- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Ardesia
Categories: Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Restaurants Tapas/Small Plates Wine Bars, Tapas/Small Plates [Edit]
510 W 52nd Stat 10th Avenue
(at 11th Ave)
New York, NY 10019
Neighborhoods: Hell's Kitchen, Midtown West
(212) 247-9191
- Nearest Transit:
-
50 St (A, C, E)
50 St (1, 2)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 5 pm - 12 am
Thu-Sat 5 pm - 2 am
Sun 5 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
93 reviews for Ardesia
Review Highlights
-
"I know what you're thinking: "Quail egg toast." In 5 reviews -
"For dessert we split the ice cream sandwich." In 10 reviews -
"LOVED the pretzels and the duck banh mi." In 8 reviews
Loading...
93 reviews in English
-
Review from Geoff G.
Scottsdale, AZ
5/15/2012
Walked over here after seeing a show on Broadway. Porgy & Bess to be exact, but I digress. I used "Urban Spoon" on my phone and came up with this gem, which had a 100% "do you like it" voting response from 40 reviewers. After my visit, 41.
The decor is modern, yet tastefully understated. The music is excellent, as were the servers.
We had a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Pape with several food offerings. Two cheeses and the olives plate with never ending bread to get started.
Followed with the Goat Milk Ricotta Crostini, Quail Egg Toast, Pastrami and Sauerkraut, Seared Flank Steak, and my favorite, the Spiced Lamb Skewers (which were a PERFECT match with the wine). Seriously, the lamb skewers were amazing.
Dessert was the Ice Cream Sandwich (It was just that, coming wrapped in paper), and the 'Smores (3 squares of awesome on graham cracker), together a perfect pairing for a sweet tooth with a glass of the Côté Sud, Languedoc-Roussillon.
It was a slow night while we were there, so the servers gave us their full attention and were very engaging to boot. I highly recommend this establishment, it was the perfect ending to a day on Broadway. Don't miss it! -
Review from Eva W.
4/1/2012
I find it adorable when things are written on a chalkboard wall :)
The quail egg toast was okay.
The roasted cauliflower was amazing and definitely the highlight of the night.
Pulled pork sliders were just a classier sloppy joe.
Duck banh mi was underwhelming. The duck part of it was minimal.
The mangalitsa ham was delicious. The waiter said mangalitsa pigs lead a low-stress lifestyle and are fed on a diet of chestnuts hahah
Cute place but just a bit out of the way. Not likely to trek out here again but would definitely recommend if we were in the area. -
Review from Sherri F.
3/23/2012 Seated via OpenTable 2 Check-ins Here
Fantastic! Nothing was just mediocre; literally every single thing was fantastic. I tried the duck banh mi, three cheeses, chicken liver pate, homemade pretzels, quail egg toast, and seared flank steak (cooked perfectly). All amazing. Portions aren't large but it was enough for a few of us to share everything and walk out full. Service was wonderful and they have a great wine selection, and a decent beer selection too! They had my favorite beer on tap - Palm.
I had made a reservation for 6 of us on a Tuesday night and it didn't even seem necessary, though it got comfortably crowded. We sat in the lounge area and it was like our own private party. Very lovely place, I will absolutely be back. -
Review from Michelle W.
New York, NY
3/8/2012
I had a great time here!
Came here last night and didn't have to wait for a table at all. The service is outstanding! They are so happy to provide you with suggestions as to what wine is good and are willing to accommodate big groups.
We had a lot of food and it was all delicious. I had the duck banh mi, sliders, flank steak, shrimp skewers, crostini and some cheeses. The sliders and the steak are a must have. The duck banh mi is also a must try. Everything was really good so I highly recommend trying everything!
Loved this place and I'll definitely be back. It is a little out of the way, but it's definitely worth checking out. Super cute place for a first date or a tenth date. It isn't extremely loud in this place, but it also isn't super quiet. Perfect place to catch up and chat with someone. -
Review from Henny M.
Brooklyn, NY
4/29/2012
A very cozy and chilled wine bar. Great fro getting friends together and spending significant time drinking and chatting. They have a good selection of wine at reasonable prices. The NY style pretzel lives up to its rave reviews!
-
Review from Amir K.
Manhattan, NY
5/13/2012
We went there last night. It is a bit out of way but the food is excellent and highly recommended. The beet salad is amazing and spiced lamb is to die for. Very good selection of wine too. Overall highly recommended,
-
Review from Geoff C.
