Thursday, September 5, 2013

Joshua Tree in Murray Hill

Back now to Third Avenue and its restaurant/bar strip for a look at another option there...

This place has never seemed as busy to me as Jackson Hole, say, but let us see what the Yelp reviews are like..not bad reviews, but, as one person puts it, sort of "meh"

Joshua Tree

3.0 star rating
241 reviews Rating Details
513 3rd Ave
(between 35th St & 34th St)
New York, NY 10016
Neighborhoods: Midtown East, Murray Hill
(212) 689-0058
Nearest Transit Station:
33 St. (4, 6, 6X)
Grand Central - 42 St. (7, 7X)
28 St. (4, 6, 6X)
Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 4 am
Sat-Sun 10 am - 4 am
Good for Kids:
No
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Price Range:
$$
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
Yes
Wi-Fi:
No
Good For:
Late Night
Music:
Music Videos
Best Nights:
Thu, Fri, Sat
Happy Hour:
Yes
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Smoking:
No
Coat Check:
Yes
Noise Level:
Very Loud
Good For Dancing:
Yes
Ambience:
Divey, Casual
Has TV:
Yes
Caters:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Review Highlights   What's this?

  • "this place also had music videos on big TV screens very awesome." In 54 reviews
  • "All in all, super fun, casual place to come late night in Murray Hill." In 29 reviews
  • "The bartenders and servers are always polite and friendly." In 16 reviews
Rating Distribution | Trend
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241 reviews in English

  • Review from

    • 187 friends
    • 206 reviews
    Cortlandt Manor, NY
    8/26/2013 1 check-in here
    My first experience here was after a long ass day of bar crawling throughout the entire city and our last stop was here. I figured it would be a one beer and bounce kinda place but as I ventured further into the back of the bar, I was met with huge screens projecting spice girls and whitney houston tunes and I thought I was taken into a beautiful time warp.  Danced until I thought I would faint and it was amazing!  I've been dying to come back and dance the night away some more!

    That being said I made a return visit one Thursday night with friends around 9 or so.  The bar had a few heads but the back dancing room was empty--granted it was rather early.  SO we sat at a front table, ordered drinks, an app, sandwich and a salad. Cool, lets do this!  Two rounds later and we're wondering where the food is at.. We ask the waitress twice and apparently it was forgotten in the kitchen... um k?  We waited for what seemed like an hour and a half until our simple orders came out. Thank god the calamatz was good bc I would have been even more annoyed.  They didnt comp us anything for the huge ass wait so my girl asked hah!  They gave us a round of soco-lime shots on the house. Ok I guess that works but another beer would have been fine too.

    Overall I dont hate the place bc the music is fabulous but the damn wait for simple apps and food was wack!  Ppl inside here typical college/ late 20's scene.  Bouncers kept tryna get in my cookie jar but it was aiiight.  I would come back here for dancing only-- even the beer took too long to reach me.
  • Review from

    Forest Hills, NY
    7/25/2013
    I've come to Joshua Tree a few times for happy hour.  I'm always gone by 7:30 and I've never come on a weekend, so my review is based only on the weeknight, happy hour experience.

    I lovee the happy hour specials- $5 wine, $4 frozen sangria, $4 frozen margarita- all amazing!!  There's always ample seating, so it's a great place to come with a group of coworkers.  I haven't tried the food but a few friends have and they say it's good, nothing great but not bad either (is anything bad when you're 4 margaritas in??).  The bartenders are always friendly and prompt.  I enjoy the music videos on the walls, until I came to Joshua Tree I hadn't seen a music video in like 8 years lol, so it was cool getting to see the videos of some of my favorite songs.  (*I should add that it's mostly Top 40/popular hits and some 90s during happy hour...I'd read some reviews about a lot of 80s music being played but I've never actually heard it...thank god...that's by far THE worst genre in my opinion ;p )

    I'm deducting a star because said music is a touch too loud...maybe if it was a late-night, dancing scene the volume would be appropriate, but I'm always surrounded by groups like my own- sitting down, talking, just catching up...it's annoying when you have to shout to be heard.
  • Review from

    Manhattan, NY
    7/22/2013 1 check-in here
    Yes, they play fun 80s and 90s music videos.  Yes, it's fun to speculate about what the artists were thinking when making said videos.  Yes, there are great happy hour specials.

    However, the bartenders and bouncers every time I've come here have been downright rude!  First, I came here on a Tuesday night and there was hardly anyone in the bar.  My friend and I both ordered water because we had been walking in 90 degree weather for 20 blocks.  The female bartender basically forced us to order drinks!  First of all, we would have gotten around to that eventually if you had given us the chance (and you would have gotten a much better tip.)  Second, the bar was nearly empty; we were definitely not taking up any precious space.  Third, having girls in your bar is good for business.  Give it enough time and the guys will be buying us drinks and giving you tips.

