Wow East Village! You have yourself a gem with Rake Wine Bar! We were waiting for our dinner…read morereservations and decided to stop in here for a pre-dinner drink and bite. I am SO glad we did. The vibe drew us in, they had great music bumpin from the outside, it looked lively and welcoming. Let me tell you- I would have skipped dinner and just stayed here all evening if it was my choice! But alas, my husband wanted a bit more to eat. But let me tell you- their knowledge of wine is PRISTINE! I can't tell you what white wine we had but they captured our tastes perfectly. We also shared a bruschetta and it was deliciouso! I love how friendly the staff was here and how unpretentious it all was. Next time we are in NYC- we will definitely make a point to come visit Rake!

My partner and I were looking for a great double date spot, so we decided to give Rake a try due to…read moreits relaxing vibe and multitude of bites we could share. First I'll start with the wine - we ended up trying all three happy hour wines (HH until 7), which the tables favorites were the white and we ended up getting a bottle to split once HH ended (but I really enjoyed the other vino verde option). It was incredibly refreshing and paired well with the many tinned fish options. As you'd expect - it's a pretty massive selection and there is bound to be a varietal and glass for any palate. It's also attached to a wine store - so it's fine to see all the bottles when peaking over. Food-wise - this is where it was hit or miss, they have a pretty extensive menu (with a whole tinned fish section!) and we ended up ordering the buratta on focaccia (buratta was excellent, focaccia was too dense for my tastes), mushroom truffle crostini (way too salty), the flatbread with sliced kielbasa (was fine), halloume (table favorite ), tinned sardines in lemon oil (delicious), tinned smoked trout (my favorite). Overall the four of us were very full at the end of the meal! The space itself felt very relaxing and rustic, and definitely got busier as the night went on (we got there at 6:50 and left around 9). The service was also fast and attentive - even for the amount of tables they were serving. Overall - I'd definitely go back again, and maybe just focus on the wine and another tinned fish selection!

Finding wine bar hidden gems are on my to-do list this year and I really loved this place! Located…read morein the heart of the East Village you'll find a cozy/intimate spot which is perfect for a date night. They have a bunch of dishes to select from and kitchen is open for a specific time frame that I didn't get to try but need to come back for. Their wine options were pretty good (White wine is my favorite!) and the Red wine was very rich and yummy. Loved the atmosphere and everyone here was super inviting!

A little disappointed. Not that extensive of a wine list by the glass for being a wine bar…read more Definitely good wine but don't come for the food!! Got the meatballs and croquettes. Although the croquettes were good (small for the price) the meatballs tasted like they were bought frozen and reheated with cold cheese on the top and canned red sauce. We didn't end up finishing them and went to another place for food and drinks after.

"Adult in a wine bar" is definitely my grown-up version of "kid in a candy store". As a lover of…read morethe genre, I definitely thought that Skin Contact delivered, and then some. We stopped by last Saturday night after grabbing some dinner just down the street and were grateful to be seated immediately in the back area. The vibes here are very chill and the excellent, exuberant staff really know their stuff and get excited to chat with you about wine. We went with wines by the glass and I appreciated the confidence of the menu: it was small enough to not feel overwhelming, yet curated to have something for every palate and preference. My first glass was an unfiltered orange wine from the Alsace region of France (Tout Terriblement Maceration). It was funky and almost pithy in texture, with notes of apple and apricot. Definitely great if you're looking for something a little intense and off the beaten path. For my second glass, I felt like a lighter red, so I went with the Puszta Libre, a chilled Zweigelt from Austria. While it was slightly more standard than my first glass, I loved its funky nose and red and tropical fruits. I can't remember exactly what my husband had, but he loved his drinks, too. I remember one of his glasses smelled intensely of salty buttered popcorn. We weren't going to order any food, but the couple next to us had the chocolate lava cake and it smelled SO good, so we decided to go for it. It was served simply and deliciously, with vanilla ice cream and cherry sauce.

This spot offers a genuinely unique selection of wines, making it a great place to try something a…read morelittle different. The small outdoor seating area adds a nice touch for enjoying a quiet glass. Service is minimal, but the vibe works best when you're just there to sip and relax. A simple, pleasant stop for wine drinkers

Absolute gem if you're into wine!…read more One of my friends brought here and befriended the bartender a while ago and she definitely knew so much about wine. I learned so much about the different regions and even discovered a Chardonnay that blew my mind. They don't serve orange wine FYI. I just love this place and my friend blew my mind once we went downstairs. It's connected to a cocktail bar (Experimental Social Club) so you can have your wine and then move downstairs for a swanky cocktail club vibe! Usually they need reservations but if you come through the wine bar those aren't necessary! Pro tip!

