Brandy Library Tribeca

Recommends

LeeannT

Joined 2 years ago

Was Skeptical, Had a Great Time. I never post reviews to sites, but given that I had read several rough reviews of this place prior to selecting it, I thought a different perspective would be helpful - I found this place to be great. I held a surprise 30th birthday scotch tasting for my husband and 20 friends in the lower lounge of Brandy Library this past December. I was a little bit skeptical when I first met with the owner (Flavien) for the first time as some of the reviews of this place complain of a pretentious attitude, but my fears were eased once I met Flavien in person. He worked with me to put together a tasting event exactly as my husband would want it and was not only incredibly knowledgeable, but personable as well, keeping all guests laughing and interested during the tasting. Can't say enough good things about this place. Only issue is that it is a bit pricey compared to other places that offer tastings, but you really get what you pay for at Brandy Library. I would absolutely recommend this place to others for a tasting - best one you will find. Everyone I dealt with there made me feel welcome, so I would even go back for a casual drink with friends.

Doesn't Recommend

G Thomas1

Joined 3 years ago

Manager is a rude jerk.. I have been to this place on many past occasions and I have never had a problem. However, last Friday I was treated so rudely by the manager and the waitstaff that I will never return. I have told all of my friends about this treatment so they don't waste their time or money in this establishment either. I was there with a group of 8 people, with 2, 5 person reservations (because the management only allows reservations for 5). We were seated at opposite ends of the room. Everyone is mid 30's, professionals, that were well dressed for an evening out. After about 40 minutes when one of my friends came to sit with us from the other group of 4 the manager came over in about 30 seconds and told us that was against bar policy since my friend had a separate table and he asked my friend to return to his table. At which point I asked for the check. Our bill was off by about 30 dollars since they double charged us for one drink. They fixed it and we left without leaving a tip. When the obnoxious manager was told we were paying our check he responded with "good." By the way, there was no one waiting for those tables, place was really quiet. Think this guy is intent on running the business into the ground. Incidentally, walked across the street to Walker's and had great service. If I could give this place negative stars I would. I will never return.

Recommends

AbsolutNYC

Joined 3 years ago

Very Good Waiter. We were at this establishment last weekend and had it not been for our waiter Josimar, I think we probably would have left. As busy as he was, he was attentive, knowledgeable and warm in a welcoming way.

I would specifically request Josimar if you visit this establishment as the service provided by him makes all the difference.

Doesn't Recommend

JO from London

Joined 3 years ago

STAY AWAY!. These people have no idea what service means. The staff (not to mention the Manager) are extremely rude and unhelpful. I’ve never felt this uncomfortable in a bar before, and will never go there again.

Doesn't Recommend

jjm2115

Joined 3 years ago

Most despicable management in NYC. I don't know if I have ever had an experience with management such as this. It was great getting to meet the Maitre D' from Chez Quis in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, but I suppose that his personality has somehow soured in the last 25 years. I think that the goal is to actually replicate the atmosphere of a library, except substitute the quiet mysterious confidence of the modern librarian with rudeness and ostentation.

Doesn't Recommend

RSI

Joined 4 years ago

bizarre staff and management. management and staff awkwardly try to impose their warped sense of sophistication on their clientele....

we got comments that we were being too loud (we were not), that our group (of 9) was too big for the table (which was perhaps a tight squeeze, but sufficiently large), that it was against policy to split the party into two (despite the bar being nearly empty). staff constantly hovering around us. just a bizarre preoccupation with their clientele.

all of this while we endured overly studied pours of bourbon, precisely measured (waiter would stoop down so he could view the level of liquid in the glass at eye level)... slow service and assured comments like, "it is worth the wait". Felt like saying "I'm not looking for a ridiculously special vodka soda here - save the pomp and circumstance because it's annoying"

by way of context, was with a group of ivy league professionals, well dressed, well behaved and, with the possible exception of myself, very sophisticated...

Doesn't Recommend

RRK

Joined 4 years ago

TERRIBLE MANAGEMENT. Very unexpected, but terrible management. Unaccomodating, inflexible, not tolerant of groups over 6 or people who are having a "fun time". Trys to portray exclusive, but fails. Would not go back, much better spots in the city.

Doesn't Recommend

vignesh

Joined 4 years ago

terrible service, terrible attitude. Over pretentious.. none of them are remotely nice. They treated us like they didnt want us to be there, and ushered us like school kids ..NEVER EVER GOING BACK THERE

Doesn't Recommend

Gabesreviews

Joined 4 years ago

Great place to be ripped off. I live in Tribeca and have been coming to Brandy Library since it opened. I came last night to show friends from Israel, and was appalled by the service I received. I ordered a $11 drink for myself and a $13 drink for my friend's wife. For my friend, I asked for something similar to Jameson, a $9 drink. When the bill came, I found out the waiter brought a $32 replacement for Jameson. If I wanted a $32 drink I would not have asked for something like Jameson. From my understanding, it seemed that the waiter did this to artifically inflate the price of my bill to increase his own tip. I then had to argue with the waiter in front of my friends, something I would never imagine doing. I am disgusted by how I was treated, I will NEVER come back to Brandy Library, and I would not recommend it to anyone.

Doesn't Recommend

Charlottellouise

Joined 4 years ago

Fabulous! (If you’re looking for pretentious and rude). Let me preface my review by saying that I usually like quiet restaurants and bars and was very much looking forward to having a cocktail at the Brandy Library earlier this month.

I tip-toed in the bar around 11:00pm to see if it might be a nice place to catch up with a few friends who were standing outside. I walked in alone, wearing a simple cocktail dress, but was advised that since “I had been drinking before” the host refused to let me past the foyer of the half-empty bar. Perhaps it was the fact that I had exchanged the heels I was wearing earlier for more simple flats, or maybe he heard people laughing outside—who knows? I stand guilty as charged for having consumed precisely two glasses of wine over the course of a 3 hour dinner previously. I was sober, polite, articulate, and frankly surprised by the accusation.

I’m a 35 year old board certified tax attorney and would never have achieved any degree of professional success were I not somewhat poised, polished, and professional. A friend of mine who actually made it inside one evening later told me that she was scolded for clapping and repeatedly “hushed” in the bar during her one (and only) visit.