The Carnegie Club

I am quite surprised to discover such a negative review and personal attack of the staff at the Carnegie Club. I regularly visit and have found the staff extremely pleasant, professional and warm. I find the citicism of the "farmer" waitress with the glasses to be particularly unfounded and distorted. I have not encountered a more charming, gracious and helpful waitress ever. I suspect the complainant has other issues other than the demeanor of the staff. I laud them.

Posted 03/09/09

Last week my husband and I wondered into The Carnegie Club after a performance at Carnegie Hall. The place wasn't terribly crowded, but busy enough that we were inclined to stay. We were greeted upon entering the establishment by the manager, who was impressively dressed and very personable as he brought us to our table. Our waitress Kat was very kind and helpful as well! As per Kat's suggestion I had the Carnegie Cocktail (my new favorite drink!) while my husband enjoyed a nice scotch. I am not fond of smoke of any kind, yet surprisingly enough there must be some super secret ventilation system because I did not have a problem with it the entire time we were there! Even while my husband smoked his cigar sitting right next to me! I have attempted to join my husband at other cigar lounges in the city and have had to leave almost immediately, however this was not the case at Carnegie Club! All in all I have to say the staff was very friendly and the service was impeccable! Carnegie Club is a great place for anyone, whether for a quite drink or a stop on a night out with friends! My husband has been back three times within these last few weeks and we plan on celebrating our friends birthday there next Saturday night for the Sinatra show, which we have heard rave reviews!!

Pros: Ventilation, service, prices

Cons: minimal food menu

Posted 02/11/09

I agree with the previous review. The staff was not up to par with the upscale Carnegie Club, it seems to have really deteriorated in the last few months. Note to the manager it might be time for a complete overhaul and a totally new staff.

Posted 02/10/09

Last night as usual I went to Carnegie Club to enjoy nice relaxing evening with my girl,but instead I receive a rude service and an attitude from a waitress and a bartender who pretend to be a manager.One advice for the real manager:next time you hiring staff for this amazing cigar bar make sure that they are not farmers{waitress with the glasses and younger bartender who pretend to be a manager}and that they at least have some manners.The bartender approach me with the stupid question:"What's the problem?".This is not a question of a real manager.As I sad only a farmer can ask a customer such a thing.Advice to the owner:Sophisticated place like yours,deserve a better waitstaff.They give you bad reputation!!!!And with so many people looking for a job right now,you can find better people,that fit in your place!!!Besides that I love Carnegie Club,it's one of my favorite places,and I always recommended to the customers in my restaurant!!!But I"ll think for the next time!!One person that really deserves a respect is JOEL the busboy!very kind and helpful.I hope that you'll take a note,otherwise you losing customers,and I think now is the worst time for it!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted 01/31/09

"NYC's best kept secret
"NYC's best kept secret
"NYC's best kept secret
"NYC's best kept secret
="NYC's best kept secret

Posted 01/27/09

I'm from Charlotte so I went to Carnegies to watch Giants / Panthers football game at the bar, had a fine cigar with even finer local gentlemen. Bartender was friendly and efficient and the food was good as well, I will return on my next trip to New York

Posted 01/16/09

This is a cigar smokers heaven. My wife and I were in NYC for a long weekend and stumbled across this jewel on a Friday night. We had so much fun we came back the next night for the Sinatra night. What a blast. Good laughts, great music, excellent drinks brought to you by beautiful and attentive young ladies; I could go on and on. By the end of the evening we were on a first name basis with the owner, Ken, the manager, the bartender and half of the staff and we had made dozens of new friends. We really felt welcomed. I would recommend this place to anyone - except, anyone that doesn't like smoke. But, lets face it, if you go to a cigar bar expecting to not get a little smoke in your eyes then you've never been in a cigar bar.
We will be back - no question about it.

Pros: The drinks, the staff, the cigars, the new friends we made, and on and on and on......

Cons: Not a place for the anti-smoking activists.

Posted 01/04/09

I have found a treasure if you are a Jazz fan. This club was made for music and they have it. I stumbled in by accident after seeing the spinning martini glass on the ground and hearing a band. I spent 3 hours listening to Michael Bellar play while sitting a couch and beautiful women brought me singlemalt all the while smoking!!! It was like a private concert in my living room. Nothing could have been better this place... I thought.. then I went back on Friday and I discovered the Mark Rapp trio who were equally amazing. This place should be packed every night. You no longer need to go downtown for Jazz.

Pros: Music, Staff, Atmosphere

Cons: Little hard to find

Posted 08/19/08

Carnegie is a great lounge that plays host to some of New York City's greatest talent. Namely, a great three-piece trio that call themselves SPONGEWORTHY. The trio can be found every Sunday evening from 8:30-12:00am entertaining the crowd at this friendly and plush lounge.

