Ajna Bar

I have never written a review...but had to this time. We were visiting New York over the weekend and wanted to check out the Buddha Bar. We waited in line as many people went in and the rest of us in line were told that we could all go in if we got bottle service at $350 a table. The bouncer was EXTREMELY rude to everyone and they do not seem to need or want the business, so we left. I am 35 years old, so probably am too old to put up with this. If you like that stereotypical being treated like a loser nightclub stufff, by all means go, but there are so many other options in this wonderful city. \r ...Avoid this place unless you want an experience of standing in line for hours and still being treated rudely...which I can only imagine a person would enjoy if they were still in high school. more

OK so what's up with Citysearch's Star Rating system? Let's see...\r \r 23 5-star ratings = 115 stars (most of which probably written by Buddha Bar owners & staff!)\r 20 4-star ratings = 80 stars\r 16 3-star ratings = 48 stars\r 10 2-star ratings = 20 stars\r and last but not least....a whopping SIXTY 1-star ratings... = 60 stars (most of which should be 0-stars)\r \r grand total = 323 stars, and 129 ratings. Any 10 year old could work out that the average rating is, therefore, 2.5. Yes, TWO AND A HALF. So why the hell does this place get a rating of almost 5 stars on here?\r \r Disgusting and misleading.\r Cons: rude staff, rude management, inaccurate star rating on citysearch. more

A rip-off...designed to take FULL advantage of people's corporate expense accounts. A bottle of Grey Goose for something like $350....hmm....that's QUITE a mark-up. The bill for a group of about 10 people came to about $2000 after they added a whopping tip of a few hundred dollars. LOL. This is as close to daylight robbery as you can legally get...\r \r I suppose there are enough rich idiots prepared to waste money on this kind of place though...so good luck to them. more

I used to go hear quite frequently last fall but the place has changed. The lounge appeal is gone, the music is trancy and overall it seems that they are trying to pass the place off as a club...filled with people sucking their faces in...do not recommend. Pros: Nice decor Cons: Crappy crowd more

After making the reservation I looked at other reviews and was thinking about cancelling, so happy I didn't!!!! I went there last night and everything was GREAT!!! I've been to alot of restaurants in the city like Nobu, Ono, Sushi Samba, etc...and Buddha Bar is my new favorite!! Our waiter Elliot was very informative and recommended some great dishes. Our food was great, music and atmosphere you can't beat. I have nothing bad to say about this place, it is pricey but you get what you pay for! I'll definately be going back. Pros: Service, Food, Drinks....Everything Cons: Be Prepared to Spend Money!! more

First let me ask how is itthat this place rates 4+ stars from you when 56 out of 126 reviews are one star?\r \r This is another overpriced and worsts of all tackyly designed places in the meat packing districts. $16 for 1/2 glass of wine? that the server could not name? and seeme3d to careless as to what it might be Merlot I think she said. Do your self a favor and go elsewhere unless you wish to spend a lot get very drunk on bad drinks and then be sent out into the rain. It was pouring rain when we were leaving and the ""professional"" door men insisted that we leave the interior of the space even though there was more than enough room for us to stay until the rain subsided. I suppose they thought we had spent all we had and there was no reason to hang on to us further. Unbelievable - we will never go backorrecommend the place. Cons: rude rude rude more

Well, I thought I had seen everything in New York, but this was a first. BUDDHA BAR RAN OUT OF SUSHI RICE ON A FRIDAY NIGHT AND COULDN'T SERVE SUSHI. We left and the people sitting next to us also left. I'm done with Buddha Bar. Not only did they run out of sushi (you could only order sashimi), but the hostess was obnoxious and made us wait 45 minutes for a table in the main room. What's equally bizarre is, when we ordered drinks while waiting for our table, the bartender told us there was no wine list. However, when we sat at our table they gave us a wine list. With so many great places in NY with a scene -- especially in meatpacking -- there's no need to go to Buddha Bar. Skip it... more

I was a bit pessimistic when I first walked into the restaurant. Usually, overly trendy restaurants tend to disappoint me in terms of the quality of food offered. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Buddah Bar. The food was great, and the service was even better!! It is a bit pricey, but I have come to expect that from a really popular NYC spot. Definitely would recommend for others to try it out. Pros: Great Food, excellent service...trendy scene Cons: Bring your wallet! more

I went there this past weekend for dinner with four friends and really enjoyed my experience. We had a reservation and were seated right away. Our server was very attentive and we had a great meal and a wonderful time. The atmosphere was very fun, lots of people, low lighting, good food and drinks, and great music. I would highly recommend checking this place out! Pros: Good food, lighting and music Cons: Can be pricey more

I made a reservation at a week before my Saturday evening dinner. I was entertaining clients in from out of town so the restaurant choice and atmosphere was important. I arrived 45 minutes early and went to the bar. 10 minutes before my reservation, I checked in with the hostesses. I was told 10-15 minutes until we would be seated. I went back 3 additional times in 15-20 minute intervals to be told it would be another 15-20 minutes. After 1hour and 10 mins past our reservation and getting nothing from the hostess except ""I said you will have to wait another 10-15 minutes- It's not my fault tables just aren't turning over"" I asked to be seated in the bar where there were more than 7 empty tables. I was told they couldn't do that because it was ""reserved"" and for ""bottle service only"". Would I be wrong to ask ""Why are reservations honored in the bar but not the restaurant?"" I would never go back to a place I couldn't count on while entertaining. There are far too many spectacular restaurants in NYC that understand customer service! more

