.....can you put out your cigars

[El Presidente]

I was at dinner last night with a few of the PCC lads at an Italian place next to the Rocks Brewery in Sydney.  The food was fine, the service amateurish but that is not uncommon in this fine land.  The location suits because "The Rocks" is cigar friendly and so we could walk the 15 metres from dinner at the restaurant and share a few drinks and a cigar post in the outside bar next door. 

Blow and behold we were only 5 minutes into the cigar and the Italian restaurant waitress was next to us complaining that the cigar smoke was very strong. 

"thank you". 

confused she walked away. 

5 minutes later the owner/chef walked out and stood next to us.  Keep in mind we are in the bar/business next door...in the smoking area.  

Long story short, he asked us to put the cigars out as it was upsetting his diners. 

"that's disappointing"

10 minutes later he was back.  apparently, the smoke was now entering his Kitchen. 

We agreed to move 5 metres further away to the extreme point of the smoking area. We reminded him that we were in the smoking area of the business next door to his......and why was he bothering us. 

He gave up although it was quite clear that he considered his moral authority to be unquestionable.  The Rocks staff were great however and while he complained to them, they reinforced our right to enjoy a cigar in the smoking area. 

It is certainly getting tougher and tougher to enjoy a cigar in a public setting in Oz. 

[Cigar Surgeon]

Really glad to hear that the Rocks staff weren't cowed.

[TBBCOLEAFLOVER]

Wow. Some peoples kids!


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[Puros Y Vino]

19 minutes ago, El Presidente said:

It is certainly getting tougher and tougher to enjoy a cigar in a public setting in Oz. 

Welcome to Canada.  

Back when indoor smoking was banned, bars and restaurants expanded their patio sections.  Business flourished thanks to those patios.  But then smoking was banned there too.  Patios now sit 1/4 full where they used to be at capacity.  

[Chibearsv]

It's so odd to me that cigar smoking in general is looked upon with disdain by so many.  As a cigar smoker, I feel like we get treated like we're purposely trying to ruin someone else's day when all we want to do is make our day better.  I was just in Vegas and had people around me actually holding their noses and loudly complaining to their companions that "I hate that cigar smoke".  It was a lot more passive aggressive than you experienced and didn't slow me down a bit.  The strange part about Vegas though is that the sidewalks are full of the same people smoking weed or cigarettes or vaping clouds of strawberry smelling crap without care or complaint.  

[JohnS]

Wow...that's good (or bad) to know Rob. We (the Sydney crew) usually have a catch-up there at least two, maybe three times a year. I can't believe it, I'm astounded. On the bright side, I'm glad the Rocks Brewery staff look after their customers.

[Bill Hayes]

I don't bother about smoking in public in Melbourne. I had to laugh one evening when a group of young couples at a table at Siglo rooftop bar started complaining about my cigar smoke. It's a cigar bar FFS! It just made me angry and began to ruin my night unfortunately and made my missus feel really uncomfortable.

[jackupster]

A few years ago my wife and and I were at a local taphouse that has a patio. I had brought a PSD4 to have just in case. We are on the patio with a couple pints and I ask an employee if it's ok if I smoke a cigar....He says yes and retrives an ashtray for me. About ten minutes into the smoke a very intoxicated lady starts complaining aloud but not directed at me about the "horrible smell of cigars". I ignore her and attempt to keep the smoke from floating her direction. A couple minutes later and she now approaches me and tells me put it out please. NO!,  I reply. She tells me again and I say no. Looking rejected and disguted she moves to the other side of the patio. After a few minutes I notice her asking another patron for a CIGARETTE!! Are you freaking kidding?  I tell my wife. Yup my Cuban cigar smells really bad but her s****y Marlboro is delicious she says! 

[chris12381]

Knowing that the brewery staff stuck up for its customers AND it bothered their neighbor, I'd frequent that establishment often. 

I'll never understand why people make the mistake of letting someone like me...know that something I'm doing...bothers them. ?

[BrightonCorgi]

Glad you held your ground.

[Nino]

1 hour ago, El Presidente said:

The Rocks staff were great however and while he complained to them, they reinforced our right to enjoy a cigar in the smoking area. 

Great for them and they have my respect.

Was this Sidney Rocks below the bridge ? Was there ages ago and loved it.

Guess I won't bother taking the long flight to endure abuse then ...

You will always get asylum over here Boss ... ?

[westg]

I  simply would have moved along. It is now a little harder for the next lot to smoke a cigar there . I have moved 100 km North to city and in this urban landscape if you smoke cigarettes you are a social outcast. Pity the fool who lites up a cigar . Going back for the weekend and can't wair to sit on my deck listen to the beach and smoke cigars all weekend. 

[Fuzz AI]

Thanks for letting us know, Rob. The Sydney crew will make sure to avoid that restaurant.

Hey, @JohnS, @jay8354, @khamy, @Luca, @baragh, @IanMcLean68, @golfdude888, @merc, I do believe it is time to head down to the Rocks Brewery for a little cigar session.

 

[Fuzz AI]

48 minutes ago, nino said:

Great for them and they have my respect.

Was this Sidney Rocks below the bridge ? Was there ages ago and loved it.

