Sake Bar Decibel

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240 E 9th St
New York, NY 10003

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(212) 979-2733
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Sake Bar Decibel - New York, NY
Sake Bar Decibel - New York, NY
Reviews
( 11 )
( 7 )
( 3 )
( 4 )
( 13 )

Best

not for everyone, cramped and grungy but i wouldn't have it any other way. good music, service, recommendations by staff. authentic sake, authentic feel. great place for that righ...

Worst

I've been going to Decibel on and off for more than 8 years. It's a good place but yesterday (March 9,2009) We had an embarssing moment. After spending 2 hours at the place and ...

Totally not recommended 5/29/2006

We finally got to go and check out this bar. It was crowded that night. we decided to wait at the bar for a table. The bartender told us that if we really wanted a table, we should go wait there, we were like, ok, but we decided to just sit and wait at the bar. I ordered a Lychee Martini, was a bit strong so we asked for more Lychee juice... the bartender said 'sorry we don't do that', with a smile. Once again we looked at each other and mouthed, wtf. My friend and I spoke in mandarin, and said let's go, service isn't good... we're only asking for juice not more alcohol! We paid our check and left.... did not leave a tip. The bartender came running out asking why, we said because your service wasn't good. She said, 'ok then please don't come back next time.' more
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Integerity is questionable there 5/23/2006

We argued over the bill over a bottle of beer and a glass of plum wine for more than 30 minutes at this place on my birthday. At the end, the plum wine was taken off the bill, and the $4 beer was charged anyway. I guess it is easy for the waiters to assume we are not keeping notes of our drinks. But What a cheap way to earn cheap money from their loyal customers! It's not a good party experience for sure. more
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Does anyone have facts? What's the Truth? 4/16/2006

With numerous customers? allegations of atrocious service and psychotic staff who stalk customers into the streets, this is an intriguing Citysearch page. I myself have had good service when accompanied by sake enthusiasts who devoured everything placed before them and threw a bunch of money around. I?ve also had average service when accompanied by tourists who were appalled by a piece of tuna they believed to be alive. What?s the real deal? Are patrons? allegations of receiving hostile service true or is a competing business posting false accusations on Citysearch to drive customers to another Japanese snack bar? If the management is truly treating the majority of customers with unjustified hostility, I?d be inclined to spend my dollar elsewhere. Does anyone know what?s REALLY going on? Pros: Dark enough to hide your acne and/or wrinkles. Cons: According to other customers, the staff is psychotic. more
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very rude wait staff 4/7/2006

I have heard many good things about this place, so I went on a Friday night with my friend. The first impression was a cozy, cute hidden gem kind of place. However, the waiters were so rude, and the service was the absolutely terrible. It took them almost 20 minutes to bring us our first drinks, and we had to ask 3 times just for water. Me and my friend were so cunfused as to why we were being treated so rudely!!! It almost felt like they were trying to pick a fight with us. Pros: Cozy, Good sake Cons: Expensive, Rude staff more
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Try to find it sober! 3/12/2006

This was the third stop on a first date and, although I love this place, I was impressed how much she liked it too. The snug feeling gives it an intimate scene. Though usually crowded the music or the conversations around you are never too loud. The serving staff was kind and helpful in making suggestions in selecting a bottle of cold sake. They encouraged us to contribute to the already massive writing on the wall. They were quick seat and serve us. Remember to have the chicken on the skewer with the sake. Pros: Intimate, Relaxed Setting, Friendly Staff more
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Chased down 3/6/2006

The same thing happened to me -- I was chased down for more tip when I'd already left 15%. It blew me away. I will never go there again. Which is a shame because I liked the place and the good selection of sake. I miss the old Decibel. more
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not worth it 12/10/2005

poor service w/bad attitude. have had many bad experiences at this place. now will never go back again. definitely been chased down for the extra tip before. guess that's standard for the generous 15% tip (hard to leave even that much when you've been disappointed and your crew thinks that typical ny). more
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Don't Chase Me Down! 8/4/2005

initially, i was impressed with the atmosphere, and thought i was having one of those new york moments where i remember how much i love this city. then, the waitress didn't come to take our order for about 10 minutes while we sat waiting. i witnessed some other customers get treated rudely in a similar way as other reviewers described. the service had been so slow that when it was time to pay the bill, the last thing we wanted to do was ask for change. between the three of us, we had enough to cover the bill and a 15% tip. after we left the bar, this guy (not our waitress) chased us down 9th street to ask us for more tip. i couldn't believe it. i'll never be going there again, and i would recommend that no one else go either. Pros: Atmosphere Cons: Rude, Arrogant, Greedy more
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More tip please.......... 7/16/2005

good sake selection with knowledgeable staff but service was RUDE and ARROGANT. this attitude might be ""cool"" in tokyo but not in nyc. no ""arigotos"" here. our bill came out to about 70 bucks. i gave the waitress a hundred dollar bill and she kept my change! after giving her the standard 15% she deserved, she still insisted on more tip! NEVER AGAIN! Pros: good sake selection Cons: attitude more
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Great 7/13/2005

