Bar Vivant was a much needed pause with its intimate, dimly lit room with a relaxed, unhurried…read moreenergy that makes you want to linger for a little while longer. We shared Betsy's Mom's Clam Dip, Mushroom Toast, Bitter Greens Salad, Minted Lamb Meatballs, and duck pâté. The meal opened with the clam dip; cool, lush, and briny, with a creamy oceanic richness that coated the palate; followed by a tangy, salty depth that clung to each crunchy bite of bread. The Mushroom Toast followed with deeper savoriness: earthy, almost forest-floor mushrooms, warm and tender, turning silky as they soaked into the bread, while the edges stayed crisp and toasted, adding contrast to the woodsy umami and subtle garlic warmth. The Bitter Greens Salad provided a bright, palate-cleansing break that included crisp and peppery greens with a sharp lemony dressing that snapped on the tongue, layered with faint fennel sweetness and the nutty, salty bite of shaved parmesan. The Minted Lamb Meatballs arrived richer and more comforting, tender and juicy with a gentle gamey depth, lifted by fresh mint that cut through the richness, and a cool, tangy tomato-yogurt sauce that added creaminess and brightness in equal measure. We finished with pâté--silky, dense, and deeply savory, with a faint iron-rich intensity and buttery smoothness, especially when spread on bread with sharp, briny pickles that added crunch and acidity. Each dish felt intentional and well-balanced for sharing, with varied textures and temperatures that built naturally across the table. I'd happily return to explore more of the menu.

This recent addition to the UES is proving to be the most charming little wine bar. I chanced upon…read morethis spot after an afternoon spent at nearby museums. I had an hour to kill before my dinner date and so I decided to sit down and have a glass of wine. The next day I came back with a friend and had dinner. Excellent wine selection! Fantastic small plates. The food was delicious though on the pricey side. The staff is friendly enough that if you come here frequently, they'll certainly get to know you. This is the kind of place I miss New York for.

I've passed by the other madame bonte coffee shops almost daily and did not see expect this…read morelocation to have a completely different area downstairs. It was way bigger than I expected. We made it just in time for some happy hour, bring on the muled wine. Then continued the night with a wine flight and some Lambrusco for me. Before coming here I forgot how good a Lambrusco is and this really reminded me by having it as an option in the flight then by the glass. For food I had the whipped ricotta and the arugula salad, I mainly was craving the whipped ricotta but that ended up having a lighter flavor and the salad was my preferred dish. The servers were great though, we stayed almost to closing after a friends jacket on the coat rack was taken by a different patron and we waited until they could come back and swap. Thank you to the servers for helping track down the other customer and getting that situation taken care of.

Really cute space on the lower level. Prices were standard for the neighborhood. Drinks were good…read moreand service was attentive. The food was lackluster though... we ordered 5 things but none of them were special, except maybe the flatbread (mushroom ricotta). I'd go back but consider it a drinks spot, not an impressive kitchen.

Vanguard on the UES is a gem. It's what you want from a wine bar, moody and cozy. Soft…read moreconversations can be heard around you. Vanguard does well with providing an element of class and elegance, feelings you expect at an establishment such as this. The food menu isn't something to write home about but it is enough for what you need from a wine bar, in my opinion. The service was great. I'm not knowledgeable about wine so I had my fair share of questions, but they were all answered gracefully. Overall, a great experience.

Great selection of wines from a few different regions. Service was fine, and it's the perfect spot…read morefor a rainy Sunday or a solo night out. I enjoyed two glasses of Chardonnay and had a nice, relaxing time.

It's one of my neighborhood favorites. Food is great. Love…read moretheir pierogies. The owners and amazing. So friendly. Also have great wine. Nice place to watch a game or match.

We had an amazing meal and wine experience here. They were doing their Alaska/Alaska food inspired…read moretasting dinner, paired with wines from cooler regions. The pairing was really great! It started with Keuka's spin on a Hugo spritz. All of the food was amazing and the wines were wines we never would have ordered on their own. Unfortunately, the food on the tasting menu is not part of their standard menu so we'll have to keep in our memories forever. The owner and the waiter/server were both very friendly. The owner is super into NY wines and has a passion for wine - and is happily willing to share her enthusiasm with anyone that asks. Will come back for sure!

I was meeting a friend here for light lunch & desserts. Having walked by her numerous times, we…read moredecided to give them a try. Upon arrival, we were greeted at the counter to sit at any table inside or out and a server will help us. The inside is quaint with ample tables and chairs, with display of a commercial professional espresso machine and display of some of their pastries. Decided on outside, we found a table with two chairs and waited for service. Very quickly a young woman greeted us and while we looked at the menu, brought us water with lemon at our request. We end up ordering first two sandwiches, one with prosciutto and the other caprese. We waited to order our coffee drinks and parties afterwards. The sandwiches came quickly and to our surprise the sandwich was warmed which my preference and both were served on ciabatta-like buns that's had textures of foccacia. We loved both sandwiches. We then ordered the Italian donuts with Nutella and the cookies horn with light lemon crème as well as a cortado and latte. Pastries were also warmed and overall satisfied with our choices. I would come back here as I'm in the neighborhood often. Great place to meet a friend with reasonable prices and quality food.

