South Florida’s Best Bartender – Joe Macaione at Himmarshee Side Bar

Despite being the committed work out nut I’ve become of late and now somewhat  of a stranger to the bar scene, if I were to win the lottery, which you’ll learn to be a common opening theme of mine, I’d throw a big party to clebrate and boast – and I’d hire Joe as my bar tender for the evening. Joe must have played and dominated the game "Memory" as a kid A LOT.  I could introduce you to him one slamming night at Himmarshee Restaurant and Side Bar. He’ll greet you with a smile, shake your hand or give you a kiss on the cheek and serve your drink of choice. Should you pop up at his ever packed bar six months later I do not doubt that he will have remembered both your name and drink -regardless of your looks or gender. He’s like the Rain Man – in a good way.  

Side Bar, as it’s more known at night, is a small establishment in the Miami and Fort Liquordale scope of things but does really well on Friday nights – thanks in part to its resident DJ spinning the right mix of dance/hip hop and remixes of current chart toppers and to the attitude free bar staff which includes Joe.  There are four bar tenders working away at Side Bar yet Joe, in his solitary corner off to the side seems to always have a never ending crowd waiting to be served and say hi. I think people just like to see him work his magic. There’s no juggling of bottles like in Tom Cruise’s movie, Cocktail. He just works at sweaty Flash Gordon speed subtly demonstrating his special skill for remembering everyone and everything, including the order of who’s to be served, regardless of the size of the bills or cleavage held up in front of him.