Black Moon Bar & Lounge

very chilled, nice crowed, nice waitress: P

UPDATE (October 2012)
My original review is below, but I wanted to notify Unilocalers that a new GM has come into place, and I thought it very professional of him to review feedback from customers via social channels and personally inform me of the change in management and staff. I have yet to go back since I’ve moved outside of Downtown, but perhaps new management will entice you to try this lounge with potential.
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I feel almost terrible to have to rate this lounge so low, but I hope the owner takes it into consideration to help improve the Black Moon.
What drew us in was the fascinating light in it’s dark interior. My friends and I were walking by it one day and made a note to try it because the décor looked pretty cool.
It was a Friday night when we went, around 8pm, and were very surprised it was so quiet. But I wasn’t bothered — I’m not big on crowds and loud noise anyway.
PROS:
— Clean, spacey, nice high-​ceilings, and I enjoyed the velvet ambiance
— The menu looked OK and I thought was decent
…but that’s where it ends unfortunately
CONS:
— Food was inconsistent. One of my friends in the group ordered the same thing… not only did it come out separately (and I’m talking about 15 – 20 mins apart), one was much more salty than the other! The entrees were served at different times, which makes a party quite awkward when the group has to decide whether to start or not start without you… they started, after a 10 min wait. i still had to wait for my dinner.
— The service was TERRIBLE. On top of the above, the waitress was very incompetent, as a server anyway. She seemed nonchalant enough, but perhaps the air in her head got to her nose to help it lift. Terrible… terrible…
1. We ordered wine. She brought the wrong one.
2. There were five of us drinking. She was pooring the wine in the glasses like water, close to the top. I actually had to remind her that there were 5 ppl drinking. Unfortunately, the last person had about an inch off his glass. She had the audacity to ask if we wanted another bottle. I understand upselling, but… REALLY!!!
3. We did order another bottle, and she did the same thing, only this time, I told her not to fill the glasses so high. I think I might even have mentioned to just leave the bottle.
4. We had to ask for the tables to be cleared. I would understand a bit more if the restaurant was flocking with patrons and the server had a hard time clearing everything… there were maybe two smaller tables there.
My best friend actually told me he’s never seen me fume like that, and act very abruptly with the server. AS someone who has worked in the service industry in the past, it’s hard to see how common sense such as wine-​serving and entrée-​serving could be so difficult to grasp, esp if you are a customer yourself at restaurants.
I will never come here again, just thinking about this experience makes me mad.
Indeed, I hope the owner takes some of this feedback to provide even basic training to his staff. The place otherwise could have a great atmosphere.

We hosted a private party at this venue with a prix fix dinner to start and then post-​dinner party. It was a bad experience from beginning to end.
The food was mediocre at best with our «rare» steaks arriving at the table cooked brown throughout, bland doughy chunks of gnocci, and dry over cooked chicken. That said, the food was not the worst part. For a bar, they knew absolutely nothing about wine, offering only three or four types of red by the glass, with servers not knowing what the names of the wines were. The servers while polite knew nothing about food service or good customer service, serving in random order leaving every table with one or two dishes missing then filling in the gaps. They forgot orders, or brought entirely wrong items. I’m 8 months pregnant, ordered a virgin caesar and got a mouthful of vodka because the server simply forgot the virgin part! They were unprofessional, standing around giggling and dancing rather than focus on our guests and really didn’t know what they were doing most of the time.
Then there was the owner who at the time of booking the event was very accommodating to our requests and easy going about our questions but came the night of decided he was going to overcharge for everything and impose charges on things that were not agreed upon. We ended up paying hundreds in extra fees that was not discussed. For a place located on Bay street, they should have better business sense than to nickel and dime a potential repeat client on a night that brought them more business than they’ve seen all season. I would steer clear from this place if you are hosting any type of function because it was an embarrassment to us hosting friends and family so I would never entertain professional clients here.

If this place is dead on a Friday evening, what can you expect?
Ordered a Ceasar. It was just tomato juice with a tinsy bit of alcohol. Boo
Asked for a food menu, they dont have one.
That was it. We left for South of Temperance. Best decision of the night!

This place was … strange. I didn’t dislike it, but I couldn’t quite figure out what they were trying to be.
Walking in they feel like a very trendy bar. The music is LOUD. The ambiance is very cool — lots of low seating and nice décor. Alas, the bar was EMPTY. It would have been nicer if it were a little quieter and I could hear my friends talk!
The staff were very friendly but a bit inattentive. This was surprising, since we were literally the only people there! Once we had her attention, though, our server was great about answering questions and fulfilling requests.
Food was inconsistent. Conceptually the menu was really interesting and had things I don’t expect from a bar, even a trendy upscale one. Unfortunately, execution didn’t really follow through. They appear to have revamped the menu already, so perhaps they’re figuring out what they can do better. My appetizer was forgettable — literally, I could not tell you what I ate. I also had a pasta with beef cheeks, which desperately needed seasoning. Interestingly, the highlight of the night was the free potato chips — awesome flavor and great texture!

I visited yesterday for the 3^rd time and I am beginning to really like this spot.
Last week I brought my wife and we enjoyed some bar snacks and had few drinks as we sat at the front with the open air area.
Jean Pierre the manager is focused on detail and service as was the lovely younf server by the name of Holly.
These place has a great happy hour with $ 5 – 00 well drinks and 7.00 martinis as well on Monday-​Friday from 5 – 7. I hope to see a draft/​beer special soon as well :-)
Keep up the great work!
p. s. my first visit was for lunch and the shrimp were very good as well

Great lounge for drinks and a nosh. Comfy sofas are artfully arranged in front of large doors that open and allow you to feel as though you are outside. The staff is friendly, attentive and helpful. Wine is very good and the food is excellent. I had pasta with pesto and black truffle shavings. The chef came out to see how I like it. Definitely yes!

Agreed, this place is schwanky! Went for drinks on a Friday night, tables were full but the place didn’t seem packed much at all. DJ goes live around 10pm. Some of the drinks were made pretty strong — newbie bartending perhaps, but it also makes up for the priceyness ;) Overall good atmosphere & great location.

Yesterday, I went to this place with a few girlfriends after work. I decided to go there based on the recommendations of Unilocal.
Here’s what I liked:
1. Great interior design… I felt chic walking in!
2. Great service! Despite the lack of menus, she managed to still sell me on ordering a glass of wine.
3. I think this place will be great for a group of young professionals after work.
Here’s what I didn’t like:
1. The menu did not exist. It was a bit strange.
2. It only opened so there was hardly anyone in the place!
3. They didn’t have the riesling that I wanted.
4. I think this place over time will lose its appeal as it looks like it is too trendy.
I would skip this place until it builds a larger clientele!

My broker suggested I stop by last Thursday for a Madmen weekly, so I ventured w/​a few friends. I noticed the entertainment was top notch, including a live artist painting Don Draper and a beautiful jazz singer in a very tight dress. The place is monochromatic/​black on black but very unusual for the financial district. All the décor seems to be out of Wallpaper magazine. The blond server is gorgeous. I personally thought it would be a great place to bring a date or stop by for after work beverages. I appreciate the location… however I need to try their food as I didn’t notice a menu. I’ll be by in a few days to have some mojitos on their Cuban themed night.

I think this place opened recently, because it’s still kind of under-​the-​radar. It’s pretty swank, though! Thursday nights are Mad Men-​themed, complete with live music and bar staff circulating in period attire. The place draws a large crowd of Bay-​streeters dropping by after work, though I don’t know if it’s the free appetizers that draw them on Thursdays – the friend I went with said it’s been much quieter when she’s gone on a non-​theme night.