Welcome back to the Door Report, the Eater feature that will give you the skinny on the toughest doors in New York City. If you have a suggestion for the Door Report, please do let us know.
1. The Jane Ballroom: Absence makes the heart grow fonder, so it's with great pleasure that we put the Jane at the top of the list. The back story is so well known by now that there is no need to delve into all of the details, so let's deal with the present. The Jane reopened this week with a new and improved operating policy, meaning that if you haven't been invited, you simply aren't getting in. Don't try buying a bottle either - they don't sell them.
Who you need to know: Eric Goode, Sean MacPherson, Matt Kliegman, Carlos Quirarte
Civilian Chance of Entry: 0%
113 Jane St., West Village.
2. The Boom Boom Room: For the first time since it's opening, Le Room de Boom has been bounced from the top spot on the list. While the door has not gotten much easier, there seems to be a growing sense of disillusion with the Boom. The most common complaints are with the music, the prices, and the design, all of which make an evening at the swankiest lounge in New York kind of dull. But we have heard that Andre Balazs has been reaching out to some high profile nightlife pros to get involved at the Boom, and also will be opening the Black Room full time in the fall.
Who you need to know: Andre Balazs, Kamil Parchomienko
Civilian Chance of Entry: 2%
848 Washington St., MePa.
3. Provocateur: Mike Satsky and Brian Gefter's new venue in the Gansevoort Hotel may have been designed with a female sensibility, but the door certainly isn't female friendly. Provocateur makes the leap into the third spot off their reputation for denying entire groups based off the appearance of the a member of said party, such as a birthday girl who's party was apparently canceled at the door because Gefter "didn’t like the 'short fat one in my group'.”; Ouch. This kind of policy may get gain points for the Door Report, but sure hurts building a customer base for the long run.
Who you need to know: Mike Satsky, Brian Gefter, Kyky, Dimitri
Civilian Chance of Entry: 18%
18 9th Avenue, MePa.
4. Simyone Lounge: The Jane's return and Provocateur's policies bumps the subterranean lounge beneath Abe and Arthur's down two notches. Owners Eugene Remm and Mark Birnbaum are running a smooth ship in the tiny space, but with a Hamptons outpost just weeks away and an Abe and Arthur's expansion on the horizon, some slippage is possible. We'll be sending the quality control team on regular visits.
Who you need to know: Eugene Remm, Mark Birnbaum, Aalex Julian
Civilian Chance of Entry: 21%
409 W 14th St., MePa.
5. Avenue: The Strategic Group’s gastro lounge holds firm at #5 and is still New York's premiere bottle buying destination. Over the past several months, Avenue has weathered a perfect storm of unwanted publicity, the arrest of a doorman, and the smoking crackdown, managing to keep things exclusive. But with Lavo under construction and the possible loss of its Beatrice friendly Tuesdays and Thursdays to other venues, might we see some slippage in the near future? Possibly, but for now, Avenue stays on the list.
Who you need to know: Noah Tepperberg, Jason Strauss, Wass Stevens, The Beatrice Crew
Civilian Chance of Entry: 60%
116 Tenth Ave., Chelsea
Runners Up: Rose Bar, 1OAK, GoldBar, Cabin
Future Contenders: Le Baron, Black Bar at the Standard, Nell's, Butter II
· The Door Report [~ENY~]
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