- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
ABC Bartending Schools
Category: Education Specialty Schools Specialty Schools [Edit]
15694 E 14th StSan Leandro, CA 94578
(510) 317-5980
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 10 am - 6 pm
Try our services before you commit to any hours. 3 Free trial hours for New customers
27 reviews for ABC Bartending Schools
27 reviews in English
-
Review from Lisa H.
Livermore, CA
Updated - 1/20/2012
So I completed the course yesterday and got certified! I'm a very happy camper with this school, especially the outcome! I first decided that I wanted to go into bartending about 13 years ago, well before I was even close to being old enough to buy a drink and the bug up my ass never left. I now have more of a desire than ever to bartend, especially since I am now certified.
Now, about the school. My first impression walking in was that it's set up basically like a bar except no draft system to work with. There's no actual alcohol, just dyed water to work with, but it makes perfect sense because real alcohol is VERY expensive and students in a basic 101 class are bound to mess up on a lot of drinks at first. I was able to get used to the layout of things behind the bar fairly quickly though.
Parking can be a bit tricky. Your best bet would be to park at the Bay Fair mall directly across the street.
The instructors are very friendly and extremely knowledgeable as they are bartenders themselves, not just instructors at a school. Kenny and Sara are especially fun. Kenny was hilarious!
He also offered a chance for his students to guest bartend at Club 21 in Oakland on Thursdays and Fridays from 3-9. He is the supervisor there. I signed up for Thursdays and even though it was pretty dead, I still had fun with Kenny and some of the other students that signed up. Didn't make much in tips (like I said, it was dead), but will still go back every Thursday for experience.
Some previous reviews have complained that even though they have completed the course, they've been having trouble finding a job and have even knocked off a star from their overall rating! As far as job placement goes, ABC Bartending does NOT guarantee ANYONE a job after certification. It even says so on their website and in the student handbook that is provided on Day 1 of the course. They offer job placement ASSISTANCE, but you have to do the legwork on finding a job. To me, they were very clear on that from the very beginning so there's no reason to knock off a star for that.
Overall I had a lot of fun and really learned a lot from the course. At test time, you don't have to know everything and be perfect, they're just looking for technique and speed. As long as you get the hang of that, you're good. Also, if you mess up a drink at testing, they'll give you another chance to make it again. They don't put a lot of pressure on you, but they do want you to pass.
Pro tip from a graduate: Make flash cards. They will help you out tremendously. There's a lot of drinks you have to memorize so making flashcards will make it much, much easier on you.
If I ever need to, I'm definitely taking a refresher course from ABC in San Leandro. I will also highly recommend this campus for anyone who may be interested as I had an extremely positive experience.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/18/2011
After a few long years of only considering becoming a bartender, I finally decided to stop thinking… Read more »
-
-
Review from Lucky N.
San Francisco, CA
12/8/2011
Saw a great http://LivingSocial.com deal to take bartending classes and obtain a bartending certificate at the Mtn. View location for only like $100-something and with the awesome reviews, I purchased it! Months later, I've called a few times and they are always booked during the times I can go and so they tell me I can go to the San Leandro location (they say it in a nice tone at least). If I had wanted to go out of my way and go to San Leandro, I would have bought the deal for that location...
Living Social doesn't give you a refund after 5 days, but I emailed them about my situation and they totally understood. They credited me so I have $100-something in Living Social credit, which is awesome. I was really excited about going here and I bet I would have had a great experience like these other Yelpers, but now I'll never know... I would say that if they are going to do another deal like this, offer the dates up front and let the customer choose when they buy their deal so they know if a certain date is already sold out. For example: I would like to have chosen Mtn View location for the 4 day (2 week total) weekend classes on the weekend of 12/10 and 12/17 or something. Anyway, maybe in the future... If you buy, just make sure you all them immediately after to schedule before they are all booked up. -
Review from Kim G.
Oakland, CA
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
The school is great! Natasia and Kenny both have different teaching styles, but they are both great. They provide you with all the information and tools you need to become a great bartender. I learned a lot in just one weeks time and received my certificate! I would definitely recommend anyone thinking about going to bartending school to ABC.
-
Review from May L.
