1 Oak

12/03/09

Don't patronize places like this

by ragazzamilanese at Citysearch

If you're into clubbing at the poshest establishments in the world, you will be severely let down by this place. The doormen need to be massively paid off if you have male guests with you and are rude and unhelpful even if you have a reservation. So many places are better than this one - can't wait to see it go bankrupt.

• Pros: Good music
• Cons: Rude people, poor service, terrible experience

11/19/09

Sweet place, sour door

by papipapichulo at Citysearch

Door guy is a parasite that does not understand the concept of symbiosis. Ben loves tips, unfortunately it's much to the chagrin of the club. Let's face it; most people that end up here or at any other club are not stars, socialites, or anyone that these places typically project as being the elite regulars that frequent the establishment - this is a simple fact of all nightlife. The problem here is that the core crowd, which is very well up to the standards the veteran owners set out for it to be is being watered down to line the pockets of the greedy doorman. I have been frequenting these places for well over a decade and the ones that last are those that strike a good balance at the door, not those that sell entry like medieval priests sold indulgences - hopefully for 1OAK they rid themselves of this disease before it becomes inoperable.

• Pros: Great club, nice staff
• Cons: Doorman

03/08/09

Creating false demand!

by tequilasue1 at Citysearch

Friday night, no one waiting to get in and a poor man's Johnny Depp says we need a reservation for a table and a reservation to get in...2 guys 2 girls well dressed and ready to drop major money. I would bet my life that there were maybe 20 people in the place. So lame...no wonder why there was no one waiting to get in. If you want to have a place where only your friends go...get a bigger apartment Richie...not a club that no one wants to stand in line for, and where they prevent you from coming in and spending major money. Let's see if this place survives the recession with that business model. Every other place within 2 blocks had a line of 50 people or more...now we know why. This place has seen it's day...and now it's done.

• Pros: Good looking space
• Cons: everything else...and the door guy who is the size of a jockey w/ a lame fedora.

02/27/09

If you fit in, you'll have a good time.

by brunette1 at Citysearch

If you (naturally) look and dress the part, and have friends who also get in, then you'll have a good time. I usually have a decent time. The bartenders are better and more efficient than their cocktail waitresses though.. But then again, I'm just being bias since I'm convinced all cocktail waitresses are slightly trashy and useless..

(I think someone mentioned below that celebrities don't come here.. Though I've seen w/ my own eyes, jayz, diddy, lindsay lohan, vin diesel, cast of gossip girls etc just to name a few off the top of my head)...

• Pros: Exclusive.
• Cons: The managers (not the owners) walk around aimlessly and never look too happy, or friendly.

02/20/09

Doesn't live up to it's name. (1OAK = 1 Of A Kind)

by killbethy at Citysearch

1OAK (an acronym from 1 Of A Kind) hardly lives up to its name, and unless you are walking right in, it's not a velvet rope worth waiting at. I've walked outside many a night and have seen a truckload of people waiting to get past Bin, the perpetually drunk doorman, to get inside even though the club is dead empty. Inside, you will probably only find what most people are amused with, the carved wood walls. Other than that, the decor is lacking, the floor looks like it's from a rundown pizza parlor, and half of the tables are on the side of the club where all people do is enter and exit. Cocktails are overpriced and nothing special; bottle service is the same as anywhere. Most of the crowd is ridiculously underage (high schoolers). When push comes to shove, you can't guarantee that you will have a fun night at 1 Oak, or that it would be any more fun than going to your local pub and spending a fraction of the cost. Unless you want to get groovy with the 18 year olds clinging to the club promoters at the tables by the DJ booth, skip this place. The only time I recommend going is when you know a good DJ will be spinning and you have already secured yourself a table and can get there at a reasonable hour.... also, go with a large group (this is not a date spot!), people inside don't tend to mingle unless they are trying to steal the bottles off your table. (However, getting a table in advance at 1 Oak does not guarantee you will get in, and even if you do, getting your table is up to the fates).

