Bartenders say cheers to ‘Onthebar’ app
Having a bartender you can trust to make your favorite cocktails is as important as having a consistent barber or tattoo artist, according to some Hub drink mixologists.
“I go to one person to cut my hair, and I wait if I have to,” said Alex Homans, bar manager at Temple Bar. “Same goes for becoming a bar regular -— you have that exclusive relationship with your bartender.”
Homans said if a bartender he likes disappears from a certain spot, he is less likely to go back there.
But two Boston buddies are solving that predicament using a smart phone app they developed called “OntheBar.”
Using the free phone download, customers can “find, favorite and follow” Boston’s best bars and bartenders.
“We’re giving visibility to the people who really care about their craft and who work tirelessly to create the best possible experiences for their customers,” said co-creator Ian Stanczyk.
Stanczyck launched the app two months ago with cocktail connoisseur TJ Connelly.
“It’s about the relationship between the patron and the bartender — it’s someone you come to know,” said Connelly. “You see them once or twice a week and I think [this] adds to the experience a lot.”
Bartenders use the app to check in when their shifts start, said Connelly, allowing regulars to plan their night accordingly.
Isaac Sussman, bartender at The Independent in Somerville, said it’s a great tool for both the customer and the drink maker.
Safety first
Connelly said an early concern was voiced about stalking certain bartenders if they were female, so the duo developed privacy controls if the problem is ever presented.
“We don’t add anything to that kind of problem,” he said.
Follow Steve Annear on Twitter @steveannear.
