Leesa Z.
Yelp
Bar Bianchi might fancy itself the latest "it spot" in New York, but don't let the candlelight and cocktails fool you--beneath the surface is a complete disregard for hospitality and basic human decency.
We were told the wait would be 45 minutes. Fine. We grabbed drinks at the bar and settled in. At the 30-minute mark, we politely checked in--only to be told, with an alarming lack of concern, that the wait was actually three hours. No apology. No explanation. Just a smirk and a shrug. It felt less like a mistake and more like a message: you're not who we want here.
When I asked to speak to a manager, I was met with a level of condescension I haven't encountered in years. He was unhelpful, dismissive, and frankly, rude. (And while I hate to get personal--his breath could've cleared the room faster than any fire alarm.)
And here's the part that truly left a mark: I'm a 61-year-old native New Yorker enjoying a night out with my 25-year-old daughter. We are both seasoned, city-savvy, and well-versed in dining in this town. We weren't confused, demanding, or entitled--we were simply asking for clarity. The way I was looked at, dismissed, and outright disrespected made one thing painfully clear: if you're not in their 20-to-30-something demo, you're invisible. The ageism was unmistakable--and inexcusable.
Bar Bianchi is all style, no soul. It mistakes exclusivity for excellence and arrogance for ambiance. The novelty may draw crowds for now, but trust me--this place is a flash in the pan. Give it six months, a year at best, and New York will move on--as it always does--leaving behind another overpriced, overhyped, underwhelming blip.
If you're looking for genuine hospitality, skip Bar Bianchi. There's nothing chic about being treated like you don't belong.
Hopefully the money they rake in during their short-lived moment helps the manager afford a decent dentist--because the attitude wasn't the only thing that stunk.
And to the bartender who showed us grace when we said we were leaving because of how poorly we'd been treated--thank you. He apologized sincerely, refused to charge us, and showed the kind of class this place so desperately lacks.
