r/bartenders

Ive mostly served but also bartended for a while, got out the industry and i miss it. Im getting my own bar at home. My favorite cocktails are variations/inspiration of the same thing: The Gimlet (Last word, Ultima Palabra).

I was really against being open last night because we only had one reservation at the beginning of the night for 11pm, but the owner wanted to give it a shot since we're right near downtown which always has a big fireworks show. It actually ended up being a decent night, around 40 people total which is less than half of what we normally do on a Saturday night but better than I expected.

I had one couple in particular come in to celebrate their anniversary and we had a great conversation about spirits/cocktails and the industry in general. I brought them some dessert and Licor 43 since they saw it on our back bar and were telling me how much they liked it, and the owner had me invite them (and the other guests who happened to be in the bar when the show started) up to the rooftop deck to watch the fireworks. They had a great time and ended up tipping me $150 on a $95 tab.

I almost cried because I and the other bartender who co-manages this place with me work incredibly hard to give everyone a truly special experience here and it's just nice when people see and appreciate it.

I don’t drink and never go to bars, but I’m heading to one tonight for the England v Mexico game. It’s a small Irish-style place, and I want to make sure I tip properly. I will probably be there at least 2.5 hours. I will order food that will probably add up to around $60 (based on online menu) plus a soda. What is a fair tip, given that I know another patron would be paying more for alcohol? Since it’ll be an even busier night than usual because of the game, I want to take that into account too.

I’m not cheap. People work hard and it’s only fair to pay for their service. But since I don’t do this kind of thing much, I don’t know if 20% is still fair? Or more? Again, I know nothing, Jon Snow, which is why I’m asking. Thank you.

Edit to add: Thank you all very much for your help. I’ll tip a bare minimum of 20% and will add more as appropriate, per your suggestions.

So I really like a French 75 but I don’t know want any sweetener, just prosecco, gin and lemon juice. Is it rude to ask for removed?

Additionally would it be odd to ask for a Gin & Prosecco just straight up like that?

With the World Cup, I think bartenders would get the chance to see IDs and passports from all over the world.
So in your work experiences when asking for ID to verify a customer is 21, what’s the most exotic one that you have seen?

What tips do you have that’ll actually help me get out of this sane

TLDR at the bottom

I just took a week-long vacation with my wife that everyone I worked with, including the owner, was well aware of. About a month before leaving, I asked the GM if I should request the dates off on our employee app. He said no, that he does the schedule so just text him the dates and he'd take care of it. So that's what I did.

Long story short, the GM forgot to not schedule me, and then a few days before my trip we had some confusion over who would get coverage for them. I was one of 3 managers (including the GM) so one of my shifts only the other 2 managers could cover. We're short-staffed right now so there was no one available to cover my weekend shifts anyway, so I just needed coverage for my Thursday shift. He says he told me to find coverage, I assumed he'd figure it out since it was his fault I was on the schedule in the first place.

I take my vacation. The other manager texted me wondering who was covering my Thursday shift. I said "that's a great question. You want it? ---- said they have to work their other job. I made $500 last Thursday so definitely worth it". Never heard back.

I return from my trip, go to work the next day, and the owner is waiting for me with a letter of termination due to "not following the company policy for time-off requests". Mind you, I'd worked there for over 4 years and never had so much as a warning for any kind of problem. I was floored. I tried to explain the situation, as she was unaware the GM mistakenly scheduled me after telling me not to request the dates off on the app, but she didn't give a fuck. I then find myself unemployed directly after a week-long vacation (job didn't offer PTO either).

The owner has always been a massive pain in the ass to work for, but everyone is afraid to say anything due to their fear of getting fired. Now that that's off the table for me, I really want to leave a Google review detailing everything she needs to hear but the yes-men she's surrounded herself with won't say. Literally no one working there likes her. I know if I just email or text it she won't read it. A 1-star Google review for the public to see is another story.

Also, she had the employees sign NDA's while I was on vacation regarding the business practices. I didn't sign one, so I feel like I'm in the clear to say anything (within reason, of course).

Lastly, it's already have another job. There's another place that wants to hire me too and I know the owner of that place doesn't like my old owner, so I don't need the references.

So should I do it or am I just being petty?

TLDR- I got fired and my old boss is a raging, stupid, bitch that no one likes. Should I leave a 1-star Google review for the business telling her everything her employees are afraid to say to her?

