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Absinthe Wine Bar - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants French French [Edit]
111 First AveNew York, NY 10003
Neighborhood: East Village
(212) 777-0440
- Nearest Transit:
-
2 Av (F)
Astor Pl (4, 6, 6X)
1 Av (L)
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Brunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
10 reviews for Absinthe Wine Bar
10 reviews in English
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Review from Wilson A.
New York, NY
5/3/2009
My boyfriend and I had initially intended on having brunch at Prune. But when we arrived at Prune, there were over ten people waiting for seats at 11 AM, and the restaurant was full. I don't understand this. We live in New York! I don't care how good the brunch is, I'm not waiting more than 15 minutes for brunch, especially on a rainy Sunday. It makes no sense.
The funny thing is that my boyfriend and I can basically see Absinthe Wine Bar across the street from our apartment, and we walked by it on our way to Prune, noting their amazing recession-friendly brunch that included 3 mimosas with your meal for only $20. So for $43, we had a croque madame that alone was worth the brunch experience, and my boyfriend had the lamb burger, that also was out of this world.
Have you ever had a croque monseur with mashed potatoes? Maybe on the side, I would guess. But this croque had a layer of mashed potatoes in the double-decked sandwich, with thick pieces of ham, and topped with an egg over easy that melted over the deliciously layered brunch concoction. And the lamb burger was perfectly seasoned with Moroccan flavors, and succulent.
And you should note that Absinthe is a wine bar. Mimosas and sangria is all you need and get at brunch. And there is a fully-stocked bar with delicious and tasty wines. If you need more to drink with your brunch, stay out later the night before and stock up elsewhere. -
Review from Soleil M.
New York, NY
5/22/2009
I hesitated with the ratings here. I want to give it four stars because I very much enjoyed my evening there, but I feel like the issues I had with the place doesn't merit it the full 4 stars. How about 3.6? Yeah 3.6 sounds like "Yay I'm a fan of this OK place"
Had an impromptu Tuesday night dinner with friends. There were 6 of us and we got a table immediately in the back. We wanted to sit outside but apparently, there are some issues with the outside and the neighbors..I get the impression that the out back won't be around for much longer.
We ordered a bottle of wine from their very reasonable wine list. I also had the sangria which was delicious...well, delicious for a NY Sangria. When are people here going to realize that a sangria needs brandy in it? I digress.
Have the fried chickpeas. On second thought, dont. They are highly addictive and you may not be able to stop ordering them.
The lamb burger is quite tasty and juicy. The BF really loved it but I took issue with the fact that it came lukewarm. I guess that fact that it was delicious even lukewarm is amazing...I suppose. It got 5 stars all around the table.
The butter poached trout is out of this world. The texture and taste...with all that butter you really can't go wrong.
Now, chicken with lemon and olives. It was ok but very pale looking. They need to work on their presentation there. I realize that it is a dish traditionally pale in Morocco, but it is also a dish mainly served at home--I've made it myself. Perhaps to satisfy NY customers however, the chicken should be lightly browned before being stewed in the tagine or at least garnished with more color.
The lamb trio, I would say forget it. It's fine, but you get more value for your money with the other dishes. At $16 for two tiny chops, two pieces of merguez and lamb confit, it's not pricy, but not worth it in my opinion. The lamb confit was inedible..it smelled and tasted funky, almost off. Probably off, frankly. I had 3 confit experts at my table and not one of them liked it. The eggplant sauce that came with it though was quite tasty.
STAY AWAY FROM DESSERTS! If you take one thing away from this review it is...let me say it again: STAY AWAY FROM DESSERTS. The creme brulee comes cold and not very bruleed and had the texture of scrambled eggs. The chocolate mousse tasted of that old forgotten bar of chocolate in the back of your refrigerator. You know the one: it's turned all beige with white spots on it? Yeah, that one.
We told our server this and he was really nice about it, and asked if there was anything he could bring us to make up for it. We're not the kind of people to ask for things but we don't turn down things that are brought to us when it's too late to say no! lol This wasn't the case, but it was a nice gesture. He then told us the chef had quit and that the guys in the kitchen were "doing the best they could". They certainly did a good job, but to open a restaurant and survive in NYC you have to guarantee more than boys doing the best they can.
