Follies

This is a composite review covering numerous visits over the last 8 or so months, spaced 2 to 4-5 weeks apart. The layout and overall vibe of the club has been covered extensively in other reviews, so I will not get into that. I’ll just give some observations that might be of interest to other PLs.

All of my visits have been (or at least started) in the daytime, between 3:30 p.m and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. By then, Follies will already be quite crowded. Most previous reviews by knowledgeable PLs suggest getting a high top table along the back wall next to the DJ booth. Clearly, those are the prime spots because every single time I have been here all of those tables have been taken by the time I arrived, and have remained occupied the rest of the evening. WTF—what time do you have to get there to get one of those tables? My usual preference is to hang out at the bar anyway, but by 3:30 or 4:30 p.m. it is not unusual for the bar to be very crowded as well, but there are usually (not always) a few spots open. However, table seating around the stages is not hard to find at this time.

The daytime bartender is the best I have seen anywhere. She appears to work the front part of the bar by herself, but despite the crowd always manages to keep your drink fresh. At this point, I suppose I am considered a regular since she remembers my usual drink. That’s not particularly unusual for a good bartender, but what is unusual is this: On my last couple of visits all of the stools at the bar had already been taken by the time I arrived, so I had to wedge myself into the bar or stand at the waitress station to get a drink. There were dancers sitting at the bar taking up stools but not actively entertaining customers, so she shooed them away and made space for me. I suppose it helps that I tip well, as I always try to do in any bar or restaurant, but I don’t tip extravagantly either, and I don’t drink a huge amount either—usually 2 or 3 drinks over the course of 2 or 3 hours. I am going to make a point to tip her even better in the future and if you like to sit at the bar you should, too. She will take care of you.