Guess I won't bother taking the long flight to endure abuse then ...

You will always get asylum over here Boss ... ?

No, Nino, this is a bar in Alexandria, about 10km away from The Rocks precinct (which is on the Sydney Harbour foreshore). The name of the brewery is Rocks Brewery Co.

[Wookie]

Sad state of affairs. I don't necessarily mind that they outlawed smoking indoors at restaurants...especially good ones. I've been guilty of offending adjacent parties and also have been the victim of someone's cigarette just as a delectable first course arrived. But outside seating areas are different. Smoke dissipates more or less and FFS don't sit outside near a smoking area if you have a problem with it. 

[FOHrty9er]

I currently reside in a suburb of Atlanta.  Local laws were passed recently greatly restricting, damn near abolishing, any and all forms of smoking. We are left with literally smoking at home or while walking the dog, so long as we don't pass near a park or business along the way.  One can be arrested for violation.  It's but shit crazy!

[CanuckSARTech]

I wouldn’t agree either with “just moving on”. Personally, I’d think that that WOULD make cigar smoking harder for the next guy...that owner/chef would just be THAT MUCH more entitled and cock-sure of himself for confronting that next customer.


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[Habana Mike]

2 hours ago, FOHrty9er said:

I currently reside in a suburb of Atlanta.  Local laws were passed recently greatly restricting, damn near abolishing, any and all forms of smoking. We are left with literally smoking at home or while walking the dog, so long as we don't pass near a park or business along the way.  One can be arrested for violation.  It's but shit crazy!

Which part of the ATL mate?

Most of the area is still (for now) fairly lenient...

[BeerPimp]

I am glad our State carved out an exemption for Cigar bars when it wrote the no smoking laws.   We have several amazing cigar bars.  My favorite one downtown has a wall of Bourbons, Whiskeys, and Scotch.  A couple weeks back I went there and several people were smoking cigars.   It is always busy and it gets crazy busy on Friday and Saturday.

[Habana Mike]

12 minutes ago, BeerPimp said:

I am glad our State carved out an exemption for Cigar bars when it wrote the no smoking laws.   We have several amazing cigar bars.  My favorite one downtown has a wall of Bourbons, Whiskeys, and Scotch.  A couple weeks back I went there and several people were smoking cigars.   It is always busy and it gets crazy busy on Friday and Saturday.

Which state is this? I'll make a point to visit!

 

[CanuckSARTech]

Frankly, I’ve had a similar situation in the past. Did my best to move with the wind and adjust, etc. This lady and her friends just couldn’t help themselves with the scuffaws and scowling, etc. So I used a variable of something I remember another member from on here mentioning he/she did many many years ago (with a financial this-for-that agreement).

 

Anyway, I told this complaining lady I’d gladly put it out if she covered my losses / cost. If she wanted me to end that cigar, my enjoyment, my relaxation, if she was costing me that, I myself wasn’t going to be out if pocket for that. I told her I’m ALLOWED to smoke there, there was NOTHING I was doing wrong, but, she could buy the cigar from me, and I’d put it out if that’s what she was insisting.

 

Snarky snarky, smug, smug, blah blah blah. That’s pretty much the effect of what I remember her being like.

 

(And you all mostly know I have broad shoulders, what I do, and that I’m fairly good at patiently playing the P.C. game, but then also not being afraid to speak my mind, and put people in their place, once their 3-strikes are up).

 

I can’t remember what the cigar was exactly. Some robusto, IIRC. But I remember looking up a Canadian vendor’s local pricing (hell yes, FULL PRICE WITH TAXES, baby!!!), and it being a $30 or $40 or so stick. Showed her the price list, she gave me a few bills, snarled something not-too-classy, and then sat laughing and giddy with her friends in their over-smugness. They thought they “won”.

 

I watched as they sat in their little “superiority circle” for a few seconds.

 

The waitress said I didn’t have to do that (I remember it being an outdoor rooftop patio, cigar friendly advertising, and the waiter station just being a few feet away, and well before our outdoor-patio smoking ban).

 

I calmly (but loudly) said something to the effect of, “Oh, I know, but it was a crappy cigar that I kinda wanted to pitch for a better one anyway”, as I opened up my 5-stick Cigar Caddy, and proceeded to cut and light a much bigger and better stick, smiling ear to ear at the table of entitled princesses not used to not getting their way.

 

That next cigar was a 96 or 97 point Monte Sublime. I remember it well. It was epic.

 

 

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[BeerPimp]

2 minutes ago, Habana Mike said:

Which state is this? I'll make a point to visit!

 

Nebraska.   There are 2 major cities Omaha, and Lincoln.   Both have multiple cigar bars.

[nKostyan]

I'm sure it was a good compromise, caused by a stupid female whim. The cook simply supported his colleague and, perhaps, now he claim a close relationship with the waitress.

[Duxnutz]

Wow. I picked up a rare 2 night Syd trip and was having a smoke in the park. Felt like I was doing meth to be honest. Lots of sideways looks. 

[Homer]

Come to Finland. The only place where you can smoke inside bars are small booths that you are not allowed to take any alcohol beverages inside. And its bloody cold 80% of the year.