Caviarteria
Caviarteria
Takes Reservations: Yes
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Happy Hour: Yes
Coat Check: Yes
Has TV: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$$$ Price range Above $61
2 reviews
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I was looking forward to check out this venue and indulge with amazing yelp discounts on luxury goods. The pictures sold me and I quickly visited on a Friday night. VERY disappointed to say the least.
Venue: (1/5) gorgeous and luxurious space. White tables, crystal chandeliers, furniture was beautiful. As my friend and I sat down, we noticed we were the only two people in the restaurant. EMPTY. Then around 8pm in walks a band (a rock band) which spends 30 minutes doing sound checks, video taping themselves (unsure why), and sitting and talking very loudly. So now my friend and I are waiting for out food with the ambiance of a dive bar (the type that serves 5 shots for 5 dollars)
Food (3/5) we tried the caviar sampler and the fois gras. Both were great considering the coupon, however with the band rehearsing and videoing themselves and soon the masses of their groupies pouring in and drinking beer from the bottle. I would suggest the restaurant serve beer and wings.
Service (3/5) our waitress was nice and asked the band to stop until we finished our dinner.
This restaurant is having an identity crisis. Caviar bar is not its current identity. Dive bar with the ability to have caviar is a better description.
The last time I entered this space was a few years ago when it operated as Silver Lining. Caviarteria uses the exact same bar and table layout. The live music stage has moved. Based on my experience, the ownership and / or management has changed as well. Funny (as in strange) that it could capture my attention as my (then) favorite mixology concept and turn it into a dressed up attempt at a first class experience.
Going with the "theme" we ordered Vespers (James Bond's and my favorite form of Martini). It's so easy to make this drink well and somehow She Who Must Be Obeyed and myself were disappointed. I suspect that the bartender skipped the step of chilling the glass with ice prior to pouring the drink from the shaker (the Vesper is "shaken not stirred"). Or perhaps they use low end gin and vodka. Unlike many high-end cocktail menus, this one does not identify the brand of spirits. I know the drink also lacked the twist of lemon. I should give them credit for the size of the drink. It was full size! We decided to NOT order FOOD.
The SERVICE was not good. Not rude or dismissive but certainly distracted. The drinks here cost $15 and the food items range from about $20 to $300. Based on the price range, one would expect reasonably prompt attention. It wasn't that it was bad service, it was more that the service was clearly stressed – possibly explains the weak attempt at my favorite martini. There were only about 30 people in the room.
Back to the DECOR. I really like the space. Downstairs (below street level) in an original lower Manhattan ornate style building gives it that speakeasy feel. The bar is like one from an old hotel. The room is fairly dark and quite spacious.
If you've read this far, you can get another negative review from Lana T from a year ago. She said it well.
I'm really curious about the closing of Silver Lining. In addition to being very close to home, it was a great place for drinks. As a quasi-speakeasy with live music, it was usually pretty crowded. I recall that it was operated by the same group that runs Lower Branch in the West Village. I would be surprised if this is the same ownership group.