Ruby Lounge Review

April 22, 2003 Hit the just-opened Ruby Lounge (East 2nd @ Ave. B), a new East Village boîte (French for "velvety craphole"), on Saturday night. We'd heard rumors it was going to be a pleasant place to hang out, with cuisine as well as drink, but the vibrating techno beats (which don't usually phase us) drilled so deep into the skull that we felt like we were experiencing that new sound technology that beams music inside the brain. "Ketel and soda," we asked the bartender. "No Ketel... not until Tuesday." Gray Goose, perchance? "Only in Limon." We settled for a badly mixed drink of Absolut, finished it, and departed. Even at that rate, the others in our party had already beat us down the line to No Malice Palace, which, although crowded, at least knows how to prepare a decent drink.

You my friend are a brave soul for even venturing into this place. The way-too-new awning with the establishment's name written in gaudy type was a dead giveaway for me: stay far, far away. I'm surprised to hear it was playing techno -- from my brief look-in, I hazarded a guess that the music would be the same 80's/loungecore/wegro hip-hop on tap at every other bar in the EV.

No Malice Palace feels like a firetrap.

Posted by: MrNegative at April 29, 2003 02:56 PM

the no malice palace does NOT have a new awning with its name on it. The awning is 20 years old (and 2 places ago) and no where on the awning is the the name No Malice Palace written. Loudmouth asshole.

Posted by: phil at July 11, 2003 09:54 PM

Phil, I believe Mr. Negative's first few sentences were referring to the Ruby Lounge (the actual subject of this review), not the No Malice Palace.

Posted by: Todd at November 13, 2003 04:08 PM

great place

Posted by: maria at November 15, 2003 10:42 AM

great place,wonderful crowd and the drinks are spectacular

Posted by: jay at November 30, 2003 09:18 AM

oh, uh, sorry. he was refering to the ruby.

Posted by: phil at December 30, 2003 10:19 PM

Spent New Year's eve at Ruby invited by a friend. Where did you people go to? Music great, staff working hard and great drinks. One of us caught them on an off day my guess it was you or they got their shit together since then.

Posted by: jenn at January 10, 2004 03:27 PM