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Category: American (Traditional) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Theater District57th St-6th Ave (F)
57th St-7th Ave (N, Q, R, W)
7th Ave-53rd St (B, D, E)
Chili's® Grill & Bar is as bold and flavorful as the food it serves. The energetic, fun atmosphere makes it the perfect spot for a... more »
Came here last night for my friend's birthday party. Before I go to any restaurant, I try to do my homework. I was aware of the reputation Jekyll & Hyde had. I read the reviews, I knew what I was getting myself into by agreeing to go to this place but even with all the preparation, I still had a few surprises.
When we arrived at the location, there was a block-long wait. We got in line and proceeded to wait 30 minutes, made it through the very cheesy "introduction test" and entered only to find out that we would continue waiting another "35-45" minutes for a table. Being a party of 7, we were herded like bovine to the bar section where we would be out of the way of the restaurant staff only to be squished up against those sitting at the bar. Thanks to a stroke of luck, we were able to obtain a seat when a party of 6 said they no longer wanted to wait and we were able to snag their table.
We were situated right next to the stage which was amusing for the main show but obstructed our view for other routines. I knew about the $2.50 entertainment fee that would be added to each of us on the bill and had warned my fellow party-goers early on about the fact that the restaurant only accepted cash or Amex. I knew everything would be expensive and it was. My batty burger was around $17 for a fast food grade piece of meat with the skinniest piece of onion on it and chips instead of fries (they had run out of fries). We were served faster than I had feared although maybe it just seemed that way because of all the distractions going on every 5 minutes.
We saw the same characters frequently, including a gypsy woman who seemed extremely pissed off about everything. My biggest surprise for the night was the lack of enthusiasm by my fellow patrons. Except for the little kids, no one seemed to be buying into the acts at all. It took a lot of encouragement from the staff to get us applauding or shouting for anything. By the end of the night, we paid our share of the $240 bill for our soft drinks and hamburgers as we left the restaurant in search of a great, cheap place for dessert.
Ok, let me start by saying that a native New Yorker brought me to this place, not sure if i should slap him now or later! This resturaunt is the epitome of everything i hate in a resturaunt!
First, its a themed resturaunt, monsters & such...gag
Second, you have to wait to be let in the door so that you can enter with a group of people, so that they(the peeps who work there) can do theit lil acting bit..........yawn.......the group we went in with was a bunch of friken teenagers from Queens and they were so annoying!
Third the prices were REDONKULOUS! This place is expensive! Nuff said.
Fourth, the food was glorified bar food.....
Fifth, our waiter made a "jokingly" racist remark about me being Mexican and all of us loving cheese, wtf, really??
I will probably not go back here, unless Im with my kids, they might enjoy the cheesy ness of this place.....
LAST BUT NOT LEAST!! They charge you a 3.00 enertainment fee if any of the "actors" interact with you! The whole time I was trying not to look at any of them in the eye! Its hard to eat your 18.00 burger while trying to hide from the entertainment =(
I felt like such an asshole for talking my three traveling companions into this place. I'd heard about Jekyll & Hyde Club & was all excited about it because I like themed restaurants & I like anything with a little creep factor. I had no intention of going until we happened to walk right pass it on our trek back to Midtown where we were staying. The big creaky door, the weird characters (one human, one statue) "welcoming" us in... they had me at their creepy "hello." My three girls were hesitant, but played along because they saw i was into it.
As we're looking at our menus, I can tell there were no happy campers at my table. Everything is glorified bar food & it's hella expensive. The four of us shared a few things: chili nachos, pasta, etc. Obviously, this is not the place for a good meal. Our bill came which included a $10 entertainment charge- the final nail in my coffin (sorry girls!) I wouldn't mind the entertainment charge but I hardly qualify what we experienced as being entertained- thunder roared, the skeleton DJ said a few sarcastic, supposed to be witty things in a "scary voice" and he played the piano. After dinner, we wander around to try to get the most out of that "entertainment" charge, but the evening was shot.
