Subrosa

Went to Subrosa last night to see the Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra. They were fantastic as usual. But we go to dance salsa. We have seen them at Subrosa before and had a good time, however this time there was no dance floor to speak of. WSO is great to see but also great to dance to. Subrosa had couches, tables and ottomans that covered the dance floor. I spoke with the manager to ask why they covered the dance floor with tables and chairs and she told me that they need the tables to make $$. I understand that, however after the band was done they moved the tables and chairs and some couches off the dance floor for another band. I’m sorry to say that we will not be back. We love the venue but if you go don’t expect room to dance.

came here for a live latin band. space was really nice — dim lit lounge but can see how it can turn into a club. the stage is right there so you’re up close to the performers. only downside is the mandatory drink/​food you have to get if you sit at any of the tables even if it’s empty. food was a bit disappointing and the drinks were okay.

I would like to express my disappointment last Sunday when I went to the Brazilian Soul night. The place is very nice and has a great atmosphere, but the band was awful, not so ever what a Brazilian band would sounds like (I’m Brazilian myself), they had the worst harmony, bad tasting on the songs, and also Subrosa advertised as they would be playing samba, bossa nova and jazz, but instead they spend the entire show playing their own songs, like it wasn’t enough listen to the tragedy they did with the Brazilian music, I end up spending most of my night listen to their own composition (would never pay a dollar for that!) I was very disappointed, I was my sister’s birthday and it ruined our night. I think I Subrosa is a great place, good location, but the band was the worst experience ever.

I really liked this place but the staff wasn’t that great. Typical lounge/​bar staff. But I will say that The Meatpacking District mostly offers clubs and house music so it’s nice to see another variety.
The ambience inside is perfect– dim and sexy, not too dark. There are couches along the front entrance and tables all around the stage. Tables have a $ 20 minimum which seems very reasonable and there’s plenty of standing room in front of the stage.
Bartenders didn’t seem too crowded so it wasn’t hard to get a drink, which was nice. The only thing is that they weren’t consistent on pricing. That always rubs me wrong when one bartender charges you one thing and the next charges you another. It made me not want to buy another drink.
I got there pretty early in the night so I’m sure it gets much busier, but there was only one person at the door, checking people in and doing coat check at the same time. She didn’t multi task or communicate very well so there would be a huge crowd waiting to check coats or waiting to come in and made it a little confusing. It’s all about a little hustle in those moments, and she didn’t seem to have any of that.
I like the place and the set up is great but the staff needs to pull it together a little tighter.

I am NOT a fan of clubbing, but after a night at Subrosa for my friend’s birthday, I might be…
Learned to bachata like a pro thanks to my various (amazing) leading partners on the dance floor. This place has a clean, cozy feel– cozy and spacious at the same time. Nobody is sweaty, belligerent, or creepy. The service is great, drinks are good, live band is awesome, and the DJ knows what to play according to the vibes on the dance floor. I’ll definitely be back for another night of Spanish dancing!

We were at Subrosa on Saturday night. The Dizzy Gillespie Afro-​Cuban All Stars played the first set, and the Pedrito Martinez Group played the second set. Pedrito’s set was a hell of a lot of fun — a full tiny dance floor with a very mixed (age/​ethnicity/​dancing skill) crowd. A few potentially helpful items:
— The guacamole was pretty ordinary but passable.
— The first set was about an hour, and the second set was about 50 minutes.
— Most of the tables were full by about 20 minutes before the first set, and maybe 4 of them turned over between sets.
— As others have mentioned, there’s a $ 20 per person /​per set minimum, so for a table for two that’s $ 60 for the evening. Given that drink prices are high ($ 15ish cocktails, $ 18 for a Zacapa on the rocks), it’s not too hard to meet the minimum.

This place is great! I came here last Saturday night with my two girlfriends after dinner w/​o a reservation. There was a live salsa band, the night was Habana Nights. The place is small and packed with people. There is a stage for the live band and a space to dance (a small space). I do wish the place was just a bit bigger, at least the dance floor, but I believe it would lose that sense of interaction with the band. As soon as we spotted an open table we just sat down. I had the Brasilia, my friends had the Santo Domingo and Caracas. All three drinks were good and super strong (worth it). The band was incredible, we danced the night away. Its fun just watching all the salseros do their thing on the dance floor. I will definitely be coming back, especially to watch Pedrito Martinez!

