Long on the DC scene, this bar vet’s seen it all. Just try to get a rise out of seasoned Zach Myers. You won’t be able to. Fried bull testicles, bar streaking… he’s always calm under pressure and as nice as ever. Just do him one small favor — check your outside voice at the door.
On Tap: You’ve been at Asylum for more than five years, which is an eternity in the service industry. What gives?
Zach Myers: I’ve worked every Tuesday for years. Lots of regulars, great neighborhood — I know 95 percent of the people that come in. It’s a good place.
OT: What’s the best part of bartending at ChurchKey?
ZM: Learning about and being exposed to all sorts of rare and unique beers.
OT: Favorite drink to make?
ZM: Is pouring beer acceptable? I like pouring beer — especially imperial stouts.
OT: What fictional character do you most identify with?
ZM: (Hesitates long enough for Ben the barback to chime in)
Ben: The Fonz
ZM: Nooo. (Laughs). Well, I actually used to style my hair like the Fonz….
OT: Weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?
ZM: Fried bull testicles. At my old job at Reef, Chef got some to mess around with us. They tasted like fried chicken — not too bad.
OT: Favorite place to go in DC?
ZM: New restaurants. I last tried Room 11 — very good.
OT: Bad habits of other people that drive you crazy?
ZM: Not using inside voices.
OT: Guilty pleasure?
ZM: Bad reality TV.
OT: You gotta give us one…
ZM: Ok… Jersey Shore. But really any sort…
OT: If you could open your own bar, where and what breed?
ZM: Philly, a small dive-y bar with really good beer.
OT: Your go-to beverage?
ZM: Budweiser.
OT: What one word would coworkers use to describe you?
ZM: Levelheaded. I’m always calm under pressure.
OT: What’s the one thing you refuse to do under any circumstances?
ZM: Streak the bar. I think I’d try anything once, except streaking the bar.
OT: If you had to, which of your coworkers would you trip and why?
ZM: My boss Eric (Asylum). Because he’s a tyrant.
Catch Zach and his Fonziness at ChurchKey on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and at Asylum on Tuesdays.
ChurchKey: 1337 14th St. NW, DC; 202-567-2576; www.churchkeydc.com
[googleMap name="ChurchKey" width="770" height="235" mousewheel="false"]1337 14th St. NW, DC[/googleMap]
Asylum: 2471 18th St. NW, DC; 202-319-9353; www.asylumdc.com
[googleMap name="Asylum" width="770" height="235" mousewheel="false"]2471 18th St. NW, DC[/googleMap]
[...] Personalities: Behind the Bar—Interview with ChurchKey’s and Asylum’s Zach Myers On Tap magazine, February Issue, [...]