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July 29, 2009

Inside Hotel Le Bleu's Restaurant

hotel%20le%20bleu%20resto%20072009.jpg
A few weeks ago Vue, the restaurant on the 8th floor of 4th Avenue's Hotel Le Bleu, opened for biz. That there above is what it looks like, and the second shot is of the al fresco terrace area with its view stretching from the Gowanus Canal to Downtown Brooklyn and beyond. The restaurant's operators are also going to open a rooftop lounge in about a week and a half. Vue's menu is here; apps run from $7-$12 and include stuff like samurai spiked crab cake, while entrees go from $17 to $28. There have been a few writeups about the Vue, with the Times, for example, talking about the executive chef's background (he "worked at the Monkey Bar and is the chef at China 1 in the East Village"). The most scathing commentary thus far comes from FIPS who says, in part, "The place was decorated in a budget/wannabe hipster/chic style."
Off the Menu [NY Times] GMAP
Da View: Hotel Le Bleu Was Le Ridiculous [FIPS]

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Comments

Hotel Rooftop lounges are sooooo 2003 - Anywho, looks pretty cool. Anything on 4th Ave is good news. Hopefully the food is good. Not really sure if being the executive chef at the restaurant cum NYU lounge China 1 is anything to tout though.

I was strolling down 4th Ave a couple of weeks ago and from the street it looked like the 'terrace' was pretty crowded. Also, the hotel itself isn't that bad looking.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 29, 2009 10:14 AM

Tacky.

Posted by: Brooklynchimp at July 29, 2009 10:15 AM

FIPS - sounds high maint., full of itself, and shrill.

Posted by: Petebklyn at July 29, 2009 10:22 AM

The place isn't going to last a year. No way no how. It could have been so much cooler, but the nail in the coffin are the tv's on the wall. They should have embraced the location, and had the place done uber urban industrial, and had cheap bar food and drinks. Would have been packed.

Posted by: windsorterraceguy at July 29, 2009 10:24 AM

Ahem. This "executive chef" is ACTUALLY "consulting executive chef" who "tweaks" the menu. This means the guy isn't actually there. Ever.

This is some wannabe brand name guy who comes in and waves his hands over the kitchen every now and then? I have a feeling the food is going to be pretty awful.

Posted by: Stonergut at July 29, 2009 10:24 AM

I give the restaurant till September. The hotel to maybe November.

Posted by: kjp216 at July 29, 2009 10:26 AM

well aside from 11217 & DH hitting this place
who will be their main patrons? Guests, locals, peeps from the city? am curious

Posted by: gemini10 at July 29, 2009 10:27 AM

Windsor - I think you are dead wrong about what type of food/drink they need and the significance of TVs -
The place will be and MUST be a destination to survive. It is off the beaten path, it is set back from the street and it has one crappy elevator - you HAVE to want to go there - and I doubt bar food is that much a draw.....and it will never work as a lounge unless they pay hot/famous women to go up there everynight....no one is going to take the trip with the real risk theat you'll find yourself the only person in the room.
The only way it survives (and I agree it likely wont) - is with EXCEPTIONAL food to get a dinner crowd and interesting events (out door movies, interesting music, etc...) to get people there at hours other than 7-8:30 PM Tues-Sat.

Posted by: fsrg at July 29, 2009 10:32 AM

Good luck to them, hopefully they pull it together.

Though the "Everything Crusted New York Strip Steak" on the menu does not bode well.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at July 29, 2009 10:32 AM

Like the look of it, although tables seem too close together on the indoor side.

Posted by: etson at July 29, 2009 10:35 AM

They'll make their money from the lounge. Everyone loves drinking on rooftops.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 29, 2009 10:38 AM

I think this will be most attractive to the hotel guests, and those who have moved in along 4th Avenue, many of who are young and fresh out of college.

I agree with DH...people love drinking on rooftops and when I walked by on Saturday, it was quite packed.

Posted by: 11217 at July 29, 2009 10:50 AM

I'm not too impressed with that vegetarian unfriendly menu, so I won't be eating there.

Why would a rooftop lounge/restaurant EVER go out of style? Backyard seating is awesome, but sidewalk cafes in NYC is just stupid. This isn't Europe...we don't have squares! Next best thing...rooftops.

