The interior is very nice with a wide selection of drinks. Finding seating is difficult and limited as it is super crowded on a Saturday night. The music was very good but too crowded to dance. Drinks are as expected NYC price ($16-20/ per drink). The bartenders are very nice and the old fashion was delicious! read more

I was really excited to try this bar as I had a friend visiting and heard amazing things about this place. However, I made reservation two weeks in advance for the dining option for three people and it was very chaotic. For starters you have to fight your way through the bar/standing section because it's so crowded. Once we got to the back part, our waitress was one of the rudest people (she had red/ginger hair & was wearing a pink bow). She goes "you're sitting at my favorite table!" in a sarcastic tone and it was literally the edge of the couch w our table touching the couple next to us. My two friends squeezed into the corner and she shoved the table aggressively right into them. Why would you market that area for three people? It was so claustrophobic and she kept saying we had to order the "full dinner" but never explained what that was. We were so thrown off by her rude energy that we just ordered drinks, two salads, and fries. Also nowhere in the reservation confirmation did it say anything about "full dinner", it just said you had to order food which we did. After ordering she looks even more upset with us and says "we can't guarantee your table for more than an hour bc you didn't order the full dinner". Whatever that means, we were so upset that we didn't care to leave in under an hour. Also by the end of the hour half the tables were empty. Even though our waiter was terrible and should be fired, the drinks and food were excellent. I'd come back for the vibes and drinks but don't know if I would sit down in the back because of the service and staff. read more

My mom found this restaurant on one of her Japanese TV shows so we had to check it out. The cocktails were sweet and you could barely taste the alcohol. The bacon wrapped lamb was cooked perfectly and the green sauce complimented the meat very well. We then got the ribeye which was more than enough for us three. The meat was a little chewy and some parts were hard to eat. It was also closer to medium rare than the medium that we asked for. The pasta on the other hand was very good: creamy and full of truffle aroma. For dessert, we got the cheesecake and bread pudding. They were also both ok and nothing special. read more

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Came here for a dinner with my friend. The bar area has a sophisticated speakeasy vibe but the dining area is seriously downplayed by cheap looking red tables I expect at a food court or pizza parlor. Later at night when the whole place gets dark and lit by candlelight this becomes less apparent but it was quite glaring during the earlier afternoon. Drinks here are well made and balanced. Not as nice of glassware as I'd expect at a cocktail bar but nice enough. The food was a big letdown and I would not recommend it. The mushroom risotto actually had pretty good mushroom but the risotto portion had no trace of salt, did not resemble anything close to the texture of a true risotto, and the portion was small. Definitely not worth $30. My friend tried the cavatelli and it was also quite underwhelming. Our server was nice and did check on us frequently, but the hostess wouldn't seat my friend until I also arrived despite the dining area being completely empty when he got there. Another negative is that the place has one single stall bathroom for everyone (men and women alike); I didn't end up waiting that long but presume the wait must get quite annoying later at night. Overall, there are way better cocktail bars in this area and I will not be back. read more

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Had this place on my list for quite some time and was excited to get a weekend reservation. When we got there they made us wait outside a bit despite the place being fairly empty, perhaps to create hype with a line outside the door? When we finally got in we were seated in an area all the way in the back that was apparently the entry to a storage cabinet the waiter needed access to and after having been asked to move twice so he could grab liquor we relocated ourselves to another booth. To drink I had the besos caliente which I want to say sounded a bit like the formula for a spicy margarita but I don't want to insult this drink as it was 1000 times better! Very well balanced with no overpowering ingredients, refreshing and barely sweetened which I prefer. For my second drink I had the fraise sauvage which seemed pretty popular among patrons, I also enjoyed this cocktail and like besos also balanced but a touch sweeter. In summary the drinks were great. To eat I had the truffle grilled cheese. It was a 4/10 at best so I'd save my appetite for somewhere else and stop here for drinks only. I knew coming in the drinks would be the star of the show and that I was taking a risk with the food so I wasn't terribly disappointed. What was disappointing was the service. I could overlook being made to wait, the terrible booth we initially had but not the pretentious waitress. She barely made eye contact, was very short when answering questions like she couldn't be bothered, and when we asked for dessert she instead brought us the receipt. If not for the many great NYC bars I'd come back because I was pleased with the cocktails and there were more I would have liked to try but I might need some time to get over the poor service! read more

