To complain to bar manager about staff member hitting my hand?

[slurpysue]

Went to a cocktail bar and it was my round, so ordered 6 drinks. Card was on tab for payment.

The bartender was making two drinks at a time and lining them up on the bar. He had made four drinks so I thought I’d save time waiting and carry over the finished drinks to the table when he finished making the last two.

As I went to take them, the bartender then physically smacked my hand away and shouted at me that he is NOT FINISHED. He then chastised me to say that I do not take a drink from his bar until he tells me he has finished it. He then proceeds to make the other cocktails before tastIng it with a straw to test it’s right. Then he said I can take them over.

AIBU to complain to the bar manager? It’s fair enough to tell someone hang on sorry I need to make sure it’s right. But to shout at someone and whack their hand? I don’t think so.

Of course you should complain! Nutter..

He tasted the cocktails with a straw - and then offered those to customers? Unbelievable! Please inform his manager of this - and of the smacking (although that one could possibly be brushed off as playful - even if it wasn't)

Er no, that's way out of order. And tasting them even more so. I'd email the manager.

Weird, I'd email them. He shouldn't be doing that job.
I complained in Cafe Nero when the barista ripped the seal off a new bottle of milk with his teeth 🙄

No no he dipped the straw in and pulled it out, tasted from the straw, and then threw the straw away.

This is common practice. Dip the straw into the drink with your finger over the top of the straw. Remove and taste from the bottom of the straw while removing finger from top of straw. He didn't put straw into drink and take a sip

When u say taste with a straw - like out in a straw, put his finger over the end of the straw, lift out and taste?

Sounds like an odd setup. All the cocktail bars I've been to have been table service - I guess to avoid these situations.

That's totally standard

The straw is moot. No way should he have slapped you. He needs to know that’s not ok.

You've never been somewhere where you order a cocktail at the bar?!?

Tell me you've never watched a cocktail be made without telling me...! 😁

OP, yeah you can complain, that was rude.

I am certainly not saying it was your intention but I have eorked in many bars in the past and its a common trick to not pay for drinks , order a round starting with drinks you actually want then while the are been poured add a extra couple of drinks / snacks, take the ones you wanted but don't return to pay for and collect the last items.

Smacking you is out of order but saying don't take them yet firmly is fine imo.

The straw tasting is perfectly standard, tho I would expect a well trained member of staff to be able to make a cocktail correctly without having to do this unless it was a new / unusual drink

Of course the straw thing is standard 😂 BUT the hitting? Complain.

Smacked you hand or whacked you hand? you mention both

They had her card with an open tab. Literally can’t leave without paying.

Ah I am sorry I missed that line

Ok learnt something new there 😄😄
Never seen my cocktail 'tasted' - guess the experienced bartenders probably don't do that?
At least I'll know not to complain if they do 😂

The straw tasting is standard and a none event.

He didn't handle the situation well but I'm pretty sure his version of events will be "I tapped her on the hand".

Complaing if necessary but unless thry gave him physically assisting you on CCTV, you are probably wasting your time.

The opposite actually. The more wanky the cocktail bar, the more likely it is that they have wanky experienced bartenders who want to put on a performance of tasting to ensure that they are giving their customers the best 👌 tasting drink.

As you can tell, I think it's wanky and usually not necessary for most cocktails in most situations! (I'm an experienced barmaid all be it not a wanky cocktail specialist)

I’ve seen hundreds of cocktails made and never seen this, what a pretentious load of old bollocks.

I’d complain and go somewhere that the bar staff are not self important wankers.

If you are making cocktails with several ingredients it is always possible to forget something - the missing splash of bitters or 15ml of simple syrup that throws the balance of the drink off. Some bars won’t send anything out to a customer unless it’s had that final taste to make sure it is right.

slapping a hand away is a definite no no though! It is called the hospitality industry - their job is not just to make a good drink, it is to make customers feel welcome and want to come back.

Right I think we've established it's ok about THE STRAW.

What is not ok is hitting you and yelling at you. You had a bank card linked to the tab, it's not like you could walk off with the drinks and not pay. Hitting customers, nasty attitude, telling you now you can take your drinks, who made him king of the bar?

Complain, and complain hard. And name and shame on social media. I'd want to know if a bar in my area treated customers like that.

Yep this. How is this ever ok? You get into arguments about intent and force etc so it's simple. It's not OK to hit people.

A friend slapped my hand when I said damm. Actually it just takes me back to being a child and beaten up by my mum. I don't should have to explain why I don't being hit ever by anyone.

Use your Fxxxing words not your hands.

I see it from both sides. It's exhausting dealing with drunks who try to "help", take the wrong drinks, then spill them on the way to the table... Not saying it's you OP but how is the barman to tell and maybe it's the last straw that night (pun intended).

But he should have held himself in check professionally. At the end of my tether I'd rather let you walk away with unfinished drinks and see it as a punishment of sorts for interfering, than bat your hands away and shout.

Personally I'd leave a review with your experience - it will achieve more than complaining to the management.
An next time - it only takes a split second to ask if something's OK/ready to take.