Suzie Wong
New York, NY 10001
Phone: (212) 268-5105
Fax: (212) 268-5106
- Cross Street:
- Between 10th Avenue and 11th Avenue
- Directions:
- 1 at 28th St; C, E at 23rd St
- Hours:
- Thu-Sat 7pm-4am
Editorial Review for Suzie Wong – by Amy Abate
In Short
Being the city's first lounge to serve up bottle-service sake isn't the only draw to this sultry, red-hued sanctum. In the main room, Oriental silk brocade banquettes glisten, offset by lanterns adorned with Chinese symbols, while suspended Buddha sculptures stare down from above a DJ booth that's responsible for a sublime selection of crowd-pleasers. Glamorous young fashionistas raise the swank factor in the VIP area, where $400 bottles of sake are served tableside along with "complimentary" edamame and dirty fortune cookies. But VIP or no, the patrons here are no slouches--this is West Chelsea, after all.
Hits: Sake drinkers, rejoice--fruit-infused sake choices include mandarin orange, pear, peach, cranberry, raspberry and blueberry.
Misses: With a maximum occupancy of just 350, only varsity A-listers make the final cut at the door, and about a third of those head straight to the VIP room, cut off from the main space by a curtain of dangling beads.
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. Any expenses are paid for by Citysearch.
Insider Tips
Food ServedFrom 7pm to midnight, chef Junnajet Hurapan (of Lotus and Ruby Foo's) serves up small plates like stuffed Japanese eggplant and five-spiced spareribs.
Know Before You GoA 20 percent gratuity is added to all drinks purchased with a credit card, regardless of the order size.
What to DrinkIn addition to sake, regular drinks and premium bottles of liquor are also available. Signature cocktails like the Green Dragon (Zen green tea, Absolute Citron, lychee-infused sake and fresh-squeezed lemon) are worth the $15 as much as any over-priced cocktail can be.
Fun FactThe original business plan called for waitresses to dress as geishas; that idea was nixed in favor of red Asian-style cocktail dresses.
User Reviews for Suzie Wong
07/29/2008 Posted by nylover08
Though I had previously read countless negative reviews about Suzie Wong's, I was still a bit curious to check it out considering a select few had told me that it was a "hot spot". So, one Saturday night two friends and I decide to go to this particular club as we were invited by one of the promoters I know. Unfortunately, we never actually made it inside even after asking for "Remi" at the door. Remi informed us after 20 minutes of waiting that only one of us could get inside after we watched tons of foreigners already enter the club as we waited. First of all, if only one of us wanted to go inside, then only one of us would of shown up at the door, and to make matters worse our promoter was also too much of an a-hole to come outside to help escort us in. Nevertheless, two weeks later I gave it another try and opted to go to Suzie Wong's again on July 4th after my first failed effort. This time, another promoter invited me and I told him I was also with a group of "hot" friends, which I say with little bias btw. When he comes to get us outside, he whispers to me that he cannot get us in because Remi only lets in clubbers of a "certain size" because that is what attracts men and that is, then, what attracts business. This i found absolutely ludicrous and dissuaded me from ever electing to show up at Suzie Wong's again. Furthermore, my "big" friends, were not ugly, unfashionable "men-repellers". In fact, one of them was there with her rich, Italian boyfriend. So, to make generalizations based on someone's race, size or any other social identifier is, not only rude, but demeaning. We ended up across the street at Home that night and had a really good time, proving that it's just not worth going to a place that honors a code based on prejudice.
Pros: Wouldn't know--and quite frankly, don't care
Cons: Remi, Rami, or however you spell his name, at the door--business based on prejudice and superfice
07/14/2008 Posted by dreamyr227
I wish Citysearch would allow half a star because that's all this place deserves. We planned to go to Suzie Wong's for a friend's birthday and she was invited by a promoter who told her there would be no cover. Our group consisted of 12 girls and 6 guys. When we got to the door, the bouncer told him we would be required to get table service with 3 bottles at $300 each. Having been told that there would be no cover, most of the group wasn't prepared to shell out $75 in cash. We tried to negotiate with the bouncer who proceeded to tell us that "this is THE hottest club in the city." That was the last straw. With 4 other clubs on the same block (and Marquee right around the corner), all 18 of us highly doubted that Suzie Wong's was THE hottest club. We ended up at Guest House right across the street; there was no cover at the door, no arrogant bouncers, the main room was house music but they also had a fun hip-hop room on the side, and the DJs and bartenders were great. Definitely glad we didn't end up at Suzie Wong's, especially after seeing all the bad reviews that came before mine.
Pros: Not sure- we weren't allowed in
Cons: Bouncers