We are a modest little cocktail spot by the water. 40 capacity. Childs play if we had the right systems. Ownership is clueless. 4th of July is going to be a shit show. I suggested we 86 table service. Have guests order at the bar, and just run the drinks to them.

My boss then asks, “so, you’re saying we have to REMEMBER what people look like AND what they order AND BRING IT ALL TO THEM!?!”

My fuck up: “um….yeah. That’s…hospitality.”

Apparently, I’m patronizing him. Nevermind how he patronizes me by opening a cocktail spot WITH ZERO EXPERIENCE. I don’t have a well, I don’t have a washing station of any kind, and he wanted a specialty holiday menu with three days notice and zero regard for the lack of organization.

Hope your holiday is better than mine.

and it has ice cubes in it, am I supposed to dump the whole thing in my martini glass, try to use a fork to strain the ice while pouring it into my martini glass, or drink it straight from the side car (which seems diabolical)? It doesn’t happen often but every time it does I’m at a loss and trying not to look like an idiot.

Last night my coworker’s family came in late to pre-game for his birthday and his one brother was being a complete ass. Comes into the place already in a mood and fighting with his family. Most bizarre encounter I’ve had in awhile. I wrote it into a scene.

Cast of characters:

Me: Bartender
Izzy: Coworker, birthday boy
Paul: Coworker’s nice brother, super funny, we love him
Donnie: Coworker’s other brother
Tony: Other co-worker

Me: Hey, you need anything?
Donnie: No, I’m not drinking. I just want club soda and cranberry.
Me: Just club soda and a splash of cranberry?
Donnie: Yeah.

[I fill a cup up with ice]

Donnie: Woah! Why are you using so much fucking ice?
Tony: Just say “light ice,” dude.
Donnie: Light ice!

Me: No biggie!

[Dumping out half the ice, filling the cup with club soda and a splash of cranberry]

Donnie: What the fuck is that?
Me: Club soda and cranberry?
Donnie: I need more cranberry.

[Fixing drink]

Me: Let me get you a straw, I put the caddy away.
Donnie: Where’s my straw?

[Grabs Donnie his fucking straw]

Me: Do you want a lime or anything with that?
Donnie: I want five limes.
Me: No problem!

[Starts rimming glass with limes, Donnie knocks them into the cup aggressively and goes to sit at the bar and drink his club soda]

Paul, singing: I wanna lick some pussy, I wanna eat some ass, I wanna suck some tits! I wanna-

[I’m cackling, I love Paul]

Paul: I’m sorry you had to hear that!

Donnie: Can I get another but I want club soda this time.
Me: Just club soda?
Donnie: No, you’re not understanding what I’m saying. Bring your ingredients here so I can show you.

Izzy: Are you getting liquor?
Donnie: No, just club soda but she doesn’t know what she’s doing. It’s sprite, cranberry, and water.

Izzy: —-
Me: But he never said Sprite.
Izzy: —-

Me: And I can’t bring over the ingredients, they’re on a gun.
Donnie: I’ll show you on the glass. You fill it up to here [1/3rd] with Sprite. Then to here [another 1/3rd] with cranberry. Then you top it off with water.
Me: Club soda or flat water?
Donnie: Wa-ter.
Me: Okay, just so you know, club soda is sparkling water.
Donnie: I know that. But I want a club soda.
Me: …but by club soda you mean—
Donnie: Sprite and cranberry juice.
Me: …and flat water?
Donnie: IT’S A CLUB SODA. Yes, flat water!
Me: …
Me: I’m gonna make you what I think you mean and then I’m gonna go do side work so I hope you like it.

[End scene]

Just for context, this family has a history of coming up with their own drinks with normal names that mean something completely different and then acting like it’s a drink known to every bar in the world. Holy god.

I was on a couple days ago during a game, and I couldn’t get out of the bar. We were understaffed, and it was so so busy. I don’t know why, but everyone was extra entitled, too. One guy reached over into the bar and grabbed a handful of ice (from the ice tub) for his rose. I had to tell him “In the future, please ask me if you would like ice, and don’t reach behind the bar.” And he LAUGHED.

Also, I know this is commonplace, but no… I don’t know what wine you had. We have 20 tabs open… you’re gonna have to tell me more than “put it on the tab.” And no! After we’re closed, you CANNOT have another pint because I’ve taken the spouts off. Also because you’re EVIL. These people just have no regard for your time. They didn’t even offer to bribe me! Wouldn’t have taken it from those douchebags though. Then we had this guy not even trying to hide that he was doing lines in the bathroom. Just plain entitlement.

