Empire Hotel Rooftop

Having moved from the UWS about five years ago, I ventured back to show three of my girlfriends them my old neighborhood, as well as a lovely rooftop bar that I had been to before and had a wonderful time (albeit in 2011). So, we reserved a table, four girlfriends, early 40's (who, I might add look no older than 32, serious athletes and fashion minded girls) on a Saturday night. Why we didn't just turn on our heels and head out immediately, I don't know - maybe we thought, "It could only get better". So, here it goes.... We arrived, checked in with the host downstairs (even complimented his shoes), gave him our name, he called upstairs and said, "Party of four. Lastname. They are OLDER". Excuse me? Whatever, chalked it up to him just being an idiot. When we were brought upstairs, no offers to check out coats (did I mention this was bottle service??!!), and we were escourted to a cramped corner, in the back where we were seated next to folks who were just sipping on mixed drinks, clearly no bottles, etc. We were so incredibly disgusted, our champagne arrived, silly little sparkler (I've don't bottles before in Manhattan, LA and Vegas - by far this was the most pathetic presentation), then the girl overcharged us (some additiona fee on TOP of the $200 +20%) and we just high tailed it out of there - didn't even finish the bottle, and our server never once came back to see how we were doing or if we needed anything else. I suppose that "old" people (newsflash - 40 year olds are NOT old and usually come ready to spend) don't deserve good service, only insults. The crowd? Questionable. Definitely NOT what I recall from 2011. Just stay away. Head to a more upscale rooftop where service is the highlight, not insults and bad service.

Cherly Foster How about this lounge!