Small and busy neighborhood spot…read more There is indoor and outdoor seating available. Both were full before 6:30 PM on a Wednesday (naje a reservation). The cocktail menu is limited, the Spicy Margarita was very good. The tapas plates were inconsistent. Our two favorite plates were Pato a la Plancha (Duck Breast) and the Stuffed Mushroom daily special. The service was attentive.

As much as I wanted to love it, Buceo 95 left me with a bad taste in my mouth…read more My wife and I were so excited to get some pinxtos and tapas to reminisce on our special time in San Sebastian, and were excited to try Buceo due to their menu we found online - which had a lot of the tapas, but in an area of the city we don't typically go to. When we arrived, we were told it was HH but only at the bar, which was fine because the restaurant had much seating available all over. We were shocked though to see that the menu was 25 - 30% higher than what was advertised online. We were told it was a recent change, but still felt swindled to get us through in the door. Not updating your website in this day and age is an extremely poor excuse. We had planned on having dinner there to celebrate a special milestone, but decided to leave after ordering the HH pinxtos, which was $20 for 4 bites, and then $10 per glass of wine / sangria for HH. We've had comparable quality elsewhere for much less. While the bartender was pleasant, we felt very disappointed in the overall experience and decided to grab dinner elsewhere. I really feel for the owner because I know its a tough industry and it's prob slow season, but to use these types of tactics hurt in the long run. I hope others can now be more informed before giving Bueceo 95 a try.

Sipsteria is super cute! I'm happy they opened a second location. This was my first time eating…read morehere and was pleasantly surprised by the Khinkali and khachapuri - I would totally recommend both. Service was good and our server was sweet, though perhaps still adapting to being a full on food service place. I loved the European vibes here and would definitely recommend for a casual brunch or lunch spot!

Sipsteria Wine Bar is a beautiful little gem with the perfect mix of cozy atmosphere and stylish…read moredesign. It's the kind of place that makes you want to sit down, slow down, and actually enjoy your wine. The wine selection is well curated -- great variety whether you're into bold reds, crisp whites, or something a bit more unique. The staff is knowledgeable and happy to guide you without making it feel intimidating, which really enhances the experience. And the food is just as impressive -- absolutely amazing, thoughtfully prepared, and perfect for pairing with wine. Every bite feels intentional and elevated rather than an afterthought. The vibe is intimate but lively, making it perfect for a date night or catching up with friends. Small plates, great wine, and a warm atmosphere come together perfectly. Overall, Sipsteria delivers exactly what a modern wine bar should: great wine, amazing food, great energy, and a space you actually want to come back to.

5 stars One of the…read morebest spots on the UWS, and unbeatable prices for the quality. The portions are solid, and you can tell they actually care about what they're putting out. It's always packed especially during happy hour so have to get there early. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the neighborhood whether you're grabbing a quick meal or sitting down for a while.

Love the ambiance and service here - the staff are all very friendly. Would come back for the…read morevibes. Food is just alright and pretty good value. Mussel mariniere is too wine forward and a little bitter.

Great service. Cozy ambiance. Amazing food. Smaller portions so try not to be too hungry. Espresso…read moremartini for the win!

Along a leisurely stroll on Amsterdam Avenue lies this beautiful airy wine bar with an absolutely…read morestellar happy hour that drew us in like moth to flame. With $6 glasses of wine, $10 cocktails and $1 oysters, what's not to love?? We started with a round of espresso martinis which were made well albeit a bit on the small side. No complaints though. We sheepishly ordered 3 dozen oysters which the bartender was glad to entertain. The oysters arrived clean and neatly shucked with very little shell. The lemon, mignonette and cocktail sauce were pretty standard. We also ordered the truffle fries but these fell a little short for me as they weren't dressed very well - they were also soggy, had very little parmesan and only faint truffle flavor. Service was quick and efficient and everyone was super gracious. Things moved quickly and we appreciated that a lot. If you are in the area hop by here and try this place!

Love the mezze; the chicken liver mouse is a special but outstanding as always. The pistachio and…read moredate mode if also spectacular and the hummus is now available as a mezze. The had the new Fatoush salad that was out of this world!

another restaurant week adventure has concluded, this time, uptown…read more - the inside of the restaurant is cute, very well decorated with a little bit of Mediterranean hotel lobby feel. does that make any sense? we sat in the elevated back section amongst the other yapping groups - I started my meal with the arayes which was a banger of an entry. my dining companions who started with the hummus felt the same way about their start! the arayes was a crispy olive oil covered cracking pita filled with thick juicy lamb. the labneh pool was bountiful. - the gravlax did not get the same reaction, the portion was small and very much whatever - for my entree I got the hake (their online menu is not accurate with options) and it was delicious. the fish was so moist and split apart on each muscle line. the green beans sat in a light buttery sauce - the place fell short with dessert, the cheesecake was a labneh cheesecake which immediately interested me but it was very melty soft, the texture of a whipped cream and the flavor was minimal. the pecan crust was nutty and sweet like a good ice cream topping

