Jason V.
Yelp
If I had to guess which of the classic circles of Hell is embodied most by Dante's, lust would be the most obvious choice. Events such as the Sinferno Cabaret, Karaoke from Hell, and several other sultry, sexy shindigs throughout the year make it pretty obvious which sin is this club's guilty pleasure. Not to mention the enticingly named "Pizza Slut" window (available inside and streetside), which serves up a hot slice of surprisingly decent pizza for a few bucks.
I've come to Dante's to see various (mostly heavy metal) shows for more than a decade, and despite its diminutive size, this club has a lot going for it. Any venue where you can lean directly onto the stage (or be thrown onto it, as has happened to me before), without any barrier between you and the band, is a huge plus for me. Often packed to the gills, somehow there's always room for a mosh pit. Most importantly, though, is the fact that the sound quality has never been an issue here. Even when dialed up to 11, vocals come through clear, solos resound and reverberate, and even the most vigorous drummer fails to overwhelm the melody. I'm not sure if that boils down to the acoustics of the building or the talent of the sound engineers, but it's a welcome change from most other venues. They understand, revere and cherish rock and metal here. They get it.
Drinks are overpriced and on the small-ish side, but not nearly as watered down as the Roseland or the Hawthorne. Frequently there is a cover, as live entertainment is the draw here, so be prepared to fork over a few bucks to get in. Come prepared; their ATM is frequently busted or out of cash, as are most others in the immediate area. Once you're in, though, be prepared to have your face melted off by sick shredding, salubrious shots, singing sirens and sexy succubi shaking it on stage. If Hell had been this much fun, Virgil would never have left.