Tomorrow -- Wednesday, December 8 -- will be the official first night that local celebrity bartender Shawn Moriarty oversees the big antique bar at the Majestic Restaurant at 931Broadway. For the past two years, Moriarty has tended bar at the R Bar in the West Bottoms. Last Saturday was his final night at that venue.
Moriarty is a little guarded about exactly why he left the R Bar. He tells Fat City: "Let's just say that things moved very quickly. There's always a time, when you work for a restaurant, when you know it's time to move on. I felt I had done all I could do at the R Bar."
Last week Moriarty walked into the Majestic Restaurant. "I heard they were looking for a new bartender, so I went in to talk to [owner] Frank Sebree," he says. "At the end of the conversation, I was hired and already on the schedule."
Sebree sent out a press release this morning to announce his new hire:
"The Majestic Restaurant is pleased to announce that ACCLAIMED Kansas City bartender Shawn Moriarty has joined our staff and will begin serving KC's best cocktails behind our bar..."
Showing 1-7 of 7
No disagreement here. I am glad there is a place to go to for this news. I am not a drinker myself, but I know of Shawn. I'ld say that makes him a celebrity in the circles you write about.
Content is pretty subjective. I have a wonderful girlfriend too, but we have an understanding that if Alyssa Milano comes knocking on my door, my girlfriend and I will remain good friends. Resumes are always available upon request.
Savvy, I mean David: It is news, seriously, when a celebrity server or bartender -- those who have a large and devoted following -- move from venue to venue. If you left that Plaza seafood shack for greener pastures, it WOULD be news. But I suspect you're pretty content where you are.
Different Dave H above, but don't worry Charles I will give you an exclusive when I change jobs. It's what us savvy self promoters do.
I love the R Bar. It's one of my all time favorite restaurants in Kansas City. I don't let cameras or behind the scenes business decisions stop me from good food and a great atmosphere. If I were to stop eating at every restaurant or bar that had a camera or inventory system in place, there would be no where to go out for dinner.
All the best to Joy Jacobs and her bringing a wonderful and brilliant concept to the West Bottoms.
I wish Shawn all the best in wherever his career takes him. His clever sense of humor will be greatly missed at the R Bar. Fortunately for us, there are many talented mixologist in Kansas City and we are excited to have found someone that can feel those big shoes.
@ Kevin H- call me paranoid, but as sole proprietor, I have my life's savings invested in the R Bar. It is common practice for a restaurant/ bar owner to have a proper inventory and camera system in place to keep employees honest and accountable. If the business profits, the employees profit.
That's not an oddity, Dave H. Lots of bars I frequent have a camera system on their bartending area, and weigh the liquor bottles regularly to monitor overpours/free drink give aways, etc...
Usually, it's in place because it became important to monitor the workings of a select few/one or two who like to break rules in order to garner larger tips. It always sucks when one asshole ruins it for everyone else, but thems the breaks.
Also, Charles...celebrity bartender? Really? O_o
R Bar is a cool place with great drinks and food, and I'm eager to support commerce down in the Bottoms, but Jacobs is a paranoid owner with contempt for her employees. Ask around.
There's a row of cameras above the bar turned back toward the bar, monitoring everything every bartender does, and they're required to weigh the liquor bottles after every shift to discourage the distribution of free drinks. That is an insane waste of a bartender's time with minimal financial upside for Jacobs. Not to mention the bad vibes that kind of distrustful penny-pinching engenders with a staff. Moriarty's not the first to leave for greener pastures and I suspect whoever replaces him will discover why. Like I said, it's a cool place, but I won't go there anymore knowing I'm lining the pockets of somebody like that.
like
dislike