Great taste, value and service for your money...just order wisely :) -
Review from Laura G.
Los Altos, CA
3/1/2009
While I don't think I'll need to go back ever again, it was a pleasant way to spend my half birthday! ;-)
There was no wait and only a couple tables taken at 1:00 on a Sunday. Our group of 5 had heard of their $11 brunch and + $9 for unlimited cocktails from NY Mag. We were gravely disappointed to learn that it was $9 extra for only 3 drinks from 3 options instead of 5 or 6 (bellini, sangria, bloody mary). All of us went through our 3 bellinis effortlessly and wanted more. However, they had learned from their first two weeks of unlimited booze brunch that no one ended up leaving and I'm guessing they didn't make much money.
Additionally, the menu advertised in NY Mag was quite different than the one we were offered. They have a 1 or 2 basics and then several more creative options. The portion sizes were hearty but not overwhelming. We got the lamb burger with fries (not spicy fries as described), eggs Benedict, some croque sandwich, and the Tunisian baked eggs. Despite our deflated expectations, we all loved our meals and the bellinis.
The service was friendly and fairly attentive. When they gave us our bill, the waitress said "no hurry, " but I definitely got the sense they wanted us out...even though the place wasn't packed. If they're gonna survive, they'll need to improve their customer service and lower their drink "special."
They get 3.5 stars for playing lots of Lionel Richie songs. :-) -
Review from Melissa M.
Brooklyn, NY
3/2/2009
So my friends and I had been planning our visit to Absinthe for a quite a few weeks after receiving an email from NY Magazine about their unlimited drink brunch for $20 with some amazing sounding drinks (way more interesting than your run of the mill mimosas and bloody mary's). It seemed like a perfect way to spend a chilly New York afternoon, especially in a nice cozy wine bar.
Imagine our disappointment when the menu (which was completely different than what was online) said that the price was actually $20 for brunch and 3 drinks. Now granted, the 3 peach bellinis we got were really tasty and peachy but the 3 wanted me leaving more - like 5 (as I said it was a perfect day for drinking), oh and also they didn't have all of those tasty drinks that had been advertised.
I ordered the lamb burger with spiced fries which was really good! It was a nice thin burger with feta, arugula, roasted tomatoes and red pepper aioli all grilled on a thin ciabatta roll with spiced fries (some sort of Mediterranean spice) - really flavorful and yummy.
We asked the owner about the unlimited drinks and he said that for the 2 weeks of brunch they had indeed offered unlimited drinks but quickly realized that people would sit all day and never leave. Yes, of course that would happen, but I think they should have thought of that before offering it up.
I would definitely go back to Absinthe for their $11 brunch with coffee and a drink but I think $20 for 2 additional drinks is not worth the price. -
Review from Lauren L.
10/12/2009
I ate here two weeks ago and although the waitress was attentive, the food was really bland and just from that I would never go here again. The decor was nice, the place empty but that was not enough to sway me. The sangria was decent but nothing special. I recommend people avoid their pasta dishes, if not the place itself, at all costs. $60+ bucks for NOTHING.
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Review from Lindsay F.
NY
2/25/2009
Allie suggested that our Sunday brunch date should be spent at the infamous Bubby's (a Tribeca and Brooklyn institution), especially after being flabbergasted by the fact that I'd never been. After perusing the menu online, I knew that offerings such as macaroni and cheese, "Crusty Cheese Grits," or "Sautéed Banana Walnut Pancakes" would completely derail my diet. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue except for the fact that I ate like a lumber jack the previous week while in Texas. In an effort to control a potentially gluttonous situation, I suggested that we try the newly opened Absinthe Wine Bar in the East Village.
Allie and I met at Absinthe Wine Bar at 12:15pm on Sunday. Located between two bodegas, the restaurant is easy to miss. Once inside, you're transported in to a small, yet decently sized, modern room. I did note a glass door towards the back of the space that led to a patio, which I hope opens for al-fresco dining/drinking during the warm-weather months.