Oakland, CA
8/31/2011
My friend remembered I said I wanted to be a bartender although, I don't remember saying that, hmmm..... She found a good deal online for this place. Honestly didn't know what I was getting myself into but, I'm glad I did take that chance. I took the 2 week course since i work night shifts.
The instructors Natasia and Kenny are very knowledgeable, hilarious, helpful, and makes your learning experience well worth it , which was kinda of hard to leave once you graduate.
But even when you graduate you can go back and relearn everything to refresh your memory. Like lets say you stopped bartending because you want to start a family and have a baby, then 5 years later your kid is in kindergarden. And if you want to do bartending again, you can go back to ABC school and learn again free of charge!
Again it's a great experience, had lots of fun mixing drinks, learning techniques, and recipes (maybe create your own too). Now I can make drinks for my friends and open wine bottles for my relatives.. OH YEAH!!
Thanks Natasia and Kenny! You are the best! =) -
Review from Sofia R.
10/8/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I'm taking bartending classes with a friend and the best deal was to go to the ABC Bartending School in San Leandro. A bit far but whatever.
When we found the place, I was surprised by how small it was. It's definitely not high end. It's cozy and the room gets filled up with students fast. Our instructor told us that it's usually pretty empty on weekends but it was packed last weekend. He claimed that it got as packed as it usually is during weekday lessons.
The instructors that taught us that weekend were pretty good. They helped us a lot and gave us tips for future careers. They're also pretty laid back but they definitely know their stuff.
The quality of the stations leaves much to be desired but I can't complain too much about that. What I CAN complain about it how difficult it is to share stations when the class gets packed. If you're taking classes, I suggest the weekend ones ONLY because you'll have more room to work.
The school is across the street from the mall and a donut shop so if you're on lunch break, you do have options that are close range. Just so you know.
Good school. -
Review from Justine C.
Union City, CA
12/27/2011
My sister told me about the great deal ABC Bartending was having on http://livingsocial.com for half off. I wanted to take some bartending classes even before I found out about the deal, so of course I wasn't going to pass it up. I really liked how flexible their classes were so it could fit to your schedule, especially if you had school or work to go to. The teachers Natasia and Kenny are really cool and helpful. They really help prepare you to become a real-world bartender outside of the class. They even offer student bartending at a real club so you can get some experience and put it on your resume. They offer job placement too. If you find a deal like mine I say go for it because it's fun and you learn a lot about the mixology world!
-
Review from Erin G.
Berkeley, CA
10/2/2011
Reason for visit: why not!
Visit date: October 1, 2011
First time? You betcha.
I took the one-night Mixology course. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but it was a lot of fun! The instructors, Jamie and Natasia, tell it like it is. They gave us the run down on bar set-up; showed us proper techniques (and some tricks) for pouring, bar etiquette, and mixing drinks; and gave us a lesson in liquor vs liqueur and classic vs party drinks. The atmosphere is casual; it's a good place to learn if you're a bartending novice. Bring a jacket, they turn up the a/c.
Who's up for chocolate cake? -
Review from Sean A.
Berkeley, CA
5/5/2011
ABC was great. I did the one week program with a friend at a discounted price that was part of a special they had--about 50% off (awesome). All of the instructors are amazing and really know their stuff. I mostly had Natasia--who is hilarious--and Kenny as instructors. Both are very knowledgeable, approachable, helpful, and really just downright friendly. It was actually bittersweet walking out of the place after getting our certificates!
The one-week course is pretty fast paced, but at the same time they give you plenty of time to practice, so if you put in the effort you should be fine. The instructors will really help you, too. Thanks to them I feel very prepared and comfortable behind the bar, and feel pretty confident that I can get a job as they also help with job placement. They also allow you to come back whenever to practice. From experience I can say it's really rare to find a class environment that promotes your growth in that particular field so much, but that's what they dedicate themselves to at ABC. Definitely contact them if you're interested! -
Review from Lori ann W.
Cupertino, CA
1/5/2012
Fun place to learn about bartending. Rob's the best!
-
Review from Eileen Z.
12/24/2010
I came in to ABC Bartending School just for the hell of it and dragged along 2 of my companions, and we all agree that we had a blast. As a recent college grad, I really had no idea what to do with my life and since I'm not getting any results from applying to jobs, I've decide to give bartending a try. I mean...it can really help out my wallet - being unemployed for the time being.
