Wine bars and the Upper West Side go together like Prosecco and cheese (two of the five essential food groups). We dropped by The Tangled Vine, the area’s newest vino den about a week after it opened. Turns out it only took a few nights of pouring for this rustic spot to become a neighborhood institution.
On the corner of Amsterdam Avenue and 81st Street, it's north of the area’s other popular wine bars (Bin 71, Wine and Roses, etc.). The list showcases a wide selection of biodynamic, organic, and sustainable wines, with a focus on labels from the old world. The wine hungry patrons in this neighborhood would probably mob a place serving Four Buck Chuck if it had the Tangled Vine’s gigantic windows that flip open in the warm weather.
If you’re able to snag a seat (something that might prove a challenge, expect the stools in this place to be perpetually full) then the menu is a must try. The small bites from Chef David Seigal are perfect for soaking up the booze as you waste away the afternoon. The pork belly sliders and fideos negros (squid ink, braised cuttlefish and garlic aioli) were both real winners.
And what of Prosecco and cheese? They’ve got you covered, though we suggest going with the crisp and dry Cava to pair with the fromage.
The Tangled Vine is located at 434 Amsterdam Avenue.
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