Name: Katie DeFranco.
Age: 28.
Bar: Quaker Steak and Lube in Gates.
Residence: Cobbs Hill neighborhood.
Did you go to college? I went to SUNY Brockport for communications with a concentration in broadcasting.
How did you get into bartending? In college I needed a mostly weekend job. So some of my friends who worked downtown helped me get a job at Barfly/Karma, and I ended up loving it.
How long have you been at your bar? I’ve been at Quaker Steak now for a year; I was part of the opening staff.
Assuming you frequent your bar, where would you go for drinks if the place shut down? In my downtime, I really enjoy going to Marshall Street Bar and Grill because they have great craft beers and a huge selection, as well as Jeremiah’s because it’s on the same street I live on.
What’s the craziest thing that you’ve seen at your bar? This very irate girl was trying to insist that we had to give her a to-go cup for her Long Island Ice Tea. When we tried to explain it was against the law, she started screaming and throwing her drink at us. Then, when we suggested she leave, she threw the pint glass on the ground so it shattered everywhere.
What drink do you pour the most? One of the things I make the most of is Lube Tubes. It is a long tube that holds 100 ounces of draft beer. They are a huge draw during ANY sports game.
What’s your least favorite drink to pour and why? Mojitos. To make a really good mojito takes time because you need to really shred the mint and lime, and if you don’t do it right it doesn't taste good.
How much should I be tipping? Most people don’t realize that bartenders and servers only make $5 per hour, which is then taxed. Unless you are tipping between 15 to 20 percent, your server is actually paying to wait on you, because (we) have to tip our bar backs.
Is there a song on the jukebox or radio that you hate? I really don’t hate any specific songs, but I really dislike it when someone will play the same song over and over.
What’s the quickest way to get a bartender to hate me? Be rude. If you are going to sit and complain about what we don’t have, instead of just ordering another one of the million choices, I might walk away until you decide.
The likelihood of this jumps up times 50 the second you swear at me. If you curse at me, I will usually ignore you and let someone else take care of you. Also, please don’t interrupt me when I’m trying to get another guest’s order.
What’s the quickest way to get great service? Just smile, be friendly, know what you’d like and enjoy the fact you’re not at work anymore!
What’s the worst pickup line you’ve overheard at the bar? The worst pickup line was: “I have to stare at your chest! My doctor said it’s equal to 30 minutes of cardio, so I’m just doing it for my health!”
Can you share any hangover cures? My best hangover cure is Excedrin migraine and Gatorade before bed. It’s more of a prevention than a cure! Or, of it’s too late, have a Bloody Mary.
What do you love best about your job? I love bartending because it’s so much face to face interaction with people. I love knowing my regulars’ names and being able to hear many different people’s life experiences.
You can help someone get through a bad day or help celebrate an amazing day. I’ve also met some really awesome people through bartending and gotten to do a lot of things I wouldn’t have normally.
