14 polite habits bartenders actually dislike – and what to do instead

Asking the bartender, “What’s good here?” or saying, “Just surprise me with something good!” may be well intended – you’re trusting their educated opinion, after all. But alcohol preferences are so individual that all these statements really do is make the bartender play an uncomfortable guessing game trying to figure out what you like. “When I first started, I used to ask a lot of questions, trying to help them narrow it down,” says Hernandez. “But now, I just joke, ‘Don’t worry, we took all the bad drinks off the menu already – you’re safe,’ and hopefully they’ll get the hint to just order something off our well-curated menu.” He adds that it’s incredibly frustrating to spend a lot of time explaining different cocktails, only to have the person just order a beer.

Do this instead: if you need a suggestion, make it specific by telling them what kind of liquor or flavours you like. Or, if you truly want the bartender to surprise you, say that … but then be prepared to drink whatever it is without complaint, says Miner.

Spills happen, and grabbing a couple napkins to mop up the drips is a great idea. What’s not? “Grabbing the entire stack of cocktail napkins off the bar and throwing it on a large puddle,” says Hernandez. “I appreciate the help, but we have bar mops and rags for exactly this purpose, and those cocktail napkins are pricey.”

Do this instead: flag down a staff member and explain the situation. They’ll bring out the cleaning supplies.

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On busy nights, you might think it would make sense to hand the bartender cash and let them close out the bill when they have a spare minute. But this isn’t as good an idea as you think it is. “Sometimes people will just hand me a ball of cash and be like, ‘This is for the bill – keep the rest for your tip,’” says Joe. “And these are usually the people who end up stiffing us money.” Even if you’re not trying to be dishonest, it’s easy to make a mistake calculating the bill plus tip.

Do this instead: hand the bartender cash, and wait for them to count it and close the tab. Then offer a tip. Note: tipping etiquette will be different depending on where you are and the type of bar it is.

You may not want to bother the bartender with extra concerns beyond making drinks –especially if the line to the bar is three deep – but there are some things that are always good etiquette to bring to the bartender’s attention. “If you see someone slip something into someone else’s drink, alert me or the other staff immediately,” says Mitchell Allen, a hotel and catering bartender in Seattle. Other things you should tell your bartender about: first-aid issues, health emergencies and if you need help getting home safely.

Do this instead: if something is a safety concern, let your bartender or other staff member know immediately. “Guests’ comfort and safety is always our top priority,” Allen says.

Skipping the menu keeps things simple for you and the bartender… as long as you know exactly what you want. “People will come in and say, ‘Oh, I don’t need a menu – I’m not here for anything fancy,’ and then say, ‘What beers do you have?’ But that’s the point of the menu!” says Allen. “We have 20 rotating beers on tap, and I don’t want to have to recite them every time.”

Do this instead: if you know exactly what you want, order it right away. If you’re unsure, look at the menu first, before asking questions.

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Source: RD.com