BOTTLE SERVICE

Prestige, exclusivity, special treatment, money – all found in a bottle? You better believe it. It’s a trend that began in New York over five years ago (with Eurasian roots) and has steadily been gaining popularity in California, New York, Las Vegas, and for some time now, Kansas City.

The trend is called Bottle Service and what you get is a highly inflated bottle of liquor (most commonly vodka) with mixers to make your own drinks. Usually, this bottle price also covers VIP entry into a bar/lounge, private seating at a reserved table, and a certain amount of prestige as people look over and wonder why you’re getting all that extra special attention. Now they’ll know. You’re paying for it.

Bottle prices vary from $100-$400+ depending on the bar and of course, the liquor. The cost may sound prohibitive, but think of the nights you’ve shelled out $100 or more, especially you men who love to buy drinks for all the pretty ladies. Even if you can’t be VIP all the time, the beauty of bottle service is that you can act like it some of the time – special occasions, bachelor parties, birthdays, etc.

Mi Cocina on the Plaza has been offering bottle service for about a year and is among the most exclusive in Kansas City. They have a VIP room downstairs called “Apt.” that you may gain entry to by being a regular in their dining room, by being on “the list” or by receiving a special invitation for entry after dinner. (According to one of my friends, she just walked down there with no problem, sans invite, so maybe it’s not that exclusive.) There’s an additional room specifically reserved for bottle service also located on their lower level. Their bottles come with various mixers and includes entry for four people into “Apt.”

At Empire, bottles include mixers and a private seating area. What I like about this place is that your guest list is as complicated saying, “My friends are up there.” There’s no list, no attitude and it’s a great, big party. But there is a bouncer to maintain the appearance of keeping out the riff-raff.

Finally, newcomer Blonde provides, or rather demands, bottle service, at least on weekends. If you want a table, then you’re ordering a bottle and giving them a list of your closest friends. Don’t even think about doing that without a reservation because you’ll be waiting out in the cold. And don’t call them, they’ll call you. It’s that trendy and chi chi. Just kidding, they’ll call you back if you want to make a reservation, is what I meant to say.

I’ve heard that some dispicable men use bottle service as a way to get women to come to their table. The lure of a free cocktail or three, it seems, is irresistible to me...uh, I mean to those drunken floozies. It really does work wonders and guys, keep those free drinks coming.

One drawback to bottle service is whether you can (or want to) drink the entire bottle. Currently, we don’t know of any bars that offer locker service for unfinished bottles, or if that option is even legal (highly doubt it since I can’t even mention prices in print!) so your current options are either to drink it or lose it. You can’t take it with you. Somehow I don’t see that being a problem.

Another thing to consider is whether you really want to make your own drinks. I, for one, am a terrible bartender and like my drinks made for me. When you think of the convenience, however, you might change your mind. Instead of waving your money around (and not your crumpled up ones) trying to capture the bartender’s attention, you’ll have the luxury of having another drink immediately – without leaving or losing your comfy seat.

If you’ve got the money and a very reliable designated driver, then bottle service is a fun indulgence. If not, do what we do when the funds are low, drink beer and get a cab. That’s a whole different kind of bottle service.

If you decide to partake in this trend, please remember to drink responsibly. Don’t give yourself alcohol poisoning and please call a cab to get home safely. Yellow Cab - 816.471.5000.