Pilot — Restaurant in New York

I've been coming to this place for years. Despite the overpriced drinks, it was always a good experience, until tonight. The treatment I received was so egregious that I will likely never spend money here again:

My first drink arrived promptly, but my second they completely forgot about. After waiting 15-20 minutes, I had to remind the bartender. No biggie, these things happen.

I ordered fries and asked them to skip the aioli (I don't purchase any animal products), and they ignored that part. Annoying, but I let it slide, I didn't even mention it.

At one point I mentioned I would be paying cash, and was told they don't accept cash. This policy is illegal in NYC, but hey it's their business, I'm not going to give them a hard time about it.

A few minutes later, the bartender brought me some food that I didn't order, and he kept insisting that I had (I ordered nothing but the fries). Three times he aggressively insisted that I had ordered it, and three times I told him no. (a few minutes later, he apologized, presumably after he found the person who had ordered it..). Strike four, and the bartender's rude and unapologetic behavior was really over the line, but still I let it slide.

The final straw was when the bill came. They charged a $1 'water service' fee for tap water (edit: apparently its filtered.), which I didn't ask for. When my friends and I had first arrived, they offered us water, and I specifically told them 'I don't need water'. They brought it to me anyway. No mention of any fee.

When I pointed this out to the bartender, he said that they charge it to all customers, and that he would have to speak to the manager if I didn't want to pay it. He also said the fee goes to charity. I don't know if this is true, and I don't care (edit: apparently it is true that the money goes to charity). It's worth noting that when they present the bill, it's on a screen, and NOT itemized, they just show you the total, unless you ask to see the breakdown.

I work in the service industry, including occasionally as a bartender. I will let a LOT of things slide, but I don't tolerate being lied to, disrespected, or cheated. I paid my bill in cash ($51 for two drinks and fries, not including the $1 water fee, and with zero tip.. One of those drinks consisted of 90% finely crushed ice, by the way..), and left. I don't plan on coming back.

Bottom line, this business engages in dishonest, sleazy tactics, outright theft in my opinion, and at least this one bartender was rude throughout the night, in addition to incompetent service. Perhaps the bad service was a fluke, or just one bad employee, but the deceptive billing is a policy of this establishment, which can't be blamed solely on the bartender.

(edit: The owner contacted me on yelp with various excuses. None of that changes anything in my opinion. They effectively charge a cover charge to all patrons under the guise of a mandatory 'water fee', but without informing them in advance. They give money to charity, but only by stealing it from customers, not taking a cent from their own profit margins. And apparently they offer gift cards as a legal loophole to not...

I should have listened to the other reviews about the food and drinks, but I guess I learned my lesson.

Starting with getting on the boat: there were 2 staff members, one friendly guy who asked us if we had a reservation and when we said we did and our friends were already there, he waved for us to follow him, but we were quickly blocked by the other staff member who wouldn't let us pass until I repeated my reservation name multiple times (maybe hard of hearing?) - like literally held up the tablet to block us until she had checked our name. So weird.

Once on the boat, we sat at the bar, which was cute, the sun was shining and the atmosphere was nice. But that's about it. We tried 5 cocktails from the menu overall, and they were all lackluster and somehow lacking in any alcohol taste (not that I am looking for it) but I expected to taste something. Quite watery. I switched to wine because how can you mess that up when someone else makes it...but the glass I got had weird little bits of white flakey sediment in it (the wine came from a tap so I would guess it was mineral deposits or something) and it was a busy Sunday so I gave up drinking it - and trying to get the bartender's attention.

Didn't really try the food except for the watermelon tomato salad and it was fine.

I saw a staff member water down the coconut milk they use for mixing drinks (like opened the white/clearish bottle, looked inside, opened the tap and filled it with water and then put it back along the waist-high drink trough behind the bar). No idea if this is common practice but I don't see why it would be. Maybe that's why the drinks are so watery - it's literally water.

Speaking of water, they partner with a water org (cool) but add a donation to your tab without telling you to your face that they are going to do that (uncool). When I rated my experience on Crew (their website/res platform), I got a note offering to refund it if I didn't want to make the donation. Ok, pretty sure not telling someone you're having them make a donation (the receipt literally says "water service" and was $1/person in my party, so that's what I was complaining about - my bad for not noticing it earlier) and then trying to gaslight me into feeling like the bad guy for calling it out is not how I would have approached this. Also, I was never told at any point that water would cost $?

Same for the 10% covid-19 recovery charge. Lots of places are doing that these days and it is 100% understandable. Charge me whatever you feel you need. But I want to be told about it up front - not have it slapped on...

If terrible and obnoxious had a face. There are times I feel why doesn't Yelp give option of zero star or minus rating. Please visit this place at your risk. Super arrogant and obnoxious manager/s (It was a man and a woman both at the front desk) and poor bunch of staff that follow their orders. We made a RESERVATION in advance, sorry for the capitals but there is a reason for this. We reached the restaurant in time just to be given a seat right under the scorching sun. Now we understand this is a boat and post hurricane the water will be super choppy. But isn't making anyone sit right under the hot sun (without an umbrella) and them having alcohol a perfect recipe for nausea and sickness. We requested for either a table change away from the sun or a place at the bar or an umbrella over our table. The rude man at the front desk flatly refused to consider our requests; first by arrogantly questioning us if we even had a reservation and then stating the obvious that it is a boat restaurant and sun shine is inevitable. We should have known better before booking this place. After much discussion they agreed to give us a place at their Oyrster bar but only for 45 mins although we had already paid $25 per person in advance for two hours window. The saga doesn't end here, we sat at the Oyster bar with no service for 15 mins, post which when we barely started ordering one of the servers asked to to move seats. He directed us to occupy different seats at the bar and guess what? Right under the sun again

By this time anyone can lose their patience. We decided to leave for a better place to spend our money and time.

I can't believe why some people join service industry without any intention of providing any sort of customer service; accommodate requests, make customer’s experience enjoyable and rightfully making their money.

Last I checked no restaurant feeds you for free so while you expect to make money by serving us food and alcohol, we too in return expect to have a good time and be treated...