Allie and I were seated at a cozy two-top. Our first observation was that Absinthe's temperature was a bit chilly and Madonna's "Justify My Love" was screaming at us overhead. However, once I heard the wait staff speaking to each other in French, all tiny annoyances, including the "laissez faire" service, seemed to melt away. Ah, what oysters and dark chocolate do for some, hearing the sexy French language does for me!
For those looking to get the most bang for their buck in this crappy economy, Absinthe Wine Bar has an incredible $20 brunch special that includes an entrée plus 3 alcoholic beverages (Pineapple Mimosa, Mixed Berry Bellini, Pomegranate Mint Bellini, Absinthe Sangria, or the Mint Coconut Sparkler). Assuming that $20 (including 3 drinks) at any restaurant won't present itself with much variety; the 12-item brunch menu covered its bases. From pancakes and omelettes to the Spanish Croque Madame, there certainly seemed to be something for everyone.
It was tough to narrow down, but I finally chose the Tunisian Breakfast as my brunch entrée. Arriving in a shallow bowl was a bed of roasted stewed tomatoes (almost like a very chunky marinara sauce) with sliced zucchini, topped with two perfectly poached eggs and bite size morsels of merguez (lamb) sausage. Whole wheat pita points accompanied the dish. Each component of the entrée mated well together; with the exception of the dry pita bread (I would have preferred something denser). Every bite contained a hunk of poached egg drenched in a flavorful tomato and runny yolk bath followed by an explosion of flavor and texture from the outrageously delicious lamb sausage. While I didn't try Allie's lamb burger, she thoroughly enjoyed it.
I hope to return to Absinthe Wine Bar for dinner and cocktails...Hopefully when the weather warms up and the initial "new restaurant kinks" have subsided. Accueillir au voisinage! -
Review from Serena R.
New York, NY
2/22/2009
Went here with a friend for brunch last weekend (think it was the second weekend of brunch). We got there at noon and it seemed like they weren't quite open yet (heat wasn't on, restaurant wasn't totally set up) and I was a bit thrown, but when they got going - the place was awesome. Cute, little and not too noisy. Definitely seems like they are stilling working the kinks out (ie - didn't have the full drinks list available yet, only mimosas and overly sweet sangria). That being said, the croque monsieur was awesome, as were the accompanying fries and so was my friend's omelette. Best of all, they were generous with the drinks and even though there was obviously a long line waiting by the time we left, they didn't try to rush us. Hopefully this place doesn't become a scene, because for now, it's an awesome spot! Who can beat unlimited drinks + good brunch food for $20 in the EV?
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Review from Melissa K.
2/14/2009
Don't believe the reviews. Maybe it's that it's only their second brunch, but it was bad. I ordered an omlette with cheddar and mushrooms. I got an omlette with a hunk of unmelted pepper jack. I told the owner who told me it was the chef's last week. But, he didn't offer me anything different or comp me. At least the mimosas were included in the $20. I recommend going next door where the brunch was $9.95 with a drink.
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Review from Emma B.
New York, NY
2/22/2009
What a steal. "Snacks" of olives, crostini and fried chickpeas; apps of octopus and merguez sausage, both quite yummy and each large enough to have been a main course; and mains of excellent pate de campagne and chicken Milanese; plus 4 glasses of pinot noir and two of champagne; plus coffee - and all for $86 including tax and tip. Cute space, with front and back seating areas and a bar in the middle (which is a great idea btw - no bar crowd to push through just to ask for a table), and very competent and gracious staff. I hope this place makes it! (As an aside, the menu and wine list have been completely revamped since the last few reviews.)
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Review from karim s.
South Ozone Park, NY
3/12/2009
i went for brunch on sunday and i have to stay this is by far the best brunch i have ever had in the city. the food was scrumptious no wonder cause the chef used to work at daniels the staff was extremely warm and a lot of cute waitresses and bartender. hopefully it doesnt become too much of a hot spot cause i am already starting to have problems booking a resevation . this place is on its way to the top
