Very cool, swanky place to get a cocktail. I love the Asian inspired ingredients involved. Great place for a date! read more

Reception Bar - Matcha meadow, yuja 88 - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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This place has not failed to impress me or my friends - we love taking our friends to reception bar when they visit NY because of the crowd pleasing, unique and delicious cocktails. We've tried almost every cocktail on the menu at this point but my favorite has to be the Matcha Meadow! It's so light and refreshing - perfect for a warm summer night. The vibe is very chill here so it's definitely a great place to meet up and chat through the night and the service is amazing as well. The servers are always willing to lend their opinion! Love this place so much and cannot recommend it enough. read more

Reception Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Great place for cocktails! I love that the drinks are made to order and served in to-go containers (which I hope are recycled). Their own house made infused soju makes each cocktail very unique, and the two we tried were surprisingly strong. The outdoor seating is spacious and definitely follows proper outdoor protocol, while also adequately shielding from the rain and the heat lamps are great for the cold weather. Similar to many places, you order via QR code, but unlike most places, you pick up your order when it's ready and clear your own tables, so servers remain inside. I will definitely be back to try different cocktails and may buy a bottle of the infused soju! read more

Reception Bar - Matcha Meadow($14) and Cereal Milk ($15) - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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The bar is super aesthetic- everything is so light and creamy and warm-toned. This would be a great place for a first date or to catch up with friends. Among drinks, we got the - Melon Dew: I was surprised this one wasn't as sweet as I expected. I expected this to taste like one of those melona sprite soju drinks but it was neither so heavy nor sweet. It had a very light melon flavor and strong hints of honeydew. - Cereal Milk: not as sweet as you would think either- the chocolate was pretty strong and the nutty aftertaste masked the artificial sweetness you would normally get from cereal milk. - Matcha Meadow: I liked this one! There was a strong matcha flavor but also intense undertones of jasmine. I really loved that it was relatively light and didn't feel heavy on the stomach. - Yuja 88: this one was really good! It had sweetness from the honey but contrasted with the tartness of the lemon. I thought this drink was super well balanced and very refreshing on the palette. Service was fast and friendly! Would come to support again read more

Reception Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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I tried the cereal milk drink which was interesting! It did taste like it's title and had cereal oats on top which paired well. It's a little loud in the bar since it's small, but the service was good and fast. It's a cool place to try unique drinks. read more

Reception Bar - Cereal milk drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

This is a small but quaint space, good for catching up with friends or a date. I came with my partner around 10:30 on a Friday and we were in a standing space. I got the Cereal Milk and my partner got the Melon Dew. The Cereal Milk was okay, it kind of reminded me of an espresso martini but not as good, I would pass on this. The Melon Dew however was SO good it was light and refreshing, I would 100% order this next time. We were then moved to the bar once some seats opened up and I got a Matcha Meadow and my partner got the Lotus Breeze. I've had the matcha before and it's good, a little twangy. The Lotus Breeze kind of taste like a tea, this was refreshing as well! I like this spot because Scarr's pizza is right next door. I'll definitely return when I visit NY again. read more

Reception Bar - Melon Dew & Cereal Milk - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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The cocktails here are A+. My friends and I came around 7pm on a Saturday night and were able to grab one of the tables. (All the tables were filled about 45 minutes later.) There are fairy lights in the trees and around the tables, so it'd make a cute date spot! We ordered our drinks and paid at the window. Per COVID regulations, you're required to order food with your first drink but you can just get a $1 bag of chips. All the drinks come in little plastic bottles similar to what you'd see at a juice shop. I got the Yuja 88 first, which tasted like yuzu lemonade. My second drink was the Melon Dew, which tasted like a slightly milky honeydew juice - so delicious, and perfect for people like me who like not being able to taste the alcohol in their drinks. :D There are about 5 tables set up outside (no rain cover when I went, but they said they were about to weatherproof their seating). Maximum 4 people per table. read more