This saturday night we went to the Buddha bar, we had no reservation, however, we were in sushi bar. Absolutely, BAD SERVICE.. We were waiting for everything almost for 30 minutes. Then, when I asked one of the waiter to get us, at least, menu, he POKE ME WITH HIS FINGERS AND SAID: "" You have to be patient, we are very busy, wait."" When I asked manager, he didn't even show up. Bad atmosphere. Food is not great, however, we like sea bass roll. Overpriced. NEVER GET SUSHI OR SUSHIMI SAMPLES, $30 FOR 6 PIECES. Bad bad bad experience. \r more

Please be careful. These waiter's are trained salesman, con-artists. They say ""oh I'll just throw a few of our best appetizers together for you."" acting like it is your only choice, and of course everyone says ""ok"" and $100 later, they are very pushy - and get the bill up as high as possible. \r \r Bad atmosphere. Food is poor. Overpriced. \r \r Great atmosphere, but bad bad bad experience. more

I've been to Buddah several times for drinks and dinner, I have some Mid Eastern friends that this place reminds of home (and hopefully won't read my review)... It's always disappointing. The food is mediocre. The music is not good. The crowd is a combo of B&T, and Euro Trash. Spent New Years here. The promoter out front was so rude when he couldn't find our table which 15 minutes later he did then gave me attitude about that. They charged 250 per person + tax and 20% tip (6 ppl) for a bootle of goose, bottle of champagne, and open bar, then we get in side an find out they're actually charging 7 bucks each for red bulls. There are many better clubs and lounges with a better crowd, music, and environment in the Meat Packing district, like tenjune across the street... more

Do not come to this place unless you are planning on spending about $1000 on food that is not worth it! \r \r I brought my cousin there who was visiting NYC for a week and this was a BIG MISTAKE. We were seated at the table (15 min wait with a totally empty dining room) and once the waiter found out that we were not going to order any steaks (we just wanted drinks and some appetizers) - he came back and told us straight in the face that HE WAS NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY MONEY FROM OUR TABLE AND THAT FACT WAS NOT COOL ENOUGH FOR HIM. He started going into the rules as to where tables get seated and that other waiters would make more money that night... By the way, when we came to get a table - the whole dining room was completely empty. We had no interest in discussing waiter's income and truly speaking - if you are close to 50 with grayish hair and STILL A WAITER - that is what you expect. If you want to have a steady paycheck and make the same money every day - go to college and get a degree!!! He argued about tips and money for about another 5 min (not kidding you!!!), he was leaving and coming right back to say something else, we were getting ready to cancel the order and leave and finally he agreed to bring us what we ordered and it looked like a big favor!!!\r \r Needless to say - we spent over $100 for 2 people in the place and left angry and very disappointed. I really regret that we didn't cancel the order and leave immediately. I should have read the reviews as well before going there as there seems to be a uniform agreement about very rude service and $$$-aimed attitude. Again, please avoid this place at all costs unless you want to spend a lot of money and be treated like trash. This place is a trash can as it is. Pros: NONE AT ALL Cons: Rudeness of the wait stuff and treating your customers like trash. more

Went here for a friend's birthday, where a large group sampled almost the entire menu by sharing. Only thing worth touching were the lamb chops. The rest of the food was pretty mediocre, and after paying $170 (with drinks, tax & tip) mediocre food ends up being truly dissapointing. Service was pretty good though, we had a very attentive wait staff and didn't wait long for the food. Overall -there are numerous places that do this style of cuisine and do it better, don't waste your time and money here. Pros: Nice ambience Cons: Food was pretty bad more

Food was better than I expected. Doorman was rude!\r We were seated one hour after our reservation. The crowd was very low brow. B & T and white trash.\r \r Pros: food Cons: everything else... more

I always knew those reviews were written by the same person! Buddha Bar is one of the most amazing experience I've had in my life! Hesitation?! off course!! Read those bad reviews(we're from California) but since we were at the famous meatpacking district anyways, we decided to dine at Buddha Bar( the latest , hip and most famous addition in the area, with the most horrible reviews...) last Friday. We were promptly seated. The host were friendly even when we asked to move to a different table. Lucky us........got the friendliest and sweetest server we've ever known probably. She told us she's from Indonesia. (We were in Bali last May.....most beautiful place on earth and nicest people) She made us feel like we're there once again. We'll come back again this summer and Buddha Bar is our top destination! Pros: service, music and ambience Cons: a little too expensive more

Been a few times, but doorman has MAJOR attitude, and crowd is definitely B&T. Only good thing is music - but you can buy cds online. This is a Tao wannabe, in my opinion. Tao has a cooler vibe and still rocks da joint, and has been here a lot longer. For zero attitude, go across the street to STK - good bar scene & music with no lines or waiting. Buddha Bar is trying too hard and they're missing the boat. Pros: good music Cons: not a great scene; poseurs; rude staff more

i had my birthday dinner there a couple of years when it first opened. It is beautiful inside and the food is okay at best. But everytime Ive gone back, the bouncer is absolutely rude and gives us so muhc grief about going in. making us wait on line for a long time, group of girls, just to go to the bar is absurd. They think they are far superior to all. And I have dealt with the manager before, what an A$$... Pros: very pretty decor Cons: rude staff, incredibly mean bouncer more

I'm just filling words in her right now. This certainly isn;t BB Paris. This is the cheaper, half assed, David Rabin style of nightclubs. Bad, with a shine of shitola. This is Double Seven with a Euro Trash element to it. Tourist: flock to this place. Pros: Nice space if it isn't crowded Cons: it blowsucks. more