| Venue name: | Aria Wine Bar | Contact: |
|---|---|
| Address: |
117 Perry St New York 10014 |
Cross street: | between Greenwich and Hudson Sts |
| Opening hours: | Daily 4pm–1am |
| Transport: | Subway: 1 to Christopher St–Sheridan Sq |
| Price: | Average glass of wine: $7. AmEx, MC, V |
| Do you own this business? |
Average User Rating
3.5 / 5
Rating Breakdown
- 5 star:1
- 4 star:0
- 3 star:0
- 2 star:1
- 1 star:0
Maybe it's because I always have a buzz on when I'm there, but wine bars always impress me with their non-vino menus as well. Aria is no different. Tucked away down one of those West Village blocks that is "ugh so adorable I wish I could afford a place here", there's a reason this place is so popular.
I'm no wine snob by any means, but there selection is pretty robust and diverse, so I doubt even your most difficult to please friend will be happy. What I'm here to talk about though, is the food. I know you're tempted to make this a date spot, but I highly suggest going with a group. The menu is entirely small plates (although the portions are surprisingly hefty), so order one of everything and sit back while you "bite, sip, bite, sip, repeat".
It will take a few more trips to sample every item they offer (and by God do I fully intend on doing so), but my favorites include the meatballs (because... meatballs), any of the carpacci offerings, and, if the night's specials include an octopus dish... make sure you order it. And save room for dessert, although I hope that by this point in the meal you've had enough glasses to be easily convinced to do so.
The food is delicious here and it has a great atmosphere. However the place is completely let down by the service, which is very aloof and poor. From the girl at the door who didn't seem to care whether we came in or not, to our waiter who thought he was cooler than anyone else in there. The service completely ruined the experience for us, which is a shame as the food really is good. Avoid.
