The Continental (NY)

01/01/09

Worst Bar in NYC Now that the Bands are Gone!

by JonnyBest at Citysearch

This place is ridiculous! There was NOT just one bouncer at this bar on New Years 2009, but two. The first guy let eveybody with me (including me) into the bar. I was the last guy in line other than a few folks behind me. Mind you, there was NO cover at all and the bar was anything but crowded. The second bouncer made some kind of comment like "hold on". I told him I just showed the first bouncer my ID, but he would NOT let me in after I said this. Upon the first bouncer telling my friends this, they all came back outside. We started to leave but complained that the bar was being ridiculous when the offending bouncer suddenly charged us. He threw a girl who was with us to the ground. Upon him doing this, I approached this bouncer and demanded that he treat us better when he put me in a sleeper hold and threw me to the ground. After this happened, my other male friend attempted to call him out when he threw him against a tree. The girl he threw to the ground was bleeding from both the elbow and the knee. It was a no brainer. We had no choice but to call the police. In fact it was ONLY after we called the police, that the so called "owner" came out to make things better. I would avoid this bar at ALL costs. I can't claim to be 100% in discrimatorial issues, but the people behind us in line were black and they would not let them in either. We were white btw and both bouncers were black. It's not like it was Studio 54 or something. I mean really?! Needless to say, it's past 6am on New Years and I am COMPLETELY coherent enough to write about our experience right now so there was absolutely NO reason for them NOT to let me in. I explained this to the crazy bouncer, but he was too upset for some reason and wouldn't let me in simply because of this. Needless to say, we are pressing charges and taking them to court. We will NOT stand for this treatment and neither should u whatever race u are! Hopefully, they get there's in the end. UNBELIEVABLE!

• Pros: Cheap shots literally!
• Cons: Ridiculous Bouncers, awful staff!

01/11/07

I love this bar!

by xiphz at Citysearch

Continental has changed a lot in the past few months. They don't have live music anymore but they have really cheap drinks and it is so worth checking out, especially for pre-gaming or meeting up with friends before hitting up the clubs in the LES or Midtown. They have happy hour all night, all drinks (including top-shelf) are $3.50 and shots are 5 for $10!

04/28/06

The Bands are worth it

by sdobler at Citysearch

I saw a bunch of great, yet not super well known, bands here, Black Taxi being among them. The service I found to be fine, much better in fact to what I've experienced in NYC bars considered swanky or hip; it seemed to me that if anything, the bar staff work here because they appreciate the music or at least appreciate the efforts the performers make. And if that means the 'barmaid' might not always be rushing around, clearing tables, asking, 'would you like fries with that,' well, I think that's probably for the best.

• Pros: great music, cool space, feels authentic
• Cons: a bit small

03/18/05

Awful bartenders

by silvio_manuel at Citysearch

I went to see a friend's band, it wasn't very crowded, but both bartenders were very aloof and snobby. They seemed more interested in standing around trying to look cool than to do what they are paid for, to actually have even a passing polite interest in looking out for ppl who want to buy drinks. I'm ashamed to say that I still gave them my money, what can I say I didn't want two idiots to run my fun time.

Aside from the wretched service, it's a decent place to catch a show.

• Pros: Up and coming bands
• Cons: Bad service, Expensive drinks