04/08/08

This East Village nightlife institution will be missed by all.

by Katie Heffernan

The Scene
A spot tagged with Two Boots ownership and Jimmy Fallon backing may cause city-wide hype, but this cabaret club focuses on the East Village's creative community. Neighborhood legends like Lady Bunny and bookseller Manny are caricatured in the barroom mural, though artistic grit is ditched in the rest of the decor. Dark wood, brass lamps and fine chocolate-leather booths create an upscale, Old-World gloss, and a communal contagion of talk and laughter permeates lively dates and birthday parties.

The Draw
The packed black box theater lands top local talent from comics to bands--and a post-show social scene escalates as patrons descend downstairs. For the best of the specialty cocktail and Judeo-Latino menus--available before, after and during performances--try the Orange Julius, a creamy frozen sip with Stoli Vanil and Cointreau, and the perfectly sized Cuban Reuben, layered thinly with ham, pork, corned beef, Swiss, pickles and Russian dressing.

04/26/07

House of DIS-satisfaction

by beelzebabe

Last night a friend and I attempted to check out a burlesque show there. The flyer said that it started at 9:30, so we went at about 8:15 to pick up tickets. The girl at the door told us that the show was actually starting at 9pm and that she could'nt sell us tickets until 8:45. Okay. Went over to Two Boots to eat, came back at 8:50 and (was told by the same girl) that the show was now starting at 9:30 and that suddenly it was completely sold out. When I reminded her that we were just there and what she had said half an hour earlier, she pretended the conversation never happened. She was kind of rude about the whole thing. She offered to put us on some wait list and told us she'd come find us at the bar after they seated for a show that they somehow sold out in less than 10 minutes.

We figured there was no way that girl was going to remember to come find us, so we left. At that point I was in no mood to give them my money anyway.

God I miss Fez.

01/09/07

Yummy and Fun

by sherms

I just moved to New York from the West Coast and am still getting used to the fast pace and general lack of friendliness in the city. I had plans to meet a friend who lives in the east village and was dreading facing the ridiculously high prices and too cool to be bothered vibe that I've been experiencing around NY. She said she knew somewhere I'd be happy, and we met at Mo Pitkin's.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a really fun and varied crowd there, as well as good service and excellent food and drinks. I had an awesome burger, and those fries everyone is writing about are actually really, really good.

They passed my ultimate snobby bar test: I'm a girl, and I like like girly drinks. I noted the hip beer selection available, ordered a cosmo, and braced myself for "the look" I often get when I order one (you know, the look that says "what, are you kidding me? don't you know cosmos are SO five years ago?") But, NO look.. and a really good drink! not too sweet, not too sour, a perfect blend, just right.

My friend and I had planned to meet there, eat, and move on, but we wound up spending our whole night. After dinner, we headed upstairs to a cool little cozy room where they had a pretty funny comedy show going and a bunch of friendly people hanging out that must have been imported from another state ;)

We had a few more drinks (and another order of fries.. if I have to admit it). We were on our way out and ran into some old friends at the downstairs bar.. so we wound up staying another 2 hours. This is the first place in New York where I haven't felt like the staff was breathing down my neck to free up my chair, but were there to help me IF I needed them. Between the nice vibe, multiple rooms to hang out in, good food and drinks, and reasonable prices, I will definitely come back!

01/09/07

Great Customer Service-Friendly Vibe-Quality Entertainment--Delicious Food

by rubymax

More Than Satisfied-----

I don't know what took me so long to make it over to Mo Pitkins. I am probably the last New Yorker to visit this East Village Gem. I finally made it over last Wednesday night. It has everything you could ask for. It is intimate, but yet lively and full of good energy. The decor brings you right in, with it's dark woods and dim lighting. The food is insane, I mean, give me a brick of Mac and Cheese anytime. The menu is perfect, not too overwhelming, just enough of delicious bar food. I don't know what they put in their fries, but it must be illegal.