Have been here twice now and it's such a lovely and beautiful space! Definitely recommend getting a…read morereservation as it gets quite busy but is not loud inside at all. We split a bottle of a chardonnay which was so delicious and for food got the chicken sandwiches which are a must get, the baby gem salad which was also incredible and the zucca pasta which was delicious but could have been a bit warmer. Such a beautiful bar and great place to catch up!

I found Lai Rai Wine Bar + Ice Cream just by passing it while walking around Chinatown one…read moreafternoon. It was beautiful weather out, and Lai Rai was a small bar instead with plenty of small tables outside. My friends and I grabbed a bottle of their Rose to split, and shared some coffee and banana leaf ice cream. The ice cream was slightly different texture from normal ice cream, but both flavors we tried were delicious. Additionally, we sat outside, and the place was perfect for an evening in NYC, with a bunch of opportunities for people watching. The vibe was chill and laid back, and it was a nice, relaxing end to our busy day filled with walking around. I will definitely be stopping by again on my next trip to NYC.

This is a really nice low-key wine spot. They seem to specialize in ice-cream + wine, which is an…read moreinteresting combo, but it works. Their ice cream flavors are super unique (inlcuding cheese flavor and fish sauce). The ice cream quality was really good, but although the unique flavors were interesting, the coffee was easily the best and some of the best ice cream I've had in the city. The wine selection was very good, and the bartender was sommelier who gave some good recommendations. This spot is quite small, so maybe would not bring a large group and to come here on a weekday night.

Stopped in for a glass of wine and a snack after a movie with a few friends. We were drawn in by…read morethe wonderfully cozy ambiance, and very glad we were. The servers were very friendly, the wine was perfect, and the olives and sheep's cheese were delicious. Would go back!

Found this place by accident. They specialize in Greek wines. They have happy hour every day from 4…read more- 7 including weekends where they feature $9 glasses of wine. Choice of white, red, rose (I think), and orange (yes, orange) wine. The white was really good and I liked the red too. We got a cheese board which turned out to be a lot of food. Worth checking out.

Sunn's is a really nice elevated Korean spot tucked into a tiny space right off the F train in…read moreChinatown. The room is intimate, the wine was excellent, and service was warm and on point. The hwe crudo was refreshing and delicious, and the salad was also a standout -- bright, crisp, and really well-balanced. But the best thing we had by far was the dak mandu, the crab/chicken dumplings. Those alone are worth coming back for. The ssam lettuce wraps were good, though they read a little more like Jewish brisket with a spicy bean sauce than what I expected from a Korean lettuce wrap. Still tasty, just a different vibe. Honestly, this would've been a 5-star meal if I didn't leave with three mosquito bites. Great food, great service, great wine -- just maybe bring bug spray.

Came here with some friends to use the Chase Sapphire Reserve $150 credit. For a table of 4, we…read morepaid $300 with tip and tax which worked out because we had two credits at the table so we just split the bill. We ordered the following: Food -hwe (steelhead trout, seaweed muchim, green strawberries) $25 -banchan of the day (napa cabbage kimchi, namul spring greens in hot mustard jang, tahini pickled mushrooms, creamy potato salad with asian pear, dubu jeon fried and marinated tofu, garlicky cucumber muchim) $25 -off menu banchan (kimchi braised with pork) $6 -soon dubu chigae (silken tofu in spicy cardoon broth, perilla, pepitas, egg) $24 -ssam (soy-caramelized beef brisket, ssamjan, lettuce wraps) $38 -tteokbokki (fresh rice cakes baked with tomato & gochujang, puur grond gouda) $26 Drinks -tart cherry+yuzu somaek $9 -Hana Makgeolli Takju Brooklyn Rice Wine $39 After the first round of food, we were still hungry so we ordered another round of ssam. Overall the food is good; however, prices are a little steep for the size of the food. Out of all the items we tried, I enjoyed the hwe and tteokbokki the most. Space is small so reservations are highly recommended (which we did have). Service was good and food and drinks came out quickly.

