hey joni,
> Can an alcoholic drink be ordered in a regular/non-alcoholic glass?
josh and natrone have pretty much answered this.
> I guess it sounds silly to ask this here. I'm a "good girl"...all my
> friends are from church, and I would feel a bit awkward if someone
> were to spot me (usually acompanied by my husband and children) with
> an obviously alcoholic drink. I know there's nothing wrong with it,
> personally, but I know that it would go over like a lead brick with
> most of my friends...heaven forbid if the preacher sat down at the
> next table, you know? I don't want to offend anyone, and I don't
> want to cause someone to question or think of me as a hypocrite. But
> I want to have a drink occasionally. If it helps, I'm talking about
> at restaurants...Fridays, Red Lobster, etc.
i understand and respect your reasons.
> I guess another related question...how do you feel about people who
> order drinks from the table, rather than coming to the bar? I'm
> still new to the whole scene.
i agree with josh and natrone on the tipping issue. although i disagree that
it is disrespectful towards the server or cocktail waiter/ess as we know them
in uk. some people might come up to the bar simply because they don't want to
pay the service charge that the waiteress might charge them as opposed to
optional tipping at the bar (as quite a few uk lounge bars have this kinda
scheme) but some people might be unsure of what they want next and would like
some educated advice or recommendations from the person thats making their
drinks him/herself. (let's be honest, most servers/waiteresses have little
drinks knowledge beyond their personal preferences or the cocktail menu) it
might be that they enjoy the theatre of watching a slick bartender mixing
their drinks. it might be that they wanna check out/chat up the cute
bartender.etc..
most of it relates (imo) to the fact that people go to bars for different
reasons/motivations. be it to socialise with friends / make new ones / as part
of a nice day/night out: for pre/post - cinema/theatre/dinner drinks / for
business purposes / to party/ to entertain potential business clients / to
celebrate / for dates / to enjoy different cocktails / to pull / to dance /
because they fancy a drink after a hard day at work / or simply to get wasted!
etc etc (obviously some of these would be irrelevant, depending on the type of
establishment)
i would even extend this to part of the reason why people choose to sit at
the bar or on lounge tables. (although comfort and convenience are also an
issue) .For example - a couple on a first date or a group discussing business
would prefer to sit at a table, as they would probably feel uncomfortable
being overheard by bartenders. They would order drinks from the servers, so as
not to have major breaks in their conversation/discussion etc. Personally I
prefer, my patrons taking up all the bar-stools or coming up to the bar to
order. This allows for more interaction, laughter, education and entertainment
for both parties. Although, I don't think any less of the customers that
expect me to serve them at the table. (unless I'm really really busy)
--
As a great bartender once said: "I don't mix drinks, I mix people"