Straight Up: Real World Secrets to Running a Killer Bar

by Ramona Pettygrave Shah

A fresh take on bar management from a veteran behind the stick and the manager’s desk!In this compulsively readable guide to running a successful bar, Ramona Pettygrave Shah draws on over a decade of experience at the speed rail to dispense wisdom with a dash of wit. Delving into topics from time management to team cultivation to finances, she speaks with authority and clarity about the issues real-world bar managers and other employees face in a business with little room for error and lots of pitfalls to be avoided.

From the simplest neighborhood dive to the ritziest cocktail bar, from virgin barback to restaurant owner, there’s no one who wouldn’t benefit from Ramona’s sound advice. And while that advice is sometimes served with a twist of sarcasm, there’s always a no-nonsense straight-talk chaser.



By turns irreverent and profound, Straight Real World Secrets to Running a Killer Bar is your guide to the attitude, organization, and teamwork necessary to absolutely crush it in the world of bartending and bar management.





Straight Up features a can't-miss collection of carefully curated infusion, cocktail, juice & syrup recipes and accompanying mixology tips designed to help you raise the bar and set a new standard for drink design.

484 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2018

Reviews

[Letotheon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts entertaining and very interesting, sadly the second half of the book is getting more tough and slow to read compared to the beginning. I could still learn a lot but I was also glad when I finally finished it

[Nicole Aragão · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just been promoted to Bar manager, and was caught by surprise. Even though I really wanted to accept the position, I was afraid I would be a completely faillure. Ramona's books gave me certain guidelines on where to start. How I wish I've had had someone like her as my boss and mentor!! worth every penny. =)

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this fast-paced read for so many reasons. Part memoir, part how-to guide, Shah deftly captures the adrenaline rollercoaster that will be familiar to anyone who's ever worked in a restaurant or bar setting. One minute you're in the weeds feeling like the world might end and the next minute you have just enough time to clear your head before the next rush. Despite her ability to realistically capture the many ways that bar life can savage a person's psyche, if readers heed Shah's advice about running a bar, their souls may be spared the worst of the burdens that fall upon owners and managers.

Here's the real secret though: Everyone should read this book and use Shah's processes for staying organized. I can't think of a single profession in which her methods wouldn't apply.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Real Deal

Must read for anyone considering opening their own bar or climbing the corporate ladder on the beverage side. Lots of insights both personal and professional from someone that has done it. As well as some sounds advice. Read it, you'll be glad you did.

[Carly Dwyer naik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't run bars but loved the cocktails developed while Ramona ran Opus Salem. I did find this book insightful and very clearly written and would be hugely helpful to anyone thinking about running a bar. Also the stories and cocktail recipes are fantastic.

[Vance Lybarger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for someone learning to run a bar program

Good advice and resources, there was a lot to look into and learn. In addition to bar related stuff there was advice on how to increase productivity in general in your personal life.

[Kassidy McLellan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing style is definitely engaging

[Nico Battersby · Rating 3 out of 5]

No relevations. If you've spent any time working in a bar and you've watched your managers, there's little to gleem here

[Henry Aldaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

bien para los que manejan bares o gastro bares, con muy buenos tips en interesantes feedback