# I can't remember the last time I saw free munchies at a bar **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 17, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868 "2015-10-17T02:25:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/21 "2015-10-18T14:34:48Z")
I’ve had an idea for a bar for a while. Not that I ever want to get into the business. But why not offer ONE choice for food every evening. Simple stuff like chili, hearty soup, spaghetti, stew. Stuff that a very limited kitchen could focus on, make a lot of it and make it good. And then make it cheep. Say a dollar a bowl. Limited kitchen overhead, and you make money on the liquor. Make a little profit on the food. I think this would work great for a locals place. Want a beer or three and some simple grub? You know where to go. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/22 "2015-10-18T16:24:49Z")
My sister tends bar and they used to do Cheese Fridays and set out plates of cheese cubes and crackers. But because they didn’t have a kitchen, therefore were not a restaurant, they had to quit doing it. They weren’t even allowed to purchase cheese trays from a deli and serve that way. And I don’t think they every had snacks on the bar, tho I wouldn’t swear to it. I’ve only been there a few times and since I don’t drink, I sat away from the bar itself. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/23 "2015-10-18T16:48:30Z")
I wouldn’t eat free munchies at a bar ! When I went to college one of my teachers told the class a test was done on free candy at a restaurant . The candy was at the checkout counter and tested at a lab , urine was found on the candy wrappers ! :eek: I stopped eating free munchies after I heard this . This could be why some bars stopped having free munchies . ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/24 "2015-10-18T17:05:36Z")
> [@purplehearingaid](#): > > I wouldn’t eat free munchies at a bar ! When I went to college one of my teachers told the class a test was done on free candy at a restaurant . The candy > was at the checkout counter and tested at a lab , urine was found on the candy wrappers ! :eek: I stopped eating free munchies after I heard this . This could be why some bars stopped having free munchies . The place I mentioned upthread sets out a clean tray for each new person who sits at the bar. The olives and nuts are poured out in the kitchen. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/25 "2015-10-18T17:12:26Z")
> [@purplehearingaid](#): > > I wouldn’t eat free munchies at a bar ! When I went to college one of my teachers told the class a test was done on free candy at a restaurant . The candy > was at the checkout counter and tested at a lab , urine was found on the candy wrappers ! :eek: I stopped eating free munchies after I heard this . This could be why some bars stopped having free munchies . In the study I read about, what they found came from the restroom, but it wasn’t urine… But yeah, many of the bars I frequent have chips or nuts or popcorn. I don’t generally partake unless I’m offered a fresh bowl. (Hmm, that last sentence could be read more than one way.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/26 "2015-10-18T17:18:02Z")
Every time I’m in a bar. Our favorite watering hole gives you a fresh bowl of house-made snack mix every time you sit down. They used to include house-made ketchup chips, but that went away with the last round of budgeting. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/27 "2015-10-18T17:19:23Z")
Along this line, I recall a report in the Chicago media about fecal contamination of ice cubes in restaurants. It was found in the small dives, right up to the ritzy downtown establishments. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/28 "2015-10-18T18:38:52Z")
So they put the ice cubes up their butt in Chicago? Then serve them? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/29 "2015-10-18T18:53:03Z")
It’s all over. I guess it’s a handwashing issue, and the classy-ness of the joint don’t seem to matter. I googled a phrase from my post and saw this: > **[Google](https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=fecal+contamination+of+ice+cubes+in+restaurants)** > > Search the world's information, including webpages, images, videos and more. Google has many special features to help you find exactly what you're looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Elemenopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b5e925/32.png) [@Elemenopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elemenopy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/30 "2015-10-18T19:42:16Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I’ve had an idea for a bar for a while. Not that I ever want to get into the business. > > But why not offer ONE choice for food every evening. Simple stuff like chili, hearty soup, spaghetti, stew. Stuff that a very limited kitchen could focus on, make a lot of it and make it good. > > And then make it cheep. Say a dollar a bowl. Limited kitchen overhead, and you make money on the liquor. Make a little profit on the food. > > I think this would work great for a locals place. Want a beer or three and some simple grub? You know where to go. I used to sometimes go to this dive bar that was near campus between classes a few years back…they had extremely cheap food all day that wasn’t half bad. For instance, cheeseburgers for $1.50, a big plate of fried mushrooms for $2, little beef kebabs for 1, .50 jumbo shrimp, etc. A big St Louis style pizza (matzo crust) was $8, I think. Nothing fancy, but made a good inexpensive lunch or dinner with a beer. If they had actually had decent bartenders/shelf, I might have gone even more frequently. I remember once trying to explain for like five minutes how to make an old-fashioned.