Hi-Life Bar & Grill

(212) 787-7199

477 Amsterdam Ave (83rd Street)
New York, NY 10024 40.7856 -73.9765

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Neighborhoods: Upper West Side, Midtown

hi-life.com

Hours:

Kitchen Hours

Mon-Wed 4:30pm-11pm

Thu 4:30pm-11:30pm

Fri 4:30pm-2am

Sat 10:30am-2am

Sun 10:30am-11pm

Price:

$$

Last updated 1.19.12

Category:

Restaurants, Singles Bars, Valentine's Day Dinners, Bars & Pubs, New Year's Eve Parties, Chicken Wings, Valentine's Day Events, Catering, Valentine's Day Parties

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Private Rooms

Restaurant Special Features:

Late Night Dining, Lunch Spot, Date Spot, Bar Menu, Casual Date Spot, Brunch, Outdoor Dining, Group Dining, Happy Hour, Carry Out, Bar Scene, Private Parties, Dining Discounts

Cuisine:

Traditional American, Seafood, Sushi

Bar & Club Special Features:

Private Parties

Special Offers

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Hi-Life Bar & Grill

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Patrons grab one of the eight beers on tap at the bar, and then slide into a roomy booth or a table in the atrium. The menu, which features steaks, burgers and pasta in addition to sushi, is robust. Starters include potato skins, slathered in cheese and bacon bits and a warm goat cheese salad. Salads and pasta are listed under "Big Bowls"; sushi is half-price on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Editor's Tips

