Ruth Reichl Ruth Reichl

The Neat Fee

02.15.07

receipt
My friend John just wrote me an irate note from Minneapolis.  He'd met a friend at the Walker Art Center and after the performance ordered a single malt scotch at the restaurant 20-21. When the bill came, it listed $18 for the shot of booze and $1.50 as a "neat charge." He was outraged. "They're asking me to pay a fee for not having to put ice in single malt?" he raged. He couldn't find anyone who knew what the hell a "neat fee" was, but I did a little snooping around. Apparently, the ice takes up room in the glass, so some bars do actually charge you to leave it out. Seems like a stupid move to me, a perfect way to annoy your customers.

Keywords
ruth reichl,
spirits

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