Bartenders Reveal Red Flags to Watch Out for When Trying a New Bar or Restaurant
Bartenders and chefs from the BuzzFeed Community share their top red flags to watch out for when visiting a new bar or restaurant. These red flags include unsanitary practices, such as using a glass to scoop ice from the well or cutting up fruit on the bar, as well as signs of poor maintenance, such as dirty glassware or a funky taste to draft beer. Bartenders also caution against bars that are constantly hiring or where the staff doesn’t seem to know what they’re doing.
Here are some specific red flags to keep in mind:
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Unsanitary practices:
* Using a glass to scoop ice from the well
* Cutting up fruit on the bar instead of using prepared fruit from the kitchen
* Touching the tap spout with a glass that someone was just drinking from
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Signs of poor maintenance:
* Dirty glassware or bar counter
* Funky taste to draft beer
* Deep ice tubs that aren’t emptied and cleaned regularly
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Other red flags:
* Constantly hiring or hiring all positions
* Bartenders who don’t know how to make drinks or who push the same drinks on every patron
* Sticky bar top
* Abundant fruit flies
* A sick waitstaff
* Staff who grab clean glasses at the top when handling them