Posted by: rh at July 29, 2009 10:53 AM

"well aside from 11217 & DH hitting this place
who will be their main patrons? Guests, locals, peeps from the city? am curious"

Euros on vacation. I know it sounds crazy.

Posted by: Ahh beer at July 29, 2009 10:59 AM

I don't know about the market for a hotel of this type in this area, but 3rd + 4th avenue have changed significantly better. There's a growing amount of estaurants and night life in the area. Reminds me a little of Smith St. back in the early 90s when things started to develop there.

Posted by: Boerum Hill at July 29, 2009 11:04 AM

You are SO right, Ahh Beer.

And this area of Brooklyn has been bombarded the past couple years. I've noticed a major uptick in European travelers in the general area...

Posted by: 11217 at July 29, 2009 11:04 AM

"Euros on vacation. I know it sounds crazy."

They essentially need to copy the Hotel Ganzevoort has been doing - but maybe charge 8 dollars instead of 10 for a warm plastic cup of Amstel Light.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 29, 2009 11:06 AM

if they allow smoking outside, then it's a hit for the nice weather months. rooftop bars are always successful. crap bars on top of crap hotels in midtown are packed all summer.

there's this crazy hotel called the Ravel on vernon blvd in LIC, but not where most of the housing is, it's near the bridge to roosevelt island: http://newyork.metromix.com/bars-and-clubs/hotel_bar/the-ravel-hotel-rooftop-long-island-city/1192673/content

i was coming back from seeing a band at roosevelt island at like 5:00 on a saturday and could see the whole bar area and it was packed. if that place is packed, then this place could be packed too. although, granted, the ravel has killer views of the river and the city.

Posted by: wine lover at July 29, 2009 11:06 AM

"if they allow smoking outside" - yuck

Posted by: Petebklyn at July 29, 2009 12:10 PM

People love to drink and smoke stogies!

Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 29, 2009 12:12 PM

That restaraunt pic looks like a low budge HGTV design.

Posted by: bowl of dicks at July 29, 2009 12:25 PM

Considering the location, I agree with windsorterraceguy- I would have gone with a really interesting, funky decor, not with the tart up the place feel. that's what got the Meat packing district really going- it was such a funky place to have a club (years ago) and all the hipsters loved the idea because it was so different and seemed so cutting edge

Posted by: bxgrl at July 29, 2009 12:30 PM

"budget/wannabe hipster/chic style"

In keeping with the local constituency.

I'll check it out myself if I find they allow smoking on the deck. As Hipster mentioned, I imagine the terrace will appeal to 4th avenue residents, hotel guests and people who like drinking on rooftops (a good number of Brooklynites, including myself).

Otherwise, I imagine the hotel is intended to cater to tourists who can't afford pricer Manhattan hotels, small businesspeople who can't blow the company budget at (again) pricer Manhattan hotels, students visiting from out of town and relatives/friends/acquaintances of local residents. NYC is actually under-served with regard to hotels when compared with other major cities. I certainly don't think the terrace will compete with the "hottest" local hang-outs. But they shouldn't have to to succeed. There should be enough business around so that if the terrace and hotel are marketed well, they should do OK. I'm less enthused about the lounge.

FYI, the FIPS writer sounds like kind of a jerk.

Posted by: East New York at July 29, 2009 12:58 PM

That hotel restaurant looks like... a hotel restaurant. It immediately suggests overpriced mediocre food.

ITA, though, that a rooftop bar anywhere is an instant hit. Best wishes to the Bleu folks!

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at July 29, 2009 1:48 PM

drinking a 40 with me on my rooftop > drinking 16 dollar cocktails with these D list wannabes.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at July 29, 2009 1:53 PM

Been meaning to go myself, I'll give you a report next week, maybe. Vegetarian unfriendly, I'm liking it!

Back in the day people used to say that no one would ever go to 5th avenue to eat either...

Posted by: denton at July 29, 2009 3:18 PM

FIPS seems like the kind of person I would avoid talking to unless absolutely necessary. Highly opinionated but not so bright. Not a good combination. And a lousy writer.

