Wine:30. My Favorite Time of Day!

A lovely Muscat to cap off the meal

Well this post couldn't be more overdue. I've been to Wine:30 in Murray Hill several times now with different groups, and each time has been a resounding success! Not only does this invitingly cozy wine bar on 30th between Madison and Park have an ingenious name and the friendliest of staff, it also has a very clever, mostly Mediterranean-inspired menu. Oh and did I mention that there's fantastic outdoor seating in the back that makes you feel as if you're at a stylish family gathering, complete with tea-lit candles and fairy lights? That too.

Like I said, I've been here a number of times, but this post is dedicated to my last visit with my sister P and her husband E. We had spent the day traipsing basically all over Manhattan, were in dire need of sustenance and most pressing, glass of vino. The wine list is very extensive at Wine:30, but not overwhelming. Each time I've gone, I've always asked the servers for their recommendation as the staff is extremely helpful and not snobbish at all. We chose a Malbec for the three of us following our server's approval and then strategized over the food.

Our enormous array of small plates!

The beauty of Wine:30 is that you can share small plates amongst a group, go the entree route for those wishing a more traditional route, or a bit of both! We went for the tapas option, and chose a selection of Dips (Hummus, Spicy Tomato and Guacamole), a mix of Bruscetta (Tomato/Mozz/Basil/Balsamic Honey/Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Caramelized Onion/Goat Cheese/Melted Gruyere, Roasted Garlic Puree/Goat Cheese/Crushed Cashew), Grass-fed Beef Sliders, and the Monk Fish Mini Tacos.

Up close and personal with the bruscetta

You would think that four tapas between three people would be cutting it pretty thin, but the portions at Wine:30 are anything but thin! I love that the dip selection had solid stacks of warm pita triangles to dip as well as a good size of homemade tortilla chips! Our Bruscetta mix was perfect: two of each came out so we divided up that whomever chose the bruscetta got a full one and then the other two split as tasters. The Roasted Garlic Puree combo was definitely the winner of the three as the savoury combination ended with a great crunch from the cashews. The Mini Tacos definitely tasted the healthiest with a nice crisp coleslaw, though I would have liked a touch more spicy chipotle. The overall winner of the array was hands-down the sliders. These bad boys were expertly juicy and the little brioche buns nice and buttery.

Amazingly, we had enough room for dessert, and again chose with the help of our server. We decided to split two and went for Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes and the Molten Chocolate Brownie with Ice Cream. As we were feeling festive, we may have ordered some dessert wine as well. When in Rome! The cupcakes, like the sliders, were surprisingly moist. The brownie of course was fantastic. I feel like you really have to try to mess up chocolate brownie and ice cream. It has happened in the past, however not here at Wine:30!

Dessert time!

I highly recommend a trip to Wine:30. The wine is superb, the food delish, the staff welcoming, and the patio a much needed respite from the concrete jungle of Manhattan outside!

A little bundle of Red Velvet joy!

Wine:30
41 E 30th Street
New York, NY 10016
212.481.0197
http://www.wine30nyc.com/