Employees Only - Besos calientes - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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I like cocktails. I know cocktails. I travel the U.S. and more for work and always seek out the best places to go just so I can see what they're all about. NYC is sort of my cocktail home base, and while I have my regular spot(s), I do like to visit as many places as possible to see if there's anything I'm missing. In any case, the drinks at EO, just as I'd remembered, were interesting on paper, but fairly one dimensional on the sip. Not *bad* though. If they had been $15 (instead of $19), I might still stop in if I was in the area and there was no wait. ***BUT*** last night's experience convinced me never to return. Step one: if you list an ingredient on a menu, USE IT. My cocktail partner last night ordered a drink with green chartreuse because she loves it. The bartender used a substitute. WHAT?!? Do you expect to receive a Corolla when you return to the Audi dealership to pick up your car? I find this unconscionable for a number of reasons. Not only is it blatant bait-and-switch, paying for a premium liqueur and getting a substandard replacement, but it also tells me that the ingredients in your "craft" cocktails don't matter. There's a big difference between chartreuse and all of its supposed substitutes, so if you change that but nothing else, were your ingredients really working together in the first place? The biggest thing is just the lie though. The last thing I want in a cocktail bar is to have to police my drinks. And where else are they cutting corners? Oh, and yes, I know that chartreuse is "hard to find" now. But I can get it and have a bottle. The one who ordered it has five varieties on her shelf. You know who else has it? THIS BAR! I'll include pics.They just didn't bother using it. Do yourself a favor and visit one of the many other fine establishments in the city. read more

Employees Only - Chartreuse (Green and Yellow) on the shelf - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Let's talk about this place, if you want fun and inventive cocktails for $20, sure! Go right ahead, be my guest. But if you're here for food, please I beg you, just don't. The truffle grilled cheese for $28 was in one word, laughable. The burrata salad in another, minuscule. Satiate your hunger somewhere else, and come here after for your over priced West Village soirée. After all, isn't that why you came to the West Village? Side note, ceiling water was leaking on my friend the entire time, but I digress. read more

Great spot downtown. What I keep coming back for would be the cocktails. (If you know you know). All of the drinks here are made incredibly well and the ambiance just adds to the whole experience. It is almost like a speakeasy hidden behind the red curtains. The food here is also surprisingly really good. My friend and I each got the beet salad and split the cheeseboard. A con would definitely be joe small the space is and how hard it can be to get from one part of the establishment to another. Despite that, I cannot a an't say enough great things about employees only. Definitely order the Amelia from the cocktail menu and the spicy margarita read more

Employees Only - Cheese Plate, Beet Salad - New American Near Me - New York, New York

This review is solely based on the rudeness of the doorman. My friends and I were excited to check this place out so we patiently stood in line for a good 25-30 mins or so. We then saw this doorman letting a bunch of people in who were clearly his friends before us and we were a little surprised so one of my friends said something. This doorman then decided to be extremely rude to us and basically told us he would not let us in because of our demeanor. Mind you, we were nothing but patiently and politely waiting in line everyone else and even the couple behind us complained about how this guy let his friends in and made us wait in line but yet he let them in. It was such a waste of our time waiting in line. I will not be coming back here again! I'm not sure who these doormen think they are but they are not shit! read more

Employees Only - Most disrespectful doorman! He should be fired! - New American Near Me - New York, New York

This was my first time back since the pre-COVID era. It feels so unreal. I've always loved their ambience and cocktails. It gets very crowded very fast so if you are planning a night out I would suggest getting here a bit early (shorter wait the earlier you get here). They do also do dinner reservations if you want to be seated at a table. If you do neither, you might have to loiter around the bar all night long because there just a few seats along the bar. If you're looking for something fruity I would reccomend the Fraise Sauvage. You also can't go wrong with their espresso martini or the Manhattan! read more

