Cleopatra's Needle

If you're going for the jam session, be forewarned. It's a rhythm section gangbang, usually at least 5 horn players per tune. I've seen as many as 12 line up single file, take 15 choruses each on a "Green Dolphin St.", then pack up and leave mid tune.

I saw the "NY on $40" show on the TV Food Network, and I tried the Moussakah here, and my sister (also a vegetarian) tried the everything appetizer. The Moussakah was really good, the side dishes (rice and veggies) were a bit plain, though. The everything appetizer was also really good, served with hot pita bread. (We didn't try any of the meat stuff). The prices are a bit high, but this is New York, so that's to be expected. I really loved the music, as well. There aren't many places to hear live jazz with no cover, and the band that night was excellent. I thought the service and atmosphere were OK. Oh, and try the chocolate Martini.

I visited this restaurant for dinner with my fiance on a weeknight around 6pm month of June 2004. We were unimpressed. The live jazz in the corner was the only thing good about this place. The bus service was horrible. The young male buser hung around the bar while having to ask regularly to have our water glasses filled (we were at times the only table there). While the menu items seemed promising, the wait time was long and the food was disappointing. The sauces were poorly seasoned, the mixed vegetables overcooked, and the meat tough. All this while paying over $15 an entre. Certainly not worth it for dinner.