The Monster — Restaurant in New York

First time at this bar. Very BAD and THREATENING experience! I also emailed the bar and the owner responded which I appreciate. I have added it to the end of my review.

1. We ordered 3 drinks and bartender returned with 3 drinks asking for $84 dollars!!!! When we inquired he said they were "doubles."

(I didn't get his name but he appeared Caucasian with a crew cut).

We did NOT ask for doubles which is so specific and when we told him that he abruptly took the drinks away, set them by the register and starting making new ones. At this point we turned around and headed out the door. The bar was practically empty by the way.

2. As we walked out the door a security person forcibly grabbed my arm and said he was radioed to stop us. He didn't know why at first and didn't simply ASK us to just resolve an issue. Another security person appeared and said we left without paying! We explained what happened and there was some radio chatter between them. A few minutes later they decided we could leave. It was like Oz behind the curtain decided our fate.

3. I asked the security person why he put his hands on me for NO reason without just asking us to hold back to resolve an issue. I also calmly told him this is how situations unnecessarily escalate. He argued at first and said he didn't like my word, "manhandle." That's what he did by the way. He grabbed my arm in a forceful way and held on to it. The security person eventually offered me a handshake as a half a-- apology but the entire experience including the attempted $84 for 3 drinks has prompted me to warn people via reviews: AVOID!!!!

(I didn't get the security person's name but he appeared to be African American, clean shaven with very short hair. This occurred the evening of 12/13/16).

OWNER response: Dear sir, It's never been the club's policy to harass, threaten or menace any our patrons. We are disappointed and looking into your complaints. Ultimately, a reprimand & warning shall be given to the parties responsible for ruining your experience. Please accept our sincere apologies. Cordially yours, CRice, President & Owner

Sent...

This is going to surprise many but I have been sitting here thinking about whether to write this. I was at the bar yesterday with a few of my friends. Normal fun. An older gentle man walked in with 2 younger friends seeming to be happy to show them the iconic MONSTER. They caught my attention because they were extremely jovial. At one point the older gentleman approached the guy handing out popcorn and the guy screamed at him to wait his turn. I mean it was simply popcorn. I also noticed that they had paid for several drinks that way paid more then the popcorn which I am sure was 5 cents worth. Then as the popcorn guy came back he ignored them again. BTW they were Black and Hispanic. The older gentleman went to grab one jokingly and the guy pushed him. Well the older man got angry and argued with him.. The security was called and told the older Gentleman to come and talk to him outside. He said he had problems standing and could they just talk there. He said no! I mean what is going on that now we are making an older man spending money come stand outside because he wanted some popcorn. Popcorn? They should have given him the biggest bowl of popcorn they had. I am sure his plight and fight to be gay helped build this bar. I hate to say but witnessing this has made my mind up not to go there anymore. I wish I knew who this guy was so I could apologize for the way he was treated and could thank him for helping us be gay. They should have celebrated him not treated him like a criminal over popcorn.. This has bothered me for 24 hours and just had to speak up. I hope that the management finds a way to make amends. Say to see the joy of going to the Monster gone. With all that is going on in this world I thought this was a safe place to escape, I was sadly wrong. I should have stood up for him.. but I just watched. I don't know what happened after he was kicked out of the bar but I wish him well. As for the Monster. Shame...

What a night it was! We arrived 11:50 pm Saturday night, but by the time we got to the entrance, it was 12 am. I explained that we arrived before midnight actually, and after giving the bouncers the password, my huge group of about 10 people was able to pay $5 cover charge and we all got in smoothly. I have to admit I’m always wary about unfriendly bouncers, and luckily they were fine. Coat check was $2 (and not mandatory) too, which is a pretty good find compared to most other clubs.

My group was unsure about going to a gay club, but I think I converted most of them by the end! The go-go boys are not my thing, and you kind of just get used to it after a while. Funnily enough, some of them in the crowd danced on my female friends and revealed that they were actually all straight ??

ALCOHOL: Online it had said $5 Miller Lite and $6 vodka Red Bull’s, but at the bar in the downstairs club, it was $6 tequila/Bulldog gin shots and margaritas, and $6 Budlight or $7 for another beer. Something else was $8. Still great deals though!

MUSIC: Great for the most part! There was some Nicki Minaj, some Rihanna, some Latino music, a couple of songs that were maybe techno (this is when I left). Unfortunately though, it’s crazy LOUD in here, even when the MC was introducing the dancers. Wish I brought earplugs.

THE BAD: yep, my 3 guy friends whom I brought here all got groped in the back and the front. Also, for a gay club, I’m surprised that my group was dancing the most? There were a few other guys dancing, but nothing like the gay club I went to in Singapore where 80% of the people were dancing—and better than how clubgoers of other...