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Really cute and intimate place with the bar in the front and the dining area in the back. My friends and I made a reservation for Thursday night and we were glad we did because it was packed in there! We decided to do drinks and appetizers and they were delicious. Shout out to our server who was really friendly and knew exactly what drinks to recommend! read more

Employees Only - Amelía (left) and Ginger Smash (right) - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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I came here on a Friday night. I had to wait about 15 minutes in line before I was let inside. It was super crowded inside, but it didn't feel overwhelming. The crowd was a mix of younger people but also older people. I got the Autumn in NY cocktail and really enjoyed it. Towards the end of the night, they played music and everyone was singing (including the bartenders). Everyone genuinely seemed to enjoy themselves. I would definitely come back! read more

Went last week to meet a friend, bought ONE single drink and my credit card statement shows $100!! I reported the transaction to my credit card for fraud. DO NOT COME HERE unless you want to get robbed read more

Trendy speakeasy-type bar with great cocktails. VERY small and super hot in the summer with minimal to no air conditioning. I haven't eaten here, but there's a small restaurant portion in the back. Very nice bartenders! Just get here super early unless you want to be waiting in a line outside. We came around 5:30pm and there were no seats available at the bar- standing room only! read more

Employees Only - Bar - New American Near Me - New York, New York

It was so delicious and really is a comfort place to eat, AND hang out! Was so glad to come upon it!

Excellent place for vibing with the music. The music is always on point , people can easily having drinks and have fun standing next to the bar. However, since I am looking into a drinking bar, the quality of cocktails are not outstanding. I have been here twice, and ordered classic cocktails, there are either under diluted or plain. And also, it's quite hard to get a drink from the bar since the bar is always crowded. There I times I was holding my empty glass waiting for 15 minutes trying to get to the bar and ask for another round. read more

Classy vibe. Cool back area at Employees Only. Have found the it to be easier with the bouncer if you're a well-dressed gentleman

Still as solid as I remember with a great pork chop and the best steak tartare which is prepared fresh in front of you. We also got the ribeye steak which was solid - it tasted like it was sous vide and seared so a bit more on the medium vs rare side but the flavors were solid. Be sure to grab an early resy or it can get loud by the bar. And yes the fortune teller is still there (at $40 a read!). read more

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Horrible service. Waited in line an hour to watch about 30 people be let in that walked up.

Jorge the bartender is an absolute assh*le he not only makes below average drinks. He harasses customers which is not what a bartender should do. He should be fired as he's not the right skill or vibe for this place throat I've been going to since it opened with Jay and Henry. Management fire Jorge before he ruins your bar. The bar is great food is great but all of that can be taken down to a 1 by a bartender that is absolutely rude to customers and can't mix a decent drink. read more

This place is completely worth it if you can: 1) get a res for dinner, or 2) come at a less packed time like right when they open. If you're doing drinks only, it's on a walk-in basis and you'll be seated in the first half of the bar which is less spacious. I got Ready Fire Aim and my friend got Ginger Smash. Both were excellent. It's an $18 cocktail but yes it's quality. Fun fact: There's also a psychic in the teeny area before you enter the bar. Pretty funky and I'll take it. I do believe this place is lovely and would def recommend to others. Way to go, EO! read more

The staff always makes me feel at home. 2 of the bartenders remembered my name and favorite drank. I'm always able to get a table. read more

Employees Only - Steak dinner - New American Near Me - New York, New York

This place has changed... While it was never my favorite bar and didn't deviate from the usual Prohibition Era mindframe, it was a watering hole. Recently, a friend of mine wanted to go and I reluctantly agreed. I was turned away by the doorman for wearing, get this: dressy leggings. Yep, you heard me right. He said leggings of any sort were not allowed in the establishment. Leggings, jeans, etc. were never turned away at the door back in the day. Now it's the discretion of whomever happens to man the door that evening and wield their 'power'. Look see here, I can visit mis compadres y amigos at other establishments in the city that would let me in wearing only Saran Wrap and a smile. EO? SMD. TE. read more