For the program being so cheap compared to other bartending schools, I went in expecting that I will just get what I paid for...which got me a bit nervous that I might not enjoy the class. The place looks a bit small but don't hesitate to go in just because of the exterior! The school itself is a bar environment setting so it is quite useful and the teachers are AWESOME. I had the pleasure of having Natasia, Kenny, and Jaimie as teachers.
- Natasia is really chill and definitely likes to see her students succeed. She is really easy to approach and would offer any help you need.
- Kenny is very knowledgable and experienced. He is very easy to talk to even knows chinese! I was very impressed.
- Jamie is just. cool. He is so funny and teaches you certain drinks not because you need to know for the class, but because it will help you out alot in the future.
All of them REALLY know their stuff inside and out. Not only will they teach you how to mix drinks, but they will also teach you how to be a GOOD bartender ranging from tricks, aesthetics, and inside stories of 'behind the scenes' of bartending.
I really enjoy the class and I was always ready and excited to go to class the next day knowing that I will be learning something new. And the other students taking the class are awesome as well as we all try to help each other and give each other support.
After graduating, I was surprise that I was even allow to use the place to practice mixing drinks in the future. This really show that ABC really cares about their students and want them to succeed as bartenders. I will definitely take advantage of this because once an ABC, always an ABC.
If you're thinking about bartending, I highly recommend ABC Bartending School. -
Review from Jim O.
San Leandro, CA
3/10/2011
I found the school after searching for ways to get a leg up on landing a bar tending job in the bay area. I was so absolutely impressed with the school's instructors. Natasia, Jamie and Kenny were EXACTLY how one would hope even college professors to be... Extremely helpful, approachable and yet totally professional. They all truly want their students to succeed and feel comfortable behind the bar as well as in their job search and in their interviews that follow.
The class that I took was accelerated and all substantive information was delivered within one week. However, should I have failed (which didn't happen, I was completely prepared to take the written as well as practical test within that week, which required a complete and quick recall knowledge of 92 drinks) the course would allow me to keep practicing and Learning for as long as it took for me to be comfortable and pass my exams with flying colors!
I couldn't begin to recommend a better school to go to that is as affordable and direct as ABC, and the San Leandro school has definitely got it goin' on! :)
-Jim -
Review from Joyce B.
Alameda, CA
10/24/2011
After giving birth to my son I needed to find something I could possible do at night part-time and it was my husband who suggested bartending. This school was the closest to me and has different schedules to fit your needs. I actually passed it on my first day and had a hard time finding it it was so small but once inside it's pretty decent and the amount of students weren't as bad as some reviews said. I'm taking the 2 week night course, had different instructors everyday but you get to learn different techniques and styles which I'm sure mirrors the real world. I seemed to have learned the best with Kenny and Natasia. There are A LOT of drinks to learn but they welcome questions and answer with great knowledge. Super fun atmosphere! And lifetime refresher courses are a plus!
-
Review from Linda M.
12/16/2007
We only got a "sneak peek" at the real bartending course.
My friend came up with this unique idea for a surprise birthday celebration for our friend... take a bartending class together! I have to say, our instructor Jamie was entertaining, knows his stuff, and knows how to teach. We learned how to freepour the correct size shot, and how to make a perfect martini in the first few minutes. We learned a great deal about bartending in the short time he had with us (before we got carried away and wreaked havok on his lesson plan).
I would try it out if I really wanted to start a lucrative career on the other side of the bar. But for the time being, I will stay on the bar stool swilling beer and waiting for my turn at the pool table. It doesn't pay as well but I'm damned good at it. -
Review from Gina L.
New York, NY
10/24/2011
Ok so I definitely agree with the mom and pop set up/not so fancy schmancy set up but who cares! I took my bartending course at the San Leandro CA location but the 5 stars is for what's most important, great instruction, entertaining course and a feeling of a family environment. I took this course back in 2002 and I remember having a bit of trouble out of the gates with the job hunt but I love the fact that they offer a lifetime refresher course at any of their locations, so anytime you want to retake the course to refresh your skills you can attend any of their schools. I may just have to do that now that I'm back in my hometown of NYC.
-
Review from Chris R.
Somerville, MA
7/24/2008
So, my girlfriend and I first looked into SF Bartending, and while it is highly regarded, it also costs $400 a person.
