El Ambiente — Restaurant in New York

Myself, my husband and two year old daughter visited this establishment today. We live in the neighborhood and love supporting local businesses. We called at 12:10pm and made a reservation for 3 and the reservation process went well. Unfortunately when we arrived we were then informed that we would be dining on the sidewalk dining area and not within the patio area due to a private event. It would be a conscious move to be sure to inform the clients of their seating area prior to their arrival. We were then seated within the sidewalk dining area and were brought over a code to scan with your phone’s camera for the menu and a physical drink menu as well. Our server was very nice. She gave us a few moments to view menu and when we were ready she took our orders. We waited quite some time to receive our drinks as well as food. Service wasn’t very attentive. While dining I noticed multiple staff members going in and out of the patio area WITHOUT masks on. I have a health condition and needed to use the restroom. I did not have a mask and asked our server if I could use the bathroom. I informed her that I had no mask and asked to purchase one. She said “ no worries” and began to escort me to the indoor restroom. Upon entering the patio I passed two staff members who were engaged in conversation with no masks on at the hostess stand. As I continued to follow the server to the restroom I hear a woman yelling “ miss where are you going where are you going what are you doing here?!” This came from the non mask wearing hostess who let me pass her while she was engaged in conversation with her co worker. I told her I was a guest eating outside and needed to use the bathroom. “ you need a mask you need a mask! You can’t come in here without a mask!” The hostess continued to yell while having her sunglasses on and no mask. I explained to her that I was aware of the rules and had requested a mask and was told it was ok. Whoever this blonde woman at the hostess stand for the patio was, she was incredibly rude and unprofessional. You want a guest to wear a mask but you have no mask on yourself ? ! I turned around went back outside furious. Our server came back to me apologizing and gave me a mask. I went into the actual indoor establishment and NO ONE ON THE STAFF OR ANY PATRONS HAD THEIR MASKS ON! Clearly if guests need to come in to use the restroom you should have to wear you mask as well! Protection works both ways for the employees and clients. I went to wait for the bathroom on a line that was basically all bottle service girls waiting to change and do their make up for today’s event. I don’t think a client should have to wait behind staff when they are paying for a service. I didn’t use the restroom here.

The food here is really good but the service and professionalism is out the window.

We spent over $100 here just for lunch. We left a great tip for our server as well.

My tips to the establishment: Teach your staff to be professional, learn how to speak respectfully to everyone they come in contact with, learn to be empathetic and most of all lead by example and...

My son had a reservation for the patio area for his birthday celebration. When we got there we were ID as if we were entering a night club, this establishment is a restaurant by the way! After we were ID we were patted down again as if we were entering a NIGHT CLUB. As we allowed them to pat us down the SECURITY hands on deck all in my purse which by the way is illegal he can ask me to move the contents in my own bag but he physically had his hands all inside my purse! I’ve been to night clubs plenty of times & not once has any SECURITY put they hands Inside my purse they’ve asked me to move stuff around but not hands all in my bag! Then After all this was done I was told I had an attitude & wasn’t allowed in , this place needs to be legally looked at they were way OVER CAPACITY of people that’s required!!! Never again will I come here & I definitely don’t recommend this place to ANYONE This is not a night club it’s a restaurant they need to know the...

When I walked into this place for the first time, very nice place. I went with my girlfriend and we sat by the patio. We ordered margaritas and they were so nasty, taste it sour and salty, never had that issue before at other places. When we order the food, it was ok but not great specially for the price. Finally the bill came and they charge us extra fee on top of the taxes, the 7% fee that the credit card company charge the restaurant and that the owner claim on his business taxes, they are charging it to the customers, this is insane....So you have to pay taxes and an extra fee, when we approached the waiter she said that’s the fee when you pay with your credit card which was never mentioned to us before we pay. Such if...