When to Go:
Dig into dinner and drink deals every night--including an early bird special before 7:30pm.
The Extras:
Thursday through Saturday, a DJ spins after the dinner crowd moves out. Ladies also get $5 cosmos after 10pm on Thursday and Saturday nights.
ambiance
88.88999938964844% positive
  1. “Definately a fun experience and an awesome place to eat and/or just hang out.”
  2. “So five stars for excellent food, cool ambiance, fast service and cute staff as well!”
  3. “In my opinion there is simply not a more comfortable place to eat a steak and watch a ballgame, or meet friends for dinner.”
  4. “Service is excellent but parking can be a challenge.”
  5. “This is a great neighborhood place with a very low-key but fun atmosphere and good music playing.”
  6. “It has a fun atmosphere and great food.”
  7. “The decor was good and fabulous with upscale service to match.”
  8. “The atmosphere is cool and relaxed, with a great variety of people.”
  9. “Anyway, the drinks were sensational and the atmosphere is cool if you like to party.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “especially if you want to just have a few drinks and good conversation with some friends.”
  2. “The manager was also very nice and helped us find a seat at the bar- we had great seats!”
  3. “It is both a nice enough place to take someone and mellow enough to relax at the bar.”
  4. “There are always food and drink specials, which is also nice.”
  5. “tuesday. sure i have been here for a decent brunch, fajitas on saturdays and drinks here and there, but mondays at hi-life are my fav.”
  6. “Very good bar.”
  7. “Hi Life is the perfect combination of food choices and drinks.”
  8. “Anyway, the drinks were sensational and the atmosphere is cool if you like to party.”
  9. “Very good combination of food and drinks”
  10. “The beer was clean and crisp, the Martini's strong and tasty, and the food was served pretty quickly.”
  11. “Service was great and beer /sake was reasonable.”
  12. “Our drinks and food were delicious, and the manager was very prompt and enthusiastic.”
  13. “Nice drinks though and friendly crowd and staff.”
food quality
84.54999923706055% positive
  1. “Yes, I do quite alot of drinking there, but I use the always excellent food to entice my friends to join me.”
  2. “There are always food and drink specials, which is also nice.”
  3. “must say the the grilled chicken and citrus salad is really good.”
  4. “Hi-Life offered huge portions - ordered Pad Thai pasta bowl special - but the food was disgusting.”
  5. “Their specials, food variety, waiters and waitresses, good prices, outside seating and huge plasma screen Tv's make The Hi-Life Bar and Grill the place it is.”
  6. “love their sushi (spicy tuna roll is my favorite) and great burgers and fries.”
  7. “Hi Life is the perfect combination of food choices and drinks.”
  8. “In my opinion there is simply not a more comfortable place to eat a steak and watch a ballgame, or meet friends for dinner.”
  9. “We have been a couple of times and the food is great.”
  10. “But I walked out of hi-life because the food was plain inedible.”
  11. “They have great mashed potatoes and creamed spinach, hand cut fries and delicious pastas.”
  12. “Our drinks and food were delicious, and the manager was very prompt and enthusiastic.”
  13. “Hi- Life Bar and Grill's hamburgers and crisp thin french french fries are the best in town.”
  14. “It has a fun atmosphere and great food.”
  15. “know there are a lot of "authentic" sushi places in NYC but this was some of the best sushi I've had in a long time, and the price was perfect.”
  16. “Expect a great meal and time at The Hi-Life Bar and Grill!”
  17. “the service was fine and the prices would be decent if the food was as well but i would never recommend this place to anyone for anything other than alcohol which is generally hard to screw up.”
  18. “It's totally killer, fresh and served with a smile by Marcie, who likes R. Kelly maybe a little too much.”
  19. “disgusting food”
  20. “Great food, vibe and staff!”
  21. “Outstanding sushi.”
  22. “The food was delicious and the service was friendly and very attentive.”
  23. “excellent comfort food.”
  24. “Their food consists of good American style food, mexican food, fish, meat and sushi.”
  25. “Great sushi and awesome prices on Monday / Tuesday (1/2 off sushi).”
  26. “would suggest people to head elsewhere for good food.”
  27. “Very good combination of food and drinks”
  28. “and what came can only be described as extremely sub-par, bordering on inedible food, and we are NOT upscale diners by any means.”
  29. “If you're looking for a good simple meal try the rosemary chicken.”
  30. “The food is pretty good, too, and quite inexpensive.”
  31. “Mashed potatoes and creamed spinach was excellent too.”
  32. “Half priced sushi nights are great but I swear the pieces are half the size on those nights.”
  33. “Hi-Life Bar & Grill is an awesome restaurant with specatular food.”
  34. “Like my friend said, "were else can you eat awesome sushi and catch a live hockey/basketball/football game at the same time?”
  35. “The beer was clean and crisp, the Martini's strong and tasty, and the food was served pretty quickly.”
  36. “So five stars for excellent food, cool ambiance, fast service and cute staff as well!”
  37. “Almost don't want to share this place & have it get too busy, but, Mon & Tues night specials include 1/2 price sushi which is really fresh.”
  38. “the best burgers in the city”
  39. “The burgers are great (but used to be better when they branded it with their logo).”
  40. “The service was awesome and the food was really good.”
  41. “This place is decent, but the food is just as expensive as a nice restaurant in the same neighborhood.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The atmosphere is cool and relaxed, with a great variety of people.”
  2. “Hi Life is the perfect combination of food choices and drinks.”
  3. “Their specials, food variety, waiters and waitresses, good prices, outside seating and huge plasma screen Tv's make The Hi-Life Bar and Grill the place it is.”
  4. “We love the friendly, been there forever charm, but even more important is the varied menu.”
overall
94.44000244140625% positive
  1. “This place is decent, but the food is just as expensive as a nice restaurant in the same neighborhood.”
  2. “There is a great vibe at that place.”
  3. “It is both a nice enough place to take someone and mellow enough to relax at the bar.”
  4. “Their specials, food variety, waiters and waitresses, good prices, outside seating and huge plasma screen Tv's make The Hi-Life Bar and Grill the place it is.”
  5. “This is a great neighborhood place with a very low-key but fun atmosphere and good music playing.”
  6. “great place to go”
service
92.8600025177002% positive
  1. “Our drinks and food were delicious, and the manager was very prompt and enthusiastic.”
  2. “The whole staff was very friendly and we were in and out very quickly.”
  3. “the service is good and the crowd--eclectic upper west side.”
  4. “The food was delicious and the service was friendly and very attentive.”
  5. “we pointed ourselves across the street to freds, where service was fast and friendly.”
  6. “We love the friendly, been there forever charm, but even more important is the varied menu.”
  7. “would suggest people to head elsewhere for good food.”
  8. “Their specials, food variety, waiters and waitresses, good prices, outside seating and huge plasma screen Tv's make The Hi-Life Bar and Grill the place it is.”
  9. “So five stars for excellent food, cool ambiance, fast service and cute staff as well!”
  10. “The servers are all very friendly, as well the manager!”
  11. “The waiters and waitresses are extremely helpful.”
  12. “Great food, vibe and staff!”
  13. “The manager was also very nice and helped us find a seat at the bar- we had great seats!”
  14. “the service was fine and the prices would be decent if the food was as well but i would never recommend this place to anyone for anything other than alcohol which is generally hard to screw up.”
  15. “The manager & staff are excellent - very nice.”
  16. “The decor was good and fabulous with upscale service to match.”
  17. “great costomer service”
  18. “First and foremost, the staff was not only excellent but pretty darn hot as well!”
  19. “Nice drinks though and friendly crowd and staff.”
  20. “The service was awesome and the food was really good.”
  21. “The atmosphere is cool and relaxed, with a great variety of people.”
value
74.07000064849854% positive
  1. “I'm waiting now for huge snow storm to trap me at Hi-Life right thru Christmas.”
  2. “know there are a lot of "authentic" sushi places in NYC but this was some of the best sushi I've had in a long time, and the price was perfect.”
  3. “Hi-Life offered huge portions - ordered Pad Thai pasta bowl special - but the food was disgusting.”
  4. “Almost don't want to share this place & have it get too busy, but, Mon & Tues night specials include 1/2 price sushi which is really fresh.”
  5. “Great sushi and awesome prices on Monday / Tuesday (1/2 off sushi).”
  6. “the service was fine and the prices would be decent if the food was as well but i would never recommend this place to anyone for anything other than alcohol which is generally hard to screw up.”
  7. “The food is pretty good, too, and quite inexpensive.”
  8. “Their specials, food variety, waiters and waitresses, good prices, outside seating and huge plasma screen Tv's make The Hi-Life Bar and Grill the place it is.”
  9. “This place is decent, but the food is just as expensive as a nice restaurant in the same neighborhood.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “There are very few cool bars to hang out on the UWS, but the Hi Life remains on the short list so long as your not looking too upscale.”
  2. “know there are a lot of "authentic" sushi places in NYC but this was some of the best sushi I've had in a long time, and the price was perfect.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