So the lesson here is: only go with people who are equally enthusiastic about this type of thing as you are. Do not talk them into going, do not hype it up, do not even act excited about it. If your friends look hesitant to go in, don't go & save yourself the embarrassment of picking a very cheesy, very expensive place in NYC! I'm glad I experienced it, but I will not be returning.
Think before you eat here...this place gets inspected by the Department of Environmental Protection all the time...here is the latest inspection.
Location 1409 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS, MANHATTAN
Inspection date June 18, 2009
Restaurant name JEKYLL AND HYDE CLUB
Violation points 19
Violations Other general violation
Other general violation.
Non-food contact surface improperly constructed
Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained.
Improper plumbing
Plumbing not properly installed or maintained; anti-siphonage or backflow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly.
Not vermin-proof
Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to vermin exist.
Cold food held above 41°F (smoked fish above 38°F) except during necessary preparation.
I got violently sick after eating here so this is why I am sharing this with Yelp. If you want to eat in a place like this then go ahead. But you can seriously affect your health. DONT DO IT.
This place surprise me..i thought its real music Club... but it turn out to be children place, they had several floor of entertainment i like everything about it. price is fair with lots of side attractions apart from foods.
Loved all the entertainment, waiters, and actors they are very friendly with children i like that part most...
naver fun
you have to pay entertainment fee about $8
spaghetti was really Fool
Wtf just happened? Then only way I find myself back in this place is if I'm shrooming.
Great for kids and marginally entertaining for adults for about an hour. Repeat visit unnecessary.
The food is not the best but it is the theme & atmosphere you are here for. The problem remains that I had been here far too much as a child and they never changed the "show" thus it got old for me. Great for kids, tourists and college kids who have never been here before. Beware of overpriced food & drinks their description is deceitful AAAAAH!
I was a tourist. Let's get that out of the way. When one is a tourist one tends to do "touristy" things. I was referred to this "club" via a travel with children book. My boys and I had just escaped FAO Schwartz and were ready for lunch and our next adventure. I figured this would be fun! And fun it was. You do NOT go here for the food. I repeat, YOU DO NOT GO HERE FOR THE FOOD! You go for the entertainment - and entertaining it was!
I have two boys, ages 10 and 7. I thought this would be right up their alley with the whole Harry Potter thing. The older one did like it. The younger one was scared to death. He was shaking! So, do not bring young children here - unless they can take it!
This restaurant does NOT accept any credit card other than American Express. They do not tell you this until you've been seated. You waiter will share this information with you and let you know they have an ATM in the lobby (God knows what they'll charge you..). Luckily I had cash.
The "club" is like a big haunted house movie set with actors who roam around and interact with the customers. I enjoyed it. My kids enjoyed it (after the little one calmed down). I would recommend it! It would be fabulous around Halloween!
If you go here expecting fine cuisine, you're an idiot. The food here is typical American bar food. Its edible, but not special at all. The reason you go here is for the haunted theming. Notice I didn't say atmosphere, unless you consider the constantly blarring loud speakers and sound effects atmosphere. They aren't gonna scare you (plus who would want to be scared at dinner), but they can entertain you. I for one do not mind noise, and I love old-school horror flicks, so this place was right up my alley. I've been here a couple of times, and the place is overpriced but I always have fun. Just bear in mind, it is very cheesy and campy, but what would you expect from a tourist spot. Regardless, I enjoy it.
Jekyll and Hyde is one of those places you have to experience at least once in the city. While you're obviously going for a meal, the real thing you'll get out of it is the experience - and a fun one it is.
All the different floors of the restaurant have a different theme of decorations. The entertainment is live and interactive - they have several actors that walk around and talk to you, as well as statues and other things that come to life every so often and interact with guests.
The food is mediocre and a bit expensive. If I remember correctly, they also charge each person an additional entertainment charge, so be aware of that...
Lines can get extremely long outside the restaurant, so try and get there at a non-typical meal time unless you feel like waiting.
