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Many women would consider themselves lucky to even be in the same room as George Clooney. Tsunami bartender Kassie Gage can not only say she met the star, but also had an enviable intimate encounter with him.
“He was sticking his finger in my sake to check the temperature,” says the 25-year-old Colorado native. She said Clooney, who was in town filming the movie “Leatherheads,” was a perfect gentleman.
“He came in here a couple of times,” she says. “He was really nice.”
It’s experiences like that that make Gage love bartending, though soon you’ll be just as likely to find her mixing your hair color as mixing your vodka tonic.
How long have you been bartending here at Tsunami? Do you currently work anywhere else? Four years, off and on. I’m also a bartender at Meat Head’s.
Have you worked at any other Greenville bars? Sharkey’s, Bait Shack (where Meat Head's is now) and 221.
How did you get into bartending? I had a friend who bartended here and brought me in. I started out as a server and then started training as a bartender.
What’s your favorite part about working here? The family atmosphere. There’s no drama here like you get in other restaurants and bars. (Tsunami owner) Miss Lee runs us really well.
Do you have any signature drinks? Dirty martinis and bourbon and gingers—I have the heavy hand with those. And sake bombs.
What’s the cheesiest pick-up line you’ve heard at work? A guy asked me, “What’s the most interesting thing that’s happened to you this summer?” I was like, “I don’t know.” He’s like, “Nothing exciting has happened?” I was like, “I guess not,” and he said, “Well, I think I should make that happen.” I was like, “I’ll get back to you on that.”
Have you gotten back to him on that? No. Not at all.
What’s a drink you make that would put somebody on the floor? Anything with a splash of anything.
Where do you hang out when you’re not working? We hang out at Meathead’s, here, Cazbah. We go every Sunday for brunch to see Lucky at Blue Ridge. He’s one of my favorite bartenders in Greenville. We hang out at The Brown Street Club a lot too.
What’s your take on the serving community in Greenville? We take care of each other. No one talks down on each other, and we send customers to each others’ bars. It’s really nice.
Do you have any other jobs besides bartending? I’m in school to do hair, to be a stylist. I have a job lined up at Urban Nirvana. I’ll be done at the end of the month. I’ll probably still bartend on the side, on weekends, but a little less.
Do you give customers tips on their hair? If they ask.
What do you think keeps people coming back to Tsunami? The fact they always see a familiar face, and that it’s a cool atmosphere. And the food is amazing.
Any surefire hangover cures? Yellow Gatorade. I don’t know why the yellow one, but it works the best. And a shot of tequila works for me. 5-Hour Energy is amazing. And of course a Bloody Mary on Sundays.
What’s your relationship status? I have a boyfriend.
Got an idea for a bartender profile? Suggest a bartender in the comments section below, or e-mail Yvonne Zusel at yzusel@UpstateLink.com.
