10/04/09

Mixed experience

by MGPaneer

The Volstead has a policy that requires you to make a "reservation" for a birthday party or whatever kind of party you're hosting - the latest one they take is for 10pm. You have to have a decent number of people there at that time otherwise they reserve the right to decrease your space. Fine. They say they will only hold your reservation for 15 minutes otherwise you may lose it. Fine. We expected over 50-60 people in and out all night, but we decided to be really conservative and make a reservation for 15 people. We, the hosts, showed up a few minutes prior to our 10 pm reservation along with a few siblings/friends. There was a party of 20-25 people having dinner in the section reserved for us. One waitress said we were to have half that area and that the party was just finishing up. 10 minutes later, the waitress that was to serve our party came up to us, apologized for the wait and said, to thank us for being so cool with waiting, we'd have a round of shots coming our way later (which we never got, by the way). Then that party got dessert. 15 min. later we approached the manager, Mike. He apologized for the wait and bought 6 of us a round of drinks. This dinner party didn't look like it was going anywhere and we had more and more guests arriving! Mike said he would start pushing them out, but it wasn't until almost 11 PM that we had our area. Oh, and instead of half that long section, we were now told that we had 1/3 of that section - that consisted of 1 table that could normally seat 6 people (3 on each side). But with the booth on one side and ONE chair that they left on the other side, we had 4 seats for our reservation for 15 people. When I said this wouldn't be enough room for 15, Mike basically blew me off saying that 15 people doesn't really mean 15 people. I wonder why other groups the same size as ours got the giant areas in the back and on the side. I've hosted a lot of parties, and I know what my turnout is like. Wherever I take my group, that bar makes a lot of money that night. I also know what kind of space we need. When I told him that we were told that we'd be given half that area, all he said was that waitress was mistaken. No apology for it and nothing to make up for not only having to wait an hour for our section but now having room for only 4 people. I asked if we could work with some other space and he basically said everything else was booked. This entire time my co-host and I were very understanding - especially for people who had guests waiting this whole time. My friend playfully said to Mike that we'd forget about it all for a round of shots. He simply said, "NO. Not when someone asks for it." He could have responded any number of ways. We're not ditzy girls that were going to be appeased with a free drink. We were hosting a party, reserved a space, complied with their policies and were treated very shabbily. If I didn't have to worry about re-directing the 50-60 friends and colleagues of ours who were coming in and out that night, I was ready to move the party elsewhere.

The ONLY saving grace last night was the DJ. I forgot to ask his name. But he played great music - from 90's R&B to dancehall to college bar rock to hip hop to 80's Whitney Houston- and had us dancing the ENTIRE time. And we love dancing. Thank you, DJ, for saving our night! Because of you we ended up staying for over 4 hours. (And he's the only reason I'm giving the place 3 stars instead of 2 or 1.)

When it gets packed, it's really really packed - not much room to move, much less dance - but we find a way to dance, regardless. The waitstaff was polite and helpful - but there was only so much they could do. The manager, Mike, was not helpful and did not make us feel like spending our money there.

I may come back to dance - I heard lunch is good there, too - but I am never bringing a party, or my friends' money, there again.

• Pros: Great great DJ
• Cons: Poor treatment by mngmt - the customer doesn't come first.

09/14/09

Chill for drinks & happy hour

by gripdxd

Cool place for drinks after work. Crowded and full of business types. They have happy hour drink specials, but stay away from the Sangria. I'd come again, for sure.

• Pros: Atmosphere, Crowd & Drink Specials
• Cons: Sangria..ick

07/30/09

Mediocre at best

by Jamie23

Even the salads except for one have meat in them. There are no entrees for vegetarians and the one token gesture is a portabella mushroom burger. How unoriginal and not even that great.

• Pros: Can't think of anything
• Cons: Virtually nothing for vegetarians

07/09/09

Great New Changes

by citygrrrrl

Awesome new Happy Hour!! Great new staff!!!

• Pros: New Happy Hour
• Cons: NONE

02/16/09

Overpriced and Rude

by Geministwin

Not only are the drinks overpriced at this over-packed, bridge-and tunnel establishment, but the dumb coat check girl LOST my coat and then the manager called me a liar. Nice place. Won't be coming back here. EVER.

• Pros: None
• Cons: Rude, packed, overpriced, cheesy

02/05/09

Party at the Volstead

by jroddyfanite

I went to a friends birthday party here last saturday. We spent the whole night at the bar...had a great time! Didn't know that they sold bottles and to our surprise, they let us buy a bottle of Patron! Our bartenders were great...and it helped that they were both blonde and buxom. They partied right along with us! We were also greeted really well at the door by the doorman. It's nice to treated well when most of the time, the doormen don't give a @$&* about the people that are walking in. All in all, i will definately be back to the Volstead. Great way to spend a saturday night! Oh...great music too!

• Pros: Bartenders and buying bottles without having to buy a table!
• Cons: A little pricey...but it is in midtown

02/02/09

Had the greatest time at The Volstead!

by JSONYG13

Great place!

I just had my birthday party there this past Saturday night. We had the room off to the right. The waitress as well as the rest of the staff were great!! They were super friendly and sweet.

I dont have one bad thing to say about this place - It was an awesome birthday party!!

01/26/09

awesome place, tons of fun!

by sjunkie

first time poster . i came on city search today to post a negative review on the most awful club i've ever been to. then i had this sudden urge to visit the page of one of the best, volstead, and felt compelled to write a review. my surprise engagement party was here, and my fiance (who planned the party) said they were awesome to work with. even then, i thought that maybe i just had an awesome time because i had just gotten engaged and was biased.

but months later i came back here for a birthday and that just sealed the deal. the bartenders were fast and friendly, the bouncers were cool and the music is so much fun. i also saw below that the manager responded to some of the reviews, which show that he actually cares about the guests having a good time. i definitely recommend spending a saturday night here!

• Pros: large space, sectioned off areas that are perfect for group events like birthdays, awesome music
• Cons: no real cons

01/06/09

Nicest Bouncer ever...

by lilchickee925

I recently celebrated my birthday there and needless to say I had a little too much to drink. The bouncer, doing his job, did say I had to leave once I was able to stand, but he helped my friends take care of me. Offered water, napkins, and helped them get me up the stairs. The manager even came and helped. She was very sweet. While I may never show my face there again due to how embarrassed I am, they were very very nice and I appreciate that.

Volstead is a nice place, never any cover. They don't do that stupid line outside, only to reveal an empty inside. The atmosphere is nice. Lots of seats. No pretentious bottle service. Music is good on most nights. DJ Chrismix is good. great mix of music (hip hop, rock, top 40, old school). The DJ that was there that night played a little too much house for my taste.

neighborhood is nice. Parking is free and easy after midnight.

great place to go for spontaneous get together, and you can wear what you want without feeling over or underdressed.

• Pros: Nice staff, good music, lots of places to sit, drinks reasonable
• Cons: dance area is somewhat small

08/01/08

GREAT BAR!

by MADMEN

Great drinks/food, good music (YOU'RE MY BOY BLUE!), & super hot waitresses/bartenders (I love the blondes). What more do you need???

• Pros: Awesome bartenders, good food, great music (esp. thurs!)
• Cons: ZERO.