- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Taj Lounge
Categories: Nightlife Bars Lounges Restaurants Indian Event Planning & Services Venues & Event Spaces Lounges, Indian, Venues & Event Spaces [Edit]
48 W 21st St(between 5th Ave & Broadway)
New York, NY 10010
Neighborhood: Flatiron
(212) 620-3033
- Nearest Transit:
-
23 St (F, M)
23 St (N, R)
23 St (1, 2)
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Ambience:
- Classy, Trendy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
166 reviews for Taj Lounge
Review Highlights
"I have a great time at Taj MOST of the time."
(in 11 reviews)
"Taj has salsa dancing with a live band on Monday nights."
(in 5 reviews)
"Hip hop, reggae and reggaeton galore."
(in 32 reviews)
Loading...
166 reviews in English
-
Review from Quasona C.
Manhattan, NY
I'm only giving Taj 3 stars because I was in good company.
I came her for dinner and drinks with co-workers on a Thursday evening to celebrate a birthday. We sat for dinner and was charged $2 for coat check. The place was empty except for a few groups having dinner and 4 people at the bar.
The sliders and Bombay fries were sooo delicious. We got there in time for there 2 for 1 special so we definitely racked up on drinks. I found their drinks to be pretty watered down so I had to ask for the rest of them with just 2 cubes of ice.
The DJ must have been having a bad night or just didn't play a good mix. He would go from oldies to new to r&b to dance and then to rap. Just as we were getting into the song he would cut into the record with something else.
I'm not sure if on all Thursday night's they hist a live band but they did this time and I was definitely was not impressed. -
Review from Chris D.
Brooklyn, NY
12/17/2011
WARNING 20% GRATUITY AUTOMATICALLY ADDED TO BILL
This place is horrible. We went here to meet a friend for drinks around 8pm on a Friday night. They charge $2 for the mandatory coat check. What is this Cielo? This was the first clue that this place would be lame.
When we walked in there was maybe 10 people on the main floor and speed dating on the top floor. The decor was dated and dingy. I ordered a Ketel and soda and my girlfriend had The Elderflower. The bartender (Wanda) made my drink and then proceeded to make my girlfriend's specialty cocktail. I waited a long time to hand the girl my card to start a tab but she was busy chatting with the other bartender so I assumed she already started one for me since the drinks were on the bar. I handed my girlfriend the drink and a few minutes later she was like oh, I need to pour champagne in her drink still, so I had to return the drink so she could complete it. I'm sorry but staff should be attentive and fast. Don't make your customers wait while you gossip with your colleague. I would understand if they were discussing something about bar, but it was clearly nothing to do with work. It just rubbed me the wrong way.
When I picked up my drink I noticed how light the glass was. It was plastic; as was the martini glass my girlfriend's drink was in. I ended up having 5 ketel and sodas and she had 2 Elderflower drinks. She enjoyed her drink but I was going through mine very quickly because they were singles. We split the caramelized mushroom tart and it wasn't bad. By this point a few more people showed up and lets just say it was good people watching.
We decided to leave and I asked for my tab. It was $134 dollars. I was surprised. I then noticed that they charge $13 for each Ketel and soda which weren't even doubles. Most bars and restaurants in the city charge less and give you a double. I then noticed that they automatically added 20% ($20.80) gratuity. Now this was BS. This explains why service wash't great because they know they will get their 20% regardless of how well they perform. I usually tip a dollar per drink at the bar and 20% if Im eating a meal. They also give you a second separate receipt in which they run your card through one of those hand run credit card machines that makes an impression of your card. I didn't feel great about this because it has your credit card number, expiration date and name at the top of it. WTF is that all about? If you were to drop this anyone could charge to your card. This made me feel uneasy since I've had identity theft 3 times now from my card being skimmed.
Bottom line: This place is tacky. -
Review from Eddie H.
New York, NY
12/15/2011
Taj Lounge is probably one of the sleekest salsa venues here in NYC - I'll give it that. Given that the salsa night is on a Monday, it helps to eliminate some (not all) the bad crowds that might come by during the weekends. Vanessa Williams keeps promoting it on her Facebook page but everyone one I've talked to has yet to actually see her there (not sure if it's a plug for the venue - it is what it is).
