Foundation NYC

All you need to know:
1) Great hip-​hop selection on Saturday nights.
2) The bar’s in the front,
3) the DJ’s in the back,
4) the bathrooms (unisex) are downstairs.
5) Plenty of seating if the tables are not reserved.
6) No cover.
Simple place just to have a good olé time with your friends.

The 2 stars is for the good music and the huge corner table our birthday party was given even without bottle service (when does that everrr happen in NYC?!). It’s just too bad that the Asian conglomeration is in full effect at this joint and that’s where the minus 3 stars come in. Am I so wrong, as an Asian, to not want to be around more Asians? I know there’s a lot of you out there who feel the same way so don’t hate! I digress. Think disturbingly young Asian girls dressed provocatively, J-​pop boys getting their skeeve on, and both parties dancing– more like wiggling /​throwing arms around /​spastically humping– quite vigorously: ALL EQUALLY NOT MY THING. If that’s what you’re into then more power to yah– glad I could help you make a decision where you’re gonna be next Saturday night. As for me, I won’t judge this place off one unfortunate night so I may very well give this place one more try… perhaps a couple months from now once the trauma of the spastic humpers wear off.

If you’re a hip hop lover that was lured here because you heard the dj was going to lay it down, you’ll be disappointed. See the breakdown:
Atmosphere + Space: You walk in it’s sweaty… gets worse towards the back. Space is extremely narrow. Great that coat check was free though.
Music: techo, pop, electronica, old school hip hop in the last hour.
Crowd: Not enough diversity = 97% Asian. But definitely chic group.
Dress: Guys go for slacks + your own style. Or dress up your best pair of dark jeans. ladies, go casual glam.
Mixology: Expect generous fills… but measurements aren’t consistent.

Went there for a birthday celebration with a large party. They gave us a table in the back for a 1 bottle min and the price was average for NYC. The DJ was great; played a good mix of hip hop, house, and pop. The bar tenders were fast and polite, especially the asian lady working the back bar. Joe, the owner of the bar, was very polite and offered a round of shots when we first got there. I’d definitely recommend Foundation for any occasion. There were no issues with dress code or cover. The dance floor is kind of small, but not terrible. I will keep Foundation in mind any time I head into the city.

Went on a Thursday night around 11:30pm — completely dead from then until when I left around 1am. I would have gone somewhere else had I not had a bunch of co-​workers with me. Bouncers were nice. DJ was decent and took requests. Bartenders could care less that we were there. And really — we were the only people in the place so I’m not sure what exactly kept them so preoccupied. Drinks were pricey — around $ 12-​$ 15 — which I’d pay at a better lounge — but not worth it here. And the bartenders added 20% gratutity automatically… must have been for that outstanding service we received. Wouldn’t go back.

I know 5 stars is a mighty score but given that Foundation exceeded my expectations I think it’s appropriate. Music was great — DJ definitely felt the crowd. For my wife’s bday, we were looking for a hassle free place to hear some great music, dance and drink. All members of our party got in without problem. The place is a bit small — not a club per se, but it’s a nice, cozy size. We didn’t need bottle service and found enough space for about ten of us to get down. Overall, great time — hassle free, and we appreciated it.

Great DJ, and great bartender (the one in the back, that looks like halle berry) probably one of the best bartenders in the city. It gets a bit crowded, as the ‘dance fl area’ is pretty small… but i mean, a good spot’s always crowded…

I had spoke with the owner Joe on several occasions and he was very prompt in replying to me with anything that I wanted to know about the club. I have to say that when I got there a was a little bit disappointed. The way that the place looks on the website was really different then the place when we go there. Also, I know 10:30 is early but seriously we were the only people in the place till at least almost 11:30. It didnt get busy, probably around 1am, and we ended up having fun for the most part, but I dont think that I would ever go back.
The bouncers were very nice and eventhough we were on the VIP list the woman at the door made us get in line anyway.
Overall I was very disappointed after hearing that this was a «solid place» in the Lower East Side.

I am the first reviewing this, and I may have not been in the best situation for writing this review to give this bar justice, but I don’t get it. I read all of these reviews online about how it’s a hoppin’ place late night, a great location for celebrity spotting. Maybe 11pm is too early for anyone to be at a bar, but one thing’s for certain, $ 10+ is entirely too much to pay for their weak little cocktails. My friends and I were hassled time and time again to check our coats in the coat-​check, but we didn’t want to stay long enough to leave them… is holding my jacket over my arm offensive to you, you big burly bouncer? What’s your deal? There weren’t many patrons in the lounge, is this what you do to make it look to your manager like you’re «working»?
The décor was alright, nothing too special, and the flow was all sorts of strange. If the bar were packed, I would not want to be paying $ 300+/bottle for service at the tables on the left heading toward the back of the club. The front bar area is really limited and too close to the front door, it makes cold nights that much more uncomfortable when you’re dressed for a night out and the bouncer demands that you check your coat.
If I am back up in NYC, I don’t think this would be at the forefront of my mind as a place I’d like to hit up again, but wouldn’t be opposed to giving it another shot at another date and maybe later in the evening to try and understand what all the other online site reviewers are saying.