Message 12046 of 22774 in Behind the Bar

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Because it completely relies on what "level" of Club Service we/I/you are 
talking about.  Towit:
We used to use the term "Club Service" as shorthand to mean "mixers from 
bottles, not from guns".  We were of course using the term "Club Service" as 
even a further truncation of a high style of service, usually confined to 
Country Clubs, City Clubs and Train (Club) Cars known for providing a certain 
style of Highball service that the soda-gun killed.

The "proper" details are lost to me, but it goes something like this:
Patron asks for a Highball
Bartender fills Highball glass with ice
Bartender adds a portion of requested liquor
Waiter presents highball glass on a bev nap, a bottle of requested mixer upon 
another bevnap, inquires whether anything else is required at this moment, 
nods and flits away.

An acceptable alternative is to present the previously assembled Highball 
glass, add 1/2 a portion of mixer tableside, and leave the remainder at the 
table, allowing the client to add more at his or her leisure.

Proper "Club Service" more'n likely encompassed a whole 'nother realm of guest 
interaction that is sorely lacking in these newfangled, modern times.  Stupid 
discretion things like never refering to a clients previous visits, 
especcially on the same day; never asking "Would you like another Scotch, Mr 
Higginbottom?" over the more discreet "A Scotch Mr Higginbottom?" And when Mr 
H. arrives in the company of others, even though he has never, ever,never, 
ever, never, never, ever never ordered anything but Dewars with a splash, 
don't ever assume that he will do it again.  Either ask him what he would 
like, or allow him to tell you.  When he's by himself, on the other hand, your 
best bet is to keep the Dewars handy at all times, the nearer to his perch, 
the better.

Don't even get me started on proper 'phone etiquette and the lack thereof.  In 
a weird way, cell phones have relieved the bartender and maitre 'd from 
abetting wayward husbands and the like in their subterfuge.  But then again, 
they used to $thank$ us for running interference for them.

myers