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NY Post
New York Post
19 Aug 2023


NextImg:Secret codes used by bartenders revealed — including the number for hot customers

Want the 411 on the bartending world’s secret codes?

Well, loose-lipped mixologists are pouring out that confidential — and often crude — information.

In a resurfaced Reddit thread, a prying patron asked online barkeeps about their “bartenders code,” and received a range of colorful replies.

“A while ago I was told of a ‘bartenders code’ which consisted of various numbers that were used to represent things on the bar either secretly or quickly between staff,” the Redditor wrote.

“Things like ’86’, meaning to be a ran out of product, ‘200’ meaning a customer waiting, ’50’ meaning to catch, and ‘700’ to refer to an attractive customer,” they added. “I was wondering if anyone knew any more or had a different/more comprehensive list of expressions?”

Mixologists quickly chimed in with their own additions, leaking confidential codes, including “100,” meaning clean up, “200,” meaning a customer needs serving, and “601 and “602,” numbers used for bathroom breaks.

Others claimed there were codes to rate patrons purely on their physical appearance — including nasty codes to notify of unattractive drinkers.

“Don’t use too many numerical codes at my bar other than 86 and the ‘area code scale’ for women,” one revealed. “First number is face on a scale of 0-9, second number is either 0 or 1 (would or wouldn’t) and last number is body. So 719 is pretty damn good and a 303 looks like your grandfather.”

Using that system, 919 means a customer is almost as close to perfection as possible.

Others claimed there were codes to rate patrons purely on their physical appearance — including nasty codes to notify of unattractive drinkers.
Getty Images/iStockphoto

Another bawdy bartender claimed there was a well-known code to signify a customer with a big bust.

“300 – Attractive lady,” they wrote. 300 high – Big ol’ pair of boobies.”

A separate server chimed in to say that 900 was the number used for a man who had hired company for the evening at the bar.

“900 — dude is with a girl he has “rented” (he’s gonna tip cos he’s showing off),” they claimed.

Meanwhile, the Reddit thread revealed that bartenders aren’t the only people using confidential codes.

“When I worked at McDonalds, you could only cook 8 burgers at a time, so if an attractive person walked in, staff would [shout] ‘cheese on nine,'” one person wrote. “Then you’d just see five or six heads pop up from behind the fryer.”

The numerical lingo and shorthand phrases are common in the restaurant biz — just watch Hulu’s “The Bear” — with the most widely known phrase being “86,” meaning something is out of stock.

The numerical lingo and shorthand phrases are common in the restaurant biz — just watch Hulu's "The Bear."

The numerical lingo and shorthand phrases are common in the restaurant biz — just watch Hulu’s “The Bear.”
AP

Bu on TikTok, bartenders have been spreading the word about the infamous “Angel Shot,” a drink order reserved for people who need saving from a potentially dangerous situation.

“An angel shot is a way of asking for help from a bartender, a bouncer, a manager, someone at a restaurant without directly saying it,” one content creator said in a viral video.

“Because in the end, the number one priority is making sure that you’re safe.”