| rev:text
| - I should clarify: my review PRE-new management would be 5-Stars. (Great music, great ambience, friendly cool staff,etc.)
POST-Mandy, the new owner-manager, however, I would have to say it has experienced a precipitious decline.
First of all, there has apparently been a purge, and it seems all of the old staff (save a server named Rob, who is nice) are gone. The personality and class of those people was part of the attraction, and why I would pay $9 for a drink.
Now you have Ms. I-Used-To-Manage-a-Chili's (how hip is that?!) behind the bar (s-l-o-w-l-y mixing drinks) and an extremely unfriendly, unsmiling female server who makes one feel like they are bothering her if she needs to take a drink order. You are working in the service industry-- for tips!-- would it kill you to smile? Perhaps nepotism isn't the best way to fill employee slots; apparently she is dating the owner's brother, which is the only way I can she that she's keeping her job.
Next: the music. It *was* a nice mix of cool, soothing background music (think Manu Chau) which was conducive to conversation and the swanky lounge atmosphere it is supposed to be. Now it is too loud, and often just bad. If I wanted to listen to the soundtrack to "Night at the Roxbury" I'd go across the street to Madison's. And did my ears deceive me, or did I actually hear them blasting the overplayed Reggaeton song "Gasolina"? Ugh.
The drinks: The quality and variety has declined. I've heard a lot of "we no longer carry that vodka" or "we no longer offer that drink flavor" since the new regime took over. Also, if I'm paying $9, I'd like a little presentation. A perfectly mixed cocktail with a little mermaid reclining against the rim, placed carefully on a clean fresh cocktail napkin was fun. A drink hastily slapped on the table, sans and window-dressing, its contents slopped over the side, with nary a "thank, you-- enjoy!" is not appreciated. The little extras count, and their absence is missed.
It also just doesn't seem as clean. Tables are not wiped off promptly, empties are left on the table, and there is crud ground into the carpet.
Finally, last but not least, the crowd had changed. It used to be fun partly because of the very diverse clientele-- Asian/Indian/Latin/Russian/Gay/Straight/Couples/Students/Young Professionals, etc. I saw the crowd gradually change, and some regulars disappear. Now there seem to be a lot of ill-dressed white townie yokels (friends of the owner?) hanging out by the bar, talking too loudly and drinking beer.
While perusing their web site for signs of the sad new changes I noted that they still had a link to "candid photos of the staff", though clicking on it gets "This website is temporarily unavailable, please try again later." Yes, that's because they're all gone...like a lot of loyal customers. I used to be in there almost every week and spent quite a lot of my hard-earned money there too-- I won't be back.
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