I stopped in with a few friends for a post New Year's cheers and to regale each other of our holiday celebrations. The wine selection is inventive and the new food menu hearty. While jabbering away, seated awkwardly at the corner of the bar, I noticed small glass vessels with wooden handles on top of the beer and wine taps. Picture the small glass carafes you usually see at boutique coffee shops, typically used for shots of double espressos.
Horrified, I watched one of the waiters fill one of the larger than life shot glasses with wine. Nothing perturbs me more than what I witnessed - a metered pour! When you're paying $14-$24 for a single glass of anything, alcoholic or not, the last thing you want to see is a metered pour. I'm aware this is a first world problem to bitch about. But come on... in this economy places like Stanley's is a luxury that should be thanking its lucky stars it even made it through COVID let alone record breaking inflation. The least a place like Stanley's can do, rather than being way too expensive and coming off as stingy, is just pour a damn glass of wine or beer. No special pouring glasses or etched measurements on the glassware necessary.
Yes, it's a business. Yes, they're in the business of high end alcohol and boutique pantry gifts to make money. Do they need to ensure that every glass they pour isn't a drop over the limit? No.
I immediately started bitching to my friend group about the liquid injustice. I made sure to say it loud enough so one or two employees could hear me. Unfortunately the surly, pissy waitress rushing in and out of the bar to service the tables outside also overheard me. Problem is our party would be seated at a table with Ms. Piss not long after my bitch session. She made sure to take her time coming over to the table and even longer to check back if we needed another round or to order food which we informed her we did when we first sat down. MF joined us late, after the food showed up, everyone slowly winding down.
Agreeing we all wanted one last round Ms. Piss took everyone's order. When she got to MF he stammered, not having looked much at the menu and I knowing him so well knew that he probably was undecided what he'd even want. As he mumbled about maybe not getting anything I spoke up, saying "He'll have what I'm having. So two Lambruscos." One, I know MF well enough to know that he wanted something to sip on. Two, he loves Lambruscos. Ms. Piss smiled at everyone and walked away.
The last round took its time to show up and when it did it was minus one Lambrusco. Ms. Piss took her sweet time to come back to the table, only to try and serve us the check. Stopping her with a "hold on" as she was already walking away, I said we were one Lambrusco short. With a sneering smile and a shine in her eyes Ms. Piss looks at the table and says, "I don't serve drinks to someone that is not consenting, especially when someone else orders it." Smiling back even more sinister than her I replied, "That's nice but he wanted the drink" to which MF responded in agreement.
I'm all for consent. However, does that mean that bartenders should get consent from everyone when someone orders the group a round of drinks? It's absurd. What the fuck does she care? He wasn't falling out of his chair and I wasn't ordering the biggest glass of booze they had, forcing it down his throat. Do your job; serve the food and drink. I'm not even saying Ms. Piss needed to do it with a smile. Sell for the business and make your tips from the business. Don't give me your consent bullshit because you're being snotty.
Just keep in mind the next time you want to order a drink for someone be sure to get their completed drinking consent paperwork first.
