Bartender of the Month: March 2005

Who: Chuck Roberts
Where: The Black Cat
Why we like him:"There are places for high-end drinkers, but I like to say [the Black Cat] is a bar for the people," say bartender Chuck Roberts. "People who come here are into music, not just into going to a bar."

Locally and nationally, the Black Cat is renowned for booking top-notch indie- and alternative-rock bands, and the clientele at the no-cover Red Room bar is a mix of people who are there for the show and those who just like the jeans-and-T-shirts atmosphere.

Chuck is a friendly, good-humored guy who serves as a calming figure in the frenzied Red Room on Friday nights and works at the small bar during the DJ nights that take place on the backstage most Saturdays. You'll never see him sweat, but if the spirit moves, you might find him boogieing on the bar.

Like many other bartenders, Chuck got into the business to make some extra money while he was in school. After learning how to mix drinks at the American Cafe in Georgetown in 1992, he moved to the Black Cat two years later; and he loves the social aspect of being behind the bar. He has a "real" job now, Chuck says, "but I can't let [bartending] go."

What's YOUR favorite drink?
I'm a single-malt Scotch guy -- with two pieces of ice. My favorite is probably Glemomorangie.

What's the drink you make most often?
Lately, besides beer, it's been vodka and Red Bull. Really vodka and anything -- vodka and tonic, vodka and cranberry. Lots of two-ingredient drinks. The most complicated drink I made last Friday was a Cosmopolitan.

What was the last drink you didn't know how to make?
It was something on Friday -- a guy asked for an Ugly Stepsister or something like that. It turned out to be the same as [another drink with a slightly racy name]. I started off making Rusty Nails and Stingers, so I know those drinks. I've just gotten lazy in my old age.

What do you have to do to get '86ed?
If you're visibly intoxicated or bothering patrons or staff, you're getting tossed. At the Black Cat, just act right -- sip your water and be cool.

What's the best pickup line you've ever overheard?
"Hi, my name is such-and-such, I'd like to sit and chat with you if you don't mind." It worked, too.

What song do you wish they'd take off the jukebox?
"I Wanna Be Your Dog" by Iggy Pop and the Stooges. It gets played all the time. I love the song, but I want to continue to love it in the future.

The first sign a patron's drunk is:
They're a little slower, and they keep their eyes down.

Have you ever dated/gone home with someone you met while you were working?
Twice

How cheap are people, really?
Most of the Black Cat regulars are generous. I don't get nickled and dimed a lot.

What piece of bar etiquette do you wish people would learn?
Always have the money ready. And never, ever, ever, wave your hand or your money at me. That'll get you ignored for at least another 10 seconds in my head. I can see everybody.

Give us a piece of advice.
If he's interested, he will call.