The place didnt live up to our expectations, we were expecting an action filled evening and instead found the place boring (it was a Wednesday though). Getting in was easy, the place was hardly crowded, the waitress seemed a little lost (said "we are supposed to be world famous but most of the people who come from outside dont seem to know about us"), and the guy loafing around in a bandana and pilot goggles seemed desperate at trying to add some zing and failing miserably. The drinks were okayish and the food pedestrian and pricey (and something unfair and absurd was addition of $5 to an entree's price if two people share it !!!). Came to about $70 for two people, not the priciest but still not worth it.
The only saving grace was the decor - where I would mention dont expect something extraordinaire, its just lots of statutes and creatures, with moving heads, some light effects and some music. Wouldnt recommend the place.
Never in my life did i think i would ever set foot in this place... the tourist trap.
However, alas, I am the proud owner of an 11 year old sibling who desired a birthday party there... what am I going to do? say 'no'?
And so, on a lazy Sunday afternoon (one where i have already indulged in a few afternoon champagne cocktails already) I find myself in one of the more surreal situations... sitting with my family and a proverbial flock of SCREAMING 11 year olds. Awesome.
All that said, J and H wasn't as bad as i was expecting. Chaotic, yes... there was screaming and crap was happening all over the place at a seemingly anarchic rate. It wasnt, however, a bad experience.
The food wans't great.. but you dont go there for the food. The decor was fun, and the actors wandering around were, if not a little distracting, an amusing addition to my evening.
Overpriced for the experience, but all in all, a fun night out... Cant say i will be going again in a hurry though.
Cheese, cheese, and MORE cheese. No, I do not mean on the FOOD!
Need I say more? No? Well, I am going to.
The burger was actually pretty good, as were the fries. Would have been better if they were actually hot though. For a one time thing, maybe to take the tweens who would enjoy this sort of thing, great. Other than that, not so much. I remember going here on a Friday or Saturday with the ex once, and it was cool- we got to eat in peace and look around at the place, though it was crowded we didn't go very far. (or was it because I had some alco-bev. hmmm, I don't recall) the decor is mostly - as I said, super-cheesy. Like a really lame haunted house. I'm sure to keep tourists happy and not appalled, it must be that way, I get it.
Going on Saturday afternoon- for my nephew's birthday, was a different experience. The skits the place put on made me groan, and the waitstaff, though really friendly, was a little lacking in the service department and clearly trained to be geared to tourists. (If I'd have heard the extra perky "So, where are you guys from?" one more time.... ) Still, it wasn't the worst experience of my life, and we made the best of it. It was for the kiddies anyway.
Very pricey- and they gave fries with every order without asking, and then charged for them separately on the bill. That added up, since we were a party of like 12 or 14. For the 4 kids that were supposed to have gotten their fries with the kids meals - they did issue a credit adjustment for that.
Great! Very very fun place to go! Loved all the entertainment, waiters, and actors. The decorations and environment was superb as well was the food.
I tasted the food of others at the table and all their food including mine was delicious. Even though it is fairly expensive it's definitely worth the trip.
I remember going here when I was fifteen and seeing the city for the first time. This place rocked! The food was good. It was themed, but not overdone or cheesy in any way.
I go several years later and it's so NOT the place I remember. The food wasn't horrible, but was nothing better than your standard chain. It was almost overrun with kids. Seeing that's the age that they want to be pleasing at the moment, I wasn't surprised, but there were a ton. If I had known this is what it had changed to, I would not have selected it.
The only reason to go here is purely for the atmosphere. The restaurant itself is cool. The staff is great and the little shows and props all over the place are great. You pay purely for the ambience. The food sucks so keep it cheap.
The rating is purely for the restaurants decor and the staff.
So,I've been here a few times and I must say that this definitely has to be one of the most bizarre places that I've ever eaten at. I get that it's a themed place and you are there to be entertained and all but nothing there is very entertaining. Yes, some of the props come to life, but it's all quite cheesy.
