Sake Bar Decibel

05/10/09

Horrible Waiter

by SakeExperience at Citysearch

I've been going to Decibel on and off for more than 8 years. It's a good place but yesterday (March 9,2009) We had an embarssing moment. After spending 2 hours at the place and spending around $50 per person, we left a customary gratuity of 15%. The waiter took the money and asked "is there something wrong with the service". I said no and asked what's wrong. He demanded another $5-$10 more, totalling 20%-25%. He made a big stink and said something in japanese that didn't sound very nice. Furthermore, he said "Dont come back here!". We tried to reason with him as we like Decibel very much. I have tried contacting the management to resolve this. I'm not sure if the problem with only the one waiter. Apparently, all the other waiters sided with him. He was very loud and embarassed all of us in front of all the patrons and staff. How can a wonderful place have such horrible staff.

• Pros: Wide Selection of Sake
• Cons: No Happy Ending

03/30/09

if you're prissy, don't come here

by lightfantaastica at Citysearch

not for everyone, cramped and grungy but i wouldn't have it any other way. good music, service, recommendations by staff. authentic sake, authentic feel. great place for that right kind of friend to bring and just sit and chill.

please, if you're from out of town or want to bring out of towners here, don't expect 5 star hospitality. it is cramped and "dirty". don't complain that it "smells"....it is a BAR. please, don't take your bridges and tunnels, highlights and juicy couture here. thanks. we appreciate it.

• Pros: bad*ss
• Cons: not for everyone, cramped

03/07/09

Transport Yourself

by NinthStreetNYCdotcom at Citysearch

I see other reviewers had issues with service here, but I can't say I have had problems. The vibe and setting of this unique spot keeps me coming back, along with great cold Japanese beer, and interesting saki (hot and cold). The food is what I consider Japanese bar snacks, and they do the trick - tasty and simple.

02/22/09

Astoundingly Rude Service - It's not ATMOSPHERE...it's OBNOXIOUS

by SmokeChewerMD at Citysearch

This place came highly recommended, so we went being super excited...Three of us got there, on a Saturday night at around 6:30-7pm...the place was completely dead, and we asked to get seated at a four top. The waitress rudely told us "NO" and put the three of us at a tiny little table that would barely fit two people...we grabbed another table (remember, it was completely empty) and slid it over so that we had enough room for our food and drinks. They came over almost immediately and glared at us telling us we would need to move it back - when I said "but it's empty in here" the guy said, "ok, but if it gets busy..."... Two of us wanted to leave, but we stayed because of the recommendation we'd received...We ordered food, it took a while to get there. And the waitress was super rude. It was a pain to track her down to order additional food, drinks, anything. And then when the check came, we paid and left a small tip - because the service was terrible...

The waitress STOOD over me watching me tip, and then said "no...you didn't leave the minimum tip" and tried to snatch the copy of the receipt out of my hand!!! I pulled it away and she said "you can't steal my pen". I gave her the pen and started laughing...she went and grabbed her manager, who then told me "you didn't tip enough...don't ever come back."

I won't be...I thought it was just a fluke until I came here to look at the reviews...

Bottom line - there's other places to spend your money...places where they won't treat you like garbage...

• Pros: Definitely makes you think you aren't in NYC anymore
• Cons: Staff is openly hostile, inflexible, and horrendously rude...food isn't good enough to make up for it

02/01/09

To sudogenki716

by koko81 at Citysearch

Since you work there perhaps it would be better to stop writing your own review and start thinking why all these customers (half of the reviewers actually in this site) have the same problem with your EXTREMELY RUDE STAFF! We all work our asses off in ths city, so the whole thing about you & your exhaustive work hardly touches anyone. So, if a customer has a problem perhaps it would be a good idea to respect him and if you cannot grant him what he wishes then you should learn how to explain him the situation in a nice manner. For example you may tell him that 'unfortunately it is the policy of restaurant to reserve the large tables for groups of 4 people or more' instead of an giving him a cold and authoritative 'NO' when he asks for a table. If there is a mistake with the order perhaps you should consider the probability that your waitresses, who hardly speak a word of english, might had made a mistake instead of yelling to your customers repeatedly 'we cant cancel it - you have to pay it'. And if a customers leave the place without giving you a tip (as i did, because i have never been treated so bad in my life at any restaurant) because you told him to 'leave and dont come back' about ten times within 2 minutes, it is rather stupid to run behind him and asking for a tip again and again. And the fact that a member of your staff took pictures of me and my friends with his digital camera on our way out is just unheard of. RESPECT YOUR CUSTOMERS AND LEARN SOME CODE OF CONDUCT

• Pros: unique place, very 'underground' urban atmosphere
• Cons: worst service EVER

10/05/08

One time was enough

by NinaBa at Citysearch

Yeah, the ambience and crap...I would not send people to Cipriani though like some fan below if people complain on extremly rude service,the stench, the chicken cage atmosphere, and I would not say it was worth my buck( in fact for $28 for a tiny bottle) either. 3 skinny girls (me and my friends) were squeezed so we could not move anything without hitting someones elbow or back..Transforming some skunky NY basement into "yakuza den" pretense - no not my fare.

And waiter stopped us , claiming we did not leave enough for tip!

• Pros: Max Brenner chocolate upstairs
• Cons: Skunk hole

12/04/07

great sake list, great for the new york experience

by beiar at Citysearch

Look- I've seen all these reviews-- pros, cons, but the backbone is this-- if you've got company in from out of town and you want to give them an experience that they will remember and enjoy long after they leave, Decibel is a great little spot to go-- yes, its very small, yes, it's very dim inside, yes it's a little cramped-- please, let's all just go to Cipriani if we are looking for a CLEAN WELL LIGHTED PLACE with five star service and a Zagat rating through the roof, and we will pay for it too-- but if you want to go to a fun little funky sake bar on the east side with a great sake selection and a whole lot of CHARACTER, which includes foresaid FUNKINESS then decibel is a great spot-- don't go to Cipriani looking for sake and a nice dark little nook to get tight on sake with your friends, and don't go to decibel expecting a Cipriani or even a Nobu-- they are different restaurants.

• Pros: Great Sake, Great place to take guests for a great NY experience
• Cons: slow service, little funky, little too loud

10/08/07

Awesome

by manishmelwani at Citysearch

Once you're in the bar, it feels like you're not in NY anymore. Decibel is tiny, and it feels like Toyko. Extensive sake list, a bit pricey, but definitely worth it.

• Pros: Ambience, great sake
• Cons: A little pricey

07/19/07

Friendly real world atmosphere

by nycniceguy23 at Citysearch

Small yet very decent friendly place. The staff are so nice. I really like the place. Practical, very simple and not trying too much. My girlfriend and I visit Decibel every weekend. It gets crowded particularly weekends that is why you can tell that the place is pretty popular. So many Sake selections. I recommend "Umenishiki". So if you are looking for a friendly, welcoming, and realistic place, you should visit Decibel.

• Pros: Very good drinks, service friendly
• Cons: small

04/24/07

What a dump.

by justaddwater at Citysearch

I can't believe that there are people that actually like this place.

The place was tiny, the seats were uncomfortable, and the place smelled bad. I couldn't believe that this place was preparing food in this little dirty counter behind the bar...disgusting. The service was even worse.

• Pros: I didn't get sick
• Cons: obnoxious servers, smells bad, feels unsanitary