Chicken Noodle, Chocolate Chips and Other Bar Rituals
There are often articles written about the latest trends in the hospitality industry. This is not one of them.
As much as I love the next big things in cocktailing, I also have an appreciation for the tried and true traditions that make bars the familiar and familial spots that they are. And given that 2020 was anything but tried or true, I thought we could all use a little tradition—even if they aren’t all being honored right now.
The following bars all have traditions, some might say rituals, that they do night in and night out -- at least every day that they’re open. Some you may have heard of and others you may not have, but either way we pay homage to those that keep with tradition.
NYC's Employees Only - The iconic bartender’s bar serves their legendary chicken soup at 3:45 AM (closing time) every night. Not sure what the restorative properties of the soup are but if you’re still at EO at that time of night/morning, you’ll likely need it.
Chicago's Punch House - When the clock strikes midnight, those seated at the bar of this hideaway are encouraged to take part in a traditional Irish drinking chant ("There are good ships, there are wood ships, there are ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships and may they always be.") while a staff member feeds the fish in the back bar aquarium -- giving a meaning to “tanked.”
Fayetteville’s Maxine's Tap Room - The historic bar’s founder, Maxine Miller, had a "last call” (lisen below) that was the same every night and is now immortalized in a recording you can listen to on a vintage pay phone at the bar. This tradition has also been upheld by the current owners and staff, who shout: “May I have your attention, please! You have ten minutes to drink, then get the hell out!”
Los Angeles' The Streamliner - While many of these rituals happen at the end of the night, this retro craft cocktail bar starts everyday with one. Located in LA’s Union Station, it opens everyday at exactly 3:03pm as an homage to train schedules. Trains never leave at the top of the hour. They are scheduled based on optimum times for both commuters and workers of the train companies, frequently running every 3 to 5 minutes. Who knew people in LA commuted via train?
Chicago's Scofflaw - Customers are treated to fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies at midnight
every night. There must be something about midnight in Chicago.
If you know of a bar tradition, please let me know as I would like this to be a living, breathing post that I keep updating. You can send them to me at bartimestoriespod@gmail.com.