The menu at first glance appears to be an overpriced version of a TGI Friday's menu and only half of the table was pleased with their entrees. The people that stuck with the burgers and sandwiches said the food was great and the people that ventured over to the entree section didn't choose wisely. Again, the drinks, overpriced as well. and served in souvenir cups should you choose to purchase them.
Ahahah. I had forgotten about this place.
I went years ago on a High School trip (this seems to be a trend with this place I think) and the food was inedible. We were also sequestered to our own room (upstairs I think?) so I don't think we got to experience much of the ambiance.
That being said I think at one point we stood on our chairs and sang along to Werewolves of London. That was quite fun but I think it was only because we couldn't eat the food and were desperate to make our own entertainment.
If you are looking for an average meal and a place to possibly scare the crap out of your younger kids this is a fun place to go. They go through a little 'orientation' on the way in and the staffing seems, for the most part, really into the experience. The food is probably average though the waiter considered the blacken tuna I order to be 'bangin' - it was good but I will reserve 'bangin' for a better place. The four stars are for the combination of the food and entertainment.
Let me start by saying this wasn't my idea. Even though I'm a tourist in nyc, I know better. However, a certain New Jersian :) coworker had planned for us to check out Jeklyll & Hyde for dinner before a show we were seeing nearby. None of us came with much expectation, so we weren't terribly disappointed....UNTIL we saw the $11 entertainment fee slapped onto our bill?!!?!!?!
I thought it was... A) a bad idea of them to point out the extra fuss was 'entertainment' B) bad in general that they pointed it out separately from C) the already overpriced food/drinks.
Ohh c'mon!
This place sux ass now. It was super cool when they JUST opened it up - 100+ beers from all over the world, weird characters, no kids, cool atmosphere. THEN seems like it changed hands and it went down shit slop and became kiddy tourist attraction. Bleah, how uncool!
If you want some of that coolness go to the original one in the village.
The best thing I can say about this place is it wasn't as bad as Mars 2112.
Pros:
- Fun decorations
- Some of the props "come to life," which is kind of cool
- Hidden bathrooms
Cons:
- EXPENSIVE
- Bad food
- They don't accept credit cards (I ran to my bank a few blocks away, almost costing me and my friend our place in the loooong line)
- EXPENSIVE (it has to be said twice)
And this is coming from someone who loves theme restaurants.
Meh. Ok it's a dinner and a show type deal. You pay for the entertainment and well you don't really get entertained. Came here around Christmas time so they had this whole upside down Christmas tree holiday type theme. I admit the decorations was nice and the whole entire concept was interesting, but execution wise not so much?
When you first enter they have this hallway where I guess suppose to "get you in the mood" with this little skit type thing. It doesn't really. We got seated on the second floor which probably made the whole thing worse. The servers are suppose to be in character, but there was only one person that was. She was entertaining at first, then her bit just got annoying. All you want to say is please leave us alone.
I got the chicken pot pie and it was a little salty. The crust was good. The food isn't that spectacular. The show they did wasn't anything grand. Just a bunch of gadgets going up and down, lights, and smoke everywhere.
I wouldn't really waste money here. The dishes are average I guess, maybe $12ish or so. You also had to pay for the entertainment. It was just a few dollars if I remember correctly, but still. Pay for entertainment? What entertainment? The only thing good is the decor. The experience? Not so much.
When reading this review, after every sentence please add "We wanted to blow our brains out."
We planned to go to Esca, but were rerouted by a 13 year-old who adamantly hates seafood, so we ended up here. Goth for tykes, sort of, and if you enjoy animatronic mummies talking to you while you look at a postage stamp of brie on a saharan tasting chicken breast, you might like this place.
In a symbiotic relationship, profoundly annoying live entertainers run around, distracting you from the appalling food. The appalling food distracts you from the pseudoactors, who think they're performing for an audience of Special Ed kids.
