I stopped by the bar at 5:00 PM and ordered a Cosmopolitan. It was $13, made properly, and tasted…read moregreat--thanks to Cheryl. I left shortly after to attend a sports game and returned around 9:00 PM.
Upon returning, I ordered a shot of vodka, then asked Cheryl for another Cosmopolitan. Her response was, "Well, you just had a shot of Tito's." I replied, "Okay, well I would like a Cosmo." I then watched her pour a splash of Tito's into the shaker.
After receiving the drink, I paid via Apple Pay and asked for the receipt so I could leave a tip. Cheryl informed me that she had already tipped herself 20%, which I found inappropriate and unacceptable--tipping should be at the guest's discretion.
I returned to my table and took a sip of the drink, only to realize it tasted like juice. I had several friends with me, many of whom are experienced bartenders or servers, including myself, and they confirmed it was not a proper Cosmopolitan. Upset that Cheryl had added a tip without my consent and served a drink that clearly lacked alcohol, I approached her to express my dissatisfaction.
Rather than addressing the issue professionally, she gave me attitude and stated I shouldn't have been drinking before my sports event. She did offer a replacement drink at no charge, but again, it was just juice. Meanwhile, Cheryl and Alex were seen discussing the situation behind the bar, which only made the experience more uncomfortable.
I want to make it clear that I will return to Sammy D's, but I will not be ordering drinks from Cheryl or Alex again. Additionally, I do not believe bartenders should be drinking on the job, and if Cheryl had been sober, this experience might have gone differently.