Disappointing, Overpriced, and Not Worth the Hype – Avoid HaSalon NYC
We came to HaSalon as a group of five, expecting a fun night with good food and drinks. What we got instead was a frustrating and disappointing experience that felt more like a scam than a high-end dining experience.
We weren’t very hungry, so we ordered a few dishes (3–4 total) and a bottle of wine, thinking we’d enjoy a light meal and focus more on drinks. Shortly after, our waitress came over and told us there’s a minimum spend of $100 per person – on food only. We were surprised. We politely explained that we weren’t here to eat heavily, just to enjoy the vibe and have drinks. But she insisted, saying it’s policy and there’s no way around it.
We asked to speak with the manager, who offered to “help” by creating a menu that would meet the $100 per person food minimum – that’s $500 total, not including alcohol. Not ideal, but we went along with it just to salvage the night.
At the end of the night, the bill came to over $1,000, including just $200 worth of drinks, meaning we had been forced to spend way more on mediocre food. To top it off, they automatically added a 20% tip per person, which felt outrageous given the experience.
The food? Mostly average. A couple of dishes were borderline flavorless, and only the steak stood out as truly good. Everything else was forgettable or disappointing. For the price and pressure, this felt less like a fine dining experience and more like a money grab.
Between the hidden minimums, the aggressive upselling, and the mediocre food, HaSalon was a complete letdown. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone – there are far better places to spend your money and enjoy yourself in NYC.
YCJ
Love this place. So fun! And food is great.
Sarah
Reservations needed. Cute fun atmosphere!
Neha Luthra
I took a star out because it’s WAY too expensive. That being said the food was all amazing. Each dish was so good. I especially loved the mushroom steak. And the lemon gnocchi was insanely good we had to order more. The drinks are good but not amazing. But I wouldn’t come here unless you are celebrating something special like a birthday because it’s more about the party atmosphere which is so fun. They start the party at 10:45 so I recommend coming earlier to eat.
Lolita Hegedűs
My fav place ever ! Vibes on vibes !
Franck Duffaud
Well, this place is quite unique — not so much for the food, but for the incredible ambiance. People were singing and dancing on tables, the waiters offered us shots and were super friendly, and we ended up chatting with lots of other guests. We had a great time and shared a lot of laughs!
That said, it’s definitely overpriced. We spent $500 for two people, which feels steep considering the food was just okay — good, but not remarkable. The first bottle of wine starts at $105, though I have to admit the Mercurey we chose was excellent ($135, compared to about €60 online, so fair enough).
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a wild, festive night out and you’re not too worried about the bill, this spot delivers on atmosphere and fun. Just don’t come expecting culinary excellence.
joel klein
Super loud and very expensive
TAYLOR MANN
Best experience with the best servers Michael and Sam!!!! They were the most attentive and fun and made it so fun for me and my friends!!!
Kristen Hubby
One of the most elegant, exciting restaurants in NYC. The food is market-fresh and innovative, and the staff is very friendly and fun. Early in the evening offers a more relaxed experience, and the late seating is exhilarating and a vibe. I can’t get enough of the place—it’s also just beautiful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Adaam James Levin - Areddy
Scam. Total scam.
5 stars for food and vibe (Oreinne is an amazing chef), but 2 stars for being phonies -- you're trying to be Israeli and then have last call at 11:15? Dude, you're the Disney parody of vibe. What a joke. Not worth it.
Either you try to lean into the Mediterranean/Israeli vibe (which only get started at midnight), or you do a Disney imitation that has last call at 11. Hasalon had last call at 1030 so even calling it a Disney phoney is somewhat generous. You don't get to charge exorbitant sums for a head of lettuce and then kick people out at 11. No. Choose your lane. As it is, this is a scam.
Disappointing, Overpriced, and Not Worth the Hype – Avoid HaSalon NYC
We came to HaSalon as a group of five, expecting a fun night with good food and drinks. What we got instead was a frustrating and disappointing experience that felt more like a scam than a high-end dining experience.
We weren’t very hungry, so we ordered a few dishes (3–4 total) and a bottle of wine, thinking we’d enjoy a light meal and focus more on drinks. Shortly after, our waitress came over and told us there’s a minimum spend of $100 per person – on food only. We were surprised. We politely explained that we weren’t here to eat heavily, just to enjoy the vibe and have drinks. But she insisted, saying it’s policy and there’s no way around it.
We asked to speak with the manager, who offered to “help” by creating a menu that would meet the $100 per person food minimum – that’s $500 total, not including alcohol. Not ideal, but we went along with it just to salvage the night.
At the end of the night, the bill came to over $1,000, including just $200 worth of drinks, meaning we had been forced to spend way more on mediocre food. To top it off, they automatically added a 20% tip per person, which felt outrageous given the experience.
The food? Mostly average. A couple of dishes were borderline flavorless, and only the steak stood out as truly good. Everything else was forgettable or disappointing. For the price and pressure, this felt less like a fine dining experience and more like a money grab.
Between the hidden minimums, the aggressive upselling, and the mediocre food, HaSalon was a complete letdown. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone – there are far better places to spend your money and enjoy yourself in NYC.
Love this place. So fun! And food is great.
Reservations needed. Cute fun atmosphere!
I took a star out because it’s WAY too expensive. That being said the food was all amazing. Each dish was so good. I especially loved the mushroom steak. And the lemon gnocchi was insanely good we had to order more. The drinks are good but not amazing. But I wouldn’t come here unless you are celebrating something special like a birthday because it’s more about the party atmosphere which is so fun. They start the party at 10:45 so I recommend coming earlier to eat.
My fav place ever ! Vibes on vibes !
Well, this place is quite unique — not so much for the food, but for the incredible ambiance. People were singing and dancing on tables, the waiters offered us shots and were super friendly, and we ended up chatting with lots of other guests. We had a great time and shared a lot of laughs!
That said, it’s definitely overpriced. We spent $500 for two people, which feels steep considering the food was just okay — good, but not remarkable. The first bottle of wine starts at $105, though I have to admit the Mercurey we chose was excellent ($135, compared to about €60 online, so fair enough).
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a wild, festive night out and you’re not too worried about the bill, this spot delivers on atmosphere and fun. Just don’t come expecting culinary excellence.
Super loud and very expensive
Best experience with the best servers Michael and Sam!!!! They were the most attentive and fun and made it so fun for me and my friends!!!
One of the most elegant, exciting restaurants in NYC. The food is market-fresh and innovative, and the staff is very friendly and fun. Early in the evening offers a more relaxed experience, and the late seating is exhilarating and a vibe. I can’t get enough of the place—it’s also just beautiful!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Scam. Total scam.
5 stars for food and vibe (Oreinne is an amazing chef), but 2 stars for being phonies -- you're trying to be Israeli and then have last call at 11:15? Dude, you're the Disney parody of vibe. What a joke. Not worth it.
Either you try to lean into the Mediterranean/Israeli vibe (which only get started at midnight), or you do a Disney imitation that has last call at 11. Hasalon had last call at 1030 so even calling it a Disney phoney is somewhat generous. You don't get to charge exorbitant sums for a head of lettuce and then kick people out at 11. No. Choose your lane. As it is, this is a scam.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
This was such a good spot! Great service and great atmosphere! Food was absolutely delicious! 100/10! Definitely recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything was great, including dancing on the table
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing food and service! The energy was unreal! The most fun our group had, would definitely come back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great service, interesting menu and great, engaging service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dinosaur, Cakes, Ricotta Clouds
The most fun Friday or Saturday night dinner club
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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