Reception Bar - Yuja cocktail - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Reception Bar was very nice! I loved all the asian inspired cocktails. I got the matcha cocktail and it was a nice balance of sour with matcha. It wasn't too alcoholic and still had a good flavor. Outdoor seating wasn't too bad on a 40 degree night because they have heaters. One complaint is they only have 1 bathroom and the line is very long. read more

Definitely gets louder than you want it to since it's kind of a small space. The Yuja 88 didn't really taste like chrysanthemum, more like an orangey lemonade. The matcha meadow reminded me a lot of kombucha (definitely a fermented/funky taste to it) so it's kind of an acquired taste. Overall the drinks are kind of expensive, but tasty. read more

Reception Bar - Yuja 88 Matcha Meadow - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

o m g what a BEAUUUTIFUL little bar tucked away in the corner of chinatown!!!! you MUST try the cereal milk cocktail! drinks: i got the lotus one and cereal milk - lotus is light and refreshing and heavier on the tea flavor, but my favorite has to be the makgeolli!!! it's super creamy without being heavy, and the jolly pong on top is so fun and reminds me of childhood :-) space: rlly rlly pretty interior i love the round bar and lighting is pretty !!!! read more

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Drink menus were very thought out. Truly craft cocktails and can't wait to try more. Small and intimate seating but more seating options outside. read more

Reception Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Dope Soju Bar. Was running around NY for a week and was in the area looking for a quick drink, and this spot came up. Soju runs thru my blood, so when I saw they had in house infused Soju I had to check it out. Grabbed a bunch of different drinks, along with the infused soju sampler. Every drink was well balanced with fresh ingredients. Nothing overly sweet, and everything was just right. I've gotta say though the korean putgochu infused soju was the most fire one. If you love the green chili pepper flavor def try this. Overall a solid stop for some soju cocktails. Service itself was a little slow, but the staff and the vibe in this place makes up for it. Good things come to those who wait right? Check this place out. read more

I got the Round Purple (ube roll cake) from the Round K popup here after seeing it on Instagram. The roll cake is so fluffy and airy with a light ube cream. Wish there was more citrus marmalade filling though. It was so good but it was barely there. My partner got the Manhattan Iced Coffee and I tried some of that but the citrus with the coffee was such a weird combo, we both didn't like it. Such a shame because we heard such great things about the cocktails here! I'll have to come back and try a different drink. COVID times assessment: The've got three tables out on the street for outdoor seating with bar stools for up to 4 people each. The tables slant a little bit because the street is uneven so they're not the most comfortable but they're fine. read more

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For me, Reception Bar really is as good as it gets. My interest in 'mixology' and expensive craft cocktails has waned recently, but Reception has given me a renewed excitement for the potential of a creative drink that's worth the big bucks. Their menu is filled with ingredients that really speak to my taste buds like yuja honey, eucalyptus bitters, and rice orgeat -- yes I'm obnoxious and I know it-- and the long list of infused sojus like green pepper soju and matcha soju pair ridiculously well with these admittedly highly esoteric ingredients. After sampling a variety of cocktails here, I think I can confidently come here and pick a drink at random and still enjoy it. This place makes me feel seen in that way. Sometimes you're out for a drink, and your sweet tooth gets you hankering for an ice cream. Enter, the 'toasty' drink here, which comes with a scoop of toasted rice ice cream. The roasted sesame oil wash soju gave it a slight savory flavor, and made the drink somewhat nutty. This was kind of like an affogato for the winter. I was drawn to the drink called 'cereal meal' like so many others who reviewed, and think this was the most creative drink I tried. There was no cereal nor any milk in this drink, but the korean rice wine known as makgeolli had enough of a milky flavor that when sweetened by the jujube honey and with the pieces of rice orgeat acting as the "cereal", evoked the flavor of a bowl of honey nut cheerios. The matcha meadow reminded me of a tea spritzer, because of the sparkling jasmine with korean pear shrub and matcha. There were several other drinks I wanted to try but my liver and wallet begged me to wait for another visit, so I yielded. On another night when I'm ready to drink myself into oblivion, this would be a delicious way to do it. read more

