Bartender Spotlight: Jeff
Jeff
(aka: El Jeffe, Big Daddy, Dad, Beans, Hey You!)
3 words to describe yourself: Giving, Curious, “Dad”
The man, the myth, the legend: our lead bartender Jeff has been an AC Lounge staple since he “had to get up to change a channel” (his own words). Hailing from Ames, Iowa, he has stolen the hearts of many AC Lounge guests through his impeccable cocktail making skills, killer personality, and adorable pictures of his growing triplets! Jeff fell in love with the AC the moment he stepped through our doors years ago thanks to our eclectic decor and colorful details, and he has called our unique, neighborhood dance bar his home ever since! Through his time with us thus far, he has helped countless of our diverse customers find their favorite drink, have an amazing night out, and feel at ease amidst the energetic atmosphere of our vibrant SD club.
With his years of wisdom and success in the service industry, Jeff notoriously states that there are three drinks that can tell you a lot about a barkeep: a Bloody Mary, Negroni, and an Old Fashioned; of course, we have shamelessly tried all three of his classic specialties many times, and the perfect balance of flavors and quality presentation of each reflect his obvious skill and personal flair with every drink that slides across our bar. If you haven’t gotten a chance to try a cocktail curated by this guy, it should definitely be on your to-do list! What’s his secret? The humble dad and experienced barkeep always tries to make each cocktail with love, no matter what the customer orders! From running 4 nights a week at the AC to keeping things smooth and stocked behind the bar and even gracing our up-and-coming bartenders with his sage advice and tricks of the trade, Jeff does it all!
When he is not impressing behind the bar, Jeff is playing with his adorable, active triplets. Chasing around three boys may be a handful at times, but this super dad also makes the time to volunteer and work for his boys’ school district in Encinitas advocating, teaching, and promoting students with special needs. He takes that admirable passion one step further by sitting on the county NCCSE board to implement change and better the community in regards to Special Education. With The AC Lounge being a major music hub, it’s no surprise that Jeff is a music man himself! Our head bartender played the drums and did drama since he was a youngin’, which also helped him find the other love of his life: jazz music. He regularly indulges in listening to some quality tunes or enjoying a solid concert, we even catch him jamming out to his own jazz CDs when he is opening/closing the bar! This love of music led him to be a successful sound designer for the Old Globe and other theaters all over the world, including 5 theatrical performances on Broadway before making his way to us!
If you are looking for a truly knowledgeable, engaging, and customer-focused barkeep, Jeff is your guy! Catch him at The AC Lounge every week on Saturday through Monday nights and #HipHopWeds. No matter what you order, Jeff will undoubtedly deliver a solid drink, but we definitely recommend his Kentucky Chocolate featured on our new cocktail menu if you’re down for a unique, indulgent take on a classic Old Fashioned!