Hot chicks vs. good service
I was talking to an experienced bar manager recently about Angels Rock Bar in Power Plant Live.
This manager seconded a point made by a few friends of mine who have been to Angels: It has a reputation for incredibly attractive female servers (IAFS).
Judging by its MySpace site, this seems to be one of the venue's selling points.
I hear the servers get up an dance on the bar a few times a night, too.
However, hiring a staff of mostly IAFS can have its downsides, this manager said.
From his experience, beautiful women may make for good eye candy but few of them are actually good at serving drinks.
So he avoids hiring IAFS in favor of servers with experience behind the bar.
I'm sure there is a middle ground, and I definitely don't want to make broad generalizations.
When I went to Angels, the service was fine.
And Hooters has built a reputation on IAFS.
But I'm curious: Would you go to a bar for IAFS even if you knew the service would be horrible?
Do you care? Or would you rather go to a bar with average-looking servers knowing the service would be stellar?
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
I'll take the bar with the experienced staff and good service, thank you. Keep the eye candy in cages over the dance floor where they should be.
Posted by: JR | May 7, 2008 1:22 PM
I want to go to the bar to meet actual chick, not bartenders.
I once went to a certain bar in Fell's point and was greeted by a hot barender. I asked for a martini and told "How do you make that."
Hooter sure isn't build on its wings. They taste horrible.
Posted by: Drew from Greektown | May 7, 2008 1:57 PM
It's really not that hard to mess up opening a Bud and wiping my drool off the bar top. I say bring on the eye candy! If I want a well made vodka gimlet, I'll take my business to Michael's or something.
Posted by: JTK | May 7, 2008 2:26 PM
Baltimore won best scene in Rolling Stone, despite this place within its boundaries, which is a true testimony to the rest of its residents.
Posted by: Trouble | May 7, 2008 2:40 PM
I guess the decision is whatever a single guy wants at the moment. I've known guys, part of the time, who would choose the broads over being served a decent drink or meal.
Angel's looks like it might be alot of fun, if your horny playah, under thirty, and had eaten earlier.
Posted by: GDA | May 7, 2008 8:16 PM
does this lead us to another topic? Who is the hottest or most attractive and best female bartender in Baltimore? I would have to say that Magerk's has enough to do a whole calendar.
Posted by: jason | May 8, 2008 12:03 AM
So here is a question... Say hot chick serves you bottle service with a automatic 20% gratuity added. Do you tip more? Does she deserve more?
Posted by: eCommerce Consultant | May 8, 2008 1:58 PM
Ethan,
Good question. I say no.
Maybe -- maybe, if she's really quick and helpful. But probably not.
Anybody else want to weigh in here?
Posted by: Sam Sessa | May 8, 2008 2:03 PM
Good luck getting the "hottest or most attractive" female bartender and the best bartender in the same person. Not that beautiful women can't be great bartenders, but willing to bet that the hottest female bartender in Baltimore and the best female bartender in Baltimore are not the same person.
Unless being the best female bartender MAKES her the hottest...hmmmmm
Posted by: Trouble | May 8, 2008 2:08 PM
Trouble, your comment made me pop a vein ... in my brain!
Posted by: Sam Sessa | May 8, 2008 2:20 PM
The poet Sessa has returned, in rhymed meter no doubt!
"pop a vein
in my brain."
Posted by: Trouble | May 9, 2008 6:51 AM