Reception Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Super cute spot in LES with aesthetic (and tasty) drinks and beautiful decor. I came on a Tuesday around 6PM. The place was not super packed but it definitely had a crowd. There is ample indoor and outdoor seating. All the inside seats had been taken but we were lucky to get there right as a group was leaving. The Lotus breeze was delicious - It was very light, not too sweet, and tasted just like tea. The yong blood was also quite good. A little spicy, but nothing that anyone wouldn't be able to handle. Definitely tasted stronger than the lotus breeze. I had to try the cereal milk as well, just because it sounded delicious. It is exactly as you'd imagine it to be and if the description sounds like something you'd like, then you will 100% enjoy it. We also got beef dumplings. I liked that they had a small --no frills-- selection of food. No complaints on the dumplings, they were lovely. They just tasted like dumplings (lol) and it was nice to have something to munch on with the drinks. Overall, would recommend read more

Great low key drinks in an intimate, relaxed setting. Their expansive cocktail menu of soju infused drinks incorporate unique ingredients like honeydew, matcha, oat milk, and chrysanthemum. Cocktails are $14 a pop, which isn't too crazy. I ordered the honeydew cocktail and it effectively hit the spot on this humid summer evening. It was strong, but the sweetness of the honeydew masks the flavor of the soju. It's a fruity drink that tastes light. My only complaint is that they don't have many appetizers or food items besides dumplings and garlic knots. Otherwise, this is a great spot to relax or lounge at. read more

Reception Bar - Honeydew - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Nice, simple tasting yet elegantly flavored (if that even makes sense?!?) cocktails w a super cool korean influence. They pack more of a punch than u think when ur drinking them, as soju tends to, which i love. Sooo fun to come w a group or a date and try a bunch. The orchard was delish and had this very nostalgic flavor to me that i couldnt pinpoint. read more

Always a good vibe when we come here. Delicious drinks and service. Highly recommend if you're in the neighborhood.

Reception is such a cute little bar with delicious soju cocktails! I came by after eating in Chinatown the other day and was impressed by the unique drinks on their menu with matcha soju, taro soju, and even a "cereal milk" drink. I really had such a hard time deciding what to get and will definitely have to be back to try other items on their menu! I ended up getting the Matcha Meadow (with matcha soju in it, of course) and Orchard St, which had grapefruit in it. Both drinks were very refreshing and tasty! Reception is pretty small with some outdoor seating and a few booths indoors and then a U-shaped bar seating area. We ended up sitting by the bar, and the servers were attentive and very on top of refilling our waters. Their food menu is pretty small but the mandu and garlic knots seem like a good snack to have along with your drinks. I'd definitely like to come back and highly recommend checking out Reception if you haven't already! read more

