Kindred

Ruffian is one of our favorite wine bars in NYC, and the only reason we hesitate to recommend it to everyone is the fact that the 19-seat space tends to fill up before most people get out of work. But you don’t need to run the risk of a two-hour wait for excellent Mediterranean food and natural wines in the East Village anymore because Kindred, which is from the same people, opened around the corner. The small bar area up front is great for small plates and Happy Hour drinks, but unlike Ruffian, there’s also a full dining room. Come here with a date, and share some Slovenian orange wine and housemade pasta, like perfectly cooked corzetti with ricotta and spicy ’nduja.