You reach Employees Only. Get seated at the rear. Drinks arrive. Conversation flowing. Her skin is glowing. You're sweating. She's sweating. Beads of fluid all over the table. No, it's not the start of my new erotic fan-fic series. They just don't have any air conditioning in the back. And for whatever reason the bus boy kept spilling water all over me and my belongings every time he came (maybe to cool us off?) But the food was good and so were the drinks, so we'll call it a 3. read more

This was an amazing place ! Bar/food BEST combo ever. The food was great- this place was packed and had great peeps! I was just visiting I'm not from NYC ! This is a gem ! Definitely recommend! read more

Employees Only - Bone Marrow Poppers - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Mid experience. Employees Only might have been one of the hottest bars back in 2014 during the cocktail revival in the city - and EO seems to be still trying to extend that high. While it still serves good drinks, date night couples, and the sheer amount of FiDi bros kinda make the space feel tired. read more

You know this place was good and fun, but I feel like I had expected it to be a little bit different given all the hype I had heard about it. They do have really fun drinks that are delicious. We didn't try any of the food, but I'm sure it's decent as well. Their drink menu is quite extensive, with very interesting ingredients and cocktails. If you are looking for a typical 1920s speakeasy with good drinks this is a very safe bet. If you are looking for something a little more unique, it might not be the place for you. It was also pretty loud for being a more of a sit down cocktail place, it's not somewhere to go to be cozy and have an intimate experience or conversation. Little things to keep in mind. But would recommend! read more

Nice place to have a night out and some fun! Drinks was good too, doesn't matter what time you go, is always a vibe

Employees Only was suggested by a local when I was visiting NYC with some colleagues for a conference. Apparently it's one of the hottest bars in the city right now so we checked it out on a Monday night. Despite it being a weekday, this place was packed! We could barely wedge ourselves in the front door and up the bar. It felt like those sweaty, dark, college basement parties where there are so many people that you cannot even move. The music was blaring, to the point you had to practically scream your drink order at the beefy bartenders just so they could grunt back at you. In terms of drinks, it's a typical cocktail bar. Being that this is NYC, the drinks were even more pricey for what they actually are: average liquor with some kind of fancy accoutrements. The Amelia was Haku vodka and St. Germain elderflower liqueur, shaken with puréed blackberries and lemon juice. Not worth $19, in my opinion. If this bar is all the rage in NYC right now, I'm not sure I'll be going out in the city again anytime soon. read more

Such a beautiful elevated space. I know most of the time people come here just for drinks but the dinner was quite good! We ordered: - Bone marrow poppers: super unique and rich. - Reuben croquettes: a must order, absolutely loved these. - papparadelle: I liked this but I didn't love it. - Porkchop: a surprising stand out. Cooked perfectly, very juicy and tender and full of flavor. - potato gratin: a classic, just so yummy! I absolutely loved this spot from the service to the food. I left full and in such a great mood. 4.7/5 read more

Cool cocktail bar in west village. Tried the ginger smash and it was pretty good, very appley and gingery! read more

Employees Only - Ginger Smash - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Wow! Everything was great and we had the best night ever for dinner. They're known for their drinks but the food was awesome. Make sure you make a reservation for a table. It's well worth it. The tartare was out of this world. I wish I knew the three ingredients they put in it. Shallots, sea salt, ???, read more

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One of the best bars in the world, the cocktails are really creative and amazing. Uno de los mejores bares del mundo, los cócteles son realmente creativos y sorprendentes. read more

Employees Only - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Over Crowded, overpriced, and overhyped. After hearing about this place for years, it was a serious let down.

