Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Brian07663NJ
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/21/06
#1Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 9:25am
Curious if anyone has visited 54 Below recently. I decided to go hear Frances Ruffelle tonight.
Goes without say that most cabaret venues are tight on space and they almost throw the food at you that they required you to purchase. I've never been to 54 Below and the reviews on Yelp and TripAdvisor are mixed.
Does 54 Below allow the performers to sell their CDs after the performance?
dreaming
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/24/09
#2Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 10:03amBrian-The food is excellent. (The braised short ribs are amazing.) Anyway, they do indeed allow performers to sell their CDs typically (I've been to a couple of shows there and they've had the artists' CDs on sale after each performance.) It's a lovely space! Enjoy!
#2Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 10:24am
I love everything about 54 Below! The space is really beautiful, the sightlines and accoustics superb.
The food is actually very good, though you may think the portions are small for the price. I've always had excellent service, too.
#3Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 10:35am
Goes without say that most cabaret venues are tight on space and they almost throw the food at you that they required you to purchase
It no longer "goes without say." Prepare to have your all your negative expectations shattered. Everything about 54 Below is perfection. It has become my favorite place in NYC.
dreaming
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/24/09
#4Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 10:36amPal Joey-You and me both. I love the space and have only had positive experiences there.
#5Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 10:49amI went there for the first time in July. I would go back. Can't think of anything bad about the place.
"I don't want the pretty lights to come and get me."-Homecoming 2005
"You can't pray away the gay."-Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy.
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Brian07663NJ
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/21/06
#6Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 10:57amoh great - thanks everyone. Looking forward to it!
#7Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 10:58amShi****o peppers!
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#8Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 11:16am
Oh...poor, poor ShiSH*To peppers. Censored by BroadwayWorld.
I've actually never eaten there. Just drank and sang. Sometimes at once!
My family, however, loves the food. And you know what Italian bitches they are.
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#9Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 11:45am
Great food. It's pricey but still pretty much in line with other NYC prices. Beautiful venue, comfortable seating, plenty of room, etc. Perhaps my only gripe is the sound but compared to a place like Joe's Pub, theirs is exceptional.
Hope you enjoy your experience, Brian. Report back! 
#10Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 11:51amLH, what don't you like about the sound?
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#11Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 11:54amReg, I have only seen three shows there but my experience has been mixed. It typically sounds too distant or muddy for me. But I'm also very particular about it and always sit in a booth on the back wall... Maybe I will try sitting closer next time.
dreaming
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/24/09
#12Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 11:59amLH-I've heard similar complaints about the booths. I personally have never sat in one. (I tend to prefer to be closer. I tell people not to sit at the bar if they don't have to as well-it's kind of noisy there.)
Brian07663NJ
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/21/06
#13Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 12:40pm
I would have preferred an earlier seating than 8:45 when the show is 9:30
I specifically told the hostess I do not like to be eating when the performer is on stage. I think it is really rude to be chewing and banging forks/knives.
Additionally - if they let me (and others in earlier) we might order more food and drinks if we could casually slide into the evening rather than be rushed.
#14Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 12:59pm
If your show isn't until 9:30, there's probably something happening before, which would make an earlier seating a problem.
But they're actually remarkably fast at getting the orders out.
#15Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 1:15pm
I've heard similar complaints about the booths. I personally have never sat in one.
The first time I went to 54 Below, Hal Prince and three guests were seated in the second banquette from the entrance. The last time I was there Liza and three guests were in that banquette.
I love those banquettes. I have been seated in every one of them except the one by the kitchen. I have never noticed any diminishment in sound quality.
I always try to get there as early as possible, just to drink in the atmosphere. They only have the tight seating when there are back-to-back shows. That's why I prefer the early shows or the less formal late-night hangouts.
#16Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 1:21pm
I've sat all over the place, and there are advantage everywhere. The banquettes are more comfortable and roomy; the long tables offer proximity to the artist; and you get your drinks lightning-fast when seated at the bar.
And I've never had a problem with the sound in any of them, but that's not to say it can't happen from time to time.
#17Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/18/13 at 8:42pmI have to admit I don't love the long tables. I have no problem with communal dining, but they really pack you in and the closer you are to the stage-the worse it is. The seating leaves no wiggle room for people of size. Last time I was there I kept getting elbowed and I felt Iike I was sharing an entree with the person next to me.
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
Brian07663NJ
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/21/06
#18Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/19/13 at 11:00am
wow...wOw...WOW
Absolutely had an amazing time. It was the perfect night of drinks, food, entertainment, ambiance etc.
I invited my parents (mom 67 and dad 71) to the show. My father is a big Les Miz fan so of course (jumping to the end) there was not enough of her singing from that musical.
The audience was about 50% full and they did a fantastic job of spreading everyone out evenly to make the room look more full than it was. We had a small 4 person table near the sound booth (stage right) and where the steps were located for performers to ascend to the stage.
The wait staff was attentive. My only gripe (which isn't really a big problem) was that they did not have Meyers Rum (a sweet dark Jamaican rum). Usually most places have it but again not a problem. Dreaming - my mother and I had the braised short ribs. I thought they were suitable to maybe being a little dry. Mom liked the slightly dry quality and her complaint was wanting more than the "smear" of polenta that acted as glue for the meat to stay in place on the plate. Dad had the espresso steak which was great. Next time I go to 54 Below I will order that steak! For dessert we ordered a plate of cookies. Dessert was ordered while the show was going on so I didn't think to ask if the ice cream was the recommended Popcorn ice cream.
I do not remember doing a time check to see if she in fact went on at 9:30. Was just finishing my meal and was excited to see her appearance.
I was impressed that there were 7 musicians. The sound quality was great and I was able to understand every word spoken and sung. The balance was optimal.
Frances' selection of songs was a bit unique to say the least. Not really choices I was overly familiar with but it was interesting to hear her sing 'Ta Ra Ra Boom De Ay' and 'I Slept With Someone Who Handled Kurt Cobain's Intervention.' The way that she brought up Les Miz is by singing an Edith Piaf song and then merging 'On My Own' into it. Was well done and left me wanting more.
As she passed my table to leave she noticed that I left my Les Miz CD on the table with a sharpie marker. She smiled, stopped and happily signed it while carefully finding a location in and around the signatures of: Colm Wilkinson, Terrance Mann, Judy Kuhn and Randy Graff. She even drew a small heart after her name. Looked up - waved to everyone again and popped off.
Wonderful night and we all are looking forward to going back to 54 Below again.
btw I know I am going to see Varla Jean Merman! I was thrilled to see she is going to be there next week in fact!!
#19Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/19/13 at 11:08amSounds like a great night! And that's wonderful about the CD signing. Glad you had such a good time with your folks.
#20Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/19/13 at 12:08pm
So glad you had a great experience--and that your parents did too! And what a lovely, unobtrusive way to end up getting your CD signed. I'm sure it's an evening you'll remember for the rest of your life.
So you're going back for Varla Jean? That will be epic.
Liza's Headband
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
#21Anyone recently visit 54 Below?
Posted: 9/19/13 at 12:34pm
That's a wonderful account of the evening, Brian. So glad you had such a good time.
I will be there for Laura Benanti's show tomorrow night and I'm going to try out a side table. Maybe that will improve my experience; I usually head for the booths. Time to switch it up.
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