Amanda Akers

Today for our occasional #BartendersOfGoshen series, meet Amanda Akers from Dandino’s Supper Club, at 1407 Elkhart Road in Goshen! 🍻

“I’ve been here for three and a half years. I’ve been through the last major shutdown that we had, which lasted around six months. In that time, I was fortunate enough to bartend at Lucchese’s for a little bit and learn a few things. I also picked up side catering gigs and got to go bartend elsewhere until we opened back up here.”

Where I Got Started
My very first bartending gig was actually at the Goshen Moose one summer.

What I’ve Learned
I had a really great teacher. She was here for 18 years, and I listened to her. She said, ‘This is how you do it. This is how they like it.’

I’ve learned a lot here. I’ve learned what I like, and I’ve learned what other people like. At the Moose, it was your basics – all your single-mixers, beer, a margarita, a daiquiri. Once I came here, I learned Old Fashioneds and Manhattans. Even a basic martini was something I never made until I got here.

Bartending Advice
Listen to your customers. They know what they want.

Best Part of the Job
It’s a toss-up between all the customers that have become friends or the fact that the owners are so amazing they let me be creative and come up with my own drink specials.

Favorite Drink
My favorite here at Dandino’s – and my favorite to drink – would definitely be a lemon martini. All-time favorite. And if I couldn’t have that, I would have a strawberry basil smash.