That's when ABC Bartending came along, and we paid $360 - for both of us.
You get what you pay for. One ghettofabulous setup in San Leandro, where some punk kids threw rocks at us in the shopping mall parking lot between the BART station and the "school."
ABC was really relaxed about attendance, which was great, and I still felt that Nate, our instructor, was awesome. Who cares that it doesn't have the fancy schmancy video training system? Bartending can be challenging, but it ain't rocket science. -
Review from Pudgy G.
San Francisco, CA
1/4/2010
FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO LOCATION. But phoned a 510 area code number to setup everything, which I assume was San Leandro.
I really was dissatisfied with the professionalism from this company. I found this group via bartending schools on google and they were one of the top choices. I called in, they sounded completely nice and professional. They took down my email address, and told me they would email me a confirmation for my classes and location in San Francisco (which by the way, is with another private bartending school and they were being bought out by ABC). Also they said they would be able to help me find work.
So the next day, I never got an email, I phoned in again to verify what happened, and of course they copied down the wrong email address. So I tell them again, and wait another day. Second day or time around, no email, they screwed up again and by this time I already felt like backing out and asking for a refund because they took down my credit card information on my first phone call and charged me instantly that day. Unprofessional. We finally get my email correct and I receive confirmation on the third day.
THEN....I write back to the email they sent me to verify the address of the school they are sending me to and I never heard back from them AT ALL. I had to literally call in the first day of my class to double check since I had no response for about at least one week.
The only thing that made me happy about choosing this was the instructors teaching me, more specifically Kelly , Lucine, and Kyle. They were very professional, experienced, nice, open and honest. But as for the people I spoke to on the phone and whoever emailed me; very disappointing and unprofessional.
Update: Okay well I never had any job offers or at least an interview after graduating. And on top of that, after graduating, they said I would get my certificate within one week. Nothing came for 2 weeks. I had to phone in several times, and finally I talked to John, who took care of getting my certificate right away.
In conclusion, I felt I was better off learning how to bartend from a friend instead of paying money because I mainly paid to get a "certificate" and to hopefully at least find a job with their connections, which didn't happen, not even job interviews. It's probably because I wrote the negative critiques before I graduated (which weren't even that bad except for not finding a job) here on yelp, but hey that's what happened to me and it's the truth!
0-1 star for recruitment services, organization and for not setting me up with any job interviews or jobs period.
5 stars for the teaching staff, which balances to 3 stars. -
Review from tasha s.
Hayward, CA
12/16/2007
Ok, get your girlfriends together, wear nice clothes, bring your "stuff", and learn how to mix. And then drink, and drink, and drink.
The lighting in the place could be perked up a bit - and I bet you can bring your own music, maybe they need a little disco ball as well ... but it was great fun, and our instructor was fun as well - after he realized none of were taking the class for credits - just some fun drinking (yeah & learning too). -
Review from Allen Y.
Berkeley, CA
11/6/2010
I went to another bartending school to try it out and it was a lot more expensive and the manager was trying to hustle me and a friend to pay more than this deal he told us. So we took our business to ABC Bartending School because it had a really good price.
I learned a lot, and overall with enthusiasm, you can learn how to be a quality bartender.
Kenny and Natasia are great instructors, they'll find creative ways to teach drink mixes and are very knowledgeable. -
Review from Joanna S.
San Francisco, CA
7/8/2011
ABC school was both fun and a learning experience. I did the one week training course which at first seems like a lot. Like everything we learn you eventually get the hang of it, it becomes easy and a repetition count in your head. The two instructors that I met (Natasia-kept me laughing and Kenny-very informative) are awesome they each have their own way of teaching through their different experiences. I enjoyed everyday and would highly recommend this school to any one interested in bartending (be ready for the fast pace) :)
-
Review from Heather J.
San Francisco, CA
1/13/2010
OK, I'll admit it- I'm a sceptic of bar-tending schools.
I honestly believe that over half the people who go there never even go on to get jobs as bartenders and I've put off going because it was far more exciting for me to just make fun of those other yahoos.
But, I digress. I finally cowboyed up and did some research.
Out of all the bar-tending schools out there this is one of the cheapest and the school itself, albeit ghetto as all get out, boasts some of the best instructors.
