Victor L.
Yelp
I went here for a birthday party, and the party was great. However, there was a lot of stuff that while it didn't ruin my night or anything, I actually objectively shaved points off these guys' chins for a few reasons. But first, the good.
So the place is kinda like every other lounge/club/restaurant/bar in the area of Midtown East (or really north Murray Hill as well). The crowd pretty much sucks, although this place was slightly better than say Local. It's very dark, the music is blaring, and it somewhat attempts a nice layout (the upstairs bar is way too skinny, you can only fit 3 people from the wall to the bar, but there are a lot of couches lined up around the corners to give a more comfortable vibe). The problem is it's made up of too much hair gel and women who while attractive either don't know why they are there and complain a lot or are there having fun but really just could be doing better. At the very least there's no pretension, except at the goddamn door.
The staff at the door was as pretentious as you can get, the white bouncer was a total douche, and I'll get to that in a second. The doorman was still skeptical of us even though we were there with the birthday girl who set the party up through management. We had correct dress code, I'm sorry that my jacket isn't brand new. We get in (I'd never pay a cover here) and head upstairs, which was decidedly more crowded with less room. The bar is fairly expensive I think I paid 7 dollars for a bottle of beer, although I do see that they have a happy hour.
There are two bathrooms upstairs, one being broken because someone decided to play gag a toilet. I was waiting patiently in line, when the white bouncer comes upstairs (he already had a few words with one of my friends who was stranded outside) and allows these three girls to cut in line. I had a pretty funny exchange with one of them, who used the good but odd excuse, "I'm pregnant". and I immediately thought, and said, "What are you doing here then". Her friends got angry, asking what my business was asking her. Multitude of possible health concerns was all I was implying. I lied and said I had a kid and a wife, and they thought they were being smart by being, "what are YOU doing here then?" and I replied, "I'm here for a friend's birthday party, so?" It kinda irked me that they had no sense of logic.
They spent 20 minutes in that bathroom. 20 minutes is so much longer when you're waiting with the angriest line ever. It just seemed so spoiled, the bouncer brought them upstairs (when there was a bathroom downstairs) and used his power needlessly.
The people are just kind of hepped up on the notion that they think they are posh but they really aren't; it's like the Upper East Side decided to dance and they come down to this area to mingle so homogenously. There are good souls here though, I could tell. A lot of finance people too.
The second floor does have a nice view of the street though, right at the intersection.