Ophelia Lounge NYC — Restaurant in New York

EPIC FAIL! Ruined my Birthday Celebration because, unbenounced to us, "Last Call" for food and alcohol is at 10 pm. We were seated Late at 9:45 pm, for our 9:30 pm reservation. Happy Birthday to me...2 fancy still waters for $15 + tip, and a "Bye-e then". Most staff are disrespectful and rude. I guess they forgot they're not the only rooftop lounge with a "5 Star Menu" in All of Manhattan!! If you read my other reviews, they are usually glowing. if you so choose, you can read our 1 Star experience below. THE IDEA. My husband wanted me to have a romantic birthday celebration. He wanted to take me someplace with a romantic vibe, fabulous views, fun cocktails, and delicious food. THE PLAN. We are staying at The Beekman Tower, and pass the Ophelia check in, with it's dedicated elevator, every night I work. Ophelia's website says "A cocktail lounge at the top of The Beekman Tower. 360° Greenhouse Terrace. Manhattan Views. 5 Star Menu." It had all the ingredients for a romantic birthday celebration. Our reservation was on Wednesday, 6/2/21 @ 9:30 pm. I'm a Travel RN, working overtime on night shift, every week. So, on my few nights off, I do not "flip" to days. Being able to make a late night dinner reservation, some place other than a diner, is Gold! THE EVENT. We checked in a few minutes early for our 9:30 pm reservation. We were told to sit in The Beekman Lobby, as there was another party in front of us. Then there was a misunderstanding, and they thought we didn't have a reservation, so they told us we would only be able to sit at the bar. I became upset, and told the Host, that was unacceptable. The Host gave me a very dismissive, "Bye-e then", and proceeded to take another person up in the Ophelia elevator, who didn't have a reservation and arrived after us. Left in The Beekman lobby, the guy at the check in desk said "Sorry, maybe next time make a reservation." We showed him our reservation confirmation, and were back on track...or so we thought. We were finally seated at 9:45 pm. Shortly after, a server asked us if we wanted sparkling, still, or tap water. We ordered still. The vibe is romantic and dark. While waiting for our still water, I started taking photos of the fabulous view, and vibe (because I enjoy being a local guide, as a hobby). Our pricy water arrived, and at exactly 9:50, a waitress came to take our order. I told her I we hadn't had a chance to look at the menu yet, to which she replied "OK, but last call is at 10 pm". We were blindsided by that comment, but she dashed off before we could inquire what Exactly that meant. When she came back, a few minutes later we found out. THE FAIL. Ophelia closes at 11 pm, and you are able to make a reservation as late as 10 pm. Unbenounced to us, "last call" for Food and Alcohol Is ALSO At TEN P.M. We were not told this until a few minutes before. So we ended up paying for our fancy still water, $15 + tip. We went ahead and tipped even though Litterly Everyone was Rude to us, except for the server who took our water order, and the guy at the check in desk. So we went back to our studio apartment, a few floors down, feeling as flat as our fancy water, with a few short minutes of romance and a handful of pics to show for it. I can't say who was more disappointed, my husband or me. We both had high hopes for a romantic birthday celebration, and Ophelia totally destroyed it! We rarely have the opportunity to enjoy a nice dinner out, and the window won't open again for another 2 weeks (because of my work schedule). THE CRITIQUE. My suggestion to Ophelia is to be transparent about your 10 pm "last call". And why would you ever have reservations at 10 pm!?!? It's nonsensical!! Seat people on time for their reservation. Having a hip, swanky vibe does not give you a pass to be rude. It actually kills the whole vibe. This is Manhattan!! Ophelia is not the only place in town with a romantic vibe, fabulous views, fun cocktails, and delicious food. (Although, I cannot comment on how good or bad their food and cocktails...

The best example of a "lipstick on a pig"

We had a reservation for a sunday brunch at 12.00. The pictures online and on social media were so nice, and it had good reviews. We were so excited for a great brunch with a nice view. In the booking confirmation, it said that you should arrive 15 min before and that you could have a drink and enjoy the view before brunch. We went up with the elevator at 11.45, and when we got up, some of the staff were sitting at the bar eating with big plastic trays with food around them. They sent us down again and said that it is not open until 12. It felt rude and it felt very unprofessional that the place was obviously not ready for the guests only 15 minutes before they had a seating time.