I couldn't find the men's room. I had to ask one of the entertainers who immediately slid into stage patter. After I responded, "Look. Where's the goddamn men's room?" He coyly pointed to a false bookcase, indicating it was behind it. Even the men's room failed to provide quiet respite: a ghost-face was embedded in the mirror.
The only genuinely horrific element in this place was the cost. Even the 13 year-old hated this place, and expressed a willingness to try seafood next time.
This past March I traveled with a group to NYC and this place was on our list of group dinners. After checking out the website, I was excited and had pretty high hopes for the place- it looked pretty cool. We were to choose from 5 or 6 different entrees, and I chose the chicken fingers. I thought they were WAY overcooked.. the only good part were the curly fries, but even those weren't my favorite.
The "show" was a bit of a bust- unless you're seated on the ground floor, you have to watch it through dinky little TV's positioned throughout. The comedians that came around to the tables were the best part, I think.
Oh, also the decorations. those were good too.
Like my review of the Pub, the food sucks -- you're paying for the entertainment and atmosphere however with this location you've got much more entertainment going on. The staff is hilarious and very much what their costumes portray. And say you aren't entertained by all of that then you've got the talking statues, creatures and (provided it's still there and works) the upstairs had a small arcade. Do not go here expecting the world though -- it's hilariously fun especially if you go with people whose never been and can take a joke.
Ok. So. We knew what we were going to "get" when we ventured out to Jekyll and Hyde Club. But things went down hill from the start... In the little foyer area, I was grabbed and practically kissed by the Host. In the dark. On my neck. I know that it was part of the whole theater of the place, but I could feel his hot breath on my neck even after we sat down for dinner. This is with me pushing him off. Horrible.
I felt like walking out at that moment, but my friend and I wanted to see what was up inside since we often see the advertising truck roaming around the streets. The truck is cooler than the place. Perhaps it was because it was a Thursday evening, or maybe because the economy is slow right now- but this place was EMPTY. 10 other people in there for three (?wtf?!) floors of "entertainment". Which included a man akin to Lurch from the Adam's Family walking around and incessantly talking to 3 tables. Non stop. All 30 mins we were there. I could see a kid having a fun time there on a packed evening. But this night was not that. After we got our beers and mozzarella sticks (we figured we'd have at least a beer before we left) we still couldn't overcome the creeping smell of the bathrooms. Tables were uncleared from when we walked in and it is the kind of place that makes you think maybe there are some health code violations. Food is MEGA overpriced for the quality. I think the only way you could have a good time here is by kicking back several shots. Save your money, go to a better "theme" restaurant. This one sucks.
This review is not based on the food, so flag it if you must! We attempted to go to Jekyll & Hyde based on recommendations from friends. The outside screams of a tourist trap but still, it looked cool enough. There were a few skeletons and other delightfully morbid items outside that peaked my interest!
When we attempted to go in, the doorman said that we needed to go wait behind the ropes and someone would come get us shortly. Oddly enough, there was no other people waiting in line and it was the middle of the afternoon on a rainy Wednesday. How could there be a wait??? Still, the doorman made us wait several minutes before coming back outside.
By that point we had noticed a sign saying that due to the extreme entertainment that Jekyll & Hyde provides each customer is charged a $2.75 entry fee. How lame is that???? I refuse to be charged to eat at a restaurant. Sorry!
So.........we left! Flag away if you must but I felt that it was important for potential customers to be aware of the fee.
how appropriate a name for this restaurant, because after eating the food here, and seeing the "entertainment" I felt like Jeklylling and Hyding underneath the table.
Talk about tourist trap! And a pretty expensive one at that. Now where's the Fashion Cafe or Planet Hollywood when you need them?
we came back and the kids enjoyed themselves once again. It did seem a little more rushed and the Knight had fun with us instead of Zeus. A bit more expensive with limited food compared to last time. The guy with the Fez was hilarious and the crazy Italian butler was a big hit with the girls.
I went here years and yearsa go and enjoyed myself but I had a blast a few years ago when I took… Read more »
What a disappointment. Save your money and go somewhere else. The food is expensive and the entertainment is horrible! Definitely a place for tourists and enthusiasts of theater.
