(continued)

Opium Den
Experience: 7 years

Signature drink?
none

Most popular drink?
(recently) Cosmopolitans

Most unusual request?
I used to work as a bartender at a Japanese restaurant where they offered a drink that involved hot water, vodka, and a plum. I guess it wasn't really an unusual request since it was listed on the drink menu, but I always thought it was kind of disgusting when people ordered it.

Best thing about being a bartender?
Interaction with such a variety of people

Worst thing about being a bartender?
Physically draining long hours and really drunk people

Favorite drink?
Red wine

Favorite bar story?
I once worked at a bar that was held up twice. The first time it was like a television show -- four guys came in, one of them stuck a gun in the hostesses back and declared "take me to the register," another hit me in the hip with a gun, and they left with the money. The second time, a lone man came in with a 9mm automatic and pulled off a more absurd hold-up -- at one point, he accidentally dropped his gun into a garbage can. In any case, they didn't get any of my tips on either occasion.