Yeah it's fine. It's nothing that special but I can appreciate what they're trying to do. This place was given two stars by Time Out. Which means they didn't pay their Time Out dues, or someone has a personal vendetta against Katie Rue. (Owner and founder of Reception bar after being an options trader aka no experience in cocktails or mixology.) I don't agree with Time Out often, they're notorious for shaking down business owners for pay to play articles and reviews. In this case, mehhh. This is a cafe by day, bar by night (Red flag imo) It's also a soju forwardbar. Rue's dream was to create a bar that was intimate and had heart in her Korean heritage. No issues with that. It's a very light spirit. And if I'm going to a soju bar, I wanna taste the soju not the juices you mix with it. It just makes me think, did the bartender just whisper soju into the glass? Possibly. Speaking of the bartender, it seems like a pretty common experience here. Their service is terrible. It's extremely slow, when you walk in and sit down. Nobody greets you. When you stand up to order, you have to wait for ages for the bartender to acknowledge you. Rue has stated that Reception Bar was named to capture the "really welcoming glow " Ironic. Keep in mind, it was a Tuesday at 6pm.... The waitress and bartender had their friends at the bar, and spent the whole time chatting them up. It was really annoying. Double annoying because the place was empty except his friends and me. And they were loud as hell. I get you wanna chill with your homies, I have no issue with that. But at least serve us first! We were there for 2 hours. We spent about 1.5 hours waiting around for service, and then the check. The only reason we got the check, is because after waiting around we got up and I swear they thought we were gonna drink and ditch. So the service is terrible, but what about the drinks? We had three. martini 100 bekseju, dry vermouth, orange bitters melon dew makgeolli, soju, honeydew, honey ginger goblin hwayo soju, ginger, korean pear shrub, eucalyptus bitters, white pepper All, really average. Hahah. Very pretty glassware, very pretty colours, very dull taste. The martini was my favourite the bekseju is a lovely twist on the martini. The rest of the drinks I could have passed on. The Ginger Goblin was heartburn in a glass, and the melon dew was pretty but too light. The decor of the bar is cute, come on it's Retrofuturism with vintage San Diego twist. Part of me thinks Katie Rue just wanted a cute ass bar and decided to do this without really thinking about the other factors of a bar? Which, I mean go ahead girl. Whatever. It's not the worst place in the world, and I wouldn't pop in unless someone really wanted to visit. But they're other bars in the area with more welcoming environments and more fun drinks read more

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drink menu was extremely unique with many Korean/Asian flavor elements!! service was slow & inattentive...had to flag a waiter down after waiting for at least 10 mins to order, then another 15 mins for just 2 drinks:( could also be a result of a busy Friday night (11:30pm seemed to be most packed). vibes are alright - indoor is loud & outdoors are hot in the summer, -1 star for service matcha - unnoticeable alcohol taste, straightforward bitter & fresh matcha flavor, mildly sparkly, not very sweet, grassy/watermelon(?) smell lotus - immediate floral taste & smell, mildly sweet, distinct plum flavor read more

Reception Bar - matcha & lotus drink - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Guys and dolls! Are you listening?? Don't sleep on this amazingly adorable chic pub. The style and ambiance is on another level. The ONLY downside is that this place is too small so it can only fit so many peeps. Mostly girls were here so it felt like a safe space. Now down to the booze. The concept of the award winner (possibly), is that their delectable cocktails are based in soju that the bar makes in Brooklyn. I wish I could have tried the flight to taste everything. But I know I won't like bitters. So no point if half of the flight has bitters. In my opinion, they could develop a few more sweet cocktails. Funny story: my friend and I ordered two drinks each. I really liked the one she got so that's what I got as my second drink. I told you I didn't like bitterness too much. Not saying that my first drink was bad but I could only drink about a quarter of it. So I just ended up playing around with it and just placed it aesthetically against the vintage style fluted walls just for pics and giggles. The waiter noticed and asked if he could replace the drink I didn't like with another that I did! The sweetie gave me a free drink so that I didn't waste money on a drink I didn't enjoy. That is service! Honestly, I don't consider service a deciding factor in reviews but this was next level. And honestly, I wouldn't have minded losing out on a couple of bucks. For a cocktail in NYC, reception is quite cheap. I would have definitely bought 10 more but portion control mayhaps. 10 out of 10 (if that were possible on yelp) read more

This cute little spot has changed the way I think about soju cocktails. Like beyond typical trashy melona soju cocktails. I tried 3 of the drinks, and my favorite was definitely Lotus Breeze. Super light and refreshing! Cereal milk was also good. And the melon one was my least favorite. It honestly tasted too light for my taste. The inside is also super cute! Little booths along the sides read more

