Ornithology Jazz Club — Restaurant in New York

I’m completely confused about how this place is still in business. On 12/6/24, a Friday night, I went as a Black Haitian woman hoping to enjoy some jazz, but instead, I was attacked and targeted by a racist white couple. Let me start with the drinks: they were awful. Overpriced and watered down, at $23 each, they were more like flavored water than cocktails. The bartenders were terrible, and I’ve never experienced such poor quality for the price. I would’ve been better off going to Applebee’s or anywhere else drinks. The quality was cheaply made and poorly made. The event itself was an open jam jazz night, and it turned out to be a complete waste of money. The crowd was overwhelmingly racist and full of entitled gentrifiers. My friend and I were immediately singled out by this white couple. The wife accused us of blocking her view of the performers, which was completely ridiculous. We weren’t in her way at all. Instead of simply moving, she approached us twice, trying to start a fight. She was looking for trouble, and it was obvious. When she decided to move, she actually pushed me from behind during the performance. I pushed her back, and she ended up falling into someone sitting down. At that moment, she was being completely aggressive, spreading hate for no reason. The husband then tried to intervene, claiming I attacked his wife first, but the truth is, it was her who initiated everything. My friend called her out, and it became clear that this was just a racist woman trying to start a fight with two Black women who were simply enjoying the night. The hate and jealousy on her face were undeniable. It was as if she couldn’t stand the presence of two good looking Black women in this space. I just don’t understand why she didn’t pick a fight with her own kind, she wanted to be bold and act big and bad. Later that moment, a Black photographer working the event stepped in when the white husband tried to get physical with me. The husband completely fell in line and looked like a complete punk. It was embarrassing for them to have their aggressive barbaric behavior blocked by someone else. The couple eventually left, but they came back later, still staring at us as we found seats. It was so disturbing how obsessed they were with trying to continue the confrontation. As we were leaving, another white woman tried to shove us again as we were trying to exit. It was clear they had no intention of letting us leave peacefully. We couldn’t even leave without being harassed again. The whole situation felt unsafe, and it was clear this couple had a huge issue with us simply existing in the same space as them. The crowd at the establishment was overwhelmingly white, and the atmosphere was toxic. The racism we experienced was blatant. And then, to top it off, the door attendant had the nerve to ask for tips for the collection jar after I had just been racially targeted and harassed. It was as if they were more concerned about making money than addressing the obvious harassment we were facing. It was insulting, tone-deaf, and added insult to injury. This place is overpriced, racist, and unwelcoming. I’ll never return, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, especially Black people. The establishment tolerates this type of racist behavior, and it was clear that they don’t care about the comfort or safety of their customers. The service was awful, the drinks were as bad as can be , and the environment was beyond uncomfortable. I don't understand how this place stays open. It’s a racist, whitewashed establishment that doesn’t deserve any support. The racism I experienced that night was disturbing, and it’s clear this is not an isolated incident. It won’t last long if it continues to tolerate these kinds of behaviors. In today’s world, places like this should not be allowed to exist. There are so many better, more welcoming places to spend your time. Don’t waste your money here. Save yourself the trouble and the risk of dealing with this kind of hostility and racism. It’s shocking that an establishment like this still...

Man, I just decided to come celebrate my birthday here and left feeling very very unwelcome. Sadly not returning here. The vibes created by the chef are just so hostile. I came in and while the bartenders were decent and polite, as soon as the chef walked in at around 7pm, the energy changed. Since nobody offered me or mentioned anything about food, when I started drinking and in an effort to not get tipsy a bit too soon, I opened a bag of leftover chips I had in my book bag from lunch. When the chef saw them, it wasn’t even clear who he was because he had not started making food yet, he aggressively asked what are those? I said chips, thought it was funny a random person asked me that, and shrugged it off.

Then he sent me security person to tell me in the grossest tone as if he was talking to a criminal, that I couldn’t eat those in the bar. Because of his tone, I said listen I wasn’t aware I can’t do this, nobody offered me food here and I was really hungry. He said I don’t care put that away now. I still have a hard time understanding businesses in the city that treat their patrons as inconveniences. The protocol is to always apologize first, before accusing a costumer. I did order something from the chef after, but even then the hostile vibes kept going; he wasn’t apologetic at all, and even scolded me when I didn’t know how to use his payment machine which is separate from the tab you keep open at the bar? Very weird system, and he makes you feel stupid for not knowing about it. What a shame. The bird wouldn’t...

Refused cash and turned away by the door guy at a Sunday show for their $10 cover - they only accepted card and apple pay apparently. The guy who refused my cash stared at me in an icy non-empathetic way as he flatly said "sorry".

It's not only illegal, but classist, to refuse cash - unbanked people are unwelcome either in this establishment, or the production of the show. Considering the venue inaccurately markets themselves as a No Cover venue, I'm willing to believe the party primarily at fault is the producers of the show though I didn't stick around long enough to confirm, and the venue is still at fault for falsely advertising themselves as No Cover.

It's a shame, the band playing was good and I not only had cash to support them, but order more than one round of drinks. Came here on my roommates recommendation and can't say this was a good first impression. Went to The Keep instead which is a wonderful Cash Only venue with live music Sundays and throughout most of the weekday, and had a wonderful warm welcoming...