😃 ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/31 "2015-10-18T19:59:20Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > In the study I read about, what they found came from the restroom, but it wasn’t urine… > > But yeah, many of the bars I frequent have chips or nuts or popcorn. I don’t generally partake unless I’m offered a fresh bowl. (Hmm, that last sentence could be read more than one way.) YUCKY ! When I was a health aide I had to clean my clients nails and OMG I could not believe the amount of shit that was under their nails ! :eek: I wore rubber gloves when I did this . I never went to bars , I don’t drink but I ate at restaurants that had a bar and they had bowls of nuts etc that were for everyone to eat . I always wash my hands after shaking a person’s hand now. I went up to a new neighbor to introduce myself and her nails were so long they curled over and she put out her hand and I was like OH SHIT ! I could only think of shit and I washed my hands really good after shaking her hand. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/32 "2015-10-18T22:12:17Z")
And have the waiter read the menu to you. > **[Germs On The Menu](https://www.cleanlink.com/news/article.aspx?id=16859)** > > CleanLink News ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/33 "2015-10-18T22:29:45Z")
I think the proliferation of Happy Hour laws along with MADD mentality taking a strong hold in american culture, has had a lot to do with the reduction of free food stuffs being offered at bars. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/34 "2015-10-19T00:43:37Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > …why not offer ONE choice for food every evening. Simple stuff like chili, hearty soup, spaghetti, stew. Stuff that a very limited kitchen could focus on, make a lot of it and make it good. You’re suggesting what was once called, back before Prohibition, when saloons were male-only turf, the “free lunch.” For the price of a five-cent draft beer you could help yourself to the (salty and gut-filling) free food. But you know something, pal? There AIN’T NO FREE LUNCH any more. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/35 "2015-10-19T00:48:21Z")
Fancy hotel bars in Manhattan still serve up dishes of salty snacks: mixed nuts, pretzels, small crackers. I’ve had them at the King Cole Bar at the St. Regis and the Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle, for example. I have also paid $20 and more for a Martini at those places, so they better fucking well pony up a nosh. ---
**Author:** ![purplehearingaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/36 "2015-10-19T01:42:21Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > So they put the ice cubes up their butt in Chicago? Then serve them? More likely people had their hands up their butts and didn’t wash them very good before going back to work . Or they turned the water off without a paper towel and opened the door with their bare hands. When I was training to be a health aide it was drilled into your brain how importance it was NOT to use your bare hands to turn off the water after washing them and not open a public rest door with your bare hands . I don’t understand why the health department doesn’t require grocery stores and restaurants to have this posted in the bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/37 "2015-10-19T22:39:13Z")
My buddy has a brewery here in WA (Flycaster for any locals that want to check it out) and they have pretzels that they coat with their own seasoning mix. Goes great with beer. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/38 "2015-10-20T01:41:21Z")
I’m pleasantly surprised that bar snacks are alive and well. I’m not sure now if they’ve gone out of fashion in my area, or if I’m just not going to the right places. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/39 "2015-10-20T02:23:19Z")
> [@purplehearingaid](#): > > When I was training to be a > health aide it was drilled into your brain how importance it was NOT to use your bare hands to turn off the water after washing them and not open a public rest door with your bare hands . So do you not use your bare hands to touch anything, or do you think that everything somehow becomes magically germ-free once you’ve crossed the plane of the bathroom door? ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868/40 "2015-10-20T04:14:46Z")
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen this as a regular thing, but some places might put out free stuff for events. Or else they have bags of chips behind the bar, which I’ve never asked for but have assumed that they costed money. Side question: some sources have mentioned that designated drivers drink for free. I can’t recall any specific occasions, but I believe ordering a Coke in a bar will cost you. Others’ experiences? > [@zombywoof](#): > > So do you not use your bare hands to touch anything, or do you think that everything somehow becomes magically germ-free once you’ve crossed the plane of the bathroom door? No, but it’s a place that’s statistically more likely to be gross. Brass doorknobs are antimicrobial. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-cant-remember-the-last-time-i-saw-free-munchies-at-a-bar/734868.md?page=3)