whomper Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 As you guys know I bar tend at a banquet facility. In our area this is one of the top places around. There are 3 owners. The main owner , his nephew and his son. The main owner isnt very involved in the day to day operations anymore. The nephew and the son make a lot of those decisions. One decision the son made was to eliminate those small cocktail straws. For some reason he feels that these straws arent classy and have a associates these with more of a tavern atmosphere. We have about 4 beverage staff meetings a year. This place is all about the guests needs. If a guest asks for something we dont have , and its possible, we will actually send someone to the liquor store and get it , so I will say they do aim to please. In the last meeting I mentioned that our motto is all about the guests yet many guests , especially women, are very dissapointed that we dont have cocktail straws. For women it smears their lipstick to drink direct from the glass. This guy is adamant though and wont budge on the issue no matter how many people complain. He says "The Ritz Carlton doesnt use them and neither will we". So what says those in the business ? Is there truth to a cocktail straw making a place seem less classy ? The bartenders are all getting an earful every shift from the guests so the common sense answer is obvious as to whether we should have them or not. My question is about the theory behind his thinking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detlef Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I've never heard of that notion. Seems entirely random and about the last place I'd draw a line in the sand. Especially if customers were complaining. And this is not to say that I'll cave to customer demands at every turn, but over cocktail straws? Uh, yeah, I think I can give in on that one. Don't get me wrong, if dude orders a single malt, he's not getting a straw. Well, unless the momo asks for one. But for a cocktail? I can't remember ever working in a place that didn't give them and can't, for the life of me, think of why this cheapens a place's vibe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh B Tool Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 What Det said is basically spot on. To add, I have been to all of our eleven properties and all the bars and restaurants too boot. Some very high end, some just stops for a drink and a dog at the turn. All carry the straws. Every drink doesn't get them of course, and having poured myself; most of the female type drinks did though. Heck they can stir their drink with them, have something to do with their hands and get more imbibed in the process. Win win for everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bier Meister Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 what det and hugh b said Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpwallace49 Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 That is a very foolish area to try and cut costs. Good mixed cocktails should always have a cocktail straw to maintain the balance of the drink you are mixing alcohol with a mixer that have different densities that will separate. That is also why swizzle sticks have een around forever. I think the boss is trying to cut costs in the wrong area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Country Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 I'm not in the industry officially but have frequented many a bar, both high end and sawdust on the floor type of place. Just about all had the straws (can't think of any that didn't). If he's trying to cut costs, I say keep the straws and cut back a bit on the fruit salad (IIRC, you said you guys keep a ton of different fruit available for garnish) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted August 9, 2011 Author Share Posted August 9, 2011 That is a very foolish area to try and cut costs. Good mixed cocktails should always have a cocktail straw to maintain the balance of the drink you are mixing alcohol with a mixer that have different densities that will separate. That is also why swizzle sticks have een around forever. I think the boss is trying to cut costs in the wrong area. We do offer stirrers with the mixed drinks. It isnt a cost cutting issue. He just thinks or must have heard somewhere that this denotes a less classy atmosphere. It is truly the dumbest thing we ever heard but he gets all pissy when challenged on anything so we just have to grin and bear it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bier Meister Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 We do offer stirrers with the mixed drinks. It isnt a cost cutting issue. He just thinks or must have heard somewhere that this denotes a less classy atmosphere. It is truly the dumbest thing we ever heard but he gets all pissy when challenged on anything so we just have to grin and bear it how often does he hit a nice place and not get a 5 1/2" stirring straw for his gin and tonic? even if you just give it a stir and toss it and don't sip it like hugh one, nice to have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detlef Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 We do offer stirrers with the mixed drinks. It isnt a cost cutting issue. He just thinks or must have heard somewhere that this denotes a less classy atmosphere. It is truly the dumbest thing we ever heard but he gets all pissy when challenged on anything so we just have to grin and bear it ...and explain to the women who ask for a straw that they must be used to drinking in dive bars who stoop to that sort of behavior. Honestly, I'm completely baffled. You're right, it's about the dumbest thing ever. Seriously, can you imagine someone thinking "Oh, finally, a place that doesn't defile their drinks with a straw." