Strata

Aye, Aye, Aye. HORRIBLE place for not only tourists trying out
New York City nightlife, but ANY one in New York PERIOD! This nightclub is lowclass at its VERY best.
I can name 5 nightclubs in THE BRONX that are better than this spot. Mind you the Bronx is supposedly where all the «ghetto» spots are which I disagree completely. Smelly, over-​priced drinks, and NOT cool people. The smell. I don’t know a combination of smells really. It smells like some serious weed inside and outside of the club. Terrible body odor up in there. Like hot sweaty stuff and people who are allergic to bathing. Oh, and hot armpits too.
Most manhattan spots offer only expensive drinks, but coming from a spot that isn’t very upscale the drinks shouldn’t be as pricey as they are. The people lol, let’s not go there.
Lets just say Gossip Girl types/​socialites would never hang there even if their lives depended on it!
The music was nothing to brag about either. The DJ always sucked and played horrible mixes and blended songs terribly.
I went to Strata a few times and usually I stood in V.I.P. which sucked very much too and was almost always crowded/​dirty. HOW THE HECK can you call that V.I.P. if its filled with nothing, but cheap looking chicks trying to smash the corny old promoters??! Ha.
GROSS!
I gave Strata 2 stars because despite all the negativity I had some good times at this spot with my friends. Not for the club itself.
WE MADE IT FUN!
Strata aka Gramercy Room or whatever the heck its known as= NO!
=)

In an attempt to entertain my friend from out of town and trying to avoid the LES scene, we ended up here after a failed experience at another club which had literally 20 people in it on a Saturday. Such a problem. It was raining, we mostly just wanted to be dry. Unfortunately we paid their ridiculous cover.
The crowd was sooo wack, a mix of people who have never been clubbing in their lives but are visiting new york and want an ‘experience’, B&Ts, and a few wanna be hard guys. The music reflected this disjointed group with a totally uncoordinated mix of reggaeton, reggae, (used to be) top 40, old school hip hop, and 90’s with the music heavily weighted towards the last two. I paid attention the whole night and not one song the DJ played had come out since 2004, okay maybe 2006 to give him some credit. AWFUL! He played the semi-​good songs for 10 seconds and awful ones for the full 3 minutes… really? Gauge your crowd, man.
The space was very awkward as you walk though the door and are immediately on the dance floor. You had to deal with the cold blasts every time people walked in. The lights were wayy too bright on the inside. You could see everyone and everything. Unacceptable. Please turn down the lights.
Overall, I would describe this place as awkward, overpriced, not classy, not coming back.

Went here last night for a Bday celebration… been there alot of times but seems diffrent… my friend said were going to «gramercy room» lol didnt know was STRata .any the promoter sd that we would get in for 8 dolars on the list was ture
gave a free bottle of champagne .was true
dj .was great… but in all a good night

Strata aka Gramercy Room is ghetto. Which would be fine, if the people were ghetto fabulous but they’re not. I think some of the tackiest people I’ve ever seen. No one, I repeat, NO ONE should wear RED JEANS. No. Sorry. It’s not fashionable, you’re not being a trendsetter. No. You look like a tacky, broke, ugly, rejects.
With that being said, I’ve been here a few times and have had a meh time. I got pretty drunk once and this Asian guy charged at me like those little Asian ladies on the train that try to tackle you to get to the only empty seat. I think he was trying to walk through me to get to the bar… in any case, he knocked the crap outta me, both of my feet went straight into the air, as did my drink, then I fell on my behind (thank goodness for the extra cushion) followed by my drink, all over my hair. Someone (s?) grabbed both arms and picked me up, while my friends patted me dry.
I’ll never go again.
Oh, and they serve their drinks in plastic cups. Ghetto.

Good place to hang with trashy Latins from Brooklyn, smoke weed at a club or be in the middle of a gang fight.
minus 1 star for my girl falling down those long ass stairs

I came here for a birthday party a little while ago. Standard fare… always a line, «friendly and courteous» staff. Thorough handshakes with my privates at the door. At least there wasn’t a mandatory coat check. Phew.
Overpriced drinks… but wake up people… when was the last time you went to a club and said «wow that was reasonably priced!»? The only distinguishing feature was the divide inside the club. On one side a Latin room (where people can attempt to recreate their own version of Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights) which plays all of your favorite FM radio reggaeton, salsa, etc. And on the other side, your Hip-​Hop club scene a.k.a. step-on-someone’s-shoe-and-you-die motif. Again, standard fare.
The latin room is much roomier probably due to the fact that Latin dancing consists of more than two-​stepping and booty popping. If you’re bothered at all about any of the things I’ve mentioned, why even go to a club? Lose your mind and dance, I say. Most clubs in the city are exactly like this one. Unless your rich… then replace the danger element with a snobby «my daddy will sue you» element. And replace the overpriced drinks with overpriced bottles.
…Strata? Oh right. The «birthday table» was… well who the hell knows… getting to it looked like the Normandy Beach invasion. Also a friend of mine got their stuff stolen here. Thumbs down.
Cheers!

