Service industry workers have to deal with strange requests from customers from asking for extra lemons and Splenda to make their lemonade to wanting a wine bottle in a freezer. In a recent TikTok, a server revealed when a customer ordered a vodka soda but described her drink as something completely different.
It’s a common mishap.
TikTok user @thesadplant revealed a “real interaction” she had with a table she was serving. In the clip, she portrayed both herself and the customer. “‘Hey. Can I get a vodka soda? But instead of soda, can I get a tonic? And instead of vodka, can I get gin?’” the customer asked. “Um, yeah, so like a gin and tonic?” the content creator responded. After a few moments of silence, the customer agreed, confused. “If that’s what you want to call it, sure,” the customer said. This left @thesadplant baffled but would get the customer’s drink.
@thesadplant expressed her thoughts in the caption, “being a server is crazy business.”
The Daily Dot reached out to @thesadplant via TikTok comment. The video amassed 810,000 views. In the comments section, viewers shared what they would’ve done.
@thesadplant being a server is crazy business
♬ original sound – sad plant
“I would have said yes but told her there would be an upcharge lol,” one viewer wrote.
“Immediately asking for ID,” a second stated.
@thesadplant responded in the comments section, “girl she was nearing middle aged and i was still tempted LOL.”
In addition, other bartenders revealed their odd customer interactions.
“Last week a girl ordered a ‘dirty martini but like not dirty’… so a martini?” one user commented.
“closing a tab for a bachelorette party they handed me a card. i said ‘it’s a cash bar’ her friend turns around and says ‘i got this’ and hands me another card so i gotta repeat ‘it’s a cash bar,’” a second recalled.
“had a lady order a cosmo except she wanted it on the rocks with bourbon and also no cranberry like okay so you don’t want a cosmo then got it,” a third recalled.
So, what is the difference between a vodka soda and a gin and tonic? For the uninitiated: A vodka soda contains vodka, club soda, and sometimes lime juice. On the other hand, gin and tonic consists of gin, tonic water, and sometimes lime wedges. A vodka soda has a “mildly tangy flavor.” Gin and tonic has a “bitter” flavor.
So if you’re ever bartending, be prepared for customers to not know what they want. And to help them get there.