I have a million stories like this (i.e., customers being rude af) from the past couple weeks. I’ve worked many a busy night, but this is different. On my way home from that shift, I cried because I was so tired. At home, I crashed on the sofa. Is the World Cup doing this to you guys, too? Thank god it’s nearly over because idk how much longer I can take this.

I’m newer to bartending and we had a busy night where all bartenders were to pool tips recently.

A client I was taking care of all night pulled me aside asking for her bill, and ended up paying another bartender. She sought me out after specifically and said “I already left a tip on the bill, but I want to give you something if only you can keep it.” I said okay, and she handed me $10.

BARTENDERS

In a situation like this, what do you do? Pocket it? Split it? Ask your colleagues for their input?

I'm talking about actual nightmare dreams. Anyone else get random nightmares from places you used to work at? My favorite (sarcastic) is from a bar I used to work at that had multiple doors to enter/exit and I forgot to lock one. It's past closing and more people keep coming through the door I forgot to lock while I'm pushing people out a different door. I wake up in a cold sweat and am so happy it's not real (eventually).

There was a night, about 3 weeks into my job (about a month ago) that my drawer was short $70.

I thought it must be my mistake OR one of the servers (specifically a girl named Ashley) might've taken it. I apologized profusely and said take it out of my pay. They didn't.

They apparently did an investigation and concluded they don't know where it disappeared from.

The next day it was short $10. I knew it was because of one of slthe servers doing something strange, not on purpose, but I knew it had to be that.

Anyway, then one day my drawer was OVER by 86$.

I was called into the office. The boss said my drawer was short $400 so I'll need to be careful. I said understood, but... Where did $409 come from? -70, -10, and +86. That's like 160 if you count it all as negative. He said it doesn't matter the numbers I saidundestood but the $400... Was that just a random number you made up? He said "correct"... He said he would if I made enough that night, and that I am close to being fired.

I ended up having to sign a warning stating that like I was instructed, and I forgot what it all said but I read it anit didn't seem weird to me.

Another night, the drawer was short again. I was so confused. But the server from that night came back, and said she made a mistake and that she by mistake miscounted $70 from the drawer.

Which made my think maybe that night, it really was a mistake by Ashley. So that server who came back that night and admitted, I asked her about it and she said that Ashley had all this extra money that night she didn't know what to do with. She said she told the manager this, and the other server did too, when they ran the investigation. But he still decided to HAVE ME fill out the warning.

Now, one thing to know, is the manager is a tall big guy. Ashley is a beautiful stunning curvy girl with green eyes and is really charming. I saw them flirt a lot. All the girls he hires are pretty mixed girls pretty much. Except for one white guy who was hired before he came, and he drove to quit last week. The first day I arrived as the bartender, she was in the kitchen talking with him right in front of me about her bartending skills. Saying that she used to be a bartender and she's good at it. Anyway,

I don't flirt with the boss ever, in fact I am just so curt and professional and rational but nice at the same time.

I was talking with one of the servers one day, (this is at a skyebar. The manager was on the first floor" and as we were talking about things wrong, we heard a noise. I look around the corner and it's the manager listening in, hearing me walk over and pretending to walk into the bathroom.

So I said to the server, okay we need to include him in on the conversation now or he will feel cornered.

So I said, I believe it was Ashley who had extra money she didn't report that day, and if two servers confirmed that, I shouldn't be had to fill out the warning. He said it wasn't Ashley, it was my mistake. I said how do you know and he couldn't confirm that. He said either way it's my responsibility.

So my question is... (And if you read this than wow. Thank you)

Is there anything I can or should do at this point?

I come in everyday early (they told me to at first it then said stop doing that so I did), I do my job with no drama or complaining, open close, make so many drinks at just a 3% tip out for the whole restaurant, (and get 5 tables myself to serve and get 100% tips from).

This is the Sheraton so it's extremely corporate.

Again thank you if you can respond.

EDIT:::::

Some of y'all don't know what a drop is. This is what's happening. No one's going into the drawer but me. They are giving me money, and I am giving them the change.

THE EXTRA MONEY IS THEIR DROP.

so I can be doing EVERYTHING CORRECTLY, as in, giving them the correct change, and if they miscalculate their drop, it's ON ME.

So I think clearly after all this. I am not going to allow anyone to get any change or leave their drops from my drawer.