In addition to making a great drink, a bartender (or mixologist) has to have myriad skills or traits that will help him succeed in this industry. Having a great personality is high up on that list and my bartender choice this month oozes with charm, wit and a winning personality. I am talking about Zeus at The Page. Zeus is definitely a perfect name for this funny guy, since he has the looks of a Greek God.
He is originally from Los Angeles, born and raised in South Central. He initially came to New Orleans to attend Dillard University. After graduating, he moved to Memphis, but realized that NOLA held his heart so he returned in 2016. Zeus started working at The Page in 2017 and has not worked anywhere else since.
Zeus works his magic behind the bar. He is the perfect embodiment of a fun-loving, green spirit professional. He takes great care of his patrons, making superb cocktails, quickly and correctly. He has even left his mark by creating several craft libations. There is the Spiked Hi-C which is an Orange Jameson Punch. Then he does a shot he likes to call the Flaming Praline which is Half Butter Pecan Moonshine and half Fireball. But his regular customers also know it as the Dhamer Dick, mainly because it looks like something is floating in it. Oh my, how sassy!
Zeus credits one of his best assets behind the bar (and there are many) is his brain. He is a news junkie and is up to date on local and global current events. Take that and add his love of Jeopardy, and you have a person who can discuss everything from the news of the day to a plethora of trivia facts. Bartenders, at least the popular ones, are always good conversationalists. When I asked him what is the craziest thing he has seen behind the bar, he says, ”The fashion choices people make during the annual Red Dress Run.”
You can always tell when someone loves their job, and being a bartender is a perfect career for Zeus. He is a true hospitality professional. He says, “I love working at The Page because I’m a very customer service oriented bartender, and I try to provide my customers with a well-rounded experience when I’m in the bar. The Page allows me to do that and make quality connections with people.”
I always am curious about what bartenders drink when they are not serving cocktails. “My go-to drink when I’m out is usually a Crown Peach with pineapple juice and a splash of Grenadine.” I always believe a person’s favorite drink says a lot about their personality. So Zeus’ drink is exotic, sweet and refreshing. He also let me know his biggest pet peeve behind the bar is when customers make others uncomfortable or feel disrespected. Bars, especially LGBTQ+ bars, are safe spaces so we need to remember that your bartenders are working extra hard to give their guests a safe and inclusive environment, so we need to repay that kindness.
So go to The Page age and get an elixir of the gods (or a Dhamer Dick) from Zeus. The Page is located at 542 N. Rampart Street.