Came here on a Friday night and got seared right away in the party room extended area. Loved the…read morevibe in there, music was perfect and service was great! I do recommend the tzatziki dip appetizer with pita as a starter! I got a chicken gyro which was to die for, it comes with fries in it which was different but so good. I recommend using tzatziki on the gyro too as it comes with a mustard based sauce on it. Spanakopita wasn't my favorite, good but a little too much spinach. However I think that's just my preference! Would definitely return as my friends both loved their meals as well!

I absolutely LOVE the Chicken Breast Souvlaki Skewer--flavorful, and definitely something I'd order…read moreagain. Interestingly enough, it's apparently about $3 cheaper if you actually eat at the restaurant, so evidently there's a small surcharge for enjoying your souvlaki from the comfort of your own home. The Yasou sauce is absolutely delicious and has quickly become a favorite. I keep flirting with the Prasini salad from afar, so one of these days I'm finally going to give it a try. I have absolutely no love for the pita bread--it consistently arrives limp, lifeless, and somehow overwhelmingly starchy. And the hand-cut fries? Now THESE are fries worth talking about! Fresh, delicious, and exactly what fries are supposed to be. As a certified French fry enthusiast, I wholeheartedly approve. Overall, this is one of those places where I already have my favorites--and I'm happily working my way through the rest of the menu.

This place was cute! Very themed and kitschy. The service was attentive but a little slow, but we…read morewere there pretty late on a weeknight so they were definitely winding down.

Dahlia is the sister bar to Scarlett. I really like Scarlett so I wanted to try Dahlia…read more In terms of looks, both bars are similiar. They have similiar drink menus. Dahlia serves food but I think Scarlett's menu may have slightly more things to choose from. I had a gin and tonic and warm pretzels at Dahlia. Everything was good as extracted. The pretzel cheese is so so yummy! Service was attentive and friendly. This bar is smaller than Scarlett, and there's only a handful of seats. When I showed up, no one else was in there but I can see how it can get crowded in here very fast.

An outdoor table was the perfect spot for an evening of career counseling and occasionally…read morecontentious discussions of Jarmusch and Soderbergh. I briefly attempted a fact-finding mission to figure out what I ordered last time but pivoted to other matters like discussing co-workers from 2009. As it turns out I duplicated my prior duck confit order, which was excellent. I was lured by brandied cherries. The cheese plate and fries were enjoyable, and the strawberry-rhubarb mezcalita was ideal. The service was great. Credit is due to my friend who chose the venue; while I disagree with his takes on Spielberg and Springsteen we tend to agree on culinary issues.

I've been going to restaurants from the Tour de France restaurant group for decades, starting with…read moreL'Express, where some of us from the old City Crab would go for late-night fare after a long shift. These restaurants have always been welcoming, casual, decently priced, serving classic French bistro or brasserie cuisine. Recently, my wife and I had reservations here for an early dinner after seeing an exhibit nearby, and the gorgeous weather invited us to sit outside. Service was professional. The well-made Lillet rouge Spritz and Hugo Spritz set up the usual high expectations. The arugula salad with citrus sections was absolutely fresh, and the dressing complemented the whole. We settled in for a typical solid meal. Which we were not to get. My bouillabaisse looked great, with plenty of shellfish, plump sections of fish, and a goodly amount of shrimp, with a fat crouton smeared with saffron aioli. My wife's Duck confit looked good as well, with roasted fingerling potatoes. Classic stuff. All good, until I started eating. The bouillabaisse desperately needed seasoning. I took the top off the salt shaker to pour out small piles of salt into my palm, to sprinkle around the bowl. Three then four times. My wife added a pinch more as well. And lots of pepper. The fish, not monkfish but softer cod, was well cooked, as were the mussels, clams, potatoes, and shrimp. No problems with that. But the broth lacked depth of flavor. Frankly, I was shocked. The Confit was better, but still needed salt. Only a small part of the skin kept any crispness, but that might be the style--this leg was coated in a brown sauce, which would make limp any skin crisped during reheating. My preferences, perhaps. My wife has gone here before and liked it. But this day, the main courses underwhelmed. This is the first of dozens of meals from the restaurants we have not enjoyed. Perhaps it was an off day? Or a prep cook forgot to add salt? At least the Petite Chablis I had by the carafe--1.5 glasses--was good, and the right amount. I wouldn't have gotten it if the waiter hadn't pointed that option out. I doff my hat at him.