The dance floor is spacious and in good condition. There is lots of plenty of tables for seating but most if not all for those who have rsvp'd for them (so net message, not much available seating). The instructor was good and super helpful but the class started a bit late (so instead of being 60 minutes, it lasted about 45 minutes). It was a bit hard to concentrate at times during the lesson as a promoter/DJ kept taking pictures from behind the booth (probably for promotional purposes). Again a bit annoying but what are you going to do.
The lessons are suppose to start at 6:30 and end at 7:30. In between the lesson and the band coming on stage, it's pretty dead crowd. Most salsa venues feature more dancing in between this time but not here. It's probably another way for the venue to make money by getting people to buy drinks.The turnout before the dancing really gets into gear is about 50% staff, 30% regulars, and 10% of those thinking dancing would actually start after the lesson as opposed to having a lull to wait out.
Charges to look out for-
-20% gratuity on credit cards after 'x' pm... 10 maybe? I understand this but the sign is hidden prior so if you open your card earlier in the night and close it after, not sure if this applies. If it does, seems a bit sneaky.
-$2 mandatory coat check; not sure if it's per item or per person/per item.
-$8 cover before 7pm; $12Listed in: NYC Salsa Dancing
-
Review from Michelle Y.
Hewlett, NY
1/6/2012
Yelp really needs to have a "no star" option. There is nothing redeeming about this place. Mandatory coat check on a Thursday night when there's only a handful of people inside? No thanks. I was meeting people for the first time and the music was so loud you couldn't hear yourself think. Again, THURSDAY NIGHT, TEN PEOPLE INSIDE. No need for first pumping music when people are trying to talk.
Ordered a drink, got the wrong drink. Fine...but it was AWFUL. Tasted like rubbing alcohol and water. Got scammed out of some money, awful customer service. I don't know how they stay in business. Also, they should have checked their drink menu before they printed copies of it because it listed the same exact Pinot Grigio twice. -
Review from Michel L.
Lithonia, GA
2/5/2012
I went to TAJ riday night I had the best time. It was my girlfriends birthday we had 20ppl with us. What i enjoyed most was I had no problem getting IN the drinks was flowing and the music was SICK!! She had the best birthday ever. We will be back for all of our birthdays. we dint have dinner but we had the wings and they were delicious. Had a BALL!
-
Review from Paula P.
West Covina, CA
1/13/2012
I always have a great time here!!!!! I always come at night with my friends..Its almost club-like! Good music...Good looking people...
-
Review from Nicquel D.
Philadelphia, PA
1/1/2012
Came here last night for New Years Eve.Had a blast! Outside of people trying to mooch off our VIP seats (could've been managed WAY better) it was great. Music was awesome, DJ did his thing. I love the mixed crowd! Bathrooms were clean & even had a guy outside ( who was quite the comedian) selling candies and breath smell goods lol Open bar was all night basically and the bartender- she was a cute, efficient, NICE and good bartender!Worked the bar ( VIP) solo all night. Where do you get a knock out combo like that?
Other than the girl at the coat check forgot to give me my change after I handed her a $20 bill, service was great... it was NYE.. wad'dya expect? I would SO def' do it again! I'd love to go on a regular Friday or Saturday night see how the crowd is. So glad me and my friend decided to party here! :-) -
Review from Jo G.
Manhattan, NY
9/30/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I like the decor of this place. Sleek, fun, & intriguing. I went for a b-day party. They had lots of reggae music & as the night went on, more top 40's R&B and rap. The drinks definitely could have been less expensive. And the dress code was really lax :/
Be prepared, if you use your credit card for the bar, they automatically add 20% gratuity, not 18%. Never heard of a bar/lounge doing that. This isn't dinner, thanks.
Enjoyable, but not somewhere I'd frequent too often. -
Review from Henali P.
Manhattan, NY
8/13/2011
This place is like right next to Slate which is why we randomly walked in last night.
Pros:
-Cute decor
-Friendly doormen who let us girls in for free even past 2am :)
Cons:
-Even tho this is supposed to be an Indian place, I found it to be more of a ghetto crowd type of place (disappointment!).
-There were creepers everywhere trying to hit on us
-It was an experience, we walked out in 15 mins -- now that tells something! -
Review from Samira S.
11/7/2011
Taj Lounge was a random decision one day, a friend of mine had a small birthday gathering here. This review isn't going to be extremely in depth because, well, I was super drunk when I got here. Not gonna lie. BUT, I will tell you what I do remember.