    I somehow ended up back here the following weekend.  Different bartenders.  Same attitude.  I sat down to play Connect Four and the bouncer/bartender (not sure which) literally grabbed it out of my hands and said they were closing!  The rest of the bouncers rushed us out of there, even though the bartenders had just let us order another round!  So you're going to be rude and not let me have my drink that I just paid for?  Terrible!
  • Review from

    Brooklyn, NY
    7/17/2013 1 check-in here
    Every now and then I'm on this side of the city but usually down the block.

    Out of the need to try something different my friend picked this spot for happy hour. Food was regular bar fare, and it was pretty good. They yummy part of the meal was the frozen sangria... I could have that everyday.

    Okay spot, Okay food, and Yummy frozen sangria.
  • Review from

    • 90 friends
    • 65 reviews
    Manhattan, NY
    7/6/2013 1 check-in here
    Went to this bar to watch Brazil v Spain game.

    Atmosphere 3.5/5 - Dark and dank in the back, open to the sunlight in the front and spacious. I really like. Normal looking bar otherwise though.

    Service 4/5 - We had a really really attentive blonde waitress and she'd come back often to check up on us and always asked to refill beers. She was always available when we needed her.

    Food/Beer 3/5 - Had a decent selection of brews but not too many. Didn't get to try the food but will be back. It looked decent for bar food! :)
  • Review from

    New York, NY
    6/11/2013 1 check-in here
    Another piece of Murray Hill trash.
    I don't remember much- enough said.
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 120 reviews
    New York, NY
    7/28/2013
    Typical Murray Hill bar, but with 80s/90s music (& videos) which is fun. Very crowded with overly drunk people. Also, $8 for well drinks is just silly.
  • Review from

    Staten Island, NY
    3/22/2013
    This used to be my favorite bar about 5-6 years ago. I would go here ALL the time. But now I really couldn't imagine myself being able to deal with it.

    It definitely does have its pros and cons. I do recall them having pretty decent bar food. Big portions, so good when you're with a group. This is a good after work type of place.

    Also, on Sat. nights (not sure if they do this any other night) they play awesome 80s music and show the videos. It's great! But there is no real way to enjoy this because of how insanely crowded this place gets. It's not even normal. It gets annoyingly crowded in here. I am not a fan of that. I need at least a little elbow room.
  • Review from

    • 1 friend
    • 36 reviews
    Long Island City, Queens, NY
    7/15/2013
    I made friends with the bartenders. And met one of the regulars then hit on her, even sang Karaoke. Like I really made an effort. But in the end this place just didn't do it for me. And I'm 23!
  • Review from

    • 68 friends
    • 43 reviews
    Manhattan, NY
    2/20/2013 1 check-in here
    What you need to know: ruckus post-frat party, 80s music and music videos playing at all times, very DOUCHEY crowd, fairly affordable drinks, hot girls, way too many dudes, and 200% Caucasian.

    If you're looking for something else, run away. I sort of love this place in a sadistic way. I met my girlfriend here so I definitely can't complain -- we still laugh about that all the time.
  • Review from

    Brooklyn, NY
    2/23/2013 1 photo 6 check-ins here
    When I want to get loose and just put my dancing shoes on, I know where to go! HERE!! This place has been my favorite bar ever since i discovered it, about 2-3 years ago.

    The only place I know who play all 80's every night of the week! I used to come here a lot with my girlfriends. We would always have a good time and jump around like crazy adults that act like kids...hehe. Now i drag Michael out and he also got hooked, which is what i wanted (evil laugh).

    The atmosphere in this bar is great, they have TV screens all around the bar, where they play the videos that go along with the song. Thanks to Joshua Tree I now know all the music videos to all the 80's songs!

    I definitely come here a lot, and enjoy every second of it!
  • Review from

    • 4 friends
    • 10 reviews
    New York, NY
    6/20/2013
    This place is very "meh."  Our waitress was nice but extremely slow. Our food arrived quickly after ordering, but we waited nearly an hour before she ever came back to check on us and give us our bill. It's surprising that this place doesn't see a lot of "dine and dash" happening. I had the buffalo chicken caesar salad and it was good, but the first beer they served me was definitely not Pacifico, and the second round was flat and sour tasting.
  • Review from

    • 3 friends
    • 26 reviews
    Manhattan, NY
    4/13/2013
    woah, woah woah, I cannot believe I haven't reviewed J-Tree yet.  Joshua Tree is the kind of place that people try to make me feel bad about loving, but I'm sorry I am not sorry, because I. love. Joshua. Tree.  I am there like every weekend.  They play the same GREAT songs all the time, their drinks are fairly priced (absolut sodas are $8 each), and it is just a great time.  The front room is just a normal bar, and then the back room is where the dancing starts at like 10pm on weekend nights.  Ugh, love it.

    Here are some of the songs you will most definitely hear (this includes some of the ones I don't like when they play :()

    Wanna Dance with Somebody
    You can call me Al (stop playing this! mood killer)
    Mo' Money Mo' Problems (or Juicy? idk I am always drunk. but they def play biggie)
    Uptown Girl
    Ice Ice Baby
    Brass Monkey (sometimes)
    Wannabee
    Mmmbop
    500 Miles


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