Cicada

10/17/09

Cicada Club Sundays are DEAD!

by Victoryismine at Citysearch

You have to pay $10 (+ $7 parking!) or pay for an expensive 4 course meal in order to hear REALLY REALLY HORRIBLE singers accompany lousy unrehearsed bands?!! Then have to deal with a mean old crotchety announcer/promoter Maxwell Demille on top of it?! Even if you love old style jazz you won't find anything good here. I had a better time watching the Gong Show back in the '70s!

I had high hopes initially. I've seen them all: Janet Klein, Christine Nelson, Jennifer Keith, Ginger Pauley and Richard Halpern- ALL CRAP!!! Every one of them is sterile and sings with zero emotion- generally not on pitch either or with some fake annoying nasal voice trying to sound '20s. Does Demille coach them to sing like this? What's going on?

Don't waste your time. Don't waste your money.

& Cicada Restaurant- maybe it's time for a change! oh and ps- get some new waiters that aren't incredibly rude. thanks!

pps- you might want to do something about that smell of death.

• Pros: none
• Cons: EVERYTHING!

10/10/09

Cicada Club is old and tired.

by Swingadilla1931 at Citysearch

Unlike other guests posting here, the $10 cover charge would not bother me, its not much to pay for live entertainment...that being said, $10 is too much to pay for Cicada Club. Maxwell De Mille does not keep things fresh and fun, instead he rotates the same tired bands over and over, nothing changes here. Mr. De Mille himself is borderline arrogant and obnoxious, he couldn't spend a few minutes to mingle and speak with guests, he won't dance with any of the ladies ( my girlfriend included) he won't even take photos with anyone ( we asked and he blew us off). The bar menu really does not live up to the standards of a five star restaurant and the price fixe requires that you get a whole 3 course meal, too much food. Cicada Club also has lots of snotty regulars and staff, De Mille included. I have given this place a couple of chances but next time will spend my $10 elsewhere.

• Pros: Art deco atmosphere, nice cocktail menu, great bartender.
• Cons: No new bands, snobby staff, smokers on patio, snobby guests.

09/01/09

Insulted by the waiter. Heavens!

by LadyCurmudgeon at Citysearch

Last Sunday night at the Cicada Club was very enjoyable, the dancing was lively, the music inspiring, the clientele picturesque, the fare delicious and I felt an evening of such fine frivolity was richly worth the price, that was until the incredibly rude waiter reared his ugly head at the close of this otherwise delightful evening. First, he interrupted the engaging conversation I was having with a few friends at my table to inform me that the bill had to be paid immediately, because he had to “close the books,” even though people were still dancing, and the establishment seemed far from turning out the lights and placing the chairs upon the table.

Then, when I coyly asked him if he thought we looked like deadbeats and were attempting to avoid paying our bill, he became belligerent and extremely unpleasant, and launched into an angry tirade involving, I believe, his economic status. Perhaps the management of the Cicada Club should suggest to their waitpersons that a wooden box at Hyde Park is a more appropriate venue for lectures pontificating upon the economic positions of the privileged and working classes, and not to patrons who have just spent $250 on a dinner for two, including a hefty tip for the obviously disgruntled and politically frustrated waiter.

How unfortunate. The incident was like enjoying a fabulous dinner, only to have the lingering gastronomic pleasure destroyed by a putrid after dinner cocktail. It left a bad taste, and I won’t be going back for more.

• Pros: Fabulous place for fun
• Cons: Rude waiter