The Hemingway Room

Add Review

Call

Website

Menu

Location and Contact

See Map - Get Directions

139 S Main St
Rochester, MI 48307

Phone: (248) 453-5291

Website

Neighborhood: Rochester

Update Listing

Hours

Update Hours

View the Menu

Update Details

Restaurant Description

Is this your restaurant? Click to add your description here.

Restaurant Photos

View Menu

Write a Review for The Hemingway Room

Share Your
Experience!

Select a Rating Select a Rating!

Reviews for The Hemingway Room

Write a Review

  4.1 stars - Based on 9 votes

#86 out of 102 restaurants in Rochester

#2 of 2 Tapas in Rochester

5 star				4 votes	44%
4 star				4 votes	44%
3 star				0 votes	0%
2 star				0 votes	0%
1 star				1 votes	11%

Top Reviews of The Hemingway Room

03/24/2024 - MenuPix User

06/17/2022 - J. Hampshire
Last night, Thursday, June 16, 2022, my three friends and I went out to celebrate one friend’s engagement. We decided to try The Hemmingway Room in downtown Rochester Hills. Upon arrival, a lady at the door asked to see our ID’s. While checking our licenses, she commented about how one friend “look so young she looked like she was 12” and that none of us appeared older than 21. However, she had no issue with our identification and seated us at a table. The ages within our group consisted of one 27-year-old, two 26-year-olds, and one 23 year old. My friend who caught the front lady’s eye is 26 years old.
Once we were seated, a waitress came over and asked for our driver’s licenses again. We complied, stating we were already checked at the door. The waitress made no comment and checked three of our licenses, skipping the 23-year-old friend altogether. She left and soon after the manager, who did not state her name, approached with a black light requesting to also check our ID’s. For the third time is less than 10 minutes, we all handed over our licenses. She flashed the light over each of our card, which all revealed appropriately hidden markings. She then looked at my 27-year-old friend stating that she was not comfortable with her license.
My friend and I both have Enhanced Michigan driver’s license with the real ID star in the upper right corner, which will be required on all licenses by May 3, 2023. When crossing the border, an enhanced license allows a resident to cross over and return without a passport, except when flying. The enhanced license grants you the ability to travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean. Our license also Real ID cards, which will soon be required on all licenses and to fly within the USA.
The manager had no idea what an enhanced or real ID license was and disregarded my explanation about both forms of legal identification. She then checked my license and stated she was unsure about mine as well because it looked different than what she was used to seeing. She asked if either of us had additional forms of identification, specifically a passport. Since neither of us were flying out of the country any time soon, we did not have our passports on hand. She stated that she was uncomfortable serving us alcohol because she was unfamiliar with our form of identification. The manager proceeded to check our 26-year-old friend who does not have an enhanced or real ID license; hers was approved. Finally, she turned to our 23-year-old friend who owns the updated Michigan license with the real ID star and said that hers also appeared different than general licenses. When we again explained why enhanced license appear slightly different and why majority of us had stars in the upper right corner, the manager replied by saying they had experienced issues with multiple fake ID’s recently and had never seen licenses like ours before and was therefore uncomfortable serving us. If this is a recurring problem, the establishment should have educated their staff to recognize ALL current, legal forms of Michigan identification. Anyone can easily check by going to https://www.michigan.gov/sos/license-id/license-and-id to verify.
The manager’s conduct was completely unprofessional. Not once did she clearly define what she thought was fraudulent regarding 3 of the 4 licenses nor did she share the establishment’s verification process when checking identification. She is evidently ignorant of the current, various forms of Michigan identification and failed to recognize three legitimate versions. The establishment should be embarrassed by how this situation was handled. If my license was from another state, I would be more understanding. However, all four of us are verified Michigan residents. If my group was inappropriately denied, how many other customers have been improperly excused due to lacking education? Furthermore, if they cannot recognize legitimate Michigan licenses, how can they identify fake ones?
We decided to leave and try Too La Roo next door, which we were unaware was affiliated with The Hemmingway Room. The same manager informed staff at Too La Roo to refuse all four of us alcohol. We left to find another bar.
Both establishments conducted themselves in a highly offensive and unprofessional manner. Denying me service on grounds that the establishment reserves the right to withhold service would have been more understandable than accusing my friends and myself of lying. We often visit downtown Rochester Hills and have frequented Too La Roo many times. We will no longer be supporting either business and will discourage our friends and associates from frequenting both as well in the future.