PARTEA NYC - Union Square — Restaurant in New York

I came in before a dinner reservation to take quick content at their mystery prize vending machine. I paid $20 cash and the machine malfunctioned when it was time to select my prize. Nothing fell down and I called an employee for help. (Blonde curly hair Latina) I even had video evidence showing what happened. She said she needed to see the video and confirmed that there was enough “evidence” to support that the machine was not working properly. She said that the other ones did the same and that it had been selecting ones without people choosing. She went to the back to talk to the manager. In the meantime I was inspecting the machine and I saw there was a box at the bottom of the floor although nothing had ever dispensed, maybe someone forgot the prize I’m not sure. I didn’t want it to seem like that was mine so I took the box out and waited for the attendant to return. She said the manager viewed the video and saw me enter the $20 and that I hadn’t selected the one I wanted and it would be ok to trade it with another one. I said I really wanted the video to be honest as I only came in to take the content so if I couldn’t take the video of it falling I didn’t want it. She asked where I got the other prize box and I explained that it was already there but I never selected it, she can view the video again and see that it never fell. She said to make sure I open it in case it was empty and someone left it and it wasn’t. So clearly this happens sometimes.

Anyways I explain I would prefer a refund as we have spent too much time there and I wanted the video and she then said that a refund wasn’t available. Then she said she couldn’t get me a new prize as she would have to reset the machine. I asked to speak to the manager and she said the manager was not there. I explained I just wanted the video so if that wasn’t going to happen I would prefer a refund and I didn’t even want the random box I found either. She then said there was nothing she could do and that I wasn’t supposed to record video there anyways. That didn’t seem to be a problem when there needed to be evidence of the machine malfunction.

Then she said that the machine didn’t malfunction then she said the manager wasn’t around. Then she said the manager would be here at 8pm (mind you it’s 9pm at the time so I’m like how is that possible?) Then she said she was the manager so she can’t do anything else. At this point I’m confused and asking for a phone number or someone else to speak to and she says I can come back tomorrow. I said can I please get my bubble tea refunded at least since I’ve been here so long and they said no. At this point I wasted almost 30 minutes and everyone is yelling. Then the worker said the managers husband will be here in an hour and we are welcome to wait. I find this so unreasonable and honestly waste of time and money. I said there was gonna be a problem if there is no customer service because what kind of a place does this, admits they are wrong and then says they will do nothing.

I was genuinely excited to come and make content and promote this location and honestly I wish I never came before my dinner because the reservation was cancelled. And the “manager” whoever it is is clearly not paid enough because she didn’t know anything other than how to say “sorry i don’t know what to say”. Go anywhere else !!! (And here’s a photo of the box that was there that I didn’t pick. Lmk if you think it’s worth $20 and a half hour of being...

Horrible, this place is a scam don’t waste your money!

I took one of my kids here as we love claw machines, we go to a different place in Queens and I have been playing them since I was a kid, in NYC and Tokyo and Hong Kong as I travel a lot.

We ordered drinks and my kid started playing the machines. The first machine I saw her play the claw picked up the plushie and made its way to the drop-down area but instead of releasing it in the drop-down it opened and released it right next to it so the toy just ended up falling back into the machine. That’s not supposed to happen, that’s NOT how a functional or non-rigged machine works. It is supposed to open over the drop-down slot so the toy can come out.

We tired again and the same thing. There were no workers to assist so I had to ask the food staff who were very nice and said they would get someone. Eventually a worker came and I explained what happened.

She was extremely condescending and said well that’s how claw machines work it’s a game of skill, etc… I said look I’ve been playing these games for 40 years there is something wrong with the machine. She then said she would show me and tried the machine and the same thing happened the claw opened prematurely, ( it retracted, not due to the toy’s weight) she tried several times and same!!!!

I asked for the manager and she said she was the manager. Instead of just admitting there was a problem with the machine she held her ground and spoke to me like I was a little kid reciting the same thing that it’s a game of skill and pointed out a woman who had won two toys at another machine. I said look I am not arguing about the other machine we only used this one and it is not working.

I didn’t let it go because this is no way to treat a customer. It was clearly not functioning or at WORST it was rigged. If that’s the case that’s the worst rigging I’ve seen. At Anime Claw in Flushing one machine was not working properly and I showed them and they just gave us the plushie because they saw there was a problem with it.

Eventually the manager gave us the tokens we lost on that machine but my kid lost interest and wanted to leave so I asked fora full refund which she did give me but was laughing at me with some of the other workers. I said okay I will write a bad review because is no way to treat a customer and she said oh we will be fine. Whatever at least I got my money back. Go to Amine Claw in Flushing instead or anywhere else honestly, don’t waste your money here. Drinks were not bad but not worth the drama. I was going to bring a group of my kids friends here and that won’t...

I recently came here with my friend after wanting to check this place out, since we both enjoy claw machines. The tokens were priced at $1 for 1 token, $20 for 20 tokens, and so on. We decided to play it safe and went with 20 tokens, just to try things out and see what the claw machines were like.

As we took our turns on a particular machine, we noticed that the ball inside needed to be moved because the claw couldn’t reach it. I approached the staff—three of them standing together—and politely said “excuse me” while waiting nearby for a response. After repeating myself several times, only one staff member finally acknowledged me. She came over and moved the ball back to its original position.

My friend then managed to get the ball into the hole on her second try and won a blind box. I picked up the ball and went over to the staff to redeem the prize. Once again, the staff were huddled together in the center of the area. I asked for help, but was ignored. Two of the three staff members clearly saw me, yet instead of responding or helping, they simply stepped aside. I was confused—they could definitely see and hear me, as I wasn’t speaking quietly and I was right beside them.

I raised my voice slightly and repeated myself again. Finally, the same staff member who had helped earlier came over and assisted us in getting the blind box. It was an awkward minute of just standing there, which felt uncomfortable. The store wasn’t even busy—it was during the afternoon.

The staff there weren’t as helpful as I expected. From my experience, other claw machine places usually greet customers warmly and are willing to assist when needed, rather than avoiding interaction. Overall, if I do return, I hope the staff will be more attentive and helpful—more in line with the positive...