My friend saw this place as a recommend place for hot chocolate so we decided to stop by on a…read moreThursday night. The place itself is super cute and very cozy. The menu is fairly on the basic side - mainly drinks and pastries and there is some sandwiches. We decided to get the hot chocolate with whip cream (the whip cream is very needed). It was very rich, thick and delicious and not "too sweet." The whip cream really makes it more creamy and it does not really add to the sweetness which was good. We also got a side of Salame e Formaggio which I would recommend passing on because the cheese was kind of hard and not that great. The salami was good and honestly I'm not a fan of olives but my friend who liked it enjoyed them. Overall - a cute place to stop by for a hot chocolate and maybe a pastry!

Wanted to write this review based on the wheelchair accessibility and laptop areas…read more There are coffee shops in the neighborhood with laptop rules that say you have to sit at the high tables. Obviously as a wheelchair user, I cannot sit at the high tables, and when I have asked the staff for understanding, other places have denied me. Ines let me use my laptop at a wheelchair accessible table without any fuss. Mark was very gracious. When I asked, he said, "we will make an exception." I felt heard without advocating for common sense and I greatly appreciate the humility. Thank you!

The place is cute and small. They have good happy hour prices on wine. The food we tried wasn't…read moreso great. My friend had been here before and raved about the escargot and meatballs. The escargot was covered with pesto that tasted like the basil wasn't fresh. Also, I'm sure there was plenty of garlic because the restaurant smelled like it, but I would have liked more garlic in this dish. The meatballs were mostly bread (there may have been some meat). After we complained, the item was removed from our bill by our friendly, polite, and conscientious server. Note: This is a French restaurant, but they didn't have any butter for the bread.

This is true neighborhood gem. I've been many times and it never disappoints. High marks for…read moreambience, consistently good food with gluten free options, and friendly service. Great wine and an excellent martini!

Kudos to the host because he was also the waiter and busser…read more Super cute restaurant but so few options and all out of panini when we went which was sad but the outdoor space is great and indoor is quite ambient as well

I often think back to my summers in Spain, drinking tintos at crowded tavernas. My time at Pil Pil…read moregave me a taste of that. Though they didn't serve the sprite-infused red wines I enjoyed in Spain, they did serve white sangrias, which were light, sweet, and very enjoyable. The toasted bread with tomatoes was bright and summery. The grilled asparagus was cooked wonderfully al dente, with a char that added a nice smoky flavor against the clean taste of the drizzled olive oil. The beef skewers were well seasoned and fatty. While the food was Spanish, the prices certainly were not! It was a tad pricey. There wasn't anything below $13 for their small bites. Nonetheless, the food was good, the service prompt, and the outdoor vibes quite lovely. I would go there again.

I've been meaning to try this place for quite sometime and I'm so glad I finally did…read more They have an excellent lunch menu where you can get 3 tapas for $24 or 5 for $40. Regardless of the hot weather, I decided on a table outside. Each bite of the tapas was delightful for what it was and I ended up ordering an extra tapa because I couldn't make up my mind. I chose the shrimp in garlic sauce (oil) that I sopped up with the accompanied bread, the dates wrapped in bacon (they do their own twist by filling it with honey ricotta stuffing and finishing it with a red wine reduction), I also went with cod fish croquettes (the perfect crispness on the outside and a delectable creamy texture of fish inside), I can never pass up the patatas bravas, so, I got those too. I had a glass of a beautiful, crisp, white Chardonnay off the menu from Spain. Definitely a must try if you are looking for a quick meal for one. A wonderful experience overall, friendly staff and delightful colors that add to the outside atmosphere. Stoop and the city is also on the same block which is a plus

Great food, wine and a super cozy, intimate atmosphere. For me, the atmosphere is just as…read moreimportant as the food. The decor, soft lighting, the energy from the other diners.... all was great. I would definitely return. That said, it did get a bit crowded/loud....this, on a Friday night around 600p...

Ambiance (5/5): It feels super trendy coming in with the dark lighting, cozy vibes. It is…read moreincredibly crammed inside. Somehow we managed to get seated in the front area without a reservation on a Friday at 7:30p?! The lines got longer soon thereafter. Service (5/5): the waitress provided some recommendations upon request. She checked in on us often and our waters were always full. The food came out pretty fast after working too!! The bill came quickly despite wanting to stay to chitchat, but we were never rushed out once we paid! Food (5/5): I don't usually choose Italian but the two dishes we got were both very delicious!! Gnocchi: the flavors of the truffle were forward but not overpowering. The gnocchi was soft and soaked up the delicious sauce. Vitaello Gratinato: the veal was very tender. The small cubes of potato had perfect exterior crunch. The sauces all worked very well together.

If you're looking for a cute workspace with good vibes, this is your spot. The staff are always…read moresuper friendly and amenable. They do have quite a few espresso Options but it's a pretty straight forward coffee shop. This is really a place for you if want coffee and somewhere to get some work done

What more can In say about such a nifty local biz? This is what a coffee shop should be - warm,…read moreinviting, music on a tolerable level, friendly staff, plenty of seating and nooks to get work done on your computer, variety of coffee drinks and wine/beer, live music on select evenings, clean and well maintained. The downstairs seating area is a hidden gem, nicely set up with good wifi and AC keeping it cool, and peaceful to focus on your work or studies. There is more a sense of community here as I see many regulars from the neighborhood patronizing. The new owner has done a great job.