By: Matt Stock
The South End’s blue-eyed beauty talks about bartending life, growing up in Ohio, and where to find the best deals in town on cheese.
Matt Stock: Rachel! At long last you make your Southender debut, as Our Favorite Bartender for the June issue! How are you feeling about this high honor?
Rachel Brooks, Charbar Co. Bartender: I’m excited about it, a little nervous, but I’m pretty pleased. Summer’s here!
MS: You’ve had several bartending gigs on the island but you’ve been at Charbar for quite some time and, more recently, the Whiskey Room. How did you land here?
RB: Matt Stock, you know the answer to that! (laughs) I reached out and put a post up on social media, I was ready for something new and YOU reached out to me and said you thought I’d be a good fit, and now this is my third year here. Fit like a glove!
MS: Wow, what a truly visionary manager I was! (laughs) What’s the key to developing a strong customer base as a bartender? You’ve always been successful at developing a following.
RB: I’m just myself, you know? And I try to read people and give them the right experience. If I think you want to joke around, I might have fun and give you a little shit. If you look like you’re on a date and want to be left alone, that’s cool too! I adapt. And I make sure I let them know my name and when I’m around so they can come see me again. And they usually do!
MS: As you mentioned, summer’s here. What’s your advice on how to make it through busy season and maintain your health and sanity?
RB: You definitely need to make sure you get some personal breaks for yourself. Anything from a couple minutes to catch a breather, go in the back and share a little food with your co-workers, or, hey, take that weekend off when you can or give that shift up when you can afford it!
MS: So, you’re from Ohio. How was that for ya? Some people around here give Ohio a tough rap but tell us a little bit about it.
RB: Oh, I had a great childhood, a great upbringing. Middle class, middle of nowhere, graduated with under a hundred people, really good memories. But it really is beautiful, luscious, green, great seasons. It’s got a nice mix of country and some cool cities, but most of all to me Ohio means family.
MS: Wanna talk about food for a minute?
RB: I love food! Oh my god. You can’t put enough cheese in front of me. The grocery store has buy three, get two free. No, wait! I think it’s buy two, get THREE free. Harris Teeter is the shit! (laughs)
MS: Sounds like it’s time to wrap this up, let’s get to the store!!!