Reviews & Ratings for Cafe Wha?

10/24/11

If You like Live Music and Entertaining Show

by Vanessanicole

I love Cafe Wha, another great place to go is The Griffin NYC to Michael Fredo's Wednesday night party. They have a great show and an open bar from 8-9:30. Free admission too. Michael Fredo with The Benny Reid Orchestra is a great Jazz/ Ratpack show.

09/24/10

Must-Go for Visitors and New Yorkers alike

by CraigSmalls2010

I'm a native New Yorker, and recently started going to the Cafe Wha? and now I'm hooked! Their house band is phenomenal, and they play all different sorts of music. By far, the best house band I've seen in the city. Whether you are just visiting or have been around a while, you've gotta check this place out, it always makes for a great night with friends

09/04/10

Exciting and fun Live Band performance!

by Athena Chang , Citysearch Contributor

Cafe Wha? delivers the Wow effect. It seems like a tourist trap but if Bob Dylan used to play here, I have to visit this indie band mecca.

I came here on a Tuesday night so it was not too overly crowded nor did they charge cover although there is a 2 drink minimum.

The band they had that night was real amazing. Everybody in the band can sing. They know how to work the audience too. There was not a single down moment.

Drinks are a little expensive for what it is but I guess you are paying really for the live performance and the fun atmosphere.

03/14/10

Good and Bad

by Johns22332

We love live music, and this is a pretty good place to go. On the night we went (a Thursday) the band was pretty good, but looked a little unhappy. A couple of the singers were really good. Service was atrocious.

• Pros: Nice intimate room
• Cons: Horrible service

01/04/10

The band was really good.

by msdecember

We heard many good things about Cafe Wha? from family who goes there often.. I'm not really a fan of live music from house bands doing covers so it never was on the top of my list of places to visit. The decision maker was really their website advertisement of Sunday having no cover.. Having trekked all the way from Jersey on one of the coldest nights ever.. we decided to still go in after we were told it was $10 a head to enter due to it being a holiday weekend.. (whatever, dude.. it was freakin January 3!!!)... (add that onto the 2 drink minimum per person).. I was a bit bummed at first but after deciding to make the most of it (that and the stiff martinis I ordered).. I ended up actually enjoying myself. The band was really great and made the evening cool.

• Pros: Great band, strong martinis, history
• Cons: So very overpriced, misleading on cover charges, very tight

12/28/09

Wha?s everyone talking about

by jon263

I read a couple of the most recent reviews, and I cannot understand what people are talking about? Cafe Wha? is one of the most fun places in all of New York. The band is phenomenal, especially the house band. Every time I go, the band has the crowd up and dancing. I recommend this place to anyone who likes great live music, and enjoys dancing, and having a good time!

• Pros: Dancing, Great Band, Fun Fun Fun!

12/03/09

Wha is the matter?

by SoperE

Years ago I used to come here a couple of times a week. But now the management and the entertainers don't really seem to care anymore. It's like they're not even trying. Actually, I'm sure they're not even trying. There are not many places in New York to see live music anymore. It will be a shame if this one, especially with its history, ends up packing it in. C'mon Wha, wake up!

• Pros: Bryan Stephens

10/11/09

How Cafe Wha Lost $1200 to $2400+ in One Night

by CandidaH

I went on a Sunday night, which is supposed to have no cover, but they charged $10 because of a Monday holiday. Strike one. I sucked it up and agreed to pay the cover. Inside, I found out that they did not serve coffee. I ordered a drink then went to Caffe Reggio for my coffee boost. I returned to Wha, where they told me that I could not take the drink to the table where my friends and the drink I had already ordered were waiting. They were pretty rude about it, which made me upset, so I left and will not be going back. Here is how they lost $1200 to $2400:

If they had treated me respectfully and used some good business sense, I would have had my coffee at the table with my friends and spent about $30. Multiply that by four people and you have $120. Multiply that by about 10 more visits with an average of 4 friends and you get $1200 within the next year. And say we go a little less than twice a month, and that's around $2400. So, my friends and I will be spending $2400+ elsewhere while, potentially, Cafe Wha shuts its doors, unable to pay its rent because of bad/stupid/inflexible business policies applied out of an ignorant sort of desperation. Oh, and multiply $2400 by the number of people turned off who don't write reviews, and then New Yorkers learn why "good," and even historical clubs loose money and have to shut their doors. Then again, CAFE Wha could add coffee to their menu. But then again, maybe they are special enough to treat customers badly, have misguided business policies and still pay their rent/stay in business. Time will tell.

• Pros: not sure
• Cons: bad management, shady customer relations

07/03/09

I played there in 1965-1966

by JoeSherov

I used to play at the Wha? with my band, The Outcasts, in 1965 and 1966. We played alongside Jimi Hendrix and the Spoonful. What a great place..............JOE

• Pros: The Real Deal
• Cons: None

03/23/09

Horrible Staff!

by JanaLI

My fiance recommended this place because he thought it would be a fun place to go with my 8 friends for my bachlorette party. After standing in line for a while, we were ushered in to a cramped dark basement and seated at a table large enough to accommedate my group. After settling in, we were asked to move to the far corner because another group had waited patiently. More patiently than us? I highly doubt that as we're a pretty quiet group of ladies. We didn't mind moving, but the explanation for why we had to do so was odd. After re-settling into our new seats, the music began and the fun started. Then I got up to have a cigarette outside. That's when I was told that I must have a pass fro my server. Fine. Sadly, the place was so overcrowded with people dancing that I was unable to find my server in the dark room and fell because I was unable to see the step up somewhere in the middle of the room. This is when the staff announced to my HORROR that I was "cut off" from drinking and needed to be watched. I was not drunk. Not even a little bit. FINALLY, one of my friends found our server and got the pass...but the staff had already announced I was cut off and they still wouldn't let us out (again, to my confusion). I got very upset and pointed out they were ruining my night... so they finally let me out. Later on my friends told me that half the food and beverage ordered were never served and they had to argue their check with a staff of enormously intimidating bouncers who had given most of the party trouble throughout the course of the evening. We all left early, sober, and extremely upset. Half the group works for various hotels in the area and we're shocked at the service. Not only are we contacting the fire marshall regarding the overpacked basement with one exit that you're not allowed to utilize without being threatened but we're encouraging everyone to not waste their money for a place that treats you like a criminal and not a guest.... especially when you're not acting a drunken fool!! They really did ruin my night...

• Pros: The Music
• Cons: The Staff, The Staff, The Staff!!