Behind Bars: The Straight-Up Tales of a Big-City Bartender (Paperback)

~ (Author) "My last day on the job, a chilly December night in 2001, didn't turn out the way I had long pictured it in my mind..." (more)
Key Phrases: melon martini, chilled cocktail glass, bar gig, New York, Kahiki Lounge, Ketel One (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A superb memoir of urban life . . . sharp-witted and complex. . . . Behind Bars delivers a subtle and mature personal narrative." -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Wenzel's pulp-fiction prose can hold its own against Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential. . . . Compulsively readable." -- Elle

Review

"Wenzel's pulp-fiction prose can hold its own against Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential....Compulsively readable."
- Elle

"A superb memoir of urban life...sharp-witted and complex....Behind Bars delivers a subtle and mature personal narrative."
- Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Wenzel''s pulp-fiction prose can hold its own against Anthony Bourdain''s Kitchen Confidential. . . . Compulsively readable." (Elle )

"A superb memoir of urban life . . . sharp-witted and complex. . . . Behind Bars delivers a subtle and mature personal narrative." (Minneapolis Star Tribune )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (November 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312311036
• ISBN-13: 978-0312311032
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #562,593 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book accomplished what I always wanted to, February 14, 2004

By	Bruce (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Behind Bars: The Straight-Up Tales of a Big-City Bartender (Hardcover)

I've never written a review for a book I've read on Amazon before, but I felt compelled to do so here. I was given this book for Christmas by two separate people, probably because I'm a bartender myself. Let's face it, a bartender's memoir isn't exactly to be read as the apex of literary accomplishment, so I'm not sure why people can be so aghast at Behind Bars' few flaws. Wenzel has captured exactly what it's like to serve drinks to a vast myriad of people (drunks, suits, etc.), with such an honest verve that I felt as if I were sitting in front of her listening to the anecdotes on a really busy night. Her writing is raw and extremely fun. The Islamic bent from which she comes from was an interesting facet of the mix, too. This book isn't War & Peace, but it is really fun and, for me and many other bartender's I've loaned out to, quite representational. I don't think many of my customers know that I'm using "sex appeal" to keep them coming back for more. In fact, I think they are under the impression that I really am riveted by everything that comes out of their (most of the time) drunken rants. But I'm not. And Wenzel explains this, and why. I think raving drunks won't like this book because it reveals their weakness too much. Wenzel does NOT sugar-coat anything.

Her poignant and sometimes harrowing narrative was very intimate for me, and I wished I'd visited her on my last trip to New York (back when she was still tending bar on the Bowery). We could have commiserated together and laughed at it all. I await her next work eagerly, which I read about on her site.

Overall, not pretentious like some other "insider" books I've read, fun and very revealing.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fasten your seat belt!, August 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Behind Bars: The Straight-Up Tales of a Big-City Bartender (Hardcover)

This book is loads of fun. Both informative and catty, Wenzel dishes up her share of dirt from behind the bar. I've always fallen in love with my bartenders, so it was fun to hear what it's like to be on the other side. Made me glad that I'm a good tipper too... I recommend this book for everyone looking for an enjoyable read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun fun fun, August 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Behind Bars: The Straight-Up Tales of a Big-City Bartender (Hardcover)

Just finished the book yesterday and really enjoyed it. Never worked in the service industry but I got the feeling that I knew the ins and outs when I was done - and it's not for the faint of heart. It's easy to see why servers of any type could get so sarcastic after many years dealing with drunks and irrational diners. But it's funny too. Lots of insider tid bits, pet-peeves (which I'll keep in mind next time I'm ordering at a bar) and a funny glossary of terms I never knew existed. It's not whiny or apologetic. You can take it or leave it if you're an "orphan" (gotta read it to find out what that means) but I know service industry folks will love this. Definitely a fun summer read. Very entertaining.

Jim