Vanguard Wine Bar

Stefan Mailvaganam (Bar Carrera, Custom American Wine Bar) spotlights French and American bottles at this Kips Bay wine bar. Selections are organized by style ("Aromatic Whites," "Mild-Mannered Reds") and feature regions ranging from Yakima Valley, WA, to Languedoc, France. At the white marble bar, tuck into open-faced sandwiches (like one made with shrimp and saffron aioli) and small flatbread pizzas (toppings include ricotta and truffles) from former Le Bernardin chef Soa Davies.