06/29/11

Do NOT go to this restuarant!

by Mimimoto

I used to be a loyal customer and was extremely disappointed with how the management team treats its loyal customers. I left a pair of sunglasses at my table. I called, the manager said no glasses. Next time I went the server came up to me and told me she had my glasses and put them behind bar with bar with bartender. Of course they were gone. When I asked if the management would try to "make it right" with a loyal customer, I was called back with a lame excuse that the waiter is now saying she didn't remember who's glasses they were and the bartender said that someone came by to pick them up already. All lies and a completely different story from a few days before. I know I left my glasses, that's my fault, but they had them and told me they had them and one of the employees took them. It's obvious they do not value their customers AT ALL. Why give a neighborhood bar that does not value the neighborhood customers any business?

4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/24/11

Perfect compromise

by regulargeorge

Comfortable the way I like it, good food my girl friend likes. Kind of a cross between a dive bar and an East Village hip joint

4 Star Rating: Recommended

07/07/09

half off sushi!!

by jenniikoulha

I LOVE coming to hi-life for half priced sushi on monday and tuesday. sure i have been here for a decent brunch, fajitas on saturdays and drinks here and there, but mondays at hi-life are my fav. with the nice weather lately, the patio has been packed and it can be hard to get a table outside with a bigger group. the service is good and the crowd--eclectic upper west side.

  • Pros: sushi specials on mondays and tuesdays
  • Cons: no brown rice.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/28/08

great costomer service

by MelinD

Hi-Life Bar & Grill is an awesome restaurant with specatular food. The staff was very understanding that we had a meeting with our friends, food came out quick and perfect with no sacarifice of quality. The decor was good and fabulous with upscale service to match. 5 stars all around.

  • Pros: service,food
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/27/08

excellent dinner

by rshor

I must say the the grilled chicken and citrus salad is really good. Mashed potatoes and creamed spinach was excellent too. I had the pork chop and it was great. It's not a fancy place but it does have a good home cooking kind of feel to it. Service is excellent but parking can be a challenge. This is a must visit!

The Details on Hi-Life Bar & Grill

Place Categories:

  • great american style food
  • friendly costomer service
  • love family place
  • outstanding sushi
  • disgusting food
  • great burgers
  • decent prices
  • great whole staff
  • great mashed potatoes
  • cool atmosphere
  • cool bars
  • favorite hi life
  • excellent comfort food
  • fabulous decor
  • decent music
  • great crisp thin french fries
  • very nice manager
  • not more comfortable place
  • great drinks
  • great simple meal
  • good combination
  • nice restaurant
  • not as good street
  • great creamed spinach
  • good conversation
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