I just loved the whole vibe of this place. The staff made me feel right at home. They seemed like they were all gettting along so well and having such a great time working together, it made me want to get behind the scenes. The service was perfect. The bartender was friendly and attentive, but not overly pushy. Our food came out right away, but gave us enough time to fully enjoy not one , but two-- of the best Martini's in the neighborhood. After a couple of drinks and dinner, my friend and I made our way upstairs. There seemed to be a sold out show in the Performance Space, so we stumbled into Sadie's Lounge across the hall, another cozy little room, with a bar, comfortable big booths and a hilarious free comedy show. My friend and I felt like they were putting on a show for just us in our very own living room. A perfect night.

I can definitely say I will be making Mo Pitkins my new hang out.

12/15/06

Can't get no satisfaction

by camrose

Hate to gripe about a place that books good music but my last visit to Mo's just sucked. When I ordered a second beer from my table, what was eventually brought was a type I didn't order but the waitress ran away before I could tell her. No big deal. Got up (it had taken forever to get both) wnet back to the waitress station and asked our server for the beer I asked for. "That's what he gave me," she said. "He who...?" I asked. "The bartender," she snapped. "We're out of what you ordered." Um, no effort to tell me, to offer other options, to, dare i say it, be even perfunctorally polite? If I'd ordered apple pie in a diner they'd at least have told me they were out before bringning me pecan, right? Whatever. I drank what she brought. After the show I went downstairs to the main bar to have a drink with the band and got more of the same treatment. Two bartenders ingnored me for a while (it was busy but they literally were doing nothing) finally took my drink order, then told me they were out of clean glasses so no draft for me. Okay, give me a bottle. Guess what? It was the brand that cranky waitress upstairs (as opposed to cranky bartender downstairs) said they were out of. Jeez, don't make any effort on my behalf, I'm only a customer. I think Mo's does such good biz that you're just presumed by the staff to be a hostile idiot from Jersey or a tourist until proved otherwise. As picky as this may sound, all I really wanted was the beer I ordered, and I made an effort to be chill about it. But what I got was this "take it and like it" 'tude from a staff that acted as if they were killing time waiting for thier agents to call. Who needs mild but irritatting abuse for a 6 dollar IPA? Reminds me of why I moved out of the EV and into Brooklyn. What does the management of this place do to these people that makes them so angry and inclined to stand around frowning, posing, and grudgingly half doing their jobs?

• Pros: Good bands
• Cons: Grudging service and generally put upon vibe

11/17/06

Hip!

by kagatewo

This place is very cool. The shows are always interesting and daring. If you want to rub elbows with up and coming, daring artist - mo's is the place to be.

07/16/06

Wow - you got to try that Orange Julius

by miakop

Worth the trip from Florida - the Black Box has it all together with

a plethora of young and local talent. Had to try the cuban rubin.

If you get off Broadway this is the spot.

04/20/06

User review by kheffernan

by kheffernan

A nice spot with much entertainment--the food is good and filling (cuban reuben is delicious and the egg cream... ahhh...), the cocktails are creative, many separate rooms (dining area, bar area, upstairs lounge, upstairs black box) for moving and mingling, theater with all SORTS of comedy, music, and more. Despite such a big opening, not many people seem to go... Don't think the business is doing poorly, but it just means it's surprisingly never too crowded!!

03/18/06

Yummy

by jp2096

My friend and I basically ordered about 8 appetizers. (Yes, there were stares) Moderate serving sizes, but great flavor. Mashed potatoes are a must. I think you can even order food in the live music area. Desserts are rich. Can't wait to go back with a larger group so I can sample more items with approbation.

• Pros: variety, fusion flava, ambience
• Cons: sorta out of the way

01/17/06

Great overall and fun too!

by blanchita121

One of the owners, Greg, is terrific and knows how to put together a great iPod full of blues, soul and old school music. Kristen, the bartender was wonderful and had great recommendations. We enjoyed the Mo's Pickin's platter -- try the deviled eggs with crab! The brisket was great too. The Cuban Reuban sandwich rocks and so do the chicharrones with a wonderful avocado sauce. Oh, and the house magarita on th emenu is delish and the mango syrup isn't too sweet in it either! Go to Mo's! I'm going back!