2/15/2012
Pretty much all you could ask for in a neighborhood wine bar & gastropub. Really strong beer and wine list, with a really knowledgable yet approachable server, intimate atmosphere, and some style.
Highlight was the Lamb skewers. None of us could fathom how they got that much flavor and crispiness (deep fryer anyone??). Lemongrass shrimp was solid as was the paparadelle. Croquettes very well executed. Avoid the Banh Mi, not authentic and nothing really positive to say about it.
Only downside is its tucked away in a fairly sleepy area West of 11th at the base of some hi-rise condos. Places like this need to thrive, so go here. -
Review from Northern N.
Teaneck, NJ
5/11/2012
Nice spot, but the best part of it is the lounge area off to the left. The only problem is of the 4 times I've gone, I could only get seated up there once (and that was the one time I didn't have reservations and specifically request a seating spot there). Other areas, you're just on a hard wooden stool and it loses a lot of the charm. Really good olives and at $3, those are a real bargain!
-
Review from Jenny S.
12/25/2011 3 photos
gem in the ROUGH... wasn't expecting to find Ardesia tucked away around this corner!
Ardesia is a small bites type of place where you can catch up with friends over a couple glasses of wine! & to help the cause they've got a HAPPY HOUR m-f 5-7 pm
all the dishes we got were perfect for two to share!
-----duck banh mi: interesting but i wasn't really a fan of this sammie.. it was a little bit sour
-----quail egg toast: savory & delish.. would be a perfect brunch dish
-----spiced lamb skewers w/ yogurt dip: not bad
ardesia reminded me of all the trendy places in LA! wouldn't mind coming back to try their other small bites! -
Review from Alla C.
ASTORIA, NY
5/9/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Great place, a little out of the way, but perfect for where we needed to be. Nice open space, the bartenders definitely knew about their wines and made great recommendations. We had the cheese plate w/ ham and then 2 of the sandwiches, delicious even if the portions were a tad small. Would definitely go back to try some of the apps.
-
Review from Jaime B.
ASTORIA, NY
2/13/2012
A group of friends and I headed to Ardesia for my birthday dinner before a show. We loved that we were able to make a reservation just a few hours before heading to the restaurant.
When we arrived, our table was ready, and our server got our drinks quickly. We ordered a variety of dishes. The spinach and crab dip was delicious and to me the most memorable dish. The pretzel and croquettes were pretty good, nice and hot. We ordered a cheese plate, which had a nice presentation on the board but would have been better if the server who delivered it would have taken the time to tell the group which cheese was what.
Our server was great at first, but as the night went on, he was around less and less. Our water glasses went empty for a long time. He asked before the meal started if we were trying to make a show, and we told him we were but that we had a little time. But at the end of the night, we were rushing to make it because it was took so long to get our check. The restaurant had gotten busier, and it looked like he was running a lot of food, but it would have been nice if he had been just a little more attentive or asked another server to check on us. It made the difference in our experience. I would have given Ardesia four stars if not for that because the night began so well.
Ardesia has a great atmosphere; it's a lovely spot to gather with friends for a drink and snacks. It's tucked away on a quiet street. I might come back here, but perhaps at a time when they won't be crowded. -
Review from Grape F.
Manhattan, NY
4/4/2012
Great, cozy wine bar. Loved this Riesling there: http://grapefriend.com...
-
Review from Ah-Hyun C.
New York, NY
2/20/2012
I made a reservation on the day of (a Thursday for 8:30 PM) via email for 6 people - well, actually I emailed the day before but they responded the day of. It was to casually celebrate my friend's engagement so we all arrived earlier so we could surprise her. Only problem was that my friend arrived, 8:30 PM came and went and there were no tables to accommodate us. We ended up having to make do at a table for 2, which was right next to the kitchen for an hour - which, needless to say, was cramped and uncomfortable for 6 people ordering a bottle of champagne and food. We didn't complain much though and treated the server well, and in return, he comped our bottle of champagne as well as the extra bottle of wine we got when we did get to move tables. He was also very affable and apologetic, and at the end of the day, his attitude and free bottles of wine were enough to make me continue to love Ardesia.