Post Mimi’s I find myself here at Strata. This is a club I have walked by many times. It is not too far from Slate, one of my favorite places. And had the happenings of my date been up to me, Slate is where I would have ended my evening.
As a general rule, I don’t stand in lines for nightlife festivities. At least not for very long. But here I was, in line. As another general rule, I don’t pay for clubs and if I do, it’s of the 5 dollar variety. So after a 25 minute wait my date paid a total of 55 dollars for the two of us to walk into this Strata. So called, I assume because of the many levels of guest that come in and are forced to listen to the same terrible DJ.
As we stood in line I became immediately embarassed by my association with the trifling gutter snipes that were behind, before, and beside me. Jesus be a pair of pants! These ladies were just begging for it. No sense of modesty. Although it probably made their security searches a little less involved. I felt slightly uncomfortable with the bullish woman who proceeded to find pills in my «new» second-​hand purse. I had her toss them Then she searched me. A little too much for my liking. But before I knew it I was in.
The music was uncomfortably loud. And the area we ended up in was packed so that dancing was as uncomfortable. When enough people were inside, the club expanded and a curtain was lifted to reveal another portion of the club. Finally I could breathe at least.
The DJ was awful. There was no continuity. Just noise and racket! UGH! And he was one of those DJs that felt talking would get me hyped. But all it did was annoy. Coupled with the fact that I hadn’t had a drop of alcohol because I was with someone who didn’t drink. That would’ve been an uncomfortable situation so I tried to suck it up and pretend like I was having a good time.
I just didn’t. But I felt forced into staying because I was paid for and it cost so damn much. Never going to the club with a date in tow ever again. But more importantly, never going here again. The best part of the night was leaving and seeing the Retro Kids on the path to the exit. Although it is rather surprising to see such a quality and non-​conformist music group show their support to such an awful and over-​hyped establishment.

Oh gosh. Strata.
I hate the club scene. I really do, but when you want to be a good host and take your visitors to places like «this,» you do what you gotta do.
It was a cold and wintery night, an I was pretty comfortable. I didn’t do the whole thong and t-​shirt look like the other women did, and I had to take verbal abuse from these whores on heels when the bouncer let us inside instead of these shivering vaginas (literally). We got inside and my friend found a stalker instantly who stayed on her ass like a hawk (niiice!) The drinks were sooooo expensive, but I managed to get tipsy after one long island (it was basically gasoline in a cup).
The music was fun until the obsessive-​compulsive DJ tediously partitioned the music by genres which kind of messed up the flow towards the end. It was fun watching people have sex on the floor (also known as dancing)…that was interesting… annnnd many of the guests had a hard time keeping their drinks in their cups (it’s raining alcohol everybody!!! WHOOOO)!
Soooo, Strata? You suck ass.

NOTE: This review is strictly based on using this space as an event space for a Semi-​Formal event.
In that case, this is an EXCELLENT space to plan an event. They have great party planners to assist with all of the details. They have three bars, so if you have a group with a ton of drinkers, which I did, people won’t have to wait in line very long. There is plenty of room for dancing, a buffet, sitting and eating, standing and drinking, and even some darker areas for making out… Additionally, they will supply a DJ who will play whatever type of music you want.
We held a semi-​formal event on a Thursday. We had a four hour open bar and a hot buffet. Everyone had a great time. The space is really big and there was so much room for everyone.
Additionally, the price for the open bar I believe was about $ 60/​person for top shelf, which is ridiculously cheap. And, believe me everyone drank their money’s worth. They appropriately staffed all of the bars so that there weren’t any issues. They even supplied a coat check as the event was held during the winter.
I don’t have anything bad to say about planning a party here, it’s a great event space.
That said – if you want to come here on another night, read the other reviews.

Wow you all are right, Strata is terrible and the experiences you all had are fuckin funny.
My first time going was last night… I expected it to be so-​so, it wasnt even that. I didnt have to wait long on the line but they charged me 20 bucks even though it was before 12, I was on the guest list and I was getting bottle service that night. Wow. The VIP is weak, the regulars kept crashing the area asking for drinks! What da hell!
The ladies are fly and only dance with each other or with you fellas for one song and then of course their ugly friend grabs the girl you so happen to dance with because the ugly friend is alone. Cockblocker.
Never come here, unless its a friends birthday bash and your really close to your friend like I was last night.