If you enjoy having ladies scream up and down the aisle, people hovering over you while eating, and having conversations interrupted then this is the place for you! On top of what you pay for the meal, each person must pay an additional $2.75? for the entertainment that was provided for you. Thanks but no thanks. I would never go back there again!
A HORRIBLE place to take on a date. (Unless of course as mentioned above, the person is an enthusiast of theater or of themed restaurants.)
Judging from the lines, this is a hot place for a 5-12 year old birthday party. Check out the downtown branch for a more adult crowd.
The skeletons on the sidewalk give me the creeps.
Think theme park Disneylandish Haunted Mansion fun house?!
If you're a young'un or have kids, this is your type of place. You come here to get entertained and to have a good meal -- even dining with skeletons or ghosts. haha Remember the ride through the graveyard in the Mansion? Things I think could have gone better were the long lines outside to get a table and the prices. A bit steep, but they have to pay the performers some how. The food was average, but you get to watch a show all around you. In order to go to the potty -- tap the bookcase 2x to enter! Don't get lost in there...
This place is horrible. The food sucks and is overpriced. you would think for the amount you're paying, you'd at least get some decent food. There is also a $2 service fee added onto the bill for the "entertainment" that they don't provide. The only good part was the waiter and even he got annoying. Also, the place is cramped so good luck walking around and even more luck to you if you have to use the restroom. Only 2 stalls, one sink, and no space between any of them. Also, each floor only has a men's or women's bathroom, not both so you have to figure out which floor you need to be on.
And the worst part is that they only accept Amex. Now I have an Amex but a lot of people don't, also a lot of people don't carry cash (myself included) so if you're going with a group, make sure you hit the ATM first.
I used to work at 9 West 57th Street and I remember being excited when I found out that this theme restaurant was being built. I have since been on two different occasions I and I am not sure why I was excited. The ride at the entrance way is not worth the wait. The Pub in Greenwich village is better and probably cooler.
My general rule is to stay away from them restaurants but I took me a while to make that rule. I tried all of the theme restaurants when they opened in NY during the 90s.
I had come to this place since I was 14yrs old. Sure the theme was kinda cool and entertaining.. grew stale after a couple visits, but the ONLY thing I cared about was the mac and cheese plate. They used like 4 different types of cheeses that melted me from the inside out.
It use to be my "have to come here when in NYC" spot, but now that the mac n cheese dish is gone.... so will I.
You suck! Bring it back!!!!!
* on an awkward note, I got hit on by our waiter the 3rd time I came here when I was 15. Sure it felt cool, but looking back.. man! that dewd was in his 20's, sick!!!*
This is the "uptown" (midtown, technically) cousin to the pub that you'll find in the West Village, and it's definitely a lot different. The pub is much smaller and more intimate, but they are certainly related. You just have to look closely to find the similarities.
First, start outside. The midtown edition is designed for tourists - no doubt about it. The four-story facade and entranceway is more like a theme park entrance, and if the line is too long, enjoy it and move along. If your wait is more than a few minutes, it's simply not worth it. If there is a small wait, or better yet, no wait at all, head on in. But make sure you pack cash and plenty of it (or American Express).
The food isn't that good, and it's really overpriced. The only real reason to go is for the floor show. Well, that and the wall show and the immersive experience. It's all around you. It happens everywhere. Don't go for a quiet drink or dinner. Take the kids, or just act like one yourself and be prepared to spend plenty of money doing it.
If you just want the experience without quite so much of a show, and perhaps a little less of the "stuff" that goes with it, go to the Village location instead. The prices are about the same, and it's a bit more cramped, but it's a more enjoyable experience overall and less kid-friendly.
Good food, horribly overpriced, terrible service, and mediocre entertainment. It was so much more enjoyable when it first opened.
If you're looking for the spooky atmosphere, go to Slaughtered Lamb in the Village.
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