The Elderflower drink is amazing. So light, but yet liquory enough to get you buzzed if you get two. 14 dollars amazing? Eh. I wouldn't come here to buy it just cause, but since there was a special occasion, it was okay. I think the highlight of my visit here were the Spiced Wings. Now those were 2nd visit worthy. Very crunchy, and saucy. Not quite barbeque flavor, more like smoked with a slight basting of mesquite. Divine.
The music here was okay, modern stuff, nothing too fancy. The decor was very cool, and the servers were polite and explained things very well.
....and that's all I can remember. But I think I'd come back, but I may pre-game again since those drinks are a lil high priced for me. -
Review from Phil L.
Astoria, NY
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Taj Lounge, it's so cool you have to pay cover just to come in on a Monday night and a mandatory coat check! $10.00 to get in the door only to discover the place was empty. Ordered the "Bombay Fries" which were pretty lame, they were just regular fries with probably a dash of old bay seasoning to it. I would highly recommend avoiding eating any of the food here if you know what real Indian food should taste like. On the positive side, they hold salsa dancing here on Mondays which starts at 6:30 (it started later). Afterwards everyone dances salsa and they people at the lesson were definitely not beginners. Watching people dance afterwards, it became clear they really did not need lessons! So beware, get ready to bust those moves when you get here! Ambiance is pretty nice and the price of admittance/drinks/food is pretty high. The Sari and Elderflower were both good drinks but super light on the alcohol.
-
Review from Rose F.
New York, NY
9/13/2011
Went partying on a Friday night after a long day and just wanted to relax. Got there, my promoter came out and my group was let in immediately (ya gotta know people for nightlife in NYC). Dancing was good, except for all the guys randomly standing in the middle of the dance floor doing absolutely nothing but staring at women...WTF??!!
Anyway, had fun with my girls, the music was great and actually left when the lights came on :) -
Review from mercedes m.
Miami, FL
7/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great music...plenty of dance space....no cover charge (for women) and men are not afraid to dance and ask women to dance. I don't know if there is a cover charge regularly...I was visiting from out of town and took a moment to celebrate with my fellow Blue and Whites (Sigmas/Zetas).
I don't know about the prices for the drinks ...because a few friendly people were treating me to libations :-).
One negative -- is that they do check your bags thoroughly ...I felt like I was being frisked by the airport TSA ...I'm told that it can get rowdy at times.
There are plenty of taxis around - just make sure you know alternate routes to your place...otherwise the yellow cabbies will try to take the long and delayed route to run the meter. -
Review from Lenna P.
6/17/2011
I came here for a friend of a friends birthday. I had been here a couple of years ago and I remember leaving after 10 mins. So yeah, I wasnt excited to go back. Suprisingly, it was much better the second time around.
We were in a VIP section on the balcony...yes I felt cool and important for about 5 minutes. The VIP area was really small and we had to share it with another group. We got there really early and we each got two free drinks (girls only, have to use them before midnight).
The music: The dj was okay. He played some good hip-hop songs. He played a lot of old school hip-hop as well, music that you cant really dance to.
Drinks are really expensive and weak. The bartenders all have attitudes. This place gets really crowded. So crowded that it took us 10 minute to make it out the door. I think I only smoked one cigarette throughout the entire night, I was too afraid I wouldnt make it out alive.
Probably wont go back. -
Review from Brittany A.
Queens Village, Queens, NY
I came in here on a Saturday might with an 8:30 reservation for my friend's birthday. We were running late. Called the spot and they were okay with holding our table. What little darlings.
We arrived a little before 9. We all had to show our ids. They glanced at them and then let us head in to our table. It was beautiful inside. Not too crowded. It was dimly lit and the decor is gorgeous. Very clean and all the workers were very well dressed. They sat us at a table in the front and then asked if we preferred a booth. Who doesnt love a booth?! So we all got up and scurried to the back. Our new table was directly next to the dj booth and the bathroom was in a little hall beside us. There was a bunch of people up top doing some light partying.
Our waiter, I only wish I knew this man's name. He was awesome. Hilarious and a total diva. We could not get enough of him. He was very friendly and made plenty of jokes with us. He brought this delicious water to our table and gave us a minute to look over the menu. He went over the drinks and gave us a few suggestions. After our drink orders he left and returned with them maybe 10 minutes later. All the while we were snapping pix and dancing to the music. The menu isn't all that extensive so it didn't take long for us to decide what we wanted. He came back and took our orders. He was quick and had an awesome memory. Didn't write a single thing down. It was 6 of us. He made fun of one girl who couldn't decide what she wanted. He was awesome. We danced more in our chairs and chatted and our food arrived maybe 20 to 25 minutes after that.