Been to EO a bunch of times and always love the drinks and vibe. Minus 1 star because it's near impossible to get a seat at the bar and if your left standing there are VERY few places to stand without being in the way of the bathroom or stuck underneath a dripping air conditioner. Bartenders are out of this world and are truly talented at their craft. read more

The food and cocktails were excellent but what I appreciated most was the gracious service. A great night out! And yes, I'll visit again in the future! read more

If you are ever curious about what it is like to literally be in hell, then go to Employees Only on a Friday night. Our group of six went to get drinks only at the bar, so I can't comment on the food, but the experience was pretty abysmal. We waited outside for only about thirty minutes, which is one of the only positive parts of the night. Upon entering, we were given no direction about where to stand, since the entire bar area was full. It was almost impossible to order drinks, and we were told to wait several times before we were able to place our orders. We got the monkey business, which I'm sure is great for people who have discerning palettes for alcohol. As an amateur, I thought the alcohol taste pretty much overpowered everything else in the drink, and was extremely unbalanced. Worst of all, we even got water and drinks poured on us by the servers, and received no acknowledgment despite what happened. I'd love to come back when it's less busy, or to eat here so I could get a reservation, but I would not recommend going here without a reservation for drinks. read more

Employees Only - New American Near Me - New York, New York

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Employees Only is easily one of my favorite bars in NYC & that's saying a lot since I've been to a ton of them. It is consistently in the top 50 bars in the world on worlds50bestbars.com for good reason. I have been 3 times & my 1st 2 times they did NOT have the legendary butterscotch cheesecake that everyone is screaming about so I didn't want to write a review until I got it. THAT DAY HAS FINALLY COME!!! Me & the boys were in town & I called ahead to ask if they were serving the cheesecake & they said "Hell yeah we are, bring yo ass down here" so of course I did. Made a reservation for 5 at 8pm & we arrived at 7:50. We were seated right away & it didn't take us long to get tipsy since the drinks are strong as HELLLLLLL but still perfectly mixed. If you're looking for something a little spicy I would recommend the "Besos Caliente" absolutely delicious, especially if you're a fan of grapefruit like I am. If you're more a fan of Strawberry than you'll love the Fraise Sauvage. It was like heaven in a glass. The Maserati was also amazing but the drink that stole the show was hands down the Aviation! Our waitress recommended that my buddy try the Aviation & when it came out it just looked like the drink of the night. It was purple which already screamed "Taste Me" so I tried a sip & then the entire table ordered it for the rest of the night. Be careful with this drink though, it will MESS YOU UP if you're not careful. The night was ended with the bacon wrapped lamb chops (Which only come with 2 by the way so make sure to order more if you're really hungry), the Au Gratin potatoes, some fries because when you're hella drunk you absolutely need fries duhhh & the LONG OVERDO BUTTERSCOTCH CHEESECAKE!!! I've had the lamb chops & the Au Gratin before & they are always a hit including this time. I don't know if it was because I was hella drunk or what but the fries were SOOOOO good, I'm talking order 3 of them type of good. The cheesecake came out & it was everything I ever dreamed of. I have no idea how I lived my life without trying this masterpiece . 10 out of 10 will cry over this beauty again. The manager politely came over to have a conversation with us about our experience & we told him how fantastic it was. Love Love Love Employees Only & will be back for more cocktails. I hope you guys make it in the top 20 this year on Worlds50bestbars SEE YOU SOON!!!! read more

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This review is mostly for the bar, which happens to stay quite lively even on a Sunday evening. It can get pretty crowded which means you might end up standing, but we eventually found a place to sit and enjoy our drinks. The cocktails are nicely made and the ambiance of the place is quite nice, giving a nice warm throwback to the bars of the olden days. I particularly enjoyed the Monkey Business, it was a nicely made cocktail with rather unique flavors and taste. The Almost There on the other hand was a little boring and tasted kind of watered down in the midst of all that ice they put in it. read more

Employees Only - Almost There and monkey buisiness - New American Near Me - New York, New York

Our server Thai was incredibly rude to us upon sitting down. When i explained that it was my sisters birthday and we wanted to enjoy ourselves but her attitude ruined the vibes she immediately got defensive and walked away. She told us the kitchen was closed with no opportunity to order but gave surrounding tables food almost an hour after she told us the kitchen was closed. read more