I was there in a tuesday, with a friend. When we came in they where packing some food at the bar desk, and they asked if we could take one of the free tables, but we wanted to sit by the bar, and they where just smiling, and started to move the food away from the bar desk so we could sit there, good sake and a beer. Service was exelent!! The bartenders english wasnt too good, but who cares :-) more
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A Bit of Tokyo in NYC 6/15/2005

Decibel is a great spot for a late night rendezvous with friends. It's dark, a little musty, and feels a little illicit. Although it's pretty small, I've gone with large groups before and we've been well-looked after. The sake menu is extensive, the waiter/waitresses are enthusiastic to help you select one, and service is attentive. There's a good price-range for the sake, so you can share cheaply or go overboard. Pros: Good Service, Good Sake Cons: Cramped, Dark more
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Don't waste your money 1/7/2005

I have never been treated so rudely in my life as my friends and I were at Decibel. We went on a weeknight and the place was empty (literally - we were the only customers there). After being ignored by the wait staff we asked if we could sit down. We were reminded of the mimimum charge and told to sit at a tiny table not big enough for the four of us. Seeing that every table was empty, we asked if we could sit where we'd be more comfortable. The waiter rudely said ""no"" and then left us standing alone in the bar without even asking if we'd like to order something. We walked out and will never return again. Cons: , bad service more
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Great place but be careful when you go. 10/12/2003

I've been there 3 times already and have had mixed experiences. During the week, it's brilliant - nice staff, amazing sake and a really interesting crowd. On the weekend, VERY rude and arrogant staff, a very firm $8 minimum and you must show ID to get in. (I'm 35!) It's a shame because it's a great place and the sake menu is top notch. Is it worth it? Yes - but not on weekends. Pros: great sake menu, authentic atmosphere, interesting crowd Cons: rude arrogant staff, expensive, $8 minimum more
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Nice place 5/16/2003

I went to Decibel last night. It was my first time there. I really enjoyed the dungeon look as you entered. You had to go under a rope, way in the back, to a dark room, lit with candles on the tables. It was very cozy in the sense that the tables are so close to each other, music and chatter was kind of loud, so I had a hard time hearing. I definitely enjoyed the ambience. Oh and the plum wine was delicious, wish I had more of it. Pros: great ambience, good background music, nice area Cons: sort of loud, it gets crowded more
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Overpriced AND very poor service 1/24/2003

This used to be a great place to chill out, but it's gone to pot. I totally agree with the previous reviewer.... the same thing happened to me! Got two bottles of $32 sake ($32?!!), left a decent 18% tip, but I was harassed by the waiter to leave more tip! He practically chased us outside demanding more money! His excuse was, ""This is New York, you know. And if you don't want to leave more tip, well, you might not get let in next time."" Well, THIS New Yorker will never go back to this place again -- there are so many other sake bars with friendly, polite service. Pros: Used to be good Cons: Bad service, Overpriced, Terrible manners more
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Once cool, now overcharging 1/14/2003

I really liked decibel 2 years ago as a cool late night hang out and ""impress you guest from overseas"" place. There is good news: the lines are gone, the bad news is: it's not worth going anymore. Last time we had a huge argument with the waiter who brought us drinks we didn't order and insited on charging for them although we confimed our order twice and of course he followed us outside because he expected a tip. This sounds exactly like similar note somebody else left before. A pattern? Pros: old fashioned funky, seventies music Cons: watch your bill, minimum $8 charge, value / money = ? more
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Japanese Underground 8/20/2002

Very Japanese grungy underground feel to this smoke-filled place - staff are friendly, sake choice is excellent and food complements it well! more
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Fun 8/12/2002

Exotic, underground, interesting, fun, nice crowd, good saki. You will enjoy. Good for dates more
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Menu for Sake Bar Decibel


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Editorial

  • The Scene
    The basement locale and outside buzzer lend Decibel a speakeasy feel, and the inside is a charm. A crowd with a high street-style quotient makes noise over the pop soundtrack,...

  • 1/12/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Monday To Saturday From 06:00 PM To 02:50 AM Sunday From 06:00 PM To 12:50 AM
  • Payments: Master Card, Visa, American Express
  • Neighborhoods: East Village, Downtown
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