by Mariam Ringbloom on We went to eat, and not to see the view or to participate in the 'scene.' So this review is specific to the food, and atmosphere of the downstairs dining area only. Small plates are a personal favorite as its a good way to taste more than just one thing, and it's communal... reminding me slightly of when I was a kid and we'd all dive into the plates to share a meal... so kinda family style. The selection was good, a bit of a mish-mash-hash of middle eastern, north African, and Mediterranean foods. Which considering their proximity to one another do kind-of make sense, but unless you know the difference can make for a tasty but confusing dinner. Its not that you should feel obligated to stick to any one region, but be mindful of what you are choosing. Mejool (like the actual date) is not bad, but in large quantities can imagine would be overwhelming. The dishes are rich, bright, and range from savory to sweet. The one consistent thing is that they will do their darndest to hit you over the head with how 'cool' the place is, and not so much about how the food is intended to keep your attention. Its really a filler. Drinks? well I only had the opportunity to try a few... but mixologists... they may be... but I was not terribly impressed. They were not terribly imaginative, and presentation wise didn't offer anything that I can't find at the local pub around the corner with a seasoned bar-keep. The one really nice thing.. the staff. Attentive and there! which considering the cavernous downstairs eating area could have gotten a different treatment, but they did an excellent job of making sure that we were attended to well. Dishes were picked up quickly and with little interruption to the meal, so that we weren't forced to deal with the horror of plates stacked high to show the rest of the restaurant our gluttony. I'd probably go again... but not sure about weekend nights, unless I'm there to party.
by Nova Zullinger on I have gone to 1984 off and on since 2001, and it has changed for the worse since then. It's still a great place to go dance and people watch though, it's quite amusing to see some people's attempts at pickups. The music is good, but sometimes it's bad. Go figure.
