A few friends and I visited Buddha Bar this Saturday, March 28, 2009, and what a huge disappointment that was. As mentioned by others, the cuisine and ambiance are really nice, however the service cannot get any worse for that price. We had a table at 8.30pm, and what was our surprise when the waitress dropped us the check at 11.30 and told us we had to leave because the table was booked again at midnight. Now, I have been at virtually every trendy place in NYC, and have never heard of such practice, and in all fairness, if something like this is ever done, you should be let know in advance. While we were arguing about the table, we noticed that in addition there were a few too many drinks charged on our check. We had to go through an even bigger argument and pay cash to make sure we won't be charged for those extra drinks. Imagine my surprise when the waitress had the audacity to state she wasn't happy with the tip, which one of my more generous friends still left her (I wouldn't have left a penny for such service.)
So, if you still decide to go there, keep your eyes on the check, apparently judging from the other reviews it is their practice to overcharge for extra drinks you never ordered. Also, keep in mind that just because you have a table doesn't mean you get to keep it, and you can be asked to leave at any point when the staff decides they can make more profit from another party. In conclusion, I would highly recommend taking your business elsewhere, especially that there is no shortage of nice places with good service in that area.
Pros: Nice ambiance
Cons: Rude staff and treatment, ripps off customers
more