Now you wanna talk about delicious food?! Like ...what?! I had the salmon with spinach and rice. To keep it simple it was scrumbtious. The girls stared at me in astonishment at how quickly my food was consumed. I couldn't stop and I don't play about my food. That salmon was swimming in my belly before the dj could get a new song on. It was lovely. Slightly crisp , tender on the inside. Rice was well flavored. The spinach was creamy but not soupy and very tasty. That along with my little malibu and pineapple put me in high spirits.
Now let me warn you, that one cocktail did not even provide a buzz. I drank nearly a whole 2 liters of that delicious water beforehand though so maybe I just was too hydrated. At any rate, it was tasty.
The bathroom was spotless. Very clean. Not too big but It wasn't crowded during dinner hours. There was a table outside the bathroom with a young woman there selling mints and candy and different things. I didn't buy anything but there was quite a selection.
After eating, our waiter continued to come by. He would briskly walk by and say, "Ya'll chilling?" Of course we'd laugh and assure him we were all fine. He'd flip his scarf and keep moving. (I really do love him). Another server, gorgeous, came over a few times and talked to us. Wished my friend a happy birthday and everything. They asked if we were staying to party.
When the check was brought out to us it was easy to decipher and had no sus unaccounted for chargers. I ended up paying $40. Including tax and tip. Not bad at all.
We lingered in our seats for a while and then saw that the dance floor was getting crowded. The music was cool so we got up and kicked it old school for a little while. The music was decent. Some old tunes. Probably gets better as the night goes on. Spotted some youngings. A nice mixed crowd. After dancing to some tunes by the leader of the Jackson 5, we stuck around for a few more songs then made our exit. It was crowded and it was still early so I'm sure it picks up.
All in all we had a really good time. Music was a bit old school which is why I only gave 4 stars. I'd come back for the food and i'd also come back and stay later to get a better feel for the club vibe. -
Review from Danielle L.
Brooklyn, NY
3/13/2011
On the evening of March 12th 2011 my party and I were denied entrance to Taj Night club. This was due to a misunderstanding that led to a verbal altercation with a member of my party and their entry staff. Even though I had already entered the club with half of my party I was told to exit. I was left with no word on the status of my reservation and payment.
In addition I would like to say that the situation was handled very poorly by their staff members. Due to lack of professionalism and compassion, the staff threw me out on my own birthday. Things did not go according to the plan that the events coordinator and I spoke about on the phone.
I was very upset on my birthday and left out on the streets. I eventually brought my party to 40/40 nightclub.
Do not book any party with Taj. You will save yourself from grief. -
Review from Stephanie F.
Brooklyn, NY
6/11/2011
I came here for a friends birthday yesterday night. None of us going had ever been here before so we weren't quite sure what type of scene to expect. Nonetheless, we dressed to impress and showed up around 12am.
Walking up towards the door, there was a huge line outside. Most of the line consisted of black men. They looked to be about 25 + years of age. Suffice to say, it was not the "diverse" crowd I had read about on Taj.
The bouncer plucked my friends and I out from the line and let us skip the black men ahead of us. I'm assuming it's for male-female ratio. Since we arrived after 12am, we had to pay a cover. $20 for girls after 12am is ridiculous! Luckily that door price was reduced since we claimed to be on some special guest list. Whatever. Under normal circumstances I would have left but my friends were already inside. The bouncer and the rest of the staff were very friendly, although we had our bags inspected before we came in. OH, and they pat you down.
Inside it wasn't as crowded as it looked on the outside. There was ample room by the bar, and the dance area was pretty roomy as far those go. The drinks at the bar were overpriced! $12 for a shot of tequila. $9 for a gin and tonic that was sooooo watered down.
There was a second level area that over looked the bar and dance floor. The music was mostly reggae and early hip hop. Since it's not really my type of music, I can't rate the DJ on how well he did. Although, he did keep screaming into the mic several annoying phrases, "Where my single, independent ladies at?!" "Where my alcoholics at?!" This was repeated every 10-15 minutes. Really annoying.
I probably would not come back to this lounge. The crowd and the music were not to my taste. I prefer top 40 when I go to the clubs. It's clear that this lounge services a specific type of person. If you're not into older hip hop, reggae, reggaeton, and dancehall type music, skip this place. -
Review from Candyce P.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 4/26/2011
I loved this place the first time I went two years ago, and I am still a fan now.