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bpwallace49 Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 We do offer stirrers with the mixed drinks. It isnt a cost cutting issue. He just thinks or must have heard somewhere that this denotes a less classy atmosphere. It is truly the dumbest thing we ever heard but he gets all pissy when challenged on anything so we just have to grin and bear it Then I am at a loss . . . there really is no reason besides a poorly formed judgement on the "class" of straws. very silly if you ask me. Ya want keep the wimmins happy, so give em straws. . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted August 9, 2011 Share Posted August 9, 2011 (edited) He says "The Ritz Carlton doesnt use them and neither will we". smoking gun (3rd picture) and the last picture here, there's a big black straw in every f'n drink. take that, cocktail straw nazi Edited August 9, 2011 by Azazello1313 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted August 9, 2011 Author Share Posted August 9, 2011 smoking gun (3rd picture) and the last picture here, there's a big black straw in every f'n drink. take that, cocktail straw nazi I googled it too and didnt find any. So dumb and Detlef, we obviously dont say the reason why we dont have straws. we just say we dont offer them and they look at us baffled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montster Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 smoking gun (3rd picture) and the last picture here, there's a big black straw in every f'n drink. take that, cocktail straw nazi I was actually going to suggest visiting the Ritz-Carlton and seeing for yourself whether they use the straws (unless the guy doesn't actually care and is just using the Ritz in the generic sense). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kid Cid Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Clearly this guy needs to get out from under his rock more. I've never known a place, no matter how high end, to not place the cocktail straws in the appropriate drinks. I don't know what he thinks he's doing but I do know that he is pissing off the customers. Not good business IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 ...and then whomp gets fired by challenging his small-johnsoned boss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted December 11, 2011 Author Share Posted December 11, 2011 (edited) You truly wont believe what happened Friday Night. There are 3 owners of the place I work at. 2 of them are older gentlemen and the one that banned the straws is a young guy about 40. He is actually a pretty great guy. Very generous and has a big heart. So on occassion the owners staff etc are actually guests at our place for weddings. These weddings are labelled VIP weddings . So the straw ban owner is an usher in this wedding I worked Friday. This guy absolutely loves to party and his friends are insane partiers too so my brother and I requested that we get on this party because we knew there would be a ton of action at the bar and it would be a great money night. Fast forward to about 1am. The party officially ended at 12 but he let them have after hours for the group of friends that stayed. I swear on my kids every word of below is true Owner comes to my bar and he is smashed (we have 2 individual bars set up in the back room) Owner: Kettle club Whomper : :makes drink garnishes and hands him drink: Owner: Let me have a small cocktail straw Whomper : Owner: Me : Me: Hang on I will see if we can get one Barback to me : He didnt just ask for a drink straw did he ? Me: Yes do you Fin believe it ? Go to the cabinets and please try and find one Now the owner is circling back peridoically and asking for the straw. I told him the barback was looking for one. I didnt have to deal with this all night because he was drinking Santa Margherita Pinto grigio before this and doing shots Barback: comes back with a big straw like you would get at mcdonalds. We have these because we use them strictly for tropical drinks. I know he isnt gonna like this but I cut one of those in half and walk out to the floor and try and give it to him Me: This is the best I can do :handing him cut in half Mickey D straw Him: I dont want this I want a small black drink straw. I like a small black drink straw. Why dont we have those ? Me (finally had to say it because I just didnt know what else to do) I said because its your policy that we dont offer them Owner: I know...I know Edited December 11, 2011 by whomper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bier Meister Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 pure awesomeness! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slambo Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 classic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
detlef Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 You can't make this chight up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 sounds like he may have been f*ckin wit ya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted December 12, 2011 Author Share Posted December 12, 2011 (edited) Guys please dont put any references on my FB page about cocktail straws. I am friends with the owner on FB and if he sees that it can mean problems for me Edited December 12, 2011 by whomper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted December 12, 2011 Author Share Posted December 12, 2011 sounds like he may have been f*ckin wit ya. It would seem that way but I know 100 % he wasnt. He was smashed . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bier Meister Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 (edited) Guys please dont put any references on my FB page about cocktail straws. I am friends with the owner on FB and if he sees that it can mean problems for me i say we come up with a code word for cocktail straws for you. maybe jelly bellies or something? Edited December 12, 2011 by Bier Meister Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whomper Posted December 12, 2011 Author Share Posted December 12, 2011 i say we come up with a code word for cocktail straws for you. maybe jelly bellies or something? I ask that we completely avoid the topic in its entirety on fb for risk of slip up and subsequent firing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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