From my experience, Bhambi's is highly overrated...and by such a small sample size of reviewers here. The low number of meritorious reviews thus far for this crock of a tailoring shop--in our business and fashion mecca, no less--should raise a red flag of suspicion. Statistically speaking (for those prospective customers out there who regularly work with "figures"), 9 total reviews do not provide enough appraisals from which to draw any significant predictive validity. One would think that such a chop shop that allegedly has received countless customers referred by Barney's, as one reviewer asserts, would have commanded a much higher turnout of supportive reviewers, if Bhambi's work had been so highly and widely regarded.
Initially, I was turned off by some very personally intrusive, inappropriate comments made and questions posed to me by the younger Harry Bhambi, himself, during a preliminary fitting of my cashmere topcoat. He bluntly asked my age, outright, which I thought was very personal and unprofessional, especially with other customers present in his intimate boutique setting. He proceeded to say almost flirtatiously (while smirking) that I looked young for my age, having a "baby face" (possibly a Title VII violation in today's workplace). He then pointed out that I didn't wear a wedding ring and chose to focus on that topic for an uncomfortably long while. I'm actually recently widowed, but I didn't divulge that info as he kept probing. He also pressed me for information regarding my type of employment, after which he proceeded to ask me for my professional opinions regarding specific types of investments...as if trying to test my credentials and to get me to breach ethical fiduciary responsibility. At one point, he rudely questioned, "You can't afford a gym," when I discussed how I used to be even more muscular than I am now, almost to the bodybuilding competition level of development. I should not have been put in such an awkward position to firmly correct his rude, unprofessional commentary and questioning, as I did quite tersely. C'mon, how many men with 100% fine quality cashmere topcoats in Manhattan (or anywhere, for that matter) wouldn't be able to afford a gym membership? The replacement cost of the coat would more than pay for a year's membership at an elite health club in this city. If Harry had belonged to a gym, himself, then he would have been able to answer his own arrogant question.
Furthermore, he seemed completely ignorant of the British Royal Family historical significance of the fine Aquascutum brand of the sport jacket that I courageously had one of his employees take in through the sides, in order to accentuate my "V"-tapered lats, broad shoulders, and slim waist. I actually heard one of his customers elucidate to him the historical royal significance of that brand. Since Bhambi and his profoundly "experienced" employees seem so blatantly unfamiliar with Aquascutum, would any of you risk overpaying him to whip up a custom-tailored suit or to entrust him with altering an irreplaceable, premium brand garment? His standard of care should be much higher, in my legal opinion. His completion time is not fast, either. It took 10 business days for one of his employees to do a few simple, uncomplicated suit alterations that would have taken half of the time elsewhere and for nearly half of the price.
There were some other blatant errors of tailoring professionalism that I could elaborate upon, but I believe more than enough has been said, "Res ipsa loquitur." In fact, the initial first-time customer "tester suits" that I presented to Bhambi's (2 premium brand name suits and the premium Aquascutum sport jacket) did not receive a gentleman's passing "C" grade, either in professional attention to detail or to me, the customer. Thus, I assigned only 2/5 stars (40%) for a grade "D" experience (on an Ivy League curve), since the stitching was barely adequate and grossly overpriced for what was produced, and for the lack of professionalism presented on the two occasions I visited his shop. Harry does not seem to proof the work that leaves his business, otherwise I would not have been inconvenienced to return an item for additional repair of damage that seemed to have occurred while previous alteration work had been performed on it by one of his other tailors. Conceivably, I could have received better and quicker service and more professional alterations and attention to detail from my neighborhood dry cleaner.
Don't let the hardwood wainscoting or high rent address sucker you into thinking you're in good tailoring hands! It's all a sham, seemingly. Shame on Harry Bhambi! "Caveat emptor," fellow Yelpers. There are other tailors in Manhattan located in less glam boutique settings that are much more competent, professional, and deserving of your business. Nine favorable reviews do not a professional master tailor make. read more
