Demo

By day this West Village wine bar sells coffee and shoppy-shop pantry supplies, and shares a kitchen with a neighboring bagel place. By night, it's pounding with upbeat R&B tracks and packed with friend dates casually dropping $200 on wine and snacks. Even if you're not cool enough for the tattooed staff, whose hairstyles range from Wednesday Addams to Sonic the Hedgehog, you’ll feel like you belong in that seat at the low front bar, or in a snuggly booth. The best spot is at the marble counter, where you can watch a chef prep familiar small plates with personal touches, like scallop crudo sliced into irregular chunks, or a wedge of tortilla that’s more chawanmushi than omelet between the potatoes. It's all good. But unless you're flush with cash, we'd recommend this place for a drink and a bite rather than a full meal.

photo credit: Sonal Shah