Eli’s Essentials and Wine Bar
Eli’s Essentials and Wine Bar
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Good for Kids: Yes
Good for Groups: Yes
Outdoor Seating: Yes
Waiter Service: Yes
Price range.
$$$ Price range $31-60
7 reviews
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First off, the woman who worked here was super friendly at the wine bar. I really liked her.
She gave us two glasses of wine and we let her pick any whites to try. It was delicious.
However, for two glasses, the bill came out to $34, which I thought was just a bit steep. Eek!!! Not sure I'd return anyitme soon.
Terrible and very snooty staff. I came in to purchase a croissant to give it a try. I asked to use the restroom and the counter staff gave me the directions. As I was walking towards the restroom, a woman stopped me and said I could only use it if I was dining at their seated area. She proceeded to lower her glasses and look at me up and down as if I intruded in her home. I explained that I had made a purchase at the counter, but she made me feel like a mouse! How infuriating! I have never felt so belittled! I will never set foot here again.
I go to Eli's for breakfast.
Living in the Upper East Side, you realize that there are far more children in NYC than one could imagine. If you don't believe me, swing by this location in the morning, before school starts.
Ruby is there in the mornings usually, and she's a doll!
She is always smiling and willing to help any and all customers.
I try to come earlier, around 7AM to pick up a croissant, farmer's bread, or oatmeal. They have a wide variety of pastries, eggs, and breakfast sandwiches.
My usual order of a croissant, soy latte, and oatmeal costs me $17. Not cheap.
They have plenty of seats on both floors.
The space is cute- perfect for a brunch date, child's birthday party, lunch meeting.
Do yourselfa favor: don't go here!
The priciest deli I've found so far in NYC and it wasn't even worth the money. A rip off, to put it simply. $7+tax for a small box of prepared salad (and the price wasn't even labeled). They have sandwiches and soup too, but I'm definitely not going back
This is Eli Zabar's latest outpost in his ongoing colonization of East 91st Street. Although the design is really lovely, and the staff seem actually pleasant, this is not a place that normal people will frequent. (Unlike the slumping Jackson Hole that it replaces.)
Almost nothing has a price on it. (Is that even legal?) And what does have a price on it is cause for amusement and/or fury. $35 for a pound of marinated salmon, $1 for one (1) banana.
Just in case you don't get it, there are cookies decorated with the logo's of prestigious nearby schools: Sacred Heart, Nightingale-Bamford, etc. (I am not making this up.)
You've got to hand it to him: Eli knows his audience. The man's built an empire from convincing the rich and clueless to part with money because they don't know any better. But he probably won't convince you.
Don't waste your time — there are better places in the neighborhood to get coffee and baked goods in the morning — unless you insist on waiting for family to conclude business within eyeshot of the Russian consulate — as we did. I tossed the coffee after 2 sips and the bagel soon after. The price tag (3 bagels, 1 coffee and an OJ) was over 20 bucks. Is Eli paying vig to Putin?
I can't comment on the food offerings here since I just went for a glass of wine, but as far as an evening wine place I'd give 4 stars. The ambience is warm, intimate, cutesy. There are big windows so you can people watch.
The wine selection is decent – they have about 10 options by the glass each in reds and whites and a couple of roses. I didn't recognize any of the wine types but the waitress helped us choose based on what we normally like. I was debating between 2 reds and ultimately chose which one to order, but instead the waitress bright samples of both so I could make an informed decision. That was a nice touch!
I didn't give 5 stars because the service was a little bit slow, but I would definitely come back for a glass with a friend.