Great happy hour deal: every day 5 to 6 PM, including weekends, $10 wines and house cocktails, if…read moreyou sit at the bar. The bar is very scenic so you will definitely feel like you are getting the full dining experience. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Make reservations for peak dining times in the evenings and on weekends. Many people walked in without reservations and were seated right away on Saturday evenings. Highly recommend trying their original cocktails ($18). We tried the flower child and the harvest moon. Both were tasty. I would get harvest moon again and again. Perfect balance of Tart, sweet refreshing and strong. Menu items change seasonally so it's delightful to try something new every time you visit. $21 potato croquettes were highly disappointing. Everyone recommended them highly, but I could not understand why. For such price, three tiny balls of fried potato should've been mind blowing, but they were underwhelming and forgettable at best. Skip. $24 giant ricotta stuffed raviolo was delightful. Such soothing comfort food. If I could eat just this, I would be happy. $26 fresh crudo was refreshing and light. Delicious cold broth/juice soup in which it was served. $32 Bronzino with mussels in a broth was superb. Light, crispy, and delicate. Would eat this dish for dinner Any night of the day. Balanced flavor profile. Could suit anyone who is picky about their food. $30 lamb neck was a solid dish. Perfectly crunchy on the outside and delicate and flavorful on the inside. Wish the portion was a bit bigger, especially the sides. $38 duck confit was highly advertised, however, it was underwhelming and the least stand out dish. It was solid, but nothing that I would order again or recommend. The duck was on the dry side. Definitely not enough sauce. The cabbage and the cabbage salad were good. Crispy and refreshing. The duck was not the star of this dish. $13 chocolate mousse with strawberry coulis was surprisingly delightful. So light and balanced. Not sweet, but just right to finish a meal. I could eat this dessert every day after every single meal. So simple, yet it hit the spot. Service is very fast and efficient. One of our readers was superb and provided stellar recommendations. Another waiter (young and inexperienced) was very shy and his energy felt very stifling.

Bar 56 is conveniently located in the middle of DUMBO & albeit I can't speak much for the food, I…read morecan say that their drinks are great. Do note that they have an awesome HH from 5 to 6 PM where all of the cocktails are only $10- yes, only $10 (a rarity in NYC let alone in DUMBO). I had the harvest moon & the seaside drift. Both were good but the seaside drift definitely stood out to me. I also ordered the crispy brussel sprouts which were pretty tasty but a bit too charred for my liking. However, it was still good & the drinks totally made up for it. Lastly, I forgot the name of the bartender but despite being quite busy from 5-6 PM he was very attentive and nice. I'd be back for the other drinks & certain interesting dinner menu items as well such as their lamb neck.

Olivia H. is clearly a paid reviewer because my experience here a few days ago felt like a literal…read moresitcom. First off, the front door is mounted on flimsy plastic hinges, so every time someone opens it, it swings open violently and knocks the vase off the nearby table. The service was somehow even worse. When I was there on Tuesday, May 19th from 8-10 PM, there was exactly ONE bartender working the entire place -- both inside and outside -- and she was unbelievably inattentive. My date and I sat at the bar for TWENTY MINUTES before she even acknowledged us or asked if we wanted drinks. I literally had to call out "Excuse me" just to order a $25 quarter-filled glass of wine. Embarrassing all around. And when we were ready to leave and wanted the check, the female bartender working on Tuesday May 19th from 8-10 PM was busy standing in the corner chatting with someone instead of helping customers. I haven't seen someone move this slowly or care this little since the DMV. TO MANAGEMENT - this was absolutely horrible, embarrassing, and unprofessional service. Clean up your act, and hire a second or even a third bartender.

I love this place. I've been here three times now, and it's small enough where I can feel…read morecomfortable going by myself and enjoying my own company. The staff is experienced with their knowledge of wine and food pairings, and very hospitable and kind. They also have jazz nights sometimes and that's always a lovely treat. Will continue to keep coming back

My new favorite wine bar in the East Village, a true hidden gem. Cozy, quiet, with great wines -…read moreeverything I want in a wine bar! Everything else in this neighborhood is always so crowded but I walked in at 5pm on a Sunday and it was completely empty, which is exactly the peaceful environment I was looking for in a wine bar compared to the loud crowds in most places in the East Village. I came here with three of my friends for a little drink before dinner to celebrate my birthday, and the owner was kind enough to give us a glass on the house! We got the chilled red, the Mooa Les Sauriens, which I really enjoyed - a medium bodied red that was very balanced and more fruity, but felt super light and perfect for a warmer fall day. The sourdough with yuzu kosho butter was a nice appetizer to nibble on as well. Plus, we happened to be in at happy hour 4-6PM on weekends, so all wines were 20% off too! Thoroughly enjoyed my time here, and will definitely be back.

Lovely wine bar with a knowledgeable staff. They made great recommendations. The small bites are…read moreperfect. An added bonus is the restroom is hidden in a wardrobe. You feel like you are entering Narnia when you go to the bathroom. ;)