There’s an old saying in the hospitality industry: “The customer is always right.” But what if that customer asks you to commit a petty theft? Or take your clothes off for cash? Well, those are just a few of the strange requests that diners have made of some of the finalists for our Taste of Groupon Awards. Read on to hear all the dirt:

“This is a tough one, I have worked in this industry for 10 years now, so I feel like I have had a lot of strange requests. I would have to say when I had a guest ask me for a kiss. That caught me by surprise to say the least.”

– Chris Reale, Bartender at Grace Restaurant in Fort Worth, TX

“Offered money to strip for a bachlorette party.” 

– Jimmie Morgan, Bar Manager at Lucky 13 in Salt Lake City, UT

“We have a beautiful painting of our building hanging over the brewery, and this man wanted me to climb a ladder and steal the painting for him.” 

– Lorna Renea McKaig, Bartender at The Terminal Brewhouse in Hixson, TN

“I had a group that wanted to plan a party and asked if they could have leprechauns running around at their event … and we said yes!”

– Allison Hintz, Server at SeaLegs Wine Bar in Huntington Beach, CA

“Maybe my favorite occurrence is when a customer attempts to stump me by requesting I make a cocktail [that] tastes like some kind of food. Recently a neighborhood guest was positive I couldn’t make him an old-fashioned that tasted like a prime-rib dinner (á la Lawry’s). A little beef bouillon, horseradish, worcestershire sauce, rum, and voilà, the Prime Rib Old-Fashioned was born. ... Truth be told, it was pretty delicious!”

– Brandon Edward Phillips, Senior Executive Bar Manager at The Duck Inn in Chicago, IL

 “A peanut sauce without peanuts.”

– Serena Blanchard, General Manager at Talde in Brooklyn, NY