The best thing about this place is the music and the snacks. Dancing here is very fun but tight. The service could be waaaaay better, the drinks are overpriced and after you pay a music cover they charge a $ 20 minimum per person/​per set at the table.
I’ve been coming here for a year and I have discovered what it feels to have very rude servers, non-​caring ones and mediocre bartenders. Management is very friendly but really need to step up their game with staff.
One of the latest experiences I’ve had was this:
I sat on a table to watch Ariacne Trujillo perform. She was amazing and her band had me and the people around me dancing. When the server came along, I asked her if she had tried the chicken salad, she thought I asked her if I could try it without paying for it. I asked her again and she just left and ordered it without even answering me.
A friend of mine arrived and sat next to me. When I finished my salad, I asked her for two glasses of water and told her about the Unilocal check-​in coupon. She said something about a $ 40 minimum and left.
She never brought the drink and came back twice stating that we had to pay the table cover. My friend sat there after the set had already started and didn’t understand what was going on. She looked at me the whole time instead of talking to him about it.
I ordered a flan to complete my minimum and ordered the check as well. I had to go ask for the bill again after it never came and when I went to pay, she talked to me as if she was giving me a lesson of how she wasn’t gonna charge ME for my friend not reaching the minimum but for next time, she would.
It’s not my first pick, but I still think it has purpose and future.

Went to check out a great live salsa band, Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra on Saturday night. Had a great time in this intimate venue and danced it all out. There is no bad spot in this place for a view though it can get packed with little room for dancing. My favorite cocktail was a tropical one called La Habana which was rum mixed with pineapple juice. I would recommend for a fun night out that has a relaxed vibe.

Got there at 10:15pm to catch the second set from the band… the door cost us 15 bucks a head which is fine, the music was great, all 30 minutes of it. They kicked us out at 11pm for a private party. The right thing to do is let people know before you take the full cover. I left feeling like they got one over on us.
This place would be great in the LES or Soho, just saying. They will probably have to keep up the antics to pay for that rent with no realness anyways in that area.

Visited Subrosa this weekend to catch a Spanglish Fly performance. Subrosa earns my star for ambiance and taste in music. The band was excellent and truly brought the house down and the place was nicely decorated and very cozy.
My party and I were warned to arrive early due to limited seating in the club. They open at 7:00 pm and we arrived close to 6:30. We waited outside for a little but decided to stand in the entrance way to avoid the outdoor humidity. The main part of the venue is downstairs so we gathered near the entrance until they let us down. The hostess was annoyed that we were inside at all and was careful not to let anyone past her to wait on the couches. 7:00 came and went and we were still not allowed downstairs. By now, there were many people cramped into the small entrance area and the hostess seemed to grow more and more irritated. She said that although it was 7:00, the staff was still setting up. While waiting, I asked her for the wifi password and her response was «no.» Finally, she began letting people in. I bought the tickets online which cost $ 11.54 each, yet she was charging $ 10 at the door. Interesting.
We finally got downstairs to find seating that accommodated maybe 40 people. One side was reserved and the other was a free for all. Each table had a small sign that said $ 20.00 minimum per person per set. I wasn’t aware of this rule but just went with it. My cousin asked to go to the bathroom with her to fix her makeup, but we were yelled at by the guy standing outside the bathroom who said one at a time. The place had just opened and everyone was still getting settled, I don’t understand why he wouldn’t let us both in. I tried to explain that she just needed my help, but he was rude and said no. By this point, many of the people I was with noticed how none of the employees smiled at all. Everyone seemed annoyed which was very off putting considering how much business this band brought in. Almost everyone including myself was there to see the band, you’d think they’d be happy to be getting so much business.
I got seated on an uncomfortable square ottoman and was approached by a waitress to order. My table ordered mojitos, guacamole, a meat and cheese plate, and olive plate. Everything was bad. The mojitos were strong, the meat plate was prosciutto with chunks of mozzarella on it, the guacamole appeared to be half eaten and the olives came with a random chunk of guava paste and a whole bunch of wooden sticks. I didn’t eat anything after that, but heard that the burgers were bad too. I asked my waitress about the free glass of wine with Unilocal check in. she had no idea what i was talking about and said she’d ask her boss. She never did. After the bad appetizers, i figured that ordering an entrée from this place wasn’t worth the glass of wine.
After all this, the band began playing and everyone had a blast. The bill came out and we were overcharged. My party paid $ 40 for two drinks. Gratuity was included, as was a mysterious «bar fee» for $ 25.00 There was one waitress serving the entire place so tracking her down to dispute it was impossible.
I had a great night solely because of the band. I would never return to this place for any other reason.

Live Tipico Band, had an awesome time. Bathroom décor was really nice. Bartender was cute, really nice and attentive. I didn’t like that the waitress never smiled, she didn’t seem to happy to be there.

