Highkey Rainforest Rooftop — Restaurant in New York

Uggg...so here's the story. Saw this rooftop bar/restaurant on Instagram and it looked like a nice place to visit. Based on their advertisement, the rooftop’s ambiance looked good, and the décor seemed to be. However, once there, it was downhill.

First, to even get a table you need to make a reservation, which came at the cost of $100+tax, which is $10. Who taxes a reservation? (Spoiler alert that $10 is not refunded nor go towards your bill) Even though advertised, and confirmed via email, as a $100 credit that will be applied to your food/drink after you arrive for your reservation, they charged me for both the reservation, $110, and the food/bill, $109. To be clear, this is not a hold on your credit card, you will be charged. I just assumed they would apply the $110 to my bill but after checking my credit card transactions I saw they did not. I went back to the establishment to get a refund on the reservation fee, that didn’t work out and am currently disputing the charge with my credit card company.

When I went back, I spoke to the manager, Lisa. I explained the issue and she took my food/drink receipt, which I provided to show I was there on the day/time of my reservation. After Lisa told me she would be back, she walked off for about 30 mins, returning me to twice only to say “sorry, give me a minute.” Eventually, when she came back, she was on the phone sending an email of my food/drink receipt to whom I believed to be “management.” She wrote the email address she corresponded with on the back of my receipt as well as her cellphone number. She told me that I would be refunded only $100, and that the refund would show up on my credit card within 24-72hrs. It’s about a week later and NO refund. During our conversation, I wanted to know why I was not receiving the entire $110 and she told me I was charged tax by my credit card, which is ridiculous. When I said as much, and said basically you’re charging people a $10 cover just to sit down without telling them, she told me about other establishments that this management team runs where they charge $20 for a cover. I guess basically justifying the $10 charge. She offered me a drink in lieu of the $10, I said no and left expecting the $100 refund.

I called Lisa two days ago on the cellphone number she gave me and reminded her of who I was and the outstanding situation. After she remembered, she said she would call me back once she went to work later that afternoon because she needed to talk to management, and I am still waiting for the phone call. But now I’m disputing it with my credit card company.

As far as the actual place, it has a really nice atmosphere. The décor is beautiful and the staff was friendly enough but extremely slow. The food (chicken quesadillas and pizza) was 100% garbage. They looked like microwave dinners. Despite the food, I would have gone back for the ambiance and drinks, which were sweet but good; but after dealing with them regarding my refund (shouldn’t be this difficult) and their poor management, I don't think anyone should...

Avoid this place at all costs. Friday evening, November 17th, 2023. It was the most racist garbage service I have ever experienced. First off, when I first got there, I ordered only one drink when I first came up to the bar, After like an hour my friends were taking shots with one of the bartenders, I did not participate since I don't drink shots. I was dancing on the dance floor for a few songs. After dancing, I came up to the bar to chat with the rest of my friends to have some hookah and grab a second drink. I noticed a different bartender at the bar,(the original bartender was very nice and welcoming) and I asked for a strawberry frozen margarita, and the bartender told me, " Oh, why don't you have some water for now?" I said," Excuse me? " I asked for a strawberry margarita. So he then was mumbling to another bartender and refused to serve me. Again, when I first got there, I only ordered one drink and went to dance.. so I don't know what made him not want to serve me any drinks, and I didn't do anything wrong. I was only dancing with friends and didn't take any shots or anything. I don't know if he might have got me confused with someone else, but the disrespect and the way he treated me was uncalled for. We were a small group of Hispanic and black and decided to come out after work. He refused to serve all of us with no explanation. When I asked for a manager, another worker came over to me and said oh: if the bartender feels you had too many drinks, he can refuse to serve you." I said there must be some mistake as I only had one drink and went to dance. " I want to order a second drink," so there was a lot of mumbling from the bartender to his colleagues. Then i decided to take a photo of him because of his unprofessionalism, and he got mad and again mumbled to his colleagues. I just want others to know about the unprofessional, racist behavior of this establishment. I have never been refused service ever, and for this individual to treat me with disrespect and lie is definitely one unpleasant experience and will advise if you're a person of color ,don't come to this place. Mind you I'm from a mixed race and never experienced this type of racist behavior...

My spouse and I had a wonderful experience during our visit. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted at the entrance by a gentleman named Phil, who then introduced us to our server, Lucy. Both Phil and Lucy were incredibly friendly, and we enjoyed engaging conversations with them while waiting for our food. Phil even offered to take a photo of us together, which was a thoughtful gesture.

As visitors from out of state, we found this venue to be an ideal spot to relax and enjoy a conversation. While my spouse is a hookah enthusiast and I am not, the open-air setup made it comfortable and enjoyable for both of us. Despite arriving after 10 PM, the service we received was great.

We ordered the 6oz steak, and I was very specific about how I wanted it—medium rare with a crispy exterior. The steak was amazing and with the chimichurri sauce adding a delicious touch. A larger steak option would be a welcome addition to the menu.

The atmosphere was beautiful and inviting, with the restaurant glowing at night. While it doesn’t offer a direct city skyline, the open view of surrounding buildings created a great ambiance. It was also a pleasant surprise to be seated without a reservation on a weeknight. The restaurant stays open until 1 AM, which is perfect for late-night dining and conversations.

The only minor issue was a billing mistake: my spouse ordered another margarita, but the server brought drinks for both of us. I kindly asked to return mine, as I was done for the evening and did not asked for a 2nd drink. Although it was taken back, the drink still appeared on the bill and had to be corrected.

If I were to place this restaurant into a pricing tier, I would describe it as a “moderate-tier” experience—generally suitable for a total spend of $80–$200 for two people. For context, I would define the tiers as: • Moderate: $80–$200 • Upscale: $200–$350 • High-End/Luxury: $350+

This restaurant sits firmly in the moderate category while delivering a high-end feel and 4-5 star...