Letting loose on Wednesday night, newly single Sofia Vergara got the party started to Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" at Beauty & Essex in New York City with a group of 16 ladies.

Casually clad in a flowy white tank and leopard-print Louboutin heels, the Modern Family star, danced on chairs at the hotspot with her fellow partygoers, when security and staff reprimanded the group for "safety reasons," an onlooker tells PEOPLE.

When the women were asked to get off the chairs, Vergara comically replied, "We are not from America. We won't sue. It's not in our vocabulary."
– Carlos Greer

Jessica Alba was with a big group of people on Tuesday when she came out to New York City eatery Beauty & Essex, though she mostly kept to herself.

"She only had a scotch on the rocks," an onlooker tells PEOPLE of the mom of two, who didn't order anything to eat. "She was at a table of 10, but was seen texting most of the time."

Although she kept a seemingly low profile, the actress's typically notable style didn't go unnoticed.

The source says Alba was wearing a high-waisted print skirt, espadrilles and a white Louis Vuitton bag.
– Jennifer Garcia

She may have recently won the mirror-ball trophy with DWTS partner J.R. Martinez, but Karina Smirnoff is still close with her former partner Ralph Macchio. They enjoyed some quality time with his entire family (including wife and kids) at Beauty & Essex in New York. For her meal, Smirnoff ate salmon and also saved room for an array of ice cream for dessert, a source says. – Jennifer Garcia

Goodbye Beverly Hills – and hello New York City! As they rev up for season 2 of their Bravo reality show, three of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills stars – Kyle Richards, Adrienne Maloof and Lisa Vanderpump – decamped to New York with their husbands in tow for several celebrations and some good old fashioned promotion. On Sunday night, the ladies celebrated Maloof's 50th birthday at new eatery Beauty & Essex on Manhattan's Lower East Side. First, the three first browsed the antique shop in the restaurant's entryway, then Maloof grabbed some free champagne and headed up to her dinner party. The next night, just as their show premiered with a slightly-reedited episode, the ladies, their husbands and Vanderpump's dog, Jiggy, dined at Stantion Social, and shared favorites including the French onion soup dumplings, chicken and waffles and a chocolate tasting.

Kim Kardashian and beau Kris Humphries stepped out for dinner at New York hot spot Beauty & Essex along with her publicist. The reality starlet arrived in a classic little black dress and heels, while the guys were casual in jeans. The trio sampled restaurant specialties like chicken meatballs and lobster tacos, and Kardashian paid her compliments to the chef as they left.

An animated Lindsay Lohan joined friends for dinner at New York's Beauty & Essex. The actress – who drank soda during her meal – was very cordial to fans who approached her table. Lohan has such a good time that, before she left, she kissed her waitress goodbye!

Ali Fedotowsky, flashing her sparkler during dinner with close friends at newly opened Beauty & Essex in New York. The former Bachelorette star sipped cocktails and dined on specialties like oven-braised chicken meatballs. Earlier in the week, Ashley Olsen popped in for a glass of wine and dinner with friends.