Reception Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing drinks, amazing atmosphere, and amazing service. My friends and I grabbed drinks here late at night during the weekend and every drink was not only delicious, but also unique and decorated. They have a list of really interesting drinks and the bartenders are very fun and friendly. Really great vibes overall here! It's also a pretty small space for a bar, and super cozy with dimmed lights. I recommend the yuzu cocktail! read more

Reception Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Small but nice little bar of Korean inspired cocktail! Not a drinker so I asked for something lighter and really enjoyed this lotus breeze! It's so cute too! read more

Reception Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Excellent cocktails, cool space, good service. I am not a big drinker but tried three cocktails here because they are that good. My favorite is the ginger goblin, if you are into ginger I highly recommend it. They cocktails are beautiful as well. Also the garlic knots are a tasty bar snack. The service is good, the bartenders are cool, and they play great music. read more

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Like most people have already said.. super CHIC bar with aesthetically pleasing/minimalist decor. I'm a sucker for PRETTY places, and this is one of a kind. Nestled in LES/chinatown, this bar was busy but not overly crowded on a Friday night. Their drinks are all soju inspired, but don't let that fool you if your only experience is pounding shots of it in ktown. They've found a way to elevate soju into beautiful cocktails! I really loved the matcha meadow and would order it 100x over again! It was so refreshing, and the jasmine adds a delicate floral note to it. The bf got the INK cocktail, which comes with black sesame, egg white, squid ink. It was very interesting, and not bad! But probably wouldn't order again. It's something to try at least once though. The bartender said they're coming out with new drinks for the summer time, so I can't wait to come back in a few months !! ALSO down to try their small bites. read more

Came on a Sunday night and only had to wait a minute for a spot at the bar to open up. Really enjoyed the drinks here and our bartender was great to talk to! Perfect spot for date night would def recommend! read more

I'd rate the cocktails a 3.5 but the ambiance was a 4. It's very nice inside (although it gets very loud quickly because the voices echo) and the outside also has a nice seating area. The cocktails seemed cool in concept but didn't execute as such. They're a little one dimensional: the ginger cocktail was just very ginger heavy and no other taste. The lotus cocktail almost tasted like a tea except with some alcohol. The service was friendly but slow. Although for the $14 price, it's somewhat reasonably priced. I don't think I'd go back realistically. read more

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This bar is a gem in the LES! With lovely architecture, cut out windows, and inventive soju-forward drinks, it's a must visit. The staff are really fun and knowledgeable about the menu, and the drinks are delicious. I came in a group of 5 earlier Saturday afternoon, and got seated in a cute booth indoors. Definitely worth a stop by if you're in the area. read more

Reception Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Do yourself a favor and just don't come here. Rudest staff I have ever encountered in all my years in new york. We waited patiently for a table of our size and one finally opened up after a half hour outside right by where we were waiting. The person working the door told us to get our ids out and then walked away. When she came back, two guys cut in front of us and talked to her. I couldn't hear what they were saying but when they finally cleared off the dirty dishes on the table that opened up, the person working the door immediately went to the two guys and their group to let them sit. It was honestly so appalling. Then the person working the door just continued to ignore us so we left. Fucking rudest treatment. Never going to go back. read more

Newest hip place in the neighborhood had a soft opening back in October that I was able to attend! Located on a fairly quiet street, it's unassuming, yet delightful for those seeking a new experience. This place has a focus on bringing Korean ingredients to the forefront of cocktail making. Matcha Meadow - matcha soju, korean pear shrub, sparkling jasmine. Crowd favorite of the night. Ink - black sesame soju, squid ink, egg white. Tasted like drinking an alcoholic dessert since black sesame is normally associated with ice cream. Lotus Breeze - chrysanthemum flavor was really refreshing. Loved the decor as well! Lots of curves everywhere, the arches, the lights, the mirrors, the bar, it really makes for a relaxing environment. Only downside is this place currently closes at 12AM, which is usually when the party gets started in NYC. read more