I tend not to go to places that ask you to submit to full cavity searches upon entry and so if it were possible to give this place zero stars, i would. Now, I haven’t been out on the night club scene for a while, but this place makes me want to abandon all hope and hang up my dancing shoes. Went there last night for a friends big 3 – 0 and left just as things were in full ghettofied swing.
Strata is typical of most places that tend to the hip hop crowd (Mars 2112 I’m talking to you). Things are overpriced, the music is too loud to even scream over, and everyone acts like their in some low budget rap video. Sure, there as no cover before 12 but the bar wouldn’t accept credit card charges under 75 dollars, the ATM had a 3.50 surcharge, the music was as lame as the crowd, and things got uglier then all sin once the dj realized people were drunk enough (read thouroughly ignorant enough) to accept the onslaught of his” Bitches and Hoes” discography.
When we got in at 11:30 there were two hoe bags with bad weaves straddling and fake humping some skinny white dude with locks on the couches who was taking their pics in the empty club as hip-​hop blared. Next to them, two old ass chicks were shaking their butts on an empty dance floor. The place did fill up considerably after 1am though to my dismay. I knew I had to bail on my buddy when I looked to my left and to my right and as far as the eye could see in the considerable darkness ill-​tempered hoochies with faces (and bodies) that deserved to be held in the confines of brown paper bags (or plastic ones if you believe in eugenics) teetering in cheap shoes started to do the dance of preemptive procreation with individual men (and their boys) who somehow used the overpriced bottles of Hennessey they clutched in their fists while air humping to «superman that hoe» as bait. Needless to say it wasn’t my scene… AT ALL!
Best night to go: Never
P.S.
They don’t let you out once you’re in. If you want to come back then you have to pay cover again. I was screamed at by a bouncer who informed me that the «smoking section» was closed. Is the sidewalk an official smoking section now? Fucking pricks.

Craptastic…
I’ve been to Strata a few times… and this last time was under complete coercion. Promoters, need to stop the foolishness, the bouncers need to stop the foolishness, and above all the patrons need to stop the foolishness.
I’ve heard about so many parties here (some of which I’ve unfortunately attended) boasting about some discount before midnight. However, as anyone who frequents Strata knows, they never let you in before midnight. Upon my last visit, I arrived at Strata circa 10:45 on a cold rainy night. Of course the line (like usual) was around the corner, and unmoving, and inside, as usual, was virtually empty. After a good 40 minutes of shivering under my umbrella, I went to a wine bar across the street, for which I will soon be writing a review. I went back to Strata and decided to just buy a bottle, for which I was told to wait on another line (outside in the cold rain)!!!
Once we got to the front of that line, the bouncer or manager or whomever, told my friend, who had on some blue and silver Prada’s, that his shoes were unacceptable and turned us away.
Foolishness… I can’t wait until this place finally closes down so my friends can stop trying to convince me to go there. At least Eugene’s didn’t bullshit you at the door…

FUCK YOU STRATA!!!
bastards. I was told, women were free before 12 and men were 10 bucks cause we were on the guest list. FUCK THAT…
we got in the line 11pm. got to the door 11.45 … 2 fucking KUTTIS asked us if we were on the list we said yes, took the promoters name, they gave us 2 stubs which meant GOOD LUCK GETTING UR ASS FUCKED at the next step where I was told to fork up 45 bucks, 25 for me and 20 for pam… I politely told em of the ladies being free before 12 and I was reduced. they were like no way… anyways I obliged as I was there for 3 birthdays…
again FUCK YOU STRATA. Ima fwd this whole link on you guys… once inside they wanted to charge me $ 15 for jack n coke
CHUTIAS!!! a whole bottle of Jack cost me $ 9… FUCK OFF STRATA
hope you shut down… and all your bouncers are rude usless A$$HOLES

i hate to make this my first review. but really, the hard ones are the easiest (and shortest) to write.
this place is made for people who equate price with quality. probably caters to people from jersey.
fortunately, i can say that i was not there by choice, but for an alumni function.

