2 /5 Jamilah Delacruz: As a millennial who grew up in the golden era of the Spice Girls and as someone who has attended close to 100 drag brunches across multiple Hamburger Mary’s locations and beyond, this themed brunch had my name all over it. The performers absolutely delivered—high energy, incredible creativity, and the kind of showmanship that makes drag brunch the joyful experience it should be.
Unfortunately, the customer experience leading up to and surrounding that great entertainment fell significantly short.
When we arrived, I realized I didn’t have cash. Normally this is not an issue—drag brunch venues almost universally offer alternatives like Zelle or Venmo, or at the very least have an ATM onsite or can direct guests to one nearby. This location had none of those options, and the hostess’s suggestion was simply to “enjoy the show and not worry about tipping.” As a member of this community, I found that deeply inappropriate. Tipping is not optional in drag—it’s how these artists fund their looks, their craft, and frankly, their livelihood. To suggest otherwise is a disservice to the performers and puts guests in an uncomfortable position.
What made the situation more disappointing was that the manager on duty neither came over to address the issue nor offered an apology to the affected parties. For a problem that directly impacts performers’ income and guest experience, leadership visibility and accountability matter.
Service challenges continued after seating: our table wasn’t acknowledged for roughly 20 minutes, and we were later told we had been “missed” due to a scheduling issue. We also weren’t informed until it was time to order that brunch was the only menu available, which forced last-minute changes to our selections. The food was fine. The drinks were fine. But the operational issues overshadowed the meal.
What saved the day—and kept this review from being a one-star experience—were the performers. The queens were exceptional, polished, and gave every ounce of the magic that keeps drag brunch culture vibrant. They deserved better support behind the scenes.