[masraum]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Yeah, I think a lot of bartenders assume that folks today want a "dry" martini-very little to no vermouth. Just say "not too dry" when you order.

And no, dirty isn't right unless you order dirty, so I guess you need to say "please not dirty".

Its a lot of instruction, but only a non self confident bartender will object to you expressing your wishes. I always preferred a customer to tell me. Its like doneness on a steak.

Almost every martini that I ever had to make (that wasn't dirty), also included the request "hardly any vermouth, please." I've had someone ask me to put a little vermouth in the glass, swirl it around, and then dump it out and that's all that they wanted.

Maybe "I'm already dirty, so my martini shouldn't be" will get there attention.