same service when it was Skip & Jan's, terrible. They do need more servers on the floor as it takes forever for any type of service. Food, still bar food that isn't special. The place looks the same but they took out the pool table out of the bar and added more seating. Bathrooms are filthy and just need to be cleaned and repainted. Simple things the owners could take care of in a day at a low cost. Not a spot I would recommend unless you use their pool room. The owners could do more and I thought bar rescue came in to help. Cheap drinks is what has people coming in and pool tournaments."

*Reviews from Yelp, Google

Other News and Links:

• The Bar Rescue for Skip and Jan's happened in October 2023.
• Here is a preview video of the episode from the Bar Rescue YouTube page.  There is also another preview video from the Bar Rescue Facebook page. 
• Here is the Natalie's Bar and Grill Facebook page, which doesn't post too often.
• Here are the reviews for Natalie's Bar and Grill from Yelp and Google.
• The bar takes the time to respond to reviews on Google.
• Shortly after the makeover, Natalie's brought back their old menu. (Link)
• In response to a Google review about the menu, Natalie's responded, "We’re back! Our menu is back! We tried that other menu but to your point it didn’t work for who we are. I appreciate the feedback, and I hope you’ll give us another chance."
• Natalie said people thought her name was Jan since she was at the bar so long and it was named Skip and Jan's. (Link)
• Here are the Facebook pages of Natalie (owner), Kenzie (Bartender), Kaycie (Cook/Natalie's son), Kyerstin (bartender), Michelle (bartender)
• The bar is having a watch party for the episode. (Link)
• Locals who were talking about the Bar Rescue makeover on Reddit said not much was changed from the show. (Link)

Conclusion:

Jon Taffer decided to change the name of Skip and Jan's Sports Bar to Natalie's Bar and Grill and the bar has kept the name.  The reviews since the makeover are a bit mixed with people liking the food and atmosphere.  People also seem to like the owner Natalie and pool seems to be popular at the bar. The negative reviews seem to complain about service and that the bar seems to cater to regulars. Bar Rescue usually doesn't touch the bathrooms at a bar and it seems people still have complaints that they are still dirty.  Overall, the reviews seem to have improved a little since the makeover and that people are rooting for Natalie to succeed.  The update at the end of the show said that Julio was hired back and is working in the kitchen again.

*To see how all of the bars from Bar Rescue are doing, go to the Bar Rescue Updates page, and also Like us on Facebook or Follow Us on Twitter to stay up to date with all things involving Bar Rescue.