Posted by: lechacal at July 29, 2009 4:08 PM

You guys are missing the issue - sure people like rooftop bars/restaurants BUT They don’t like going to places that are empty, or in the middle of nowhere – the Hotel Gansevoort and all the other rooftop bar/restaurants cited are in MANHATTAN where millions of people work and live and go for entertainment and if you go to one of those places and you want to go somewhere else, you can because else you are surrounded by great restaurants and bars – Brooklyn is a much more local scene and this hotel is in the middle of nowhere (currently) – who is going to take the subway walk 7 blocks, through a parking lot, go up a small elevator just to see if the place is cool and if its not - then what - a couple of non hip places on 5th , hardly compareable. Not to mention that the Hotel Gansevoort and the other Hotels/buildings with rooftop bars are far larger – so they have a built in clientele – the Hotel Gansevoort has approx 200 rooms – Le Blue has only 48 rooms. It is totally different.

Posted by: fsrg at July 29, 2009 4:22 PM

I'm going there tonight and drinking until Novo starts to look pretty. Then I'll know it's time to go home.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at July 29, 2009 4:33 PM

"just to see if the place is cool and if its not - then what - a couple of non hip places on 5th , hardly compareable" ----maybe there are enough of us close to nowhere who enjoy being as far as we can away from those who patronize Gansevoort and the like...and wretch at the thought of people who patronize places because they think
the other patrons are' hip and cool'.

Posted by: Petebklyn at July 29, 2009 4:51 PM

No doubt Pete -

I'm hoping this place turns into a low key spot where one can just hang out and look at the skyline -- there is a huge market for this because it seems every place in Manhattan with outdoor/rooftop space has turned into a douchey bottle service club.

But more then likely they'll try to create some fake buzz to be the Brooklyn Gansevoort - because money is god.

Totally off topic, but this never ceases to blow my mind - it's insanely RETARDED how much money the Ganz pulls in during the summer. A friend tends bar there and they walk out with 700-1000 a NIGHT during the summer.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 29, 2009 4:59 PM

Pete dont be an a$$ - I didnt say anything about 'hip and cool' PATRONS and besides you know exactly what I am talking about....

Posted by: fsrg at July 29, 2009 5:00 PM

"I'm hoping this place turns into a low key spot where one can just hang out and look at the skyline -- there is a huge market for this"

Obviously there isnt - because again - when your looking for a low key place to hang out - you're generally not going to go in and up an elevator in an otherwise non inviting building just to see what the vibe is.....rooftop bars/restaurants are DESTINATIONS, not a place you just go to hang...
If you want a low key roof to drink on - most people in Brooklyn go ontop of their own building with a 6-pack.

Posted by: fsrg at July 29, 2009 5:10 PM

FSRQ - I guess we'll see!!

Posted by: dirty_hipster at July 29, 2009 5:18 PM

Yes we will - one of the reasons I love living in this city.

Posted by: fsrg at July 29, 2009 5:32 PM

Ok, checked it out. The food is respectable. The prices are fair for the food. Everything I had was fresh and well prepared. the kitchen basically had it together. I've read other reviews and these things are true. The room is BAD, like a space age cafeteria. There are TV's with psychedelic graphics on the walls. Not good. The view is of nothing. There's no point in looking out the big windows at the big ugly apartment building. Pointless. It's an unpleasant room. The waitress, while nice and well intentioned, was bad. She introduced herself as my 'server' like she worked at Crapplebees. I had read, the 'servers' did not know the menu and that the menu was vague. One item was short rib on 'gold coins'. How could you ever know what gold coins were without asking? And then the 'seafood roast'. . . My server, previously employed at PepBoys, went to the kitchen for the details. I ordered an appetizer and an entrée and she asked in what order I wanted them served. Hmmm. She came to the table twice to let me know that the apps would be two minutes and later that the entrées would be 7 minutes. I waited for a knife replacement when the entrée came. She gave both dessert menus to me before the entrée plates had been cleared and asked if she should bring cream and sugar for the coffee . . . In short (or long) she was untrained. I felt like I had to walk her through the meal. It was clear that she's never been on the receiving end of good service. I blame the management.

Conclusion: There is no reason to go to this restaurant.

Posted by: superstooper at July 29, 2009 10:21 PM

ENY- agreed. FIPS thinks that swearing makes humor. It's like they have turrets over there.

Posted by: superstooper at July 29, 2009 10:32 PM

« 580 Carroll Decision Postponed Million Dollar Deals Dead in Red Hook »

July 29, 2009

Inside Hotel Le Bleu's Restaurant

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