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A found gem! We sat by the bar so we were able to chat with the bartender. The menu was a bit daunting as all the base were soju and it was hard tell what type of taste note the drink offered. The bartender suggested the perfect drink for me after I told him what I liked (fruity, sweet and strong) - Plum Dream was perfect! My friend prefers something similar to old fashioned so he made her a very cool smoky drink as well. I can't wait to go back and try the other cool drinks on the menu! Come early as it got packed around 10pm. read more

Reception Bar - Plum Dream - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Made a stop at Reception Bar on Saturday afternoon for a drink. The soju focus of this bar may not make it a destination for everyone, but if you are willing to expand your horizons it is a worth a visit. Quality: All the cocktails and most of the drinks at Reception Bar are focused around soju. They infuse soju with all sorts of unique botanical flavors, which they serve on their own or mixed in cocktails. During our visit I tried three cocktails, Yong Blood, Smokes, and Lotus Breeze. Yong Blood was my favorite, using a green pepper infusion, which really brought out a sweet and bright flavor. However, both Smokes, which as you could guess had a smoky richness, and Lotus Breeze, a sweeter drink, were fun as well. Quantity: Standard size cocktails, maybe a little weaker with soju as the core ingredient. Value: $14 for Cocktails. Ambiance: Reception Bar is a Korean-style cocktail bar located in Chinatown. They have an outdoor shelter with a few tables, but most of the seating is inside. A half-circle bar sits at the center, with several booths on the far end of the bar and wall bar space throughout. On a hot summer day it was dimly lit, quiet and cool refuge from the outside. Crowd: A few folks gathered at the bar mid-day. Service: Personable and efficient bartenders. Parking: Extremely limited street parking. read more

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I stumbled upon this bar on a Saturday night out, to be surprised that this place has creative soju flavors such as matcha, Korean green pepper, and osmanthus, to name a few. You can opt to get the soju / soju flight to try these flavors in its purest form, or opt for the creative cocktails involving those soju flavors, the latter of which my friend and I did. We shared 3 cocktails: Yong Blood, Matcha Meadow, and Lotus Breeze, all priced at $14 which is on the "lower" end of crafted cocktail drinks in Manhattan. The Yong Blood is peppery, Matcha Meadow has one of the strongest matcha flavors I have experienced, and the Lotus Breeze felt like drinking tea but spiked. These drinks are fairly easy to drink, and the bartender makes them quite quickly as well, which is a plus. The downside is that there are a few standing tables that are poorly laid out - we were originally given the small table for drinks while waiting to be seated at the main bar, and there is way too much foot traffic that disrupted our experience. Fortunately, in 15 minutes or so, we were sat at the main bar where it is a lot more relaxing and we got to see a lot of the magic happen. read more

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Super intimate, cozy bar serving unique Korean cocktails~ + tried 4 drinks and they were all one of a kind, super tasty + loved the ambience and architecture with retro interior + super intimate, great for catching up or date vibes - it can get pretty loud at night - the service was kind of slow but it's sort of given as they're always packed read more

Reception Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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Super cute cocktail bar with really unique drinks! Both drinks we got were delicious - the cereal milk makgeolli was pretty strong and had this crunchy korean cereal on top. I was a bigger fan of the melon cocktail, but would come back for both. Service was great as well! Only downside is the bar is very small but we were lucky to get seating! read more

Reception Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Hopping around bars in the China Town and got to this place. The interior is cute with great music. Got the honey dew cocktail - surprising light with a fairly real honeydew melon flavour. Normally I might thought this type of cocktail could add a little bit of sour and sugar, but it is a really comfortable drink as is. read more

Reception Bar - honey dew - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

Interesting Korean inspired cocktail bar. Cute and clean and refreshing looking space. Extensive cocktail menu. Cocktail on the lighter side but had their twist or kick. read more

Reception Bar - Cocktail Bars Near Me - New York, New York

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people working were rude as hell, had a friend who wanted to join but was only slightly underage we were j wondering if he could sit with us and order but not have alcohol and they laughed in our faces read more