Beehive Review

Bzzzzz... Praises for this restaurant/jazz club/bar are abundant in many publications and obvious if you walk by on a weekend night and notice 50 people standing in line just to get in. Reservations recommended.
Maybe I wasn't so impressed by this establishment because most of the customers there were not like me. Believe me, I like sophistication, jazz and a funky atmosphere as much as I detest midterms. But, the Beehive did not live up to its hype. We (my faithfully adventurous roommate and I) made reservations a week in advance and were anticipating an excellent jazz show at 10pm. We had even heard the place did burlesque on weekends - such scandal for a suddenly independent girl from conservative Kansas.
When we arrived, we eagerly skipped in front of the long line and passed the imposing large, black doorman to be rushed downstairs to where the jazz singer would soon begin. The walls were a rough brick - reminiscent of an old warehouse - and made a V where the stage was set. The plush velvety curtains around the stage made the performance area seem sumptuous and Moulin Rouge-esque. However, we did not reap the benefits of such primo seating. We were placed around the corner of the stage, near an "Exit" door, and squashed by the wall with all of the coat hooks. Guests were constantly reaching around us, opening the door to let in freezing air, and standing in front of our table to see the singer. So maybe we should have made reservations two weeks in advance?
Food and service were not awful, but haphazard and slow. The tuna tartar I ordered seemed fresh (although pairing it with pickles was strange tasting), and the cheese fondue my roommate, Allegra, ate came with various fruits and breads. The very best part of the meal was the Frites (baked potato fries) with cheese and gravy. Juicy, salty, and filling - perfect to stuff our stomachs before the entertainment.
I would not generally recommend this club/restaurant to college students - it was expensive and uninspiring. The jazz we couldn't hear well because of our awful location and we were too distracted by the shiver-inducing rushes of air that kept swooping toward our table. The crowd was casual, and well into its 30's. As sophomores in college then, we felt out of place. My boyfriend joined us later and tried two of their mixed drinks - one with way too much sour mix and the other with flat tonic water.
Overall, the mood of the place was chaotic and pushing to be trendy. For example, even though the room was very full of people, the darkness and the bare walls made it still seem empty. We couldn't even relax after our meal because a group of older women nearby kept asking (and lusting) after our meager table. Our waiter, too, rushed us to pay the bill so he could leave early.
I would love to hear from others what they've thought about the Beehive and if they've had a similar, better or much different experience.

-Meg K.