When we went up at 12 (when we were supposed to be seated), we were in the same elevator as the manager and the waitress that was going to take care of us (which we realized when we got up). It felt really unprofessional that the staff were arriving at the same time as the guests were supposed to sit at the table. It was also uncomfortable for us to take the same elevator.

When we were led to our table, we immediately noticed how dirty and worn out the place was. The windows, that are supposed to show the view (which is 50% of the purpose to be there), were really dirty and with grease stains. The furniture was broken in some places, dirty and just unpleasant. We got our table and immediately noticed dirty napkins beside the table.

This was the start of our experience, and we were really close to leave, but we wouldn't get a table somewhere else this late.

We asked for coffee but they didn't have any, at a brunch?! They even said themselves that it was strange to have brunch without coffee. We ordered drinks and one of the brunch platters. The drinks were good, but because of our first 15 minutes, everything was kind of overshadowed of the whole feeling of the place. We got some scones as a first platter. The scones were really dry, and I just had one bite because I didn't think they were eatable. They were also served with melt butter, which is weird. Aren't scones supposed to be served with cream cheese and jam? We didn't even eat them.

Then we got the rest of the food. And it was ok. Not great, as it looks on the pictures. The toasted bread was dry, and the rest was just medioker. I could have done it better myself.

It was also kind of annoying that the staff were watching and walking around the tables nonstop. If you had one sip of water, they filled it up. It felt like you didn't have any privacy and just unprofessional.

We also noticed that during our brunch, there was still one person at the bar eating from a plastic container in like training shorts and a shirt the whole time. We had dressed up for this occasion, and it just felt strange.

After all of this, we actually told the waitress about some of these things, and she and the manager were nice and gave us some extra things and did what they could. So that was positive. They also reduced our check. I think they noticed how disappointed we were and tried to make it up for us, which we appreciated. We got a dessert plate with different kinds of chocolates, but they were pretty bad. I wouldn't waste any calories for them.

Unfortunately, we would not recommend this place to anyone. It was definitely not worth the money, even though we got a discount, and it was the perfect example of putting lipstick on a pig. They have worked extremely hard on the social media content but in reality it was really bad. At least we left slim because we did not...

I rarely write reviews with 1-2 stars but this place deserves it with their pricing and 2 hour limit.

This is the place my girlfriend picked for when 2 of my friends came to visit us from overseas. Cool and all until the very end!

The location is a bit more inconvenient. Had to walk about 12 minutes from E train. Not sure if there are closer train stops.

The view is Brooklyn view, but it was cool.

The food and drinks are TOO expensive. $30-40 for an appetizer size dish. My drink resurrection was ok but not worth the price.

The server was ok. Not the friendliest person I’ve ever seen but she was quick. Through the end of our night, 1 extra friend wanted to see our friends from overseas. They did not bring him a chair. We had to stand for about 25-30 minutes. However, they did not kick him out, so “accommodating” I guess.

The worst and the worst thing is they have a 2-hour limit. In all honesty, we did stay for about 2.5 hours. However, here is what happened:

We were 13 minutes late, but I’m glad we were. They made us wait another 11 minutes before seated. “Our table wasn’t ready” we waited by the bar it was so crowded, no way to order a drink despite it was only 7:43pm.

We ordered food and 2 rounds of drinks and we were about to leave. The server came and said last call. Assuming they were not going to hand our drinks and kick us out we ordered 1 more round because she just said last call.

Then the server gave me the check even though I did not ask for it. I gave my card. The server had one of those portable machines. She tapped 20% on her own before giving it back to me. I didn’t say anything because I was going to tip 20% anyway, but I would have liked deciding my own tip. I paid $442.08 including tip and all.

4-5 minutes later the host comes and says I have a table waiting. We said ok and had to drink our newly ordered drinks fast. Then another 4-5 minutes later, another person (I’m assuming a supervisor) came and said “guys we have people waiting”. I said “the server just brought our drinks and let us finish them”. She left without saying anything. They made me mad with their idiotic 2 hour limit policy on a night we had guests from overseas. Just paid $442 for ok food and drinks for 4 people + your own server just handed us new drinks and you still are trying to kick us out. That’s what bothered me. You have to pick a lane. You can’t be both a luxury bar/restaurant charging people over $30-40 for appetizers and have a 2-hour limit.

Won’t ever come here again unless they Change...