This is a classy wine place in the middle of Hell's Kitchen nowhere but it was quite packed on a Thursday night - it never has been this busy in the past 2 years I've frequented this place but I think word has gotten out about the quality of service and ambiance. The pulled pork sliders are my favorite here and the croquettes were a close second. The spiced lamb skewers were pretty good, nothing to write home about, and the spinach & crab dip was also pretty good - the bread was a bit too greasy with olive oil for my taste. I've also had the duck banh mi on another occasion and it was just okay, I'll be sticking to my pulled pork sliders. If we had been seated at the right time, this would've been a perfect place to have our small party, but regardless, I'll be coming back again.Listed in: Hell's Kitchen Gems
-
Review from Andrea S.
10/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
This is a sexy and romantic little spot. We came here last night (Thursday) and the bar was full but the seating area off to the side was very open.
I arrived earlier than my cheeky monkey friend and they let me sit down wherever I wanted, nice!
Their wine menu is broken down by Old World whites and reds and New Worlds whites and reds. The menu lacks description, but you can ask the server and they'll explain anything you need to know.
The snacks menu is awesome, I wish I had been more hungry to try everything. I had the croquettes (béchamel and chorizo) and the spinach and crab dip with Amy's bread. Oh Lord, the dip was good! Very rich and had a strong crab presence.
Drunk. Like seriously. I had a glass before I left my house, a glass while I waited for my friend, then we had two bottles.
The overheard us talking about her birthday and surprised us with an ice cream sandwich topped with a candle! How sweet! I think the sandwich was good, like I said... Drunk.
Will definitely return. Maybe with a date? There were lots of couples sucking face.Listed in: Gettin mah drank on., Gettin mah fingahs dirty.
-
Review from Patrick J.
Weehawken, NJ
2/15/2012
We really lucked out here. One of the best meals Ive had in NYC.
Valentines Day, no reservations, 8pm. We came out of the Colbert Report taping expecting to be eating at a hot dog stand as we had no idea what to expect from NY on our 1st Valentines here.
The venue is really smart and great for a romantic setting, we got a table fine and went for the Valentines tasting menu. $45 each for 3 courses with wine for each course, not bad for NY on the biggest date night of the year.
We immediately recognised that they had played about 3 of our favourite bands in the space of 10mins so first impressions were good.
The food was outstanding, we had the prawns, chorizo croquette, flank steak, lamb skewers, ice cream sandwich, a caesar salad and cheese. Each dish was amazing, so tasty.
It was nothing too complex, just really simple great ingredients cooked very well.
Service was attentive and friendly, overall it was the perfect date night for our first Valentines in NYC. -
Review from Christina Q.
Manhattan, NY
12/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Great music and great ambience!
Good for dinner or get together with friends, great for a date, or meeting coworkers.
If you just want to relax, drink some delicious wine, and get away from the madness this is a great spot. -
Review from Stephanie S.
New York, NY
3/16/2012
I really love this place. It's a great Thursday night spot and one of my neighborhood favorites. The sliders, charcuterie, wine selection, atmosphere, and service are what stand out for me. I've never had to wait for a table or spot to sit even when I roll up with 4-5 people. Great nights have ended and started here.
-
Review from Maly A.
10/12/2011
I've been trying out various wine bars all over the city and came here with a couple of friends on a Friday night not too long ago. Cute ambiance, has outdoor seating. Away from the busy 9th ave, tucked away/cozy. Good selection of tapas, really yummy stuff. We had the Burrata, Arugula Salad and a few other items, everything was really good.
Our waiter/bar tender was really cute & friendly. One of my friends did try a glass of wine that she didn't like and without a fuss he switched out with another selection. The atmosphere is very relaxed & unpretentious. A few steps up to the side there is a more 'loungey' space. Good place for a date or small group of friends. Reasonably priced too! Look forward to coming here again. Casual yet classy. -
Review from Catherine S.
Washington, DC
7/27/2011
Spent about 2 hours here with a 15+ group to kick off a Saturday night of 30th Birthday celebrating. We had half of their lounge area (big open seating on a large wraparound couch) for us and had several waiters stop by often once the party got going. Wine selection covers the old/new world geographies with a good variety of pricing.
The location is a little out of the way, but worth for the non-cramped, don't-have-to-scream-to-be-heard setting.
Atmosphere is just like in the photos from the website - clean lines on all the furniture, high ceilings and just the right amount of candlelight. A girlfriend recommended this place after going on a date here and having a great wine and food experience. She was less into the guy, and that part didn't work out, but Ardesia did!
