Beautiful women, five-star dining, relaxed atmosphere, exciting music, massages with dinner, lap dances with dessert – sounds too good to be true? It isn’t!
It’s Scores ‘2.0,’ the reinvigorated, improved and newly reopened Mecca of pleasure. Located on Manhattan’s West Side, Scores is much more than a Gentleman’s Club with a restaurant; it is a complete and total experience – a delight for all the senses. As you step into the club, the lights along the bar and the whimsical blue and gold pattern of the runway leading up to the main stage add an air of anticipation, as though you are about to discover something special. Plush chairs are clustered invitingly around the stage; the lighting giving it a royal purple hue. Appropriate considering the entire Scores staff makes each guest feel like a king.
The club itself is impressive and modern, with the main features being a stage framed by flat screen televisions and an LED paved runway. On any given night the girls alternate between gyrating seductively and performing impressive spins and other tricks on stage. Off stage stunning girls sit around chatting with the clientele. One lucky guy – relaxing after a long day at the office – had the pleasure of sitting between two model types who fawned over him, one blond and one brunette.
Towards the back of the club, guests can enjoy private dances in any one of the eighteen individual rooms, which have their own sound systems and temperature controls. Also at the back of the club is Robert’s Restaurant.
When someone says he’s going to a gentlemen’s club to satisfy a craving for something warm, sweet and sticky, the last thing that comes to mind is apple cobbler. While Scores has always been known for spectacular women, Robert’s Restaurant is without a doubt one of its most outstanding features. Scores manager George Marrero says, “Owner Robert Gans’ goal in including a top notch restaurant in our establishment is to offer patrons the highest quality of both adult entertainment and dining.” Thanks to the beauty and charm of the female entertainers and the expertise of executive chef Will Savarese – who boasts an impressive resume including Le Cirque, Aureole and La Cremaillere – Scores succeeds on both counts.
The level of service at the restaurant leaves nothing to be desired. From the minute you slide into one of the glittery booths expect your napkin to be unfolded and your water glass to be kept full. Marrero’s attentiveness to each patron is refreshing. He will personally visit your table to ensure you’re comfortable and that the controlled environment is to your liking.
The cuisine is right on par with the outstanding hospitality. When asked what his inspiration is for creating the menu’s specials, which change almost daily, Savarese says he simply uses “whatever is fresh and available.” And it works. The Risotto and Crabmeat, served in a buttery sauce, stimulated the palate and proved a good start to the meal, as did the Robert‘s Salad with lobster, shrimp and French beans in a refreshing mango citrus dressing. The main attraction on the menu is the steak. Saverese dry ages them six to eight weeks and keeps them in a refrigerator that alerts him if the temperature or humidity level should change even a degree. The T-bone Steak was excellent, and Robert’s Steak Sauce served as a good complement.
The distinguishing feature at Robert’s is its broadened culinary focus. In addition to steaks, the menu also includes sophisticated dishes such as the Moroccan Spiced Lamb Chops and the Seared Sea Scallops. The Blackened Mahi-Mahi was a phenomenal entrée special, with just a hint of spice. As far as a signature dish, Savarese says it would have to be the Lobster Hash with Quail Egg. The chef’s showmanship extends beyond dinner; the dessert menu is equally impressive, featuring delicacies such as Ricotta Cheese Cake with Strawberry Compote.
Between courses, diners are able to request the dancers to come to their tables not only for lap dances, but also for arm, leg, and hand massages. While the curtain strategically placed between the restaurant and the stage makes it difficult to see performances directly from the tables, they can be viewed via flat screen TVs strategically placed. Considering its location along New York’s nightclub epicenter, late night revelers can visit Robert’s Restaurant and order Saverese’s lounge menu specialties until 3am.
Scores’ undeniably lives up to its legacy as a top tier venue to relax and enjoy female company; the impeccable quality of food and service at Robert’s Restaurant proves to be a pleasant surprise. The main draw for those who visit Scores for the first time may be the women, but it’s not unlikely that many will return regularly just for the De-Constructed Caramelized Banana Split.
Scores New York: 536 West 28th Street, New York, NY 10001 *212- 868-4900 www.scoresny.com