We like Second Story for their selection of bourbons, whiskeys, Scotch, etc. The service is quite good and the atmosphere is lively and fun. Here's the rub: we've been 3 or 4 times in the last few months, most recently last night. The ladies at the entrance usually give us an inflated wait time. We have gotten around it on past visits but last night it seemed legitimately busy and we were told 45 minutes. Our choice was to make a reservation or put our name in and wait. We were also told they're strict about the reservations and we had to ask what did that mean? She was evasive then I asked if they likely take our credit card # and charge a minimum fee for a no show to which she agreed. We put our names on the wait list and then went right next door for our 45 minute wait, only to be called in 10 minutes. We had just gotten a cocktail and could not immediately return so we thanked them for the call but declined the table.
It appears as though the place tries to exaggerate its exclusivity by managing this way. There is obviously a disconnect bw upstairs seating and downstairs hostessing. If it were a one-time thing, I wouldn't have balked, but that's not the case. They either need someone more mature or professional as a hostess and/or refine the approach.