Vin Sur Vingt
“However, their appetizer plate was very good, I recommend the cured ham and pate.”
“I'm quite happy it opened up in Flatiron since I work right around the corner!”
“But the key decision was should we go to the West Village location or the newly opened Nomad location.”
Vin Sur Vingt
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Happy Hour: Yes
Coat Check: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Caters: Yes
Price range.
$$ Price range $11-30
6 reviews
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So I was in NYC with a sinus thing that had my ears shut and my eyes swollen–basically, a lost voice away from being the Pinball Wizard. I came here looking for a nice glass of wine and a few small plates, not knowing that I had picked the loudest restaurant in the Flatiron or that the server I would draw would have had trouble making herself heard in a library.
"I'M HAVING OYSTERS," I said, straining to see the wines of the day on the chalkboard above the bar. "IS ONE OF THE DAILY WINES A CHABLIS?"
"Non, zhwaa dabba wubba bubba de ze joon de breeze."
"I'M SORRY, I'M HAVING TROUBLE HEARING YOU. DID YOU JUST RECOMMEND A WINE MADE FROM JUNIPER TREES?"
"Non, non. Es da nubba bubba de zooma de la lard."
"LOIRE?" I said, with a hand to my ear to remind her that I couldn't hear. "DID YOU SAY ONE OF THE WHITES IS FROM THE LOIRE?"
"Non, non. Es da rooja nubba bubba de lard. Ze white es da sovy dumda rumba nubba bubba de son swear."
"TELL YOU WHAT: BRING ME ANY WHITE WINE THAT DOESN'T HAVE ZINFANDEL ON THE LABEL."
I'm pretty sure she brought me a Sancerre, and it was nice. The half dozen oysters I ordered, which I believe weren't bluepoints but the other option ("matazabba" is what I heard) were big and meaty, but also had a noticeable amount of grit. The beet salad, which I had intended to be my entree but came out first (the source of further mumbling and useless pantomime from me), was ample, but could have used a bit more zing in the vinaigrette.
And this combo set me back $75–rather a lot for food that was good but not great in an environment that was uncomfortably raucous. Not sure I'll try it again, even when my hearing finally returns.
I had a great Bordeaux sampling and drinking experience at the West Village location late on a summer weeknight, so suggested this spot to catch up with an old friend early on a weeknight. She fortunately arrived early and was able to nab two stools at the bar. I managed to squeeze in (it's a tight squeeze especially with everyone's coats and bags). We decided to try the wine sampler and throw in a cheese pairing as well, which is $35/person for three of each. At the time, it felt like a good deal. Our server was French and fairly helpful and everyone was great at replenishing our bread and crostini supply, which helped stretch the cheese portions. We decided we could use more wine and our server found a light-bodied red for me. I can't speak for the rest of the menu, but the charcuterie list looks great and the cheese selection was varied. It's certainly not a good value, but few wine bars really are. I'd come back in again if in the area and not wanting to wait for The NoMad.
I decided to come here to celebrate my birthday this year. I was able to make a reservation which was a good idea since there are not many large tables for a group. It is a really nice space but not huge. The noise level was very high, not sure if it was due to the music being loud or just a lot of people in a small space, but I was yelling across the table.
The service was very helpful and had great wine suggestions! Most of the wines I had not heard of but they all tasted great! I had the wine trio flight which is a good deal at $18. You can choose to do all white or all red. We also ordered the honey and Brie on toast which was great albeit rather small. We also had the meat and cheese platter with 3 of each. It comes with toasted bread as well.
For dessert my friends surprised me with the chocolate cake on the menu, which is $9. It was certainly one of the most chocolately and rich molten chocolate cakes I've had, but it was very small. It does come with a side of wonderful thick whipped cream too.
I would definitely recommend this place as great for dates or when you just want some wine and cheese or meat, not for a whole meal. They do have some salads and larger plates to choose from but it is not a full dinner menu. The kitchen itself is actually part of the bar in the front of the restaurant!
Not surprisingly overpriced since it is a wine and cheese place, but my overall experience was okay. The place is very small and cramped, I am a skinny girl and could barely fit behind the table (couch seating). The cheese was really excellent, with we had more than a cracker's size worth of each and the complimentary toasted bread it came with was crunchy. My white wine pairing was excellent. Still, if eataly hadn't been closed, we would have just went there.
You can fly to Paris or you can visit Vin Sur Vingt.
It's as if every effort were made to create the most realistic simulacrum of being in a Parisian restaurant right down to the French speaking, semi-aloof wait staff, the tables that are too close together and the chalk writing on a blackboard listing out all the glorious cheeses available to sample.
You think about ordering a 'carafe d'eau' , following the tips of travel guru Rick Steves. You think about spending hours here because you have landed the prime real estate of a table, the holy of holies that none shall violate. Leave a few coins for a tip after you pay the l'addition, s'il vous plait.
OK, so as you can tell Vin Sur Vingt does a remarkable job creating a francophile's dream. As the playful, pun ridden name informs, you come here for wine. There isn't any cocktail menu, drinks are not mixed but wine bottles are opened and poured with the respect an antiquarian would give a first edition of Gargantua and Pantagruel.
The wine menu easily surpasses in size the food menu and that is no surprise. A wide range of wines are avaiable here so anyone from the most seasoned wine spectator subscriber to the Duane Reade $8 bottle buying novice can find something to fit your budget.
While I'm hardly a wine philistine, what excites me far more is the food that accompanies the wine. And Vin Sur Vingt does not disappoint in the charcuterie or fromage departments. Saucisson sec, saucisson l'ail and rillette were my cured meats of choice. (Dry sausage, garlic sausage and shredded pork, all served with cornichons and bread)
To the incredibly hungry, be forewarned that the portions are small so you may need to double up. You can order individual servings or create a charcuterie a la carte, with five servings for $25. (Or 3 for $18).
We also had a dozen west coast oysters. There's a variety of west coast or east coast oysters available so be sure to inquire. Sandwiches and salads are also available from the menu, where prices rarely surpass $18. Yes, you will find steak tartare, salade nicoise, a croque monsieur and other classics on the menu.
After a feast that included oysters, a bottle of wine and enough charcuterie and cheese to start oozing pork, the damage wasn't even all that…damaging. Relatively reasonably priced for Manhattan, Vin sur Vingt delivers a taste of France without the transatlantic flight.
You have to love a place with an amazing wine list. The kind where every choice you make — or have recommended — is going to be of quality, even if it's not what you would expect.
The ambiance is great, just like a Frnch bistro, where they help you pick what you'd like and leave you alone to relax. None of the American rushing you through things. If you need something, or the check, you just flag down one of the servers. Staff is knowledgeable and friendly and many are francophone, which just adds to the charm.
Location is up and coming if not yet arrived, what they're calling "NoMad". Okay, whatever, I'll take anything that'll rev up an area.
I recommend the foie gras terrine, the daube, the wine, all the wine, and their desserts! Portions are perfect, not too big so even though the items are rich, you won't feel like you overdid it.