Becoming The WC Press’ Bartender of the Year means Lesley receives an automatic entry into the final four of the B.E.S.T. awards at this year’s Bartenders Ball on Sunday, January 29th.
You Voted – We Listened. Lesley Young-Klein is our bartender of the year
WHEN we started this contest, we couldn’t have anticipated the massive response it would receive: 1082 total votes in just four days. Lesley alone received a whopping 403 votes, or a whopping 37%, making her the winner by nearly 200 votes! Below is the interview we ran with Lesley when we named her Bartender of the Month back in September.
Name: Lesley Young-Klein
Age: 33
Hometown: West Chester
Born and raised? Yup
How long have you been bartending? Let me see… about 15 years?
How flattered are you to be bartender of the month? I’ll be even more flattered if you don’t tell people my age.
Sorry, no can do. Well, then I’ll at least say that it is exciting. Any publicity for Ryan’s is good publicity.
How upset is your fellow bartender JB that owner Pat Ryan picked you as Bartender of the Month? Ummm. I’d say he is pretty perturbed. He is like one of those six-year-old beauty queens from Toddlers & Tiaras.
What separates Ryan’s from other bars in town? We have a great staff, fast service and easonable prices. We’ve had the same regulars since day one, which helps with the fact that whenever anyone walks in, they feel at home.
And what separates you from other bartenders? The fact that I’m not just here to pay my car insurance. I have a mortgage, a family, real issues, so I make sure that whenever anyone comes in here, they’re happy. I treat them –no matter their age – like they’re one of my kids. I guess I bring a real adult attitude to it.
What’s the most common drink at Ryan’s? Bombs. Thursday nights we have $5 bombs – vodka, Jäger, car bombs, all of it. But they’re also popular on other nights. Bud Light drafts are popular because they’re always $2.75.
What’s a drink people often order that you hate? Absolut Lemon Drop Martini. It’s just one liquor, so you’d think it was easy. But in the end, you’ve got sugar packets and lemon rinds all over the bar. It’s just not standard.
If you’re not at Ryan’s, what are you doing? I’m taking care of my eight-year-old daughter Jackson, or cleaning up around the house.
Do you have any hobbies? I’d like to say my hobbies are going to the gym and doing outdoor sports, but the truth is my only real hobby is sleeping any chance I get.
When you’re not at Ryan’s, where would you go for a drink? Jitters, Kooma, Sidebar – anywhere that I know has good, experienced bartenders.
Okay, anything coming up at Ryan’s you want to mention? The Eighth Annual Ryan’s Pub Golf Outing – it supports the ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia, a cause close to our hearts. You can sponsor a hole, or you can just play for $125. If you want to know more or want to register, you can come into the bar or email wcpub124@yahoo.cm
