So, how did you get into bartending?
I had always worked in restaurants as a waiter. It was a natural progression, there’s more money involved in bartending.
What’s your top drink?
I like Manhattans. I’m a whiskey man.
Do you have any other jobs?
I’m a musician and play in this band called NYC Smoke.
What's the crowd like at East Side Company?
It’s a heavy European and Lower East Side kind of gang. A little like the Milk and Honey crowd, but maybe a little younger.
What are the best nights to swing by?
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are good. It’s still mellow and you don’t have to deal with the douchebags from uptown, and you can easily get a table.
Any ridiculous customers?
A guy peed at the bar once…people do all kinds of things. Girls lose their lunches right there standing at the bar, or [they] take their clothes off. But as a bartender you’re immune to it. That’s your job.
Are there any drinks people order that makes you cringe?
I don’t cringe at any drinks anymore. I’m not a drink snob and so I’m not going to tell people what to drink. But there are some drinks that I just won’t make. Long Island iced teas, for example. That’s a pretty standard no. And Sex on the Beach, stuff like that.
What’s the best tip you’ve ever received?
I’ll get 100 bucks every now and then.
What’s the most important tool to have behind the bar?
Fresh juice because it makes drinks taste better. And fresh ingredients. People think our drinks are really complicated but they aren’t. They just taste good because we use fresh ingredients.
Where do you chill on your nights off?
I like Barrio Chino, just around the corner. I go for their margaritas. And I go to Pianos sometimes.
Any advice for wannabe bartenders?
Go to bartending school and get your degree. No, I’m joking. Definitely don’t go to bartending school. Just get a job in a bar.
Got any good tips for curing a hangover?
Yeah, a shot and a beer—that’ll usually do it. And maybe a couple slices of pizza.
East Side Company Bar
49 Essex St. at Grand St.
212-614-7408
Photo: Dan Peterson