Essentially, if 1OAK was so wonderful, Richie Akiva wouldn't be spending his time at Rose Bar every night instead of his own club.

• Pros: friendly and cute waitresses, sometimes a good DJ spinning, special indoor smoking
• Cons: crowd of high school kids, overpriced cocktails, small bottle selection, perpetually drunk doorman, bad table layout and ambience, covered in dirt and filth

02/15/09

Boycott one oak

by boycottoneoak at Citysearch

One oak is simply a nightmare for any gentleman or group of nice people wishing to have a hot night in NY.

Doorman and staff are simply rude, pretentious and have no sense of vip treatment.

I like reading "one oak caters high clientele".

I am well treated in rendez-vous and in One oak, simply the bad time starts with those doormen who forget who pays their salaries.

One oak s cks! Music has nothing extraordinary and there is no real communication between the dj and the crowd. This guy is an alien who tries to enforce you to enjoy his music.

But, his music s cks!!!!

I will never recommend this to any friend.

Go to kissnfly. I have no stock in their company. Simply, you will be welcome there if you have money!!!

If you have money, and you go to one oak, you will be treated like a sh t! wow, and they say they treat vip well. Come on! Boycott that store!

• Pros: none
• Cons: rude doormen, expensive drinks, bad music

The duo behind Butter spawn another ultra-exclusive hot spot, this one in west Chelsea.

by Melanie Berliet at Citysearch

Thank owners Richie Akiva and Scott Sartiano for contributing to the chic New York nightlife scene that's contingent on places being impossible to get into. Or, hate them for it. But if you want to party at this ostrich leather-lined lounge, your best bet is to act and dress the part. That means approaching the bouncer amiably, in trendy clothing fit for an evening out. Once inside, you'll find black and white checkered flooring on which to dance, and the typical banquets on which to sit--if your group's inclined to drop a grand or so on table service, that is. In exchange for your compliance with the unwritten code of club conduct, you're guaranteed a decent DJ spinning hip-hop and popular rock, as well as the chance to sip $18 cocktails all night amongst pretty people.

Hits: The tables are fewer and more spread out than at its peers, which means there's more room for dancing, or just frolicking about.

Misses: The only bathrooms are located downstairs, creating an ominous obstacle for the inebriated.

10/30/08

scary place

by coolguy1212 at Citysearch

a guy was beaten here because of his sexual orientation; 1oak did nothing to stop it; you can google this. i don't think enough people realize how serious this is; in the midst of trying to be "cool", they don't realize that safety, and honestly just basic human decency, come first.

that said, i have been here, it is absolutely terrible; usually, actual celebrities/"cool" people do not come here, it's more of just a "fad" type of place (you want the actual hitters, go to beatrice inn or waverly inn, better places in general anyway). bottom line: if you want to spend that much, just go to cain, it's way more fun (not that anyone should feel compelled to spend that much to have fun)

• Pros: when i went, i did not get beaten
• Cons: other people have gotten beaten in the past, drinks aren't particularly good, the music is terrible, nothing "promised" is actually inside

10/28/08

Horrible Music and Rude Staff

by HmptnClubGrl at Citysearch

The most pretentious over-rated club I've ever been to! The decor was spectacular - too bad the same couldn't be same for the people and the music. It was cracked out models and geeky men dancing to wedding music flavored with a hard base beat. Never again! I can't imagine how or why this is 'THE' Club to go to!

• Pros: Beautiful Decor
• Cons: $32 for a Cranberry & Vodka - Hardly Any Vodka

10/22/08

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!!

by rosannajaan at Citysearch

I couldn't believe it, the ppl at the door are really rude, they didn't let us in. We were 7 good-looking girls. And we were the first ppl there. They claimed it was a private event. We went to some other place down the street, all upset, telling someone who lived there, cuz we were just visiting. She said I know, they lie and say that all the time. What kind of place is this? I recommend you don't waste your time not getting in, and plan to go somewhere else instead. After a few months, they will be begging ppl to come in. Wow.