Once I got there I was surprised by how welcoming my instructor, Asher, was. I took the weekend courses and he wasn't the douche-y, full-of-himself bartender/ teacher I was expecting.
On the contrary, he was super warm, receptive, incredibly fun and spastic (in the best way possible) and fit a lot of information into a very well structured, succinct course.
And these courses cater to the bartender wannabes & and never-gunna- bes alike. If bar-tending is really your goal- the instructors give you tons of information on how to navigate jobs, coordinate drink volumes with prices, get through to those bitchy customers, etc- it's all incredibly helpful. And, if you're one of those yahoos I mentioned earlier that's just interested in making a good drink & not planning on cashing in- then that's fine too- this place actually gives you all the info you need and doesn't judge your intentions... even if i do... sorry, btw, for the yahoo comment... no harm meant- really.
Anyways, all in all a great, fun, informative course. Asher's a rockstar and I've heard nothing but good things about the other two teachers @ San Leandro as well: Jamie & Natasia.
Oh, and if this matters at all- all the instructors are oddly good looking- if indie/ rockabillie/ grunge is your thing. ;) -
Review from lindsey n.
Brentwood, CA
6/30/2011
ABC Bartending was awesome! I just completed the 2 week course and I got so much out of it. I learned exactly what I needed to learn to work in a fast pace bar. I mostly had the instructor Kenny who I absolutely adore. He was great, funny and everything he taught me just stuck. You can really tell he enjoys his job and helping us beginners to the best of his ability. They also have an excellent program after you complete the course to help find you a job, Natasia is extremely helpful in this department and i'm sure as an instructor as well though I only had her for the testing night she was super helpful and fun to be around. I would recommend this school to ANYBODY. If you are totally serious about becoming a fantastic bartender or just want to do it for fun sign up now, you wont regret it =)
-
Review from Angela C.
San Pablo, CA
4/8/2011
I just graduated last Thursday! I was told about the school thru my new employer who recently hired me as a bartender! The instructors are very knowledgable and work with you A LOT!!! Jaime, Natashia, and Kenny rock!!! I highly recommend this school! They even help with job placement when you pass if needed! Also, they allow you to return anytime to freshen up your skills if it's been awhile since you have used your bar-tending talents! Thanks ABC!!!
Listed in: Places I've been!
-
Review from Kara P.
Vallejo, CA
12/23/2011
This place is great! They have a real bar set-up and all the teachers are really nice. They teach different styles and give advice for the real world. I'm totally stoked to be a Bartender and it only took two weeks!! It's so worth your time and money :)
-
Review from june I.
Oakland, CA
4/8/2011
I decided to take the ABC Bartending class on a whim for a potential new career. I had taken cooking classes previously so decided to give this a try. If one thinks that being a bartender or as we are now known, mixologist, is easy, well you need to guess again. This class was very comprehensive. You will learn everything you need to know about bartending including ingredients, utensils, equipment as well as information about wine and beer. Additionally, one of the instructors allowed students to work at a real bar and get the feel of what it is like in a real bar setting.
Instructors Natasha and Ken were fantastic and very knowledgeable.
I felt this course was worth the money and with potential job placement it was definitely worth the time.
The class can be taken either accelerated (one weekend), in one week or drawn out over 2 weeks. The nice thing is you can practice your skill even after completing your training.
June I.
Oakland, CA -
Review from Jaimee J.
Tracy, CA
2/5/2011
I really enjoyed the class and my instructors... I had Kenny and Natacia (both have different styles of bartending) but both great instructors. The school itself could really use some updating, but over all I had a great experience and learned alot of new drinks. It was worth the $$$....
-
Review from Eva H.
Gilbert, AZ
1/18/2008
So I came up with this great idea for girls night - bartending school. Expensive but very fun. Jamie was our instructor and is very knowledgable about drinks and makes a good one FAST. We brought our own snacks and it was a private class. I think it was a first for them so it was great that BOB the owner (or manager) was very open minded about doing it.
-
Review from Ry T.
Hayward, CA
1/28/2011
Was signed up for the classes by my girlfriend, and had some of the best time ever!! The teachers are really cool and explain things in detail for you. It is a real good learning experience if you are looking to get into this field. I learned so many drinks that I know I am really going to enjoy making, and maybe enjoy when I go out for drinks. The job placement assistance is a huge asset. This school is well worth your 40 hours.
