The Drink Order Mistake That Annoys Bartenders Most

Bartenders and servers deal with many customers every day, and some habits can quickly annoy them. While ordering complicated drinks or snapping fingers for attention can be irritating, one simple behavior stands out as a major red flag: skipping polite greetings.

Many bartenders say their biggest pet peeve is when customers ignore their friendly “Hi, how are you?” and immediately bark out their drink order without a please or thank you. This comes across as rude and dismissive, making the server feel unappreciated.

Restaurant consultant Salar Sheik explains that greeting servers back politely is a small but important act of respect. “When a server says hello, it’s a gesture of hospitality. Ignoring that and jumping straight into your order is like cutting someone off mid-sentence,” Sheik says.

Knowing when to chat and when to keep it brief can be tricky, especially when bartenders are busy. The best advice is to follow their lead — if they seem open to conversation, engage kindly; if they are focused on a busy shift, keep it short but polite.

In short, a little courtesy goes a long way. Treat your bartenders with kindness, and you’re more likely to get your drinks served quickly, with a smile — and without any unwanted attitude.