Inside Hotel Le Bleu's Restaurant
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…
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]
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.
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.
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…
drinking a 40 with me on my rooftop > drinking 16 dollar cocktails with these D list wannabes.
*rob*
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!
“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.
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
That restaraunt pic looks like a low budge HGTV design.
People love to drink and smoke stogies!