Posted 04/17/07

I had a bad experience at Garnegie Club. I was hoping to enjoy some Sinatra songs at a old style environment but I didn't expect to see dusty ceilings, dirty couches and carpets plus their venting system isn't designed for a cigar house, i was hardly open my eyes although I'm a smoker myself.
You might want to try hard to get someone on the phone to make a reservation by the number listed on their website if you want to be treated as a paying customer. I had to wait 20 minutes for a table and been moved around before they made a decision on where they wanted me to be seated. Unfortunately, we had to leave after the first show because they tried to move us again for a larger group of guests and we refused to be moved as we've got tired of this manner. Two of us paid $150 (with tips) for all these services I mentioned above in two hours.

Pros: Steve does sound like sinatra.

Cons: bad environmen, bad management.

Posted 02/11/07

My wife and I are from MN and decided to try a vacation in NY rather than the typical tropical locations. I ran across the Carnegie Club on the internet while searching for jazz clubs. We attended the Sinatra tribute show Sat. night, and were thoroughly impressed! The band and singer were fabulous, the atmosphere was great, and the staff was very friendly. We mentioned to the waitress that my wife was pregnant and couldn't drink alcohol, so they brought her fancy non-alcoholic drinks, and the manager actually bought us champagne and sparkling cider -- on the house! They were also nice enough to let us stay for the 2nd show(which I highly recommend because it's 2 different shows). Keep in mind it is a smoke club, so you will get plenty of cigar smoke -- but it's not nearly as bad as the typical cigarette smoke you smell at other clubs. Cool atmosphere, neat little couches and chairs and nooks to sit. I can't say enough good things about this place. If you like Jazz and Sinatra, you'd be a fool not to go there.

Pros: Everything

Cons: Nothing

Posted 10/26/06

Great atmosphere and lay out, plenty of sitting and nice nooks to relax with cigar and a drink. Beautiful interior.
If only they had no live music. Those bands are too loud for this space.
Also replacing lethargic waitress would be very beneficial.
Overall my favorite place to smoke cigars in New York.

Pros: Location, interior, atmosphere.

Cons: Sleepy Waitress, very limited selection of cigars.

Posted 07/25/06

Whenever you have something to celebrate or just want to treat yourself a fantastic evening, go see Steve Maglio at the Carnegie Club. The band is great and Steve sounds very, very good. You'll leave the place with a smile on your face and feeling like in heaven. The only minus is if you happen to take a table next to one of the cigar-smokers (although that has happened to us just once in past 8 times). Also check out Steve's website and life story at http://www.stevenmaglio.com/

Pros: Steve Maglio, Stan Rubin Orchestra, location

Posted 02/10/06

He sounds just like Sinatra! This show is so great, i paid to see both shows.... fantastic! I can't wait to see him again! Great job, great place, great shows... Keep up the great work!!!

Pros: Great Entertainment, Great Atmosphere, Great crowd

Posted 01/03/05

I'm a big Sinatra fan, so went on Sinatra night for the 10PM show. Paid $60 for me and my boyfriend to get in, expecting the band to play for the rest of the night. Then I paid over $50 to meet the drink minimum requirement for the both of us. Then, the band was done in ONE HOUR....and everyone cleared out pretty much right afterwards. The band was absolutley amazing and the feel of the club is equally wonderful. I was hoping for there to be dancing, but the few people were in there remained seated the whole time. Sinatra is meant to be danced to! I would recommend this place if the band had played more than an hour, but with a set that short, it was not worth all of that money.

Pros: band, atmosphere

Cons: , value

Posted 10/03/04

We went to The Carnegie Club for my sister's birthday (big Sinatra fan) on a Saturday night and had a great time. There was a $30 cover charge for the shows (8pm and 10pm) and a 2 drink minimum with drinks ranging from $8 to $15+. The variety of the drinks was great as was their size. The apple martini and the mojitos were our favorites but they had an ample list of wines, scotch, etc. The service was great and we did not feel pressured to buy drinks beyond the minimum. We were also the last to leave and never felt we were being rushed out. The band and singing was great and the atmosphere was relaxed, entertaining and engaging. Would highly recommend it to all Sinatra and big band sound fans.

Pros: Entertainment, Atmosphere, Great drinks

Posted 08/28/03

This place was incredible. We came in late on the Cary Hoffman show so we avoided the cover charge. I was astonished at the interior. It's a 1930's art deco very posh looking club. Dark paneling on the walls,fireplace in the back and club chairs all over to sit and relax and enjoy the show. I will definetly be back here soon.

Pros: atmosphere, orchestra

Cons: very expensive cigars

Posted 07/28/03

The room is large and very comfortable! Plenty of seating on the soft couches and chairs, wonderful ambience and the scene excellent! It was an eclectic group from young, sexy people to older, more sophisticated types - the Friday night band was a awesome and we all had a tremendous time! Highly recommended!

Pros: Moderately priced, Live Music, Roomy

Posted 05/29/03