I would recommend this place for any group gathering that is looking for a classy place that is fun and easy to plan.
Party / Group Planning Process:
I called about 2 weeks prior to the event to reserve a spot. This process was low pressure and painless - not like most places in NYC! There was no deposit demanded and no minimum spend promised. They were flexible on time and did not cap our reservation.
Ardesia has a simple system of options for drinks and food for groups and one document that explains it all (ranging from unlimited pours for 2 hours at a certain price and a la carte with food pre-ordered...). They also have a very nice event coordinator who was very responsive to emails. I went with a la carte drinks and pre-ordered 4 platters of food (crostini with ricotta was the runaway favorite) a few days before the event. -
Review from Athenais A.
ASTORIA, NY
10/20/2011
I actually came here for the first time after reading a bit in AM New York about ice cream sandwiches (it just so happened a friend and I were discussing our desire to devour some ice cream the day before). Boy oh boy was there way more about this place to love than the ice cream. The place itself is incredibly cute with great lighting and design. The wait staff are very friendly and informative. They have a very reasonably priced wine list - my favorite being the pinot gris. Yum! Now, let's discuss the quail egg toast. I know what you're thinking: "Quail egg toast?!" Trust me, I'm not big on quails or their eggs, but you MUST eat this! It comes with the most delicious bacon and hollandaise sauce AND it is on the most amazing bread ever.
Another must have item off the menu is the burrata. My friend and I had no idea what burrata was before coming here. In case you're not sure what it is either, let me fill you in: cream-infused mozzarella cheese. You heard right - there is CREAM in there too. Hellllllo deliciousness. This too is served with the heavenly bread. Everything else I've had from Ardesia has been divine. Lemongrass shrimp skewer - delicious! Croquettes - delicious! Seared flank steak - delicious! Crab and spinach dip - delicious! Oh, and that ice cream sandwich? Also delicious (I lovvvvved the mint, the strawberry was alright). So, get over to Ardesia and, in the words of Donna and Tom (of Parks and Recreation) treat yo' self! :) -
Review from Anna L.
9/8/2011
We got a gift certificate from groupon, living social, something i forget....it offered us a tasting of appetizers and various wine pairings. The duck banh mi was excellent - doesn't taste like the traditional banh mi but still well balanced, good bread, and nice meat inside it. Got the salt cod croquettes - warm, flavorful and crispy. Beet salad was surprisingly good - didn't recognize half the things in it but my bf liked it even though he isn't a fan of sweet and savory mixed together. The wine that they paired with the meal was fine - nothing stellar. My bf liked the wine more since some of them were a little spicy and bold. Service was also good. She took the time to tell us about the menu, certain food items and immediately changed the beef option to duck banh mi since my bf doesn't eat beef. Overall, an excellent meal!!!
Downfalls? Location is far far west (but doesn't hurt me too much because I live at 43rd and 10th) and the prices are preeeetttyyyy prettyyyy steep without the certificate for the amount of food. -
Review from Simcha G.
Brookfield, CT
4/10/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Four of us went over after a Colbert Report taping on a Tuesday evening, so we were just a couple of blocks away. We had made a reservation, but would have been seated right away without one. Our waiter was very attentive and friendly. Everything we had was delicious: Beet salad (with yellow beets), Burrata (with fresh runny mozzarella), roasted cauliflower (my favorite, very nicely spiced), and a cheese tray with assorted condiments were our non-meat choices. I'm vegetarian, so I didn't try the meats, but the others loved the lamb skewers and flank steak. We were not rushed at all. The noise level was very low, thankfully, as our voices were raspy from the show. The total for the four of us, including a bottle of Riesling, three beers and tip, was $200.
-
Review from Jessica S.
New York, NY
7/24/2011
I went here on a Saturday night to catch up with my girlfriends. They don't take reservations, but getting a great spot wasn't a problem. All the servers were amazing; helpful, nice and provided great service.
Now to the goodies. The wine selection is quite nice. We ordered a few bottles of white wine because it was 200 F outside. As for the food, the burrata was out of this world. We tried the croquetas and the olives, both good to open your appetite. The salads were fresh and tasty, the cheese platter has a nice selection and the bread was super fresh.
We didn't have any dessert because there was no room left.
I don't think this place was too expensive at all. It's a perfect spot to go "have a glass of wine" and munch on something.