The hubby and I visited on a Saturday night for a frriend's party, so we had a few tables upstairs for most of the night.
We ended up on the main floor for the remainder and the place was packed!
It's a good mix of people, and the music matches that. Lots of hiphop, house, reggaeton and dancehall! All my faves.
A definite go-to.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/2/2009
Disclaimer: read my review of Cielo. Then you'll understand why my review of Taj will be so… Read more »
-
-
Review from D L.
New York, NY
10/26/2011
Threw a birthday party here 2 months ago w/ ~45 guests. We all had a blast.
The management was easy to work with during the planning phase & the service staff was absurdly friendly and attentive to my guests (just make sure your guests don't try to roll in dressed too casually). We had the Mezzanine level mostly to ourselves & were able to head down to the main floor whenever we wanted to dance.
The appetizers were very good, which wasn't surprising, given that I've eaten here a number of times over the years & have always enjoyed the food, & the drink packages are reasonably priced. The DJ & Sound System were also both on point (esp if you like a mix of old-school hip-hop, new hip-hop & reggae).
This is the 2nd event I've thrown at a venue run by this management group, and both experiences were very good for me and my guests. -
Review from James A.
Manhattan, NY
10/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here for a bday party. 13 people in our group. Literally only 10 other people in the place max. Still took forever to get food, and when it came it was nothing special. This place is having an identity crisis - needs to stop serving food and just be the ghetto lounge it is.
-
Review from Josh W.
11/14/2010
Terrible place to go. Ridiculous line outside while the inside was kept pretty empty. When I was here I think the line was more than 100+ people long at 10pm and inside it was barely half full. I was here for a large group event and most of the people couldn't even get in. I'm used to waiting in line especially if the place is at capacity or the club needs to artificially create an aura of exclusiveness, but this was beyond ridiculous. At least there's free cover and standard priced NYC drinks (that is to say overpriced).
I see no reason to come here again -
Review from Jenn F.
Morganville, NJ
4/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Review is for Monday salsa nights.
Here's my background in Latin dance: nada.
Pros: the instructor teaches at a good pace; steps get easier to learn- gradual procession to spins.
Crowd is mostly friendly. The more experienced dancers were patient with my many mistakes. I am not used to being led so this was definitely a big change.
Con: not enough guys as partners; some of the men were Taj's staff. Even though they do have the moves, there aren't usually enough of them to cover the estrogen. One time, my girlfriends told me they had to double up with another female. The time I went, there were just enough men.
After the hour of instruction, it starts to get packed around 9pm. That's when the seasoned pros take the floor and the music pumps at a fast pace. I'm really rounding up from 3 & 1/2 stars because I had such a great time. -
Review from Manny B.
Southampton, NY
9/19/2011 17 Check-ins Here
Salsa on Mondays! I'm there!
-
Review from Helena H.
9/14/2010
This place is pretty descent and no cover (Well, I didn't pay it, hehehehh). But there's always a line even at 2 in the FREAKING MORNING!.
Music is always good in this spot, top 40's hip hop, reggae, mix of everything.
Everyone is Dressed to impress.
Drinks are not bad, good mix proportions.Listed in: NYC Bars and Lounges
-
Review from Christina R.
Ozone Park, NY
8/27/2010
I give Taj Lounge 1 star because .... well, we didn't even make it in the door.
I'm writing a review to warn everyone that THINKS they are having a birthday party here....to have a back up plan.
My best friend planned her 23rd birthday party here. We were in constant contact with a the club's party planner, and were assured that everything would be set for the evening. We were promised to be met at the door and to be walked rite in. No lines. No cover. No waiting. The day before the party we e-mailed the guest list to the planner, and everything seemed to be in order.
The night of the party, we arrived with our group of people, and proceeded to the front of the line to meet our planner.
Well, that's apparently not how it works here. They told us to get to the back of the line, and that a guest list did not matter.
We were treated very rude. No one wanted to hear that we had planned an event.
So, this is just a warning. I was extremely disappointed with the service . So beware when planning an event.
We ended up at Slate which is next door. It was very nice there so If you get shut out of Taj, tell them to keep there guest list and shove it!...walk over to slate, and have a good time ! -
Review from Sascha M.
9/13/2010
This is one of those meh places that you don't usually plan on going to but I have to say they always hook us girls up here. No waiting on line, no cover, free bottles...it's a solid stopping through spot when your initial plans don't work out.
