Tenth Street Lounge
212 East 10 Street
(Btwn 1st & 2nd Aves)
NY, NY 10003
(212) 473-5252

By Gabria Fischer

Tenth Street Lounge is not a place to lounge. This establishment has no qualms charging a cover on weekend nights for little more than a chance to soak in the lack of atmosphere. In fact, the stiff ambiance is more reminiscent of a funeral home than an East Village hangout.

The high ceilings and candle-lined ledges manage to add warmth to the environment, but not to the experience. The overpriced drinks and assuming staff transform the impressive open space into a gloomy and oppressive retreat. Table service is readily available, but the pay-per-round policy makes the delivery of drinks more pressure-filled than it need be. The entrance is difficult to spot from the street. So, if you happen to miss it on your first pass, you might want to keep walking. This joint is “B” list at best. M

June 1999