If I were a guy, I would take a date here.
But since I'm a girl, I think I'll bring my guy here one of these days. -
Review from Donald K.
Astoria, NY
Updated - 5/2/2011
Ardesia, I was wrong about you. So, so, wrong.
I decided to give this place another go as a friend and I were leaving the Armory Show at Pier 92/94. Ardesia was the closest around to grab a bite and drink from. We ordered the artichoke crab dip and the duck bahn mi. I happily devoured both, while washing it down with a Magner.
I would also have to say that the service here is always great and inviting. I don't know his name, but every time I've been here I've been helped by the gentleman with the glasses. He's always been very helpful when anyone I was with needed recommendations or had questions about the menu. He also happily rewarded me with my free glass of Rose for my third Foursquare check-in, while usually I feel kind of cheap and lame for trying to scheme for free drinks with my e-coupon.
Speaking of third time visits. My third time was for a friends birthday. A friend of mine wanted to have a surprise party for his girlfriend, and I recommended Ardesia. We were a party of about 20, and they were very accommodating. They allowed us all to open our own tabs to avoid confusion, and were very good remembering the owner of each tab (See! All Asians don't look alike!). I would also have to say that this place is great for a big group on a Saturday night. I think it's too far from the train that it just doesn't get packed. Ardesia you have become a regular stop for me. When I'm all the way by the Westside Highway that is.Listed in: Date Night!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/12/2011
One thing I see common in many wine bars in NY is that they are incredibly small. Ardesia is… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jenn C.
4/4/2011
The Good:
-Relaxed, warm, spacious atmosphere
-Really good soft pretzels
-Lots of wine by the glass options
-Friendly bartender
-A small, well thought out selection of cheese
-Excellent artisinal honey for said cheese
The Less Good:
-It 's far from the train, which means if you get tipsy you have a really, really long way to go.
- The duck banh mi was weirdly off balance.
- While most everything else tasted good, things run slightly salty, so by the end of the meal, you're dehydrated.
Good for:
-Predinner drinks and a small snack
- A date you actually want to talk to
- Catching up with your friends -
Review from Kendra T.
Jersey City, NJ
6/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Cute little bar away from all the excitement on 9th ave. Great place to meet co-workers after work or drinks for a casual first date.
The food offerings are limited but it's mostly about the wine here.
We split the deviled eggs and the quail egg toast, both were well seasoned and enjoyable. We also shared the cuban and duck bahn mi sandwiches. I enjoyed my sandwich more that the duck the seasoning just wasn't there for me with the duck, it was a little mushy and bland.
I stuck with a sparkling rose throughout the evening and my date sampled a selection of beers from the menu.
For dessert we split the homemade ice cream sandwich, I would have preferred it more if it had chocolate and vanilla ice cream, instead of just vanilla.
Service was friendly and fast we went on a Thursday after work so it was not very crowded when we arrived but filled up as the evening progressed. There is also outdoor seating.
I would definitely return when I am in the area. -
Review from Vanessa V.
Portsmouth, NH
4/11/2011
According to Yelp, I first bookmarked this place over a year ago. It seemed like such a good idea last summer... and then we got lazy... and then it was cold. And then tonight, the first beautifully warm night of the year, I knew we had to finally try Ardesia.
We arrived 15 minutes before happy hour ended and had a glass of wine at the bar while we waited for a table outside.The interior is well decorated but was completely empty at nearly 7pm-- very strange. The outside seating is basically sidewalk cafe-style, but since the block is totally desolate it feels more private than it is.
We split the gouda-- delicious-- which came with crusty, fluffy bread and a housemade graham cracker, the cod croquettes-- satisfying but small, the pretzels-- should have been served warmer but appreciated the two dipping sauces, and the burrata-- could have used less salt on top but soo good regardless.
As others have said, each dish could have used a bit less salt. I overheard the couple at the next table complaining multiple times about how the chef's palate must be numb and that they would never come back, ouch.
Overall, a great place to grab a calm drink on a warm summer night, but you may want to eat somewhere else if you're salt-averse or cash poor. -
Review from michael k.
Plainfield, NJ
12/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Good food, nice wine list.
-
Review from Thao N.
Manhattan, NY
7/9/2011
I went here for an after drink work and really liked it. It's a pretty chill spot, busy, but not rowdy.
