While it’s routine to ask for a sandwich without tomatoes at a deli or swap out skim milk for almond at a cafe, there’s always a certain point where modification requests get out of hand. (We all know what it’s like to wait behind someone ordering a tall latte with no foam, a double shot, and three pumps of hazelnut at Starbucks.) But what level of alteration is acceptable at a bar?
Even though bartenders have a full arsenal of tools at their disposal, it’s not always wise to assume that they can whip up just about anything imaginable. There are classic substitutions like replacing the gin with mezcal in a Negroni or even swapping out Aperol for Cynar in a Spritz, and while quick fixes like these are to be expected, sometimes the orders that guests dream up can come out of left field.
We asked bartenders from across the country to share the weirdest modification requests they’ve ever received, and here are eight of the most ridiculous.
The weirdest order modifications, according to bartenders:
“One of the funniest moments I’ve ever experienced working behind the bar was when a guest made a very unusual request. Amid the hustle and bustle, a lady sat at the bar and said, ‘Can you make me a Margarita that tastes like my favorite Caesar salad?’ I love a good challenge, so I decided to give it a shot. If I remember correctly, I added some sea salt and celery to the cocktail.
