Barracuda

I go to this bar often enough to say that it is a great bar with a great crowd, fun people, awesome bartenders etc... I only go there on Tuedsay nights for the Karaoke along with the singing contest that starts around 11pm. The only thing that I do not like about this bar is the Karaoke contest. They allow 5 contestants to compete. 2 out of the 5 contestants compete every single week, and one of them always win. The judges are the audience which simply meens that the more people you bring or invite, the better chance you have on winning the contest. They have 2 girls in the contest every single week { Ronnie and Baer}. They each bring people to scream at the end of the contest when it is time for voting for each contestant. they bot could really sing great but sometimes , there are better singers competing but unfortunetly do not bring people with them to scream the loudest when it comes to judging the best singer. I have competed many times for the Karaoke contest, singing really great songs with a voice that is to die for. i have been singing since I am 4 years old and there is no way in the world that I have not won this contest even once. I personally feel that if they are going to run a singing contest, they should have at least 3 judges and maybe even change the judges each week. They should not have the audience judge as it is not fair for the really good singers who come in and sing there hearts out . Sometimes, one of those 2 girls sound horrible depending on how much they drank that night or what song they pick. They do not always sound so good but still seem to win just by bringing people in and having some weekly fans. It is not ligit, not fair for other singers and not an honest way to run things as a bar. I personally believe if they change the method of judges, everyone will have an equal opportunity to wiinning the contest. judges should not be knowing the contestants in any way, shape or form. So Ronnie and Baer will actually have to sing there hearts out and work hard for that $100 prize. I actually have never seen anyone else win, which makes the contest boring every week. I love to sing reguardless of the contest or not but tend to join the contest anyway, knowing that no matter how good I sound, I still will not win due to these girls bringing tons of people to vote for them at the end of the contest. It is actually funny to see. I sometimes feel that the bar is part of this and the 2 girls split the $100 reguardless of which one of them win. I love the bar itself, the crowd, the workers, karaoke host who also seems to hate the fact that the contest is not so ligit. Please Barracuda, if you want to have a Karaoke contest, change the way you have the judging. It is only fair for other singers who work there asses off to go up there in front of a large crowd , spend money at your bar, spend time, etc..... Make it real and not a joke. more

I went to this shady bar last night for drinks with my friends. The music was so lame, the drinks were strong but the bartender was rude! and the shady old cruisy men were HORRIFIC! There was at least 10 men above 50 and crusie and gross! Id rather hang out at splash and it doesnt get more tragic than that! I will stick to the Ritz! Pros: the door was close enough to the bar for a quick escape Cons: the crowd, the scene and the music! more

This place is so weird. Its old, dirty and the bartendar was hideous... We went for karaoke last week and some dude got picked up off the stage and thrown into a couch! I mean how shady does a bar have to be to get physically assaulted on stage and nothing even happened to the "thrower". We stayed because my friend was dying to sing and it was kinda dead so we sucked it up to make him happy! But then we went to B BAR where the party was HOT! HOT guys!!! I wouldnt go to barracuda again unless I wanted hepatitis or a black eye!!!!!!!!!!! Cons: Dirty and SMELLY, Ugly staff, DARK AND SHADY more

Barracuda's a great place to meet & talk without loud music. No hassles from anyone, people are pretty free about sharing space. Better than The Townhouse, which looks like a Tony funeral parlor. Here the people are alive and friendly. And the manager, Cole, is really nice as well as hot. more

i went there last tuesday and they have karaoke... it was so much fun!!! as a (i must confess...) big karaoke fan (understatement.) i must say that the place is fun, the drag queen was brilliant and they had every song i could think of... had lots of fun!!! will be there next tuesday.... Z Pros: Best Gay Karaoke and singing competition with real talent... Cons: cant think of any... more

However, do not go in the bathroom with a friend, you will get booted! However good bar with a great crowd. But again, careful of going in the bathroom! more

This place confuses me. Sometimes it's really cool and crowded, sometimes it's dead and/or full of fugs. It seems to be standing the test of time though so they must be doing something right. Pros: Had some good times there Cons: Should knock a dollar off the drinks more

You can't beat this intimate friendly bar for the best drag shows every night of the week ! You will find the best drag talent in NYC with the longest running shows in town. Friendly staff ...very cute bartenders. Pros: drag shows Cons: none more

i loved hanging out here for years. something is different there now though. its just not fun like it used to be. its a bummer. Cons: boring, bad music, weak drinks more

I started going here, dare I say when I was still a sophomore at NYU, and although I am doing grad school in North Carolina, I still return to this bar whenever I am in the city. Friendly bartenders, friendly patrons, great background music (one night it went from Alicia Keys, to Love Hangover, to Everything She Wants), and decent prices (for the neighborhood) make this place an all around winner. My favorite bar in Chelsea hands down! Pros: Friendly, Consistent Cons: Crowded on weekends more

It was heartening to see Barracuda named "Best Gay Bar 2003" by NY Mag this year. It's still the best in town for cute boys, whacky entertainment (that you never have to pay for) and a hip but attitude free scene. It's cool, cheap and the easiest place to meet boys in Chelsea. Hands down the grooviest in town. Pros: hip scene, great acts, cheap drinks Cons: none more

This is a great place. I thought I walked into the twilight zone, my straight hometown bar with cosmos and better music. The wait staff was so awesome, very nice and made the rounds often. Very diverse crowd, all ages and types. Pros: Great service, Great atmospher, Pool table Cons: None more

Out of all the 8th (and off 8th) Ave places, this one is comfortable for all kinds of men - from the 20- to the 50-somethings. It's easy to find a seat in the back, have a conversation and a genuinely good time. Happy Hour lasts a long time and the waiters are genuinely good-looking and friendly (imagine that). And yes, you can watch an occasional couple make out in the back, so not all is lost. Pool table's fun too! Pros: waiters, happy hour, relaxed Cons: crowded late more

it's the closest thing to "sans attitude" that chelsea has to offer... pretty, quasi-hipster boys (and men) chilling out in the donna reed meets power puff girls back lounge complete with plenty of laughing, smiling, and eye-flirting... things are a little cruisier up front amongst the glowing tables and mirrored walls... the bartenders are usually beefy and offer above-average friendliness. great shows with flotilla and shequida (dj girlina spins it out!), great drinks, great atmosphere - the so-called big boys (xL, sbny, g, etc.) should take some pointers... more