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!

good for happy hour! they had a delicious orange wine I can't remember the name of but plenty of…read morehappy hour drink options! It was pretty busy though when we went in for HH. Service was fast. It was pretty busy inside and dim lighting. The kimchi grilled cheese was sooo good!!

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!

nice, small initimate place in LES, my fav for wines. really outstanding knowledgable staff and…read morethe selection is thoughtfully curated.. came when it was not too busy. Our server was genuinely helpful when it comes to recommendations, whether you're a seasoned wine lover or just exploring. They take the time to understand your preferences and guide you to the perfect choice. must visit spot highly recommend

I really had high expectations about this place but the dish wear was dirty, plating was very…read moreunintentional and messy...the wines were meh the bartender nick was passive aggressive, overcharged my card twice, and made it very obvious that i was unwelcome and a bother. For being such a cute spot they should really think about hiring someone who has a heart and actually cares about hospitality

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!

Great spot to try unique Greek wines! Lots of options for by the glass selection. Also recommend…read morethe dips, we loved the spicy feta. Cute vibes, fast efficient service.

I stumbled on this gem while waiting for a friend. Ambience is very charming and they have $12…read morehappy hour (3pm-7pm) Drink: French 75, heavy on the champagne *cheers to that I'll definitely be back!

Played the Opentable notification game and got a Friday night counter spot. My boyfriend and I…read moreshared: + Banchan of the day + added gochujang candied squid + Sunn's salad with chicories, sweet potato, sesame jang + Spicy tomato Tteokbokki + Ssam (beef brisket) + Sesame Crusted Mochi Cake Ssam was my favorite dish. Also loved the kimchi, cucumbers and potato salad from the banchan. Tteokbokki was a standout as well. It was more than enough food, and we even took home leftovers. Service was very friendly, and coat check was a nice touch!

I wanted to love Sunn's but overall it felt overrated…read more We ordered the banchan, chigae, bossam and tteokbokki. Starting with the positives -the banchan was solid across the board and really flavorful. That said, charging for banchan feels strange to me. Traditionally, it's complimentary, like bread at an Italian restaurant so that part didn't sit right but it was flavorful. The chigae was interesting and probably the standout dish. It had a unique flavor that reminded me of a mix between soondubu and dwenjang chigae which worked well. Unfortunately, the rest was a miss. The bossam was overly salty and didn't feel true to the dish. The tteokbokki was another disappointment -it came with cheese (which wasn't expected) and just fell flat overall. For the hype, I expected much more especially because I've eaten Korean food my whole life. The venue is small and the seats in the back are uncomfortable.

Food is outstanding! Best tuna tartare I have ever had…read more Great ambiance..attentive service. Mocktail was definitely too tart, will try different one next time.

Came here for a pre show dinner. It's very conveniently located across from St. Ann's Warehouse…read more Perfect spot for pre/post show dining or drinks. Service was friendly and attentive. Large, open space, didn't feel too cramped at all. Menu changes seasonally, but my favorite was the Peekytoe crab pasta. I would come back again.

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

Ok this maybe my favorite wine bar in the soho area. I stumbled upon it after an afternoon of…read moreshopping, while just wanting to relax outside with a glass of wine. They have a pretty good selection of wines available by the glass. I believe I had the Gruner from Austria, an easy day drinking wine. The staff is incredibly polite and do not rush customers to be done. I spend a considerable amount of time running errands in this neighborhood, so glad to have found this gem of a place! I am going to be a regular here.

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. ;)

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.

We arrived a little before 5pm on a Saturday (they open at 6pm) and there wasn't a line. By the…read moretime it was 5:10pm, the line started to get longer and longer. Since we were one of the first ones to arrive, we got seated a few minutes after they opened. The Banh Mi's: I finally understand why people rave so much about the OG Banh Mi. This restaurant makes their own cold cuts and their paté was delicious. Their bread is also on the airier side, which is very different from most Banh Mi places. The grilled pork had the charcoal flavor that we love from a grill. The Banh Uot Chong is a different experience -- it reminded me of Chinese cheun fun. The only complaint I have is that the line gets very long very fast, so it's highly recommended to arrive 1+ hour before they open. They do have some stools outside for people who arrive early (I think there were a total of 8 chairs). This is one of those places that are worth the hype and are not just famous because they're "Instagrammable."

Banh Anh Em is deserving of its Michelin Guide recognition because, in a city where Vietnamese food…read moreis plentiful, Banh Anh Em stands out with its unique renditions of classics. Perhaps, their version is actually authentic, and the other places I've tried are less so, or they're simply based on different regions of Vietnamese cuisine. I can't say since I'm not familiar with the authenticity and regional differences. The banh mi, which often sells out early but is available for takeout, surprisingly contains pork floss and noodles -- both ingredients are not what I'm accustomed to in banh mis. The house pho was so clean like homemade soup and had a hint of ginseng (like Chinese ginseng soup). My partner, who loves Chinese ginseng soup, was so fond of the pho that he actually went back again for it on another day. He also got the banh uot Chong again, which is a tower of five rice rolls that you can build yourself with assorted toppings and dipping sauces. It's a bit steep for $30 but delicious I advise coming here at least half an hour before the restaurant opens to join the line of people queuing. You'll probably be part of the first batch of customers who get seated when they open. Waiting an extra 30 minutes is way better than having to wait 2+ hours. Unfortunately, I was disappointed by how off their estimated wait time was. I was told my party of 7 would have to wait 2 hours. But we were allowed to leave our contact information and return later. A little past the 2 hour mark, we were told to come back for a table. However, we ended up waiting an additional 30 minutes outside the restaurant! If we knew the wait time would surpass 2 hours, we wouldn't have waited. The interior is pretty cramped, and we were given a pretty small round table for my big party. It barely fit all our dishes.