by chris s. on This is a great place to hear some of the best local musicians for a reasonable price. The atmosphere is superb with comfortable sofa seating as well as tables,chairs and a good sized bar. This review is based on the music aspect. The sound system and balance were excellent.
by Mauricio Miazga on Came here after walking around the Highline and we just saw this place beckoning us with it's inviting facade and aboreal feel. The location is great too, kind of sandwiched between Chelsea and the meat packing a couple of blocks from the pier and the Highline. First off, it's huge (for NYCat least). It's really 4 restaurants in one each with a different feel, but with the same menu so you don't have to stress about that. There's an indoor main dining room, which is your standard restaurant, but still very nice. Then there's the "garden" which is really indoors, but has the outside feeling with big seemingly real trees and sidewalk type brick patio. It's actually heated and covered, so no worries for the winter. There's also a lounge, called the "penthouse" which is very cool. It opens up to the outdoors for the warmer months and has great couches and lounging areas. There also the atrium, which I think is just for drinks. I think they fancy themselves as ingredient-based Mediterranean, but I'm not really sure what that means. The food is reasonably priced and the portions are ample without being grotesque. If you're with a group, I recommend doing a few of their small plates tapas style then go up to the penthouse for drinks afterward and make it an evening.
by Perry Landolf on I really don't get this place. Is it a sophisticated urban lounge/restaurant or is it a rock concert? The lighting was so dark, it's hard to get around without bumping into people. At least at rock concerts, they feature occasional pyro shows and the audience is sometimes compelled to provide group lighter lighting. The music was so loud and brooding that I felt like it was raping my ear drums. Rock concerts - well, you know. The bathroom was really gross - urine all over the seats and floor and no toilet paper in any of the stalls except dirty ones on the floor. This would be expected at a rock concert but not at a lounge that charges $15 for a couple of egg rolls. At least there was the facade of a bathroom attendant except she was sleeping on a chair in the corner. The doormen were rude and wouldn't let me get back in after smoking outside. The joint is too "classy" to give you a wrist band or a stamp. Just stamp my hand already and let me back in! Stronger drinks than at rock concerts but don't think we didn't pay the premium. I'm sure it's a cool place for those with more patience and better hearing than I do. Places like this remind me that I am getting too old. *sigh*