The bar is nice and spacious, so you don't feel awkward eating at it. We ordered the shrimp skewers and pretzels, and they were both really tasty. Pretty small portions though, so one appetizer is really a pretty small snack.
We only stayed for one drink, but we'll definitely be back sometime.
It's a little pricey for a happy hour drink, but for the atmosphere, it's definitely worth it. -
Review from Karan V.
Manhattan, NY
12/26/2011
I know! It's so far out there (almost 11th Avenue), but trust me, it's worth the walk. Mandy Oser has crafted a really beautiful space. The lounge is excellent for small group reservations and the main area is perfect for hanging out with a friend or a date. Enjoy the wine, and make sure you try the ice cream sandwiches at the end (they're delicous).
-
Review from Chris H.
12/3/2010 3 photos
Is it about the journey? Or the destination?
Given Ardesia's far flung BFE location, one could make the argument that it's a 'destination' venue - and you would be correct. The well curated menu of tapas, hard to pronounce cheeses and house made charcuterie is almost too sophisticated for the Hells Kitchen locale, but worth the schlep. Plump, intensely juicy cocktail sausages with a shmear of spicy mustard was an instant hit, as was the trio of crostini, each generously adorned with a fresh ricotta, excellent chicken liver mousse, and a sweet kobocha squash puree.
A duck banh mi was less successful than I had envisioned - the proportions were wildly skewed in favor of zingy pickled carrots, while stingy with the duck pate and cilantro. The salt cod croquettes were mushy, instead of fluffy like a proper buñuelos de bacalao (which is what I believe Ardesia was shooting for... they missed this time).
In the case of Ardesia's wine list, it's all about the journey. The wines are impressive, yet given the selection of wines-by-the-glass, they're accessible and affordable. It's far to easy to linger past your bed time, progressing through a global itinerary of wines culled from Ardesia's impressive menu and erudite bar keep.
To quip on that pesky vis-à-vis - something about the merits of the journey vs. the destination - in Ardesia's case, it's definitely both. -
Review from Angel C.
11/10/2011
delicious with every bite and sip. came here on a whim having had dinner around the block and saw at the base of the glorious archstone residence a welcoming light from its deep setback spot in the middle of west 52nd. the decor is shabby swanky with steel against wood grain with flashes of leather upholstering. the space is airy and delicately lit, i was v satisfied with the furnishings.
foodwise, we ordered the assorted olives, deviled eggs (3) with crispy chicken skin and quail egg toast. this last one needs no introduction given its sublime force - house-cured pancetta with the fried egg in hollandaise. i could eat that for years and be happily diabetic for it. it's equal parts flavorful, punchy, delectable and interesting.
we had a glass of the chilean syrah to round it out; would be a 5* had the service not been pretty slow and apathetic. -
Review from Tara M.
New York, NY
Updated - 12/20/2011
Knocking off a star or two. They've gotten too popular for their own good and haven't learned how to do crowd control yet.
I'm glad they're successful, but on any given Friday or Saturday night, rather than sitting in a relaxed, intimate wine bar, you're being smushed left-and-right in a standing-room-only bar filled with annoying, loud drunk people who keep bumping into your table as you're trying to have a bite and a sip of wine undisturbed.
Quite an oppressive atmosphere. If I wanted that, I'd stick to 9th Avenue, thank you. Ardesia, learn what "maximum capacity" means please.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/26/2011
Ardesia is what happens when you put an actual chef in the kitchen.
It's a great wine bar in a… Read more »
-
-
Review from Chris K.
New York, NY
11/8/2010
Design aficionados will appreciate the architectural display of steel and glass, mahogany and chalkboard
Wine lovers will clap for the impressively curated wine list. By the glass? Classic and obscure offerings by the dozens.
Lightweights will spot the the rows of beers on tap and breathe relief
The forgiving will overlook some of the food misses (an over-salted arugula salad, a batterless fried shrimp) in favor of the hits (a delicious cheese plate, crispy croquettes)
Part time claustrophobics may find solace beneath the sky high ceilings and roomy plush interior
Animal lovers will emerge from the restroom to exclaim, "There was a goldfish bowl! I christened him Sparky."
Stiletto trotting ladies will rejoice it's but a brief avenue walk from the perpetually busy, oft denying Casellula
And if you're all of the above....well, it looks like you have a new go to wine bar in HK.Listed in: bebidas de alcohol
-
Review from Marlon A.