I came here to see Alfredo Rodriguez. One word. WOW. If you haven’t seen this Cuban piano prodigy, I would suggest you do so immediately. This guy is one of the most talented jazz pianists I have ever had the pleasure of listening to, live or otherwise. However, this review is for the venue, and compared to the performance, it was much less impressive.
Being located in the meatpacking district, this place fits the bill to a T. The front is manned by two of your standard New York 20 somethings (think Kardashian, not Deschanel) in tight black dresses doing the job of one mentally able person. We were asked if we had reserved seats, to which we replied no and asked if that was an option we had missed. Their reply: «No.» So then how could I have reserved them?! This one needs to get off the drugs, pronto.
The underground venue was trendy and hip. Waitresses looked just like the hostesses. Our waitress was very nice and nice to look at but wasn’t the most attentive or capable. However, given that this was first and foremost a show rather than a dinner, I’ll give her a pass.
Guacamole — Pretty good actually. It was just tangy enough for me, not bland like most other guacs I’ve had in new York. I was pleasantly surprised. Not nearly enough chips though.
Ceviche — Also pretty good. Again, not enough chips. What is up with this place skimping on the cheapest ingredient in their dish?
I asked, after the guacamole, whether we could use the Unilocal check-​in for a free glass of wine since we ordered the guacamole. She left for about 15 minutes and came back telling us that the guacamole was an appetizer which did not qualify for a free glass of wine. I pointed to the menu and informed her that the entire menu is one long list without clear designation of what was what. She then explained that I just had to order something that was more expensive. Well that’s a crock of bullshit, I thought. But nevertheless, I was getting my free drink one way or another ($ 12 value) so I went ahead and ordered the ceviche, which shockingly, was considered an entrée.
My friend had 2 cocktails which he said weren’t very strong and were $ 15 each.
The total came out to be around $ 40 – 50 each.
At the end of the show, the waitress took a while to bring us our check. We had to leave our table to go hunt her down. She then proceeded to charge someone else’s bill onto our credit cards which we immediately noticed and asked her to correct.
Overall, this is probably not going to be on my list of venues to frequent. They specialize in Latin music which is probably why Alfredo Rodriguez played here. In my opinion, he could have done much better.

Came here for the first time on Friday with a groupon. I am in love with this venue. Great service, amazing drinks and good appetizers, plus the live band was incredible. I danced all night and loved every minute of it. To top it all off, we got street parking up the block. We plan on becoming regulars here.

Us five went there on Sunday Night, like everybody says, the music was awesome but the tapas on the menu simply were not that attractive and were over priced. Ordered bottle wine and dessert but still $ 17 shy so they had made the difference to table value on our check in the end. Also they charged Service Charge.
— isn’t the SC policy in NYC for more then 6 tops?
— music was great but we reluctant going back very soon.

This place is ok, but mainly because the performer I saw tonight was amazing. Every drink and food item here is extremely overpriced — that is my main complaint.
The place has a good vibe for a music performance venue. You walk in and downstairs through a neon pink-​lit hallway which reminds you of Miami (it’s a Latin-​themed establishment). The bar is situated in the back, while the stage is just to the left of the entranceway. The best seating is the couches but they’re apparently pre-​reserved for corporate accounts and the performers’ family/​friends.
The drinks aren’t bad but at $ 15 a pop, they could be stronger.
Overall, as long as the performer you came to see is worth it, you’ll probably have a good time here.

Fantastic spot for live music, great lounge vibe. Sangria was just ok — the San Juan and the Brasilia was great! Food is categorized as «Tapas» but basically it’s just small over priced portions. sitting at a table requires a $ 20 minimum per person per set (when watching a live act).
We had the Burger (2 sliders with fries for $ 20) the tuna tartare and cevice (both came in martini like glass, $ 15). Cool spot but the prices fit the location.

My friend and me saw a salsa jazz band here which was energetic and fun… Just a little bit commercial for my taste.
This basement bar/​restaurant/​, performance place is cute, intimate and cozy. I can see myself really enjoying it here if am really into the performance .
The seating is comfortable, each table seats about 4 people. The service is friendly and efficient.
I am not in a hurry to go back here, but yes I am recommending this venue for groups of friends, dates or just a drink after work.

Went there a week ago. Music was awesome. Service was not good.
$ 20 minimum per person per set just fyi
Only Voss bottled water. When I asked for a glass the waitress had an attitude. I was very polite.
They gave me the wrong check.
They gave me olives from the bar as oppose to the type of olives on the menu. Just say you don’t have them versus giving me some olives from your bar that cost $ 7.
She took half a glass of wine away and did it so quickly that we didn’t even have a chance to say no.
The set was only 45minutes — not 1.5 hrs.
The check came after 30 minutes.
I think I said enough. Music is awesome though.

Subrosa is a swank new Latin jazz club in the MPD. This is ordinarily a part of town that I steer clear of, but when I heard about them opening, I had to check it out. It’s operated by the Blue Note team, so you can expect some good bookings and trust their street cred. I went to see Francisco Mela, a Cuban drummer, and he was great. I caught the early set, and I was one of 6 patrons. I believe the capacity is around 120, so you can imagine how empty the place felt. An intimate show, to be sure!
The space is basement level, down a long and wide candle-​lit stairway. It feels as though you’re descending into the catacombs or some sort of trippy opium den bunker, with amazing lighting. It’s very sexy and would be a great date spot. The low-​set stage is in the corner, and the room is open with good sight lines all around. The bar is in the back and the prices are steep, which I guess is par for the course at a jazz club. Friendly staff and servers, which is always appreciated.
Overall, I really liked the place and hope that it catches on. It’s only been operational for about a month now, so they’ve got some time to gain momentum. If you’ve got an ear for Latin and world music, you should definitely check this place out. Very chill spot with a lot of swag.