Bar Martignetti - Comically Bad Experience!
Ciao Hounds,
Was in the admirable Despaña, the Spanish food market in Soho, yesterday, and decided to have lunch next door in Bar Martignetti, which is new to me.
Great location, nice big bright space, lovely day..what a great combination of circumstances for a nice lunch in a new place.
That it was empty was the first clue that not everything was up to snuff.
The Hostess asked us how many we were (we were obviously two, and the joint was empty), then showed us to a table. Fine.
The waiter arrived and we ordered a large bottle of sparkling water. Still fine.
The loudspeakers were playing the Rolling Stones, one of my favorite bands. Still fine. No, not fine, not at a volume where it was impossible to understand what my friend across the table was trying to say!
I asked that the volume be turned down. The hostess said she would ask the 'management'. Whereupon, the next track was even louder. When I asked if there was somewhere quieter that we might sit (we were directly under a loudspeaker), she helpfully pointed out that the music was the same volume everywhere in the restaurant.
We paid $6 for our bottle of water and left.
What's the betting on this joint lasting six months?!
- Sean
Sean Dell
May 09, 2007 10:07AM
Sunday's "NY Times" had an article about this place: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/06/fas...
Permalink | Reply
Oh no. I had no idea it was the same joint! Here's a quote from the article that more or less sums it up:
" Bar Martignetti, a two-level restaurant and nightclub on Broome Street in SoHo that was opened in November by two brothers who are well-schooled in upper crust debauchery."
Debauchery my eye. No wonder it was empty at lunchtime. I have learned my lesson.
- Sean
Permalink | Reply
The first thought that came to me when I saw your post: This place is open for lunch?! lol
Permalink | Reply
Another restaurant that falls under the "If it can't be fun it'll have to be loud" category. How sad.
Permalink | Reply
Need to add Core 191 to the list. Why do restaurants think they can cover up bad food and service with loud music.
Permalink | Reply
I agree about the loud music, but then again any place with loud music for lunch can be really annoying. I went for dinner and didn't mind it at all, but I loved the cocktails! The best one was called Canton 75, really original never tasted it anywhere else, was amazing!
Permalink | Reply