Last night I went out for a friend’s birthday at this racing arcade/bar place. I went to go get a drink my some of my friends and after looking through the cocktail menu, nothing there sounded good to me. I settled for my regular going out drink (vodka cran) but then I looked at the bottles on the shelf behind the bar and saw a bottle of a specific type of liqueur used for one of my favorite drinks. It was pretty crowded so it took a while for the the bartender to notice us but when she did, I ordered that drink instead of the vodka cran. She said they didn’t have that which confused me because it has a distinct bottle and color that’s hard to miss or get mixed up. Seeing as how she strayed from the mental script I had in my head I kind of blanked and then just wordlessly pointed to the bottle on the shelf. She looked to where I was pointing and then let out this big sigh and went to go get a stool to bring the bottle down and make the drink. She was in my line of sight and I could see that the bottle was unopened/full which made me think that maybe it was just for display.
After we got our drinks and went back to our table, one of our friends asked us what took so long so I told her what happened and she got mad/annoyed and said that I should’ve just stuck to what I was originally going to order since it was much simpler. I can’t help but replay the interaction in my head and genuinely wonder if I’m in the wrong. I would’ve been okay if I had stuck with my vodka cran and I feel bad making the bartender take the bottle down when it was busy. AITA?
Edit: I ordered a Midori Sour, the liqueur in question was Midori (melon liqueur)
NTA – The job of a bartender is to serve you the drinks you order.
I realize that it’s a tough job, but they shouldn’t do it if they’re not willing to satisfy the customer.
NTA. Everyone else in this story is insane.
You are allowed to order what you want. That is why they are in business
NTA.
It’s a bar, they’re a bartender. So long as you didn’t demand one of those mixology ‘throw the shaker around’ preparations, then it’s literally their job to make the drinks customers order.
NTA, if the bottle is on the shelf, it’s an option to order it.
A Midori Sour is no more complicated than a vodka cran or anything on their menu. Maybe it was a pain in the ass to get that bottle, and maybe it would have been easier on the bartender to not get it.
I honestly think NAH, you’re entitled to ask for a drink and the bartender is entitled to get frustrated you didn’t take the no.
Them not realizing/lying about it kinda stupid. Just say “we’re making what’s on the menu right now, ask again when it’s slowed down.”
That is giving too much to the bartender. OP asked for a simple drink. For the bartender to complain is lousy. It is likely that this bartender would also rant that his or her tips aren’t good enough. Customers don’t “take the no” in a situation like this.
NTA
You ordered a drink that was clearly visible behind the bar. That is reasonable. Pointing to the bottle when told they did not have it was an understandable reaction, not rude or demanding. If the bottle was for display only, that is on the bar, not you.
Your friend is overreacting. You are allowed to change your order before it is made. The bartender’s sigh was unnecessary, and you did nothing wrong. Honestly, this was just a slightly awkward moment and your probally overthinking it.
NTA, I just looked up the recipe for a Midori sour bc I didn’t know what was in it & Midori’s website says:
1 part Midori Melon Liqueur
1 part sour mix
Lemon wedge for garnish
You literally just chuck all that in a glass with ice. That’s not difficult & the bartender was being fucking rude. Also, idk if this is a cultural difference but here in Australia Midori has always been a pretty standard option so it’s super weird to me that she apparently didn’t even know what it was.
Midori sours are also really popular back home and I’m realizing that they’re not as common on the east coast
Midori sours are not uncommon on the east coast, but I think of them as a drink I might have ordered as a teenager sneaking into bars, not an adult, so maybe the bartender was being judgy, rather than that she was unfamiliar?
Midori sour was the standard for girls when i was in college. It’s an extremely simple drink to make. Can’t imagine this being a real problem for any bartender.
NTA. A midori sour isn’t a complicated drink. No more so than a whiskey sour, amaretto sour, etc. They’re pretty basic, really. You didn’t ask for anything ridiculous. Having to open new bottles happens whether it’s a popular or unpopular drink. Bottles are finite. It’s part of drinks being had. It’s inevitable.
LMAO A Midori sour is a very basic, uncomplicated drink. NTA.