Comments on: At the bar, it’s the little things that count http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/ Bars, bartenders and imbibing in Beantown. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:00:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: ljclark http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8271 ljclark Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:08:02 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8271 That's a handy bit of info, Joaquin, thanks! That’s a handy bit of info, Joaquin, thanks!

]]> By: Joaquin http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8269 Joaquin Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:22:23 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8269 Jon, I just had the pleasure of working a few shifts at the Violet Hour in Chicago's Wicker Park (kicking off the inaugural swap in the Bartender Exchange Program) and was thrilled to find a passionate crew of hardworking bartenders with incredible talent and warm personalities. Th drink list is extensive, the door guys are polite and the spirits list is top-notch. Check them out and feel free to ask them for more bartender recommendations. Jon,

I just had the pleasure of working a few shifts at the Violet Hour in Chicago’s Wicker Park (kicking off the inaugural swap in the Bartender Exchange Program) and was thrilled to find a passionate crew of hardworking bartenders with incredible talent and warm personalities. Th drink list is extensive, the door guys are polite and the spirits list is top-notch. Check them out and feel free to ask them for more bartender recommendations.

]]> By: susan http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8149 susan Fri, 15 Feb 2008 22:49:35 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8149 additionally: a good bartender keeps the bartop shiny and dry with a cloth just for this purpose. he doesn't serve your beer or cocktail in a warm, wet glass right off the drip rack - you don't have to be fearful of spotting a lipstick imprint as you are about to take the first sip. he knows the difference between a red/white wine glass, doesn't insult by using a generic water goblet as an all purpose cocktail glass, does not give change as soggy beer soaked bills, does not keep bar snacks in an open box on the floor within eyeshot of the patrons using an old wooden salad bar as a scoop. does not offer you the half eaten, picked over bowl of bar snacks now crawling with unwashed after work subway strap holding bacteria laden finger licking hand cooties. a first rate bartender knows when to shut off an obnoxious drunk even if it is only 6 pm. does not make people who order a "mudslide" feel inferior - after all not everyone is a professional cocktailaholic. additionally: a good bartender keeps the bartop shiny and dry with a cloth just for this purpose. he doesn’t serve your beer or cocktail in a warm, wet glass right off the drip rack - you don’t have to be fearful of spotting a lipstick imprint as you are about to take the first sip. he knows the difference between a red/white wine glass, doesn’t insult by using a generic water goblet as an all purpose cocktail glass, does not give change as soggy beer soaked bills, does not keep bar snacks in an open box on the floor within eyeshot of the patrons using an old wooden salad bar as a scoop. does not offer you the half eaten, picked over bowl of bar snacks now crawling with unwashed after work subway strap holding bacteria laden finger licking hand cooties.

a first rate bartender knows when to shut off an obnoxious drunk even if it is only 6 pm. does not make people who order a “mudslide” feel inferior - after all not everyone is a professional cocktailaholic.

]]> By: Gareth http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8066 Gareth Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:51:12 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8066 Nice list MC Slim JB... Going kind of along the same line as #1, once you are actually seated at the bar and your drink is getting low, being there to take another order quickly. And if the bartender can give a recommendation based off the previous drink (if you decide to switch it up) that makes it even better. Nice list MC Slim JB…

Going kind of along the same line as #1, once you are actually seated at the bar and your drink is getting low, being there to take another order quickly. And if the bartender can give a recommendation based off the previous drink (if you decide to switch it up) that makes it even better.

]]> By: ljclark http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8044 ljclark Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:01:01 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8044 John, I don't know anything about Chicago bartenders, unfortunately. If I were looking for good Chicago bars, I'd start at Esquire.com's Best Bars in America: http://www.esquire.com/bestbars/. God, I hope you don't freeze your ass off out there. John, I don’t know anything about Chicago bartenders, unfortunately. If I were looking for good Chicago bars, I’d start at Esquire.com’s Best Bars in America: http://www.esquire.com/bestbars/. God, I hope you don’t freeze your ass off out there.

]]> By: jon from NH http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8043 jon from NH Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:20:45 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8043 I know this is drinks BOSTON, but anyone have any tips for finding good bartenders in Chicago? I know this is drinks BOSTON, but anyone have any tips for finding good bartenders in Chicago?

]]> By: MC Slim JB http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8042 MC Slim JB Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:04:25 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8042 Thanks for the kind words, Scortch! It occurred to me that the notion of Gertsen at No. 9 shaking a flip for five minutes could fall under "technical chops", but the hospitality aspect is that he doesn't have to do it for that long, maybe shouldn't when the bar is slammed, but always does anyway. (Doubtless he has a well-considered rationale, probably something to do with air bubbles and foam structure, for why it needs to be shaken that long, but that attention to detail still makes me feel extra well cared for.) My greatest purely technical peeve is unchilled cocktail glasses. That's a basic, obvious essential in my book, and yet I see it flouted all the time in places that really should know better. Context is important -- you probably shouldn't be ordering a Martini at J. J. Foley's Cafe in the first place, never mind expecting a chilled glass. It's the pricey places with long swanky cocktail lists and yards of super-premium spirits that aggravate me when they cut this corner. Thanks for the kind words, Scortch!

It occurred to me that the notion of Gertsen at No. 9 shaking a flip for five minutes could fall under “technical chops”, but the hospitality aspect is that he doesn’t have to do it for that long, maybe shouldn’t when the bar is slammed, but always does anyway. (Doubtless he has a well-considered rationale, probably something to do with air bubbles and foam structure, for why it needs to be shaken that long, but that attention to detail still makes me feel extra well cared for.)

My greatest purely technical peeve is unchilled cocktail glasses. That’s a basic, obvious essential in my book, and yet I see it flouted all the time in places that really should know better. Context is important — you probably shouldn’t be ordering a Martini at J. J. Foley’s Cafe in the first place, never mind expecting a chilled glass. It’s the pricey places with long swanky cocktail lists and yards of super-premium spirits that aggravate me when they cut this corner.

]]> By: ljclark http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8000 ljclark Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:35:24 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-8000 Thanks for welcoming MC, Scortch. I'll be posting away as usual, no worries. Thanks for welcoming MC, Scortch. I’ll be posting away as usual, no worries.

]]> By: Scortch http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-7993 Scortch Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:13:39 +0000 http://drinkboston.com/2008/02/09/at-the-bar-its-the-little-things-that-count/#comment-7993 Welcome MC Slim JB! I've enjoyed reading your posts on Chowhound and look forward to seeing your insight here as well! Although I hope this doesn't mean any sort of decline in Lauren's posts by any means! Welcome MC Slim JB!

I’ve enjoyed reading your posts on Chowhound and look forward to seeing your insight here as well! Although I hope this doesn’t mean any sort of decline in Lauren’s posts by any means!

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