La Marina

I kept hearing about La Marina and how it was such a new hot spot, so decided to get some friends together for a pre 4th of July night out.  After reading the reviews on here I really wasnt expecting much and I have to say, the reviews are generous.

We got there early at about 5pm for happy hour, which apparently didnt exist when we got there.  They wouldnt honor the happy hour pricing that was on their website.  The view is definitely nice, I will say that, but other than that I really wouldnt go back.  The waitressess didnt know anything about the cocktail menu, barely knew where the bathrooms were, and seemed all in all very lazy to me. On the plus side, the drinks were NOT watered down.

Our dinner reservations were at 8p and we were seated promptly which was good.  We ordered from the pre fixe menu.  The food was mediocre at best.  We appetizers served family style.... bland. Ceasar salad was brought out with full slices of anchovies, not chopped up tiny as is traditional ceasar dressing, it made the salad taste extremely fishy so no one ate it.  Our group was 8 and it was unanimous that he food was bland.  Service was ok, couldve been better, couldve been worse.  At one point the waiter told us he had to go pee and thats why we wouldnt see him for a few minutes.  REALLY?  That was just a little TMI.  I hope he washed his hands.  Dessert was also brought out family style and the Tres Leches was the best one, but thats really not saying much.  Tres Leches is a very moist/wet cake made with 3 milks, its suppose to be wet, yet it was served as a muffin... a DRY muffin.

I'm glad I tried it, but other than the view I see NO reason why this place has all the hype.  I wouldnt go back.

So... were it not for the gorgeous venue, and great view, I probably would give this place two stars. I really, really, really wanted to love it. My boyfriend and I went to have an early dinner (around 5:30), and the place was mostly empty at that hour. We were told that we had to sit at the bar if we wanted to order food. We were disappointed, as we had hoped to enjoy the view from the open air seating area (we were also ordering cocktails, but were told that that area was for cocktail service only, and not food.) Why would a restaurant's policy treat a customer that wants to purchase more than just cocktails less attentively than someone wandering in for just a drink? Backwards. The food itself was mediocre. We had a chicken caesar salad (chicken was *way* overcooked and leathery, and calamari (which was ok), both ordered by the bartender. After our food came out, no one approached us to see if things were satisfactory, or to ask if we'd like to order another cocktail. I understand that this place has become more of a nightclub scene, which is kind of a shame. For a place with such an upscale vibe, the service and food were pretty terrible. I hope that some changes are made. We'd go back for a drink and to enjoy the view, but never again to eat.

I call it "faux chic."  The setting is simply gorgeous on a warm summer night.  Unfortunately, that's the one thing La Marina DIDN'T have anything to do with.  The food is overpriced and just not very good.  The outdoor music is too loud to carry on any semblance of a conversation.  The drinks are unmemorable.  I won't ever go back which is too bad because the view down the Hudson at night really is wonderful.