A bartender just went completely off the rails after a customer left their number, the entire internet is watching the bizarre reaction

A bartender in Kraków, Poland, just gave the internet a masterclass in how not to react to a customer leaving their phone number, and the bizarre video has already racked up 3.5 million views on TikTok. It’s a hilarious, yet slightly brutal, look at the reality of flirting with service industry professionals.

The now-viral video, posted by Karaoke Kraków (@letssingkrakow), shows exactly what happens behind the bar when that napkin with a number on it gets left behind. The on-screen caption perfectly sets the scene, reading, “How the customers think I react when they leave their number.”

It’s immediately clear this isn’t going to be a sweet, cinematic moment. Instead of crumpling the napkin and moving on with his night, the bartender starts an elaborate, pulse-pounding celebration. He’s performing such a hype, fist-pumpingly dramatic version of happiness that it’s obviously a mocking performance. He’s making fun of the very idea that he would ever consider calling the number.

While the video is undeniably funny, it definitely has a mean edge

The bartender then pivots from rapturous fist-pumping right into an impromptu dance session, finishing his routine by leaning dramatically on the bar, head in his hand, gazing off into the distance. This viral joke sparked a huge conversation online about the true dynamic between customers and bartenders, and some of the reactions are truly shocking.

One viewer shared a horrifying anecdote about a friend who used to work at a men-employees-only bar. She said they would collect the written-down numbers in the break room, and whoever won the most by the end of the month won. She added, “No, they never texted them.” Another viewer recalled an even more aggressive response to the number-leaving trend. They said, “One time a guy tried to ask me if he could leave his number where the tip was and I told him if he did I was gonna charge him that amount.”

Despite the harsh truths, many people defended the brave souls who put themselves out there. It takes real courage to try for love, after all, more so if you are doing it inside a bar. One user pointed out the hypocrisy, saying, “I’m not sure why we’re making fun of people who are brave enough to do this lol but we get mad at people for not trying.”

Others noted that sometimes, it really is cute when done respectfully. One person who used to work behind the bar said the attempts were often better than the modern alternatives. “When I worked at a bar I thought it was cute, as long as people were respectful. Better than meeting people on tinder,” they shared.

Leaving your number at the bar is definitely not a crime, but it is a total gamble. The movie ending you get might be a sweet rom-com, a tragic rejection, or in this bartender’s case, just a great story your friends will never let you forget. Some bartenders are not so mean, though.