Woman Goes To New York Bar—She Really Shouldn’t Have Asked To Sit At Bartop: ‘Feel Like I Should’ve Clocked In’

You don’t go out for a drink, only to feel like you need to pitch in and help out the bartender. But in a city like New York, where space is at a premium, sometimes the most unlikely place is exactly where you find yourself.

When Jess (@jess.mcgirr) headed out to Canto for an adult refreshment, the last place she thought she’d find herself was behind the bar. Quite literally.

She took her confusion and observations to TikTok, where her 11-second video got over 126,000 views. “Why is the bar seating in this restaurant behind the bar lol,” her text overlay reads.

Her clip features the cozy, dimly lit Canto bar before Jess pivots to herself. In the shot, she’s established that the point of view is 100% behind the bar.

When the camera stops on her, she sorta “toasts” the viewers. But perhaps she’s actually raising a glass to the bartender since she captioned the video, “I felt like I should’ve clocked in and gave him a hand.”

Being Seated Behind The Bar

“Girl bye. I’m gonna quit if this happens,” said @_babygorgeous, who may or may not be a bartender.

Meanwhile, another user is very conscious of all the things that could go wrong. “I am way too clumsy for this,” @lo.jpeg said. Clearly she’s considering the glassware.

She’s not the only concerned individual. “My literal nightmare as a bartender,” said @karenakirillova.

New York’s Canto Restaurant

Of the restaurant’s Upper West Side location, one local wrote in a review, “The restaurant is breathing new life into the Lincoln Center neighborhood’s mediocre cuisine scene.”

For a restaurant that’s known for their viral frozen espresso martini, another guest was more impressed with the dim and cozy vibe of the space. Though the reviewer did admit to enjoying it on previous visits, describing it as a drink more like a frozen desert—akin to coffee ice cream.

There’s no feedback about being seated behind the bar in the reviews. However, it wouldn’t be the only New York establishment to allow guests to experience “the hustle and bustle” of the service industry from the workers’ point of view. There’s a whole Reddit thread dedicated to “chef’s table” experiences here.

What Is A Chef’s Table?

Originally the chef’s table was “an age-old practice of chefs entertaining their family and friends in the kitchen as they worked,” per the Michelin Guide.

Typically, the table would have been tucked in a corner that wouldn’t impede the flow of the kitchen.

Later, that table became an invite-only perk for VIP guests. Chef’s tables allow guests to have more meaningful interactions with the chef while also gaining a deeper understanding of how their exquisite meal comes together.

Xavier Boyer, head chef of the Hong Kong restaurant Gaddi’s, says, “The best moments are when guests can see and hear and feel the kitchen life.”

So it’s feasible that not only is Djamel Omari, the chef/owner of Canto, maximizing space in one of the most expensive cities in the world. It’s also possible he wants to invite his guests to appreciate the energy and buzz behind the bar. Because he has said the best part of running a restaurant is “the regulars. The familiar faces. When a restaurant becomes a community.”

That means maybe Jess wasn’t too far off with her “helpful” offer. After all, community shows up and helps out. Though the Canto bartender might prefer “community” to stay on the more traditional side of the bar.

Then again, the tips might be better behind the bar since guests are even closer to the action—and can, in turn, grow to appreciate all that goes into making those delicious frozen espresso martinis.

@jess.mcgirr

Felt like I should’ve clocked in and gave him a hand #nyc #restaurant #bar #irish

♬ take my breath away – user29757336941

Futbol Chronicle reached out to Jess via email and TikTok direct message as well as to Canto via its email.