I was 8 years old when my Mom took me to the Dept. Store for my B-​Day to pick up a toy. I went straight to the «Masters of the Universe» rack, Oh! that blessed feeling in the gut; the glorious sight of the all-​colorful package with the action figure inside; a heart throb would inmediately ensue «I just gotta have ‘em!» –an urge inside you cried out. Oh yes! Those were our humble beginnings in capitalistic greed.
I picked a brand new one called «Stratos»
it announced itself as a «winged warrior», and thus, as soon as we got to the car, I was in my own universe, smelling that smell of new plastic and frisking the sculpted little figure with all my fingers might; even to the last letter in the action figure’s foot that read «Made in Malaysia»
20 years later it was payback time. First in the literal sense (the cover was 20 bucks) then, I was in the line to enter Strata (I assume this the land were Stratos came from) and the big, bad bouncer looked at me and perhaps bent on redeeming his lord Stratos tainted pride, decided to frisk me like no one ever had (at least no man, ever has), down to the last imprint on my foot (not made in Malaysia)… not content with not finding any hidden glock or XVI century one-​shot flintlock, the Strata’s henchman decided to check upon my «winged warrior» to see if I was concealing something beneath it. Oh, but by the power of Grayskull I wasn’t, and thus I stumbled inside, heading for the bar to forget this frisky incident; but as if I wasn’t violated enough, I got charged $ 7.00 bucks for a Corona and in a fuckin plastic glass to boot!!!
The crowds were bizarre looking birds, complete with goggles like their master, and me and my fellow Unilocalers, not only felt out of place, but on the verge of puking.
Pushed, tossed and ultimately relegated; the hideous music was not welcome… not my kind of place; but if you like guetto style parties (meaning this stereotype
no offense attached, I just happen to dislike it, okay?) with old hip-​hop and rap, paying an overpriced cover (considering venue and circumstances), getting frisked to the bone, and paying 7 bucks for a beer, then this is your kind of place. Strata. Just south of Skeletor’s hood.
1 star for making me remember my beloved childhood.

I’m in agreement with the other Unilocal ladies — *nose wrinkle* all the way and unfortunately not even a decent sampling of eye candy of either sex to make up for it.
A bonus star awarded solely for the company — you know your Unilocalers are good people if you’re enjoying yourself with them even when entrenched in this type of a setting.*
* — For a description of said setting, See, e.g., Maria M.‘s review, supra.

As discussed with Audrey, I will be charitable and give this place two stars, just because of the lovely company.
HOWEVER…
1. Sketchy girls at the door. Mean bouncers. Mean just because that’s the way they think bouncers are supposed to be.
2. No dance floors, or maybe there were and they just had them fenced off like idiots. Everywhere is high traffic, with trashy-​looking B&Ters passing by holding up their drinks like victory torches. And they were pretty rude about it too, bumping me over to the side with their huge asses just in case I didn’t get the point or something. I know I’m little, but have manners, and stop playin yourselves.
3. A lot of people just standing there trying to look good (they didn’t) and attract each other’s attention (they didn’t). Although I did see one or two yummy man-​things cross my path. I expect more from dance clubs, really.
4. Fucking expensive drinks, and you can’t start a tab unless you are planning to spend over $ 75, which, with the over-​priced drinks I guess is quite easy. There is an ATM, though, and that’s mighty charitable of them.
5. OK music, although they could stand to ease up on the Reggaeton, but again, they were probably catering to the B&T. More reggae and more hip hop, please. And not that whack, played out «PUERTO RICO!!!» crap. That was great back when I was in college, which was over 10 years ago. I could have done a better job DJing with just the hip hop and reggae on my iPod.
Don’t get me wrong, I had a great time dancing with my lovelies. But I’ll never go here again. At least Strata has inspired me to look for better hip hop opportunities. I hope Stretch is still DJing at Buddha. I hope Buddha is still THERE (I have been out of the loop for a while, to say the least…).

Wow, judging from the rest of the reviews– this place sucks!
I’ll have to join the crowd tho, I was not impressed by this place at all. We were coaxed into paying $ 300 for bottle service that really wasn’t worth it at all.
My friends had all gotten there early and ‘luckily’ caught the open bar and got cups upon cups of drinks (house liquor of course), needless to say– half my friends were all grumpy and in bad moods by the end of the night. And um, the drinks were nasty!
The place is big but in the beginning of the night, half the club was closed off– they didn’t open it up until more people came (and by this I mean they wait til everyone was stepping on everyone else’s toes).
It seems the club was laid out like this: entrance, common folk area, vip, über-​vip, and super über-​vip.
And if you smoke? FORGET ABOUT IT, they have a designated area for smokers the size of a dog cage.

Place is OK. Crowd depends on the promoters. I like Fridays better bc I like the DJs choice of music better. I’ve seen him in other clubs and he’s cool. He plays a good amount of caribbean music that I like. I like the crowd better on Fridays. Saturdays suck! There are too many ASIAN ppl there bc of the promoter. Too many of anything is not good… especially if they can’t dance!!! BOOO!!! Basically, I was pretty bored and annoyed with a lot of ppl that night. I only went bc a friend of a friend’s had a BDAY thing going. Besides that, I wouldn’t have gone. It was just something to do that night.
Would I go back? Maybe. Only on a Friday though.

This place was beautiful inside and out, its just too bad the service was not up to par. They made many males pay even though they were on the so-​called «guest list.» Other than that, the music was great, the place was put together well, and the crowd was rockin. Minus the spendy drinks, the attitude from the staff, this place could be so much more.