11/10/09

Always A Good Time

by venueguru

Always a good spot to stop in grab a bite and a drink. Great choice of music, supporting local and national acts from unknown to well known. The crowd is diverse and funky. The food is delicious and reasonably priced and the bartender isn't afraid to poor a real drink. I've been popping in for 3 years now - always a good time.

• Pros: Great location, music, food & service
• Cons: None in my book!

11/10/09

Awesome time!!

by NYCcrazy

I LOVE Pianos!! The upstairs dance floor is the best - the DJs always play great dance music, lots of stuff from the 80's. Going there is always a blast. And the bartenders don't skimp on the alcohol, either.

06/26/09

Sound was awful!!!

by mpete33

I normally like hanging out at Piano's and like to go there when friends are visiting. I also like going on Thursday night because they usually got good bands playing. Oh man, but we went last night and the sound was awful. It was painful. There was so much feed back and the sound guy didn't know how to fix it. Also one of the speakers/or microphone was buzzing super loud. And it was so loud that it was painful. I'm not an old lady. I'm not offended by loud concerts, but last night was bad. And there was a cool band playing, but unfortunately we left because of all the feedback on top of the troubling volume was all too much. Pianos needs a new sound guy bad. It was disappointing to come across a cool band and then not be able to appreciate their music because the sound guy does not have a clue as to what his job is. It was so bad that I wouldn't pay to see another show there. And after reading about the racism incident...I don't think I'll go back. There are plenty of bars on that block and lots of other music venues too.

• Pros: generally play cool music, good atmosphere all around
• Cons: painful sound in the concert room on first floor

05/13/08

Weird Vibe, Rude Staff

by jhwhit

Awful, rude service by uncaring waitstaff. Plus the sound was beyond terrible, and the engineer abandoned his station halfway through the set. A friend had $20 swiped from him at the bar, and the bartender didnt even care, another friend was thoroughly ignored and i "lost" a few items in a bag. Liars and thieves. I've been there three times and all three times I found the people working there to be thoroughly unhelpful and full of attitude. The last time stuff was stolen and I'll never go there again, no matter how enticing the atmosphere and the area may be. People hate hipsters because of places like this; down with Pianos!

• Pros: Attracts an attractive crowd
• Cons: Rude people work there and thievery abounds

03/25/08

When all else fails, stop by Pianos

by luvnyc401

Whenever those nights come along where I'm not sure where to go and nothing spectacular is going on, I know coming here will still be a good time. Theres no line at the door, no cover, drinks are good and crowd is chill. I usually head upstairs, where this a $10 fee to get in, but thats just b/c I prefer the dj up there and small dance floor. It gets very crowded but finding a couch isn't impossible, its usually just the walk to the restroom that gets a little pushy.

• Pros: Always a good time
• Cons: Crowded

01/24/08

Good Too-Fun-Day Place

by kitdluca

I went here on a Tuesday night to see some bands play. If you go for the opening acts and stay in the back room you don't have to pay for the main band. The lounge upstairs is nice and chill. Great music and the bartender likes to talk. Beers are about $6.

• Pros: The decoration in the lounge upstairs
• Cons: You can't buy beer in the same room where the bands play

12/04/07

Great Live Music

by papasmirk

Went to Pianos on Saturday night. No cover at the door and decided to check out the upstairs lounge before we went to see the band play. The upstairs had a live jazz band which was good. The bartenders poured great drinks and decided to see the live band downstairs. Cover was $8 to get in and saw two bands play. Overall good music. Though we didn't realize how fast the time went. Night was still young and decided against going back upstairs because of an additional cover charge.

Good music, great bartenders but it gets crowded.

• Pros: Music, Bartenders
• Cons: Crowded

10/15/07

Racism in our own backyard - Avoid at all costs.

by lainers1201

Frankly I have never liked this place, and every time I go there I swear it is my last. Well...this is really the last time I ever go here due to their not so subtle racial profiling at the door. Let me preface this by saying that I am a Black woman, 25 years old, an attorney and an upstanding member of this community. Sometimes in this part of the country, racism is so subtle that its hard to recognize it when its in your face, but make no mistake racism was exactly the motive for the below described events at Pianos this past weekend. When I arrived at Pianos last Friday to meet up with some friends, the greasy long haired bouncer at the door took one look at my ID and said, "nope, can't let you in..." meanwhile letting in scores of white young people. When I asked if he was serious and why, he simply said, "the guys upstairs say you can't come in." Um... the "guys upstairs?"... I had no idea if this meant the voices in his head or the big man up in the clouds, but frankly I thought this was a joke. Just as it became quite apparent that it was not a joke, another bouncer came up from the side and said, "that's not them!" after which we were let in admidst less than sincere apologies (and immediately left after realizing our friends were not inside). Sorry that some other black girl is running around town making trouble, but contrary to what the staff at Pianos may think, "we" don't all look the same. Furthermore, I am so short that I barely can grab onto the top rail in a subway car, much less cause any trouble that could get someone banned from a bar, and can only in someone's wildest fantasies be described as an intimidating person. I suggest that Pianos fire that greasy bouncer and give their staff racial senstitivity training before they lose any more business. Thanks to that other bouncer for trying to remedy the situation, but its too late --- they've lost this girl and her friends as customers forever.

07/11/07

DEN OF THIEVES! !! bEWARE BETTR YET DON'T gO!

by trdiva

Bands maybe decent /upstairs music with DJ's good but this is a DEN OF THIEVES!

If you are a cute girl who dresses upscale or with money watch out! There are people there on the lookout to steal your purse or whatever else they can get their hands on. This place is known for this so don't be distracted dancing or hanging out with your friends-don't even get drunk. Someone stole all my sht & when the cops came they said they go there regularly with reports of stolen bags nothing is ever recovered except empty bags! I think the bartenders are good but know what's going on as they are always watching people and i'd say security ,host /doormanagers might all be in on the thieving and know someone on their staff is ripping people off :BECAUSE THEY DON'T EVEN PRETEND TO BE CONCERNED OR SURPRISED WHEN U TELL SECURITY WHAT HAPPENED . HE COULDN'T EVEN DESCRIBE THE LAST PATRONS THAT WENT OUT BECAUSE HE WASN'T PAYING ATTENTION! I warned a friend of mine who who was going to perform there & she laughed it off saying how great she heard it was. They are supposed to put aside the performers belongings..Well she ended up with her purse and an empty wallet that night... not even her metro card!

Good Luck Beware- bring only yourself and a few dollars cash for drinks. I hate this place. What goes around comes around maybe they'll close....

• Pros: DECENT LIVE BANDS NOTHING SPECTACULAR. GOOD dj'S UPSTAIRS NICE PEOPLE GENERALLY
• Cons: STAFF IS SNEAKY SLEAZY WILL ROB YOU WISH I READ THIS REVIEW BEFORE I WENT!

07/05/07

COOL PLACE

by gina1975

I LOVE Piano's. THe upstair's staff is so cool and nice. THey always treat me and my friends with respect. It does get crowded but it's so much fun. I always meet someone here and the atmosphere is trendy and everyone is there to have a good time and lots of smiles! People are friendly not stuck up and it just meshes together in a good way.

GREAT PLACE

• Pros: Cool Bartenders
• Cons: Sometimes too crowded