It's usually super crowded here, so if you have to use the restrooms get ready to push your way through. The music is usually decent and the promoters are pretty friendly.Listed in: I just want to dance...
-
Review from Jonathan W.
Brooklyn, NY
12/10/2010
Taj is a fun place to go. My office had their holiday party here and I'd come once before. As one of my coworkers put it, this is where you bring your boo so nobody has to know. It's pretty dark, and well decorated (like the Taj Mahal).
If you're looking to have a huge spread with great eats at your office party, don't book here. But if you want some sweet drinks, have a go. They made these martinis with Elderflower Liquor and Champagne that were sinful. Two of those and I started to feel myself begin to slide down the rabbit hole.
The staff was friendly and attentive. I know on another I went there was no cover and it was packed but not ridiculously crowded. I wouldn't wait in line more than five to ten minutes at the door given the number of places to go out in that area but would go back for sure. -
Review from Melissa M.
Astoria, NY
11/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
My experience here was so hilariously awful, I can't even put it into words. My friend told me we were meeting her cousin at a Halloween party ... I was thinking at a bar, or someone's apartment. No, it was here, at Taj. I was so out of my element it wasn't even funny. We walked in and there was a huge line to check your coat. Well I didn't want to check my coat so I didn't have to worry about that. Wrong-o. They made us check our coats. And it was THREE DOLLARS. Exsqueeze me? Baking powder? I have to PAY for something you are MAKING me do? So then I was just a crabby ass for the half hour that I was forced to be there for, before demanding to leave. I think that is the norm, the whole coat checking thing, because we talked to some weirdos inside who didn't seem fazed by it. But I think they were fazed by me, the crabby ass. The clientele was so weird. It was either like 55 year olds dressed in elaborate Halloween costumes or really nerdy 22 year old guys. Either way, ROUGH.
-
Review from Renvie R.
Updated - 7/27/2010
Last Visit: 2.6.10
Last Thoughts:
- drinks are STILL expensive
- music was STILL good
- one star deducted because of the incoherent dude that cut in line for the coat check, insulted me and then starting with one of my guy-friends.
- another star deducted because of the bouncers that man-handled my friend, threw him on the floor and did absolutely nothing to the incoherent bastard that started the whole commotion.
Will I ever refer anyone here? NOPE. NEVER.1 Previous Review:
-
8/21/2008
drinks are ridiculously expensive. music is good though.
-
-
Review from Bob S.
Harvard, MA
5/29/2011
Super trendy, hipster nightspot. Lots of poseurs, (in the original English sense, not the punk sense.)
-
Review from Sarah A.
7/17/2010
When I'm forced to pay $14 for a shot of Patron, I better be having a wonder-freakin-ful night.
My girl planned her bday here but it was all a disaster. "Something happened" and she was forced to give up her table and bottle service. Fine. But then we learned the guest list didn't mean shit, as it doesn't at most of these "exclusive" clubs.
30 mins and $20 later, we were finally inside. Oh wait, fork over another $5 for mandatory coat check. Fine.
Inside was packed beyond belief - good luck knowing who the hell you're grinding up against. Oh wait, you were just trying to move past the crowd? Guess again. You've involuntarily rubbed your rump against at least 3 unsuspecting (or suspecting, read: creepy) people.
There wasn't enough $14 shots of Patron in this joint to save my night. -
Review from Maria W.
Elmhurst, Queens, NY
11/30/2010
Came here for an after party. I had a great time here. The music was good, the atmosphere was excellent, and I didn't have to wait in line since I was on a VIP list.
The drinks were pricey and a little strong for me.
I would definitely come back but I think the cover is about $40. -
Review from Ayana Y.
6/29/2010
Great Decor, Good DJ's, Nice Staff and if you get there early enough the food is good too!
My only complaint is that when it gets super crowded as it often does it also gets SUPER hot! -
Review from Terence M.
Fresh Meadows, NY
9/8/2010
I'm not a club person. At all. I can count the amount of times I've been to a club on one hand and still have a few fingers left over. So I'll preface my review with that.
Being said, Taj wasn't as bad as I expected. We got there around 10:30 on a saturday night. Was empty inside initially and we didn't have to pay the cover. About an hour later the place was packed and there was a line otuside. Nice. Fun atmosphere. A bit small, but they made sure it didn't get overcrowded. The DJ does play a lot of 90's stuff as a few others have mentioned, but as the night went on there was some more current stuff played. Drinks are overpriced, but you expect it from a place like this.
