2-in-1?

Some restaurants in NYC dabble in the nightlife scene as well. Lavo, Tao Downtown, Catch, Bagatelle, Kola House, Jue Lan Club and many others either have a nightclub on the premises or convert their space into a club like atmosphere after dinner service is complete. But I question, should restaurants and nightclubs remain separate entities? Does a restaurant lose its quality when it begins to offer nightlife as well?

During a recent trip to Catch, located on 9th Avenue in the Meatpacking District, I could not ignore the fact that the indoor seating on the rooftop level was beginning to look worn-out. Catch is a multi-level restaurant that is open twelve hours a day. On Fridays and Saturdays, Catch converts its rooftop level into a nightclub. Chairs are removed and tables are lowered to have ice buckets and bottles of vodka rested upon them. I was enjoying my meal but couldn’t help but think about the amount of people that had stood on the very banquette I was seated on. All the dancing and jumping taking place during the late night hours is what most likely caused the banquettes to look so beat up. I also cringed at the thought of how people have probably vomited on those same banquettes as well due to consuming too much alcohol.

Restaurant guests and club-goers share the same want of having an enjoyable night out. I feel that restaurants and nightclubs should remain separate because although they may have similar aspects, they serve two different purposes. Restaurants should solely focus on providing top notch cuisine to its guests. Nightclubs should focus on providing a fun atmosphere where people can enjoy a drink and dance the night away. I feel that when the two entities combine, a restaurant can lose sight of its most important feature, the food.

I do respect the contrasting opinion of those who enjoy the two-in-one functionality of restaurants that offer nightlife. Some enjoy being able to have a nice meal and then walk a few feet to the nightclub or watch the restaurant transform into a swanky club setting. I enjoy when things are separate because I feel that when there is no clear boundary, things can become messy and murky.