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DEL.ICIO.USCharging for a Neat Drink
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A reader who chooses to remain anonymous emailed to tell me that he recently was charged a $1 fee for a neat drink (plus the cost of the drink) at a local restaurant. Geez… I thought it was bad enough to be charged for ice. Ice fees, neat fees, corkage fees…. what’s next? Napkin fees? Who’s got a horror story here?
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Comments
By atlpsuchik
August 17, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this
A guest in my party dining at Cheesecake factory this past week ordered a single Dewars on the rocks. When the bill came, he was shocked to see the charge was $9.50. Outrageous!
By denise
August 17, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
What is a neat drink?
By Drew
August 17, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this
“Neat” is no ice, no nothing. Just liquor. That’s why this story is so ridiculous: you can’t get any more simple than a neat drink! Meridith, do you mind sharing what restaurant this was from so we can boycott it forever, stand outside and point and laugh at the jacka$$ that opened the place? I’m usually a good tipper, but I’d flat out tell the bartender/waiter that their tip just went to that $1 fee.
By meridith ford
August 20, 2007 12:19 PM | Link to this
Well, I’m not gonna say which restaurant — but I will say that it’s high profile and on the west side. Since I haven’t spoken with them to get their side of things, I think it’s best to leave names out. But I DO agree that this is ridiculous — at least on the surface. How do you charge for nothing?? I can’t believe this wasn’t a mistake…
By Chief76
September 3, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this
Having been a beverage manager, I can see only one legitimate reasons for an upcharge on a neat drink: it’s a bigger pour than their standard shot. Most drinks are made with a 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 oz shot. Someone may have decided that the shots looked puny in the glass they use for neat drinks, so they increased the size to 2 oz an tacked on a $1 surcharge to cover the extra liquor. Happens all the time with martini drinks because now-a-days people belive martinis need to come in huge 10 oz glasses instaed of he original 4 to 5 oz stem. While that might be OK for a fruity faketini with lots of juices, for a traditional vodka/gin martini a couple of cheap jumbos will knock you on your keester. So the upcharge not only recoups the extra liquor, it slows people down and makes them think twice about that second or third drink (or at least it should).