Much like its sister club, Suite 16, 17 takes some navigation to get past the door, but it is more intimate, and it has a harder, more rock and roll edge. This joint just south of the Flatiron is always packed, and sometimes this works against itself, especially when you’re trying to enjoy some of their nifty sushi. Definitely for the fashion-conscious and sophisticates with bottle service on their minds. North one block and over a few, 17 Lounge is just as trendy and fashionable as its Suite 16 sister, but with a rock 'n' roll edge. Smaller than one might expect, only a couple of funky booths and cushy red banquettes fill up the space, with standing room along the length of the bar. Ideally this would be the place to go for a more intimate night with friends -- squeezing into a booth, taking advantage of the bottle service, and enjoying the sounds of G n' R and old-school Clapton floating out from the DJ platform. But with 17 under the care of celebrity publicist and notably bad driver Lizzie Grubman, the place is packed with young sophisticates and bridge-and-tunnel scene-seekers, with others lined up at the velvet rope on the sidewalk. The crowds may also make it difficult for those inclined to nosh from the rock n' roll sushi menu, which is full of goodies like the Purple Haze and Stairway to Heaven sushi platters. |