Am I suddenly going to become a clubber? no. But a place like this a surprisingly good time every so often. -
Review from Melissa B.
Brooklyn, NY
3/25/2011
Went here for a friends party and didn't like it. The place is pretty big inside and the decor is nice. All they really played all night was 90's hiphop. The crowd was mostly 28+ African American's highly dressed up. I left after an hour from boredom and lack of good tunes.
-
Review from Isabel L.
10/3/2009
I am almost a bit ashamed to admit that i have been here more than a few times now
they always say 3 is a charm....i say shame on me for taking 3 times to realize that this place is
One Gigantic shi*tshow that I never want to be a part of.
Sh*teous crowd, no d-bags, but downright ghetto
Music is decent, if you fancy Hip Hop that is...i'm not talking about top 40's hip hop..im talking about " Brooklyn we go hard" kind..if you know what i mean .
You'll only here me go " oooo...not another bday at Taj again"
and never go " TAJ..O hot damn, this is my jam, keep me party'in till the am"
On a side note, I would NEVER pay bottle service to get in here...its just not one of those " seen-to-be-seen worthy clubs, I see poor people standing outside with the d-bag bouncer tricking them to open 2 grey goose bottle for 8 people. Poor clueless clubbers have no idea they are being abused. !
12 hours later, I am still traumatized by:
- the sloppy face-sucking action witnessed by the bar
-2 cougars and a horny teen threesome grinding action -
Review from Hootie H.
New York, NY
12/26/2008
I was here recently for a private event, so while I cannot comment on the 'usual' crowd, I can say that it was a decent experience. Taj is easy to get to, spacious, and drinks aren't *too* expensive (I have my NYC goggles on when 11$ is a bargain for a drink).
The decor is a little over-the-top but kindof chintzy-fun in a way.
I would go back for a similar event. -
Review from Sonlay V.
6/3/2011
Surprisingly the place was better than I thought it would be. I read all the negative reviews so I was very cautious about going to this place. However, I still did for my friend's birthday. Generally everything was good. Music was alright, bartenders wore sexy outfits, there was a lounge area on the top, and the place was good for big groups. The only issue I had was the security. They aren't that friendly and make sure you are good to go in. I guess that is a good thing, but I don't need to be questioned and touched-down by 3 people.
-
Review from Lauren C.
New York, NY
7/22/2007
Amid a sea of similar lounges in the Flatiron area, Taj stands out as more intimate, chill and funky than the rest. The door can be a bit of a bitch, but if you're with a group or are there for a special occasion you can skip the $20 cover and hit up the bar extra hard. Loved the music - mostly 90s/recent hip/hop and rap.
Did not love the RIDICULOUS photo shoot going on in the booth behind us the entire night. Couldn't believe the bottle service prices, though I guess if you're paying over 10 per drink, a 300 dollar bottle isn't so much worse if you plan to stick around and want a table. Surprisingly, my friends and I parked ourselves at a table and didn't get immediately badgered or thrown out!
I had a great time shaking my ass and throwing back too expensive drinks. Though they may be expensive, they were all damn good and strong - a plus and a rarity. Great for special occasions - I'd love to have a party there! -
Review from Chung T.
Brooklyn, NY
11/25/2009
Which genius came up with this name? I think I'm gonna start a new club/ lounge and call it JAT. No more promoters, boxy layout, with obnoxiously loud music with DJ's that talks too much. No, I'm parting ways with all the VIP tables and I'll just plug in my ipod with an occasional shout out. (No, not to anyone from the five boroughs). Oh yeah, it's BYOB. Yeah, now we're talking.
Back to Taj. I've been here several times for happy hour during the week, and there's usually no cover. On the weekend, it's $20 bux if you're on a guest list. Why do they call it a guest list when I still have to pay? (must be the same genius that came up with the name "TAJ"). The crowd varies depending on the "occasion", which is fine by me as I like a more diverse crowd. On the weekend, it seems like all the Asians/Caucasians go to Slates and everyone else goes to Duvet or Taj. If you want to know what type of crowd's popping on a given night, just walk by. It's pretty obvious by the lines outside.
Next time you're at the Flatiron area, just look for the nice new spot next to Taj, my new club JAT. I'll be there!
IListed in: Say no to drugs..
