New Gay Bar, Suite, Arrives With Fast Indian Food in 'Hood
By Kate Ruskin, Columbia Spectator Published: March 07, 2005

Students craving East Asian food delivered to their dorms or hoping for a chance to sing karaoke now have two new places to go.
Both Bombay Frankie Roti Roll and Suite, occupying neighboring spaces on Amsterdam Avenue near 109th Street, celebrated their grand opening this week. These new eateries, run and co-owned by Ivan Balachandran, Sudhir Bhat, and Chander Malik, will provide the area with a unique dining and drinking experiences, with Bombay Frankie Roti Roll offering Indian fast food and Suite serving as the only gay bar in Morningside Heights.
Suite occupies the space that formerly housed Saints, which was the gay bar in Morningside Heights until it closed last spring. Patrons attributed its demise to mismanagement, naming warm beer, gaping holes in the ceiling, a faulty heating system, and a change in atmosphere as some of the problems Saints faced.
"When Saints first opened it had a great atmosphere, like a basement party where everyone knew each other," said Liz Furtado, a stand-up comedienne who lived in Morningside Heights for many years before moving to Washington Heights. "But then it got seedy, like, "Let's hang giant pictures of penises on the walls.'"
Suite opened last weekend after extensive renovations. While the bar retained a few of the staples of Saints, including the same bar, it added several new features, like a big-screen TV that is positioned above a stage. Suite owners say they plan to use the stage for karaoke nights, which, along with ladies' night, will be two of the several nightly specials they plan to institute in the coming weeks.
The new décor also includes a well stocked and colorfully lit array of liquor bottles behind the bar, color-morphing light panels on one wall, and trendy couches that form comfortable yet social niches.
"This is a very clever mix of ambiance. It feels like a club but it has a lot of class, too. It definitely has a friendly atmosphere," said Chris Costello, who visited the bar this weekend from his home in Hell's Kitchen.
While Suite is primarily a gay bar, owners say it will be open to anyone.
"We're geared toward the gay and lesbian population, but as long as you're comfortable coming in and won't pass judgment on others, you're welcome," Balachandran said.
Many wonder if it will be able to draw a Columbia crowd. "It's good that there's someplace for us Columbia kids to go this far uptown," said Yi-Sheng Ng, CC '05, president of the Columbia Queer Alliance. He said that since Saints's closing, most of the gay and lesbian community at Columbia began to frequent bars downtown.
Ng also expressed concern about the bar. "If it's anything like Saints, it'll be too small, too cramped, too dark, and too loud, but we'll see," he said.
While Suite's owners are unsure how they will be received by the Columbia community, they have little doubt that the fast food home delivery joint they are opening next door will be a hit with college students. Bombay Frankie Roti Roll offers inexpensive Indian food without the hassle of a sit-down dinner.
The menu is currently limited, but the owners hope to expand the selection as the place gets up and running.
"I think operationally they have to tighten it up a bit," said Amy Schoeman, a second-year SIPA grad student. "Its draw is that it's fast Indian food. It's not pizza, it's not Chinese."
The arrangement of Roti Roll with Suite was appreciated by Roti Roll customers who like the seating option at Suite. "I like to have a beer with my food, so it's very convenient," said Al Narath, a third-year GSAS student who ate his food next door on one of Suite's couches.
The convenience of a fast food place neighboring a bar will not be lost on many drunken munchies patrons either. "When you're drunk or stoned, and you've got the munchies, and you have to fill up on something, this hits the spot," said GSAS student Charles Walls.