Revolver

Revolver.  Beyond the forbidding (and heavy) black door: a new rock-n-roll bar on the LES with a very accommodating DJ and - drumroll - cheap drinks!  Some of their specialty cocktails sound so deathly I'm too scared to try them (think tequila... infused with jalapenos and mixed with more strong liquor, *cringe*), but they seem apropos.  We came here to celebrate a friend's birthday, and they'd reserved us the little elevated space in the back next to the DJ stand - and filled it with orange and black balloons, which was a nice touch.  

The crowd was great - not too hipster, not too Snitch - and because the bar is new and way east, you could hear everyone outside on their cell phones saying something like "It's called Revolver... it's new... cross street is Pitt... no I don't know what that's near, just walk east.  No, more east."

Good times.  We always go back.

I wasn't sure what to think of Revolver because the first thing I saw when the door swung open was a couple making out drunkenly and we thought great, its a college frat party. But I warmed to the venue - the dance area was a decent size for the crowd, plenty of seating, the DJ's looked fun and played a decent mix of hip hop, rock, and classics. No cover or line either. So why the 2 star rating?

Well, because their fake blonde bitch of a bartender was the worst bartender I have ever encountered. I always factor service in but usually don't let it affect the rating much. But here goes. The standard frustrations from bartenders are expected- ie only taking orders from cute guys, making bad drinks, refusing to give you anything but Voss water for 5 bucks a pop -but this one shouldn't have a job in the service industry unless it involves wiping my ass. After ignoring us to flirt with some guy, she got pissed when we ordered a drink more complicated than 2 ingredients (a sidecar), asking what the hell that was. So I ask my friend what she would like instead but before I can get an answer she snaps, "are you ordering or what" because it is our fault she sucks at her job. Then I taste my drink and realize she used soda water instead of sprite for my drink. I tell her that and she makes another face at me and slams the new one in front of me. I tell my friend who is buying the round to make sure she doesnt charge us for the old drink and she yells at us for asking. To top it all of, my friend being the nice guy he is and not wanting to piss her off further gives her a good tip as if to say thank you for being the biggest bitch in the history of bartenders.

Ah, Revolver.

Sick of Snitch? Want your rock n roll? Revolver is it. With tables (and classi-ly no bottle service) and plenty of room to dance (you have to elbow your way around a bit) it takes the cake as my rock and roll bar. The music is always good and the owner, Bobby, is super sweet and usually around. He knows everyone cool in town (obvs...we're talking rock and roll here, people!).

Go introduce yourself and make Revolver your rock and roll bar, too. A great place to bring friends-and a part of the LES you rarely see-being so far down keeps the riff raff out! Perf~

I'm just not a bar person in general, but this place was really cheap for drinks and my friends had a good time.

The first night I went there the DJ was a tiny girl with a Marge Simpson style beehive hairdo spinning great rock music.  Also, I might the owners who were very cool.  I hang out on Rivington a lot, but never made it down this far very often.  Now I try to go back when I can, though it can be a little inconsistent.