Manhattan, NY
I came here to catch up with a friend and wish him luck on an interview.
We had five small plates and some wine. I recommend the Slate of Crostini (three different toppings on three pieces of toast). The pâté was amazing and I kinda wished I could have had more of it in a separate dish or just had the pâté on all the pieces of toast. The Burrata (buffalo mozzarella) was also good -- creamy and flavorful. The Duck Banh Mi sandwich was simultaneously salty, sour, sweet and slightly gamey from the duck. An interesting mix. My Pinot Bianco (Alois Lageder, Alto Adige) was a single-note crisp white wine which allowed the food to shine without drawing too much attention to itself.
Our server was friendly and helpful, not shy at all with recommendations on the food and wine. There's outdoor seating, and they only take reservations for parties of 6+. The atmosphere is upscale casual with wooden stools/chairs and tables, and very chill music. -
Review from Lia K.
3/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
My birthday buddy & I had a pretty low-key, hang out with our bestest buddies wine-bar birthday celebration. We requested the lounge space with red velvet ottoman chairs, candles & coffee tabled area for a group of 25 ish people. The ambiance was cute, the slate walls with food/wines were a nice touch, the candles, separation of bar space & lounge space and waitstaff were all fantastic!
Foods:
- NY Pretzel with cheese sauce & mustard: good!
- Flank steak with a parsley pesto with arugula salad was scrumptious. -- a small portion for the $$ but perfectly
Wines:
Sancere: crisp
Framboise Beer- SO GOOD! -
Review from merisa t.
3/11/2011
My office recently temporarily moved 10 blocks south and I have to say while I was happy about the faster commute, I was more excited to be 10 blocks closer to Ardesia, a perfect after work location for really good wine and some small plates (and I mean small!).
I love the atmosphere, minimalist, without forsaking warmth - a slate bar, cool chalkboard walls, and a smattering of candles - and the bartenders and waitstaff know their stuff for sure. A drawback however, they recently dropped their $6 happy hour wine deal and instead changed it to $2 off all wines. According to a bartender, this was to allow more selection...but that still makes most glasses of wine $8 or $9, with the discount. The $6 option was the reason I stopped in here in the first place. I hope they bring it back. The beer selection is good for a wine bar. They have about four drafts, which I don't believe rotate frequently, and a good number of bottles. Plus, you've gotta love a place that doesn't even think of adding Bud Light (or anything Bud Light-esque) to the menu. Thanks for that.
On to the food. I recently discovered the pretzels ($6), which are amazing and a surprising menu addition for a wine bar. They are large and come with cheese and mustard. Yum. Another favorite is the S'mores ($5). They are TINY (three to a plate), but sometimes a little bit of sweet is all you need...so more often than not, they hit the mark. I also love the Salt Cod Croquettes ($5 for two), also small...but sometimes a little bit of salt is all you need, so...you get the idea. The Duck Bahn Mi and the "Cuban" (both $14) are worth noting. They are a little more hearty, but, you know, small (particularly for $14). -
Review from Janice L.
Brooklyn, NY
1/28/2011
It was an amazing experience. They have a little wine cellar above the bar. It was a nice atmosphere with candles everywhere, so it created a nice ambiance at night. Get there before 9, because the place is pretty small and it got filled up very fast. There's a lounge area in the back and wooden stools near the bar. I found out there are coat hooks on your way to the bathroom.
I went with my coworker. I'm also not a big wine drinker, but since I was at a wine bar, why not? I wanted something sweet, light, and smooth.She and I couldn't decide which wine to pick and the waiter was so nice. He was very patient with us and asked questions back to make sure he chose the right wine for each of us. The waiter suggested this French red wine called Côté Catalanes, Côte Sud, Lafage, Languedoc-Roussillon. It was $9/glass. They also go by the bottle too.
My coworker is a vegetarian, and I'm a bit of a meat eater, but the menu had a good balance of to accommodate both of our tastes.
We had the Slate of Crostini (3), which were three toasted bread each with house-made goat milk ricotta, chicken liver mousse, kabocha squash. I loved the squash and my friend liked the ricotta. I'm a first timer for chicken liver, and I found out I didn't like the upper strong iron taste. Then we had the Beet Salad, which was very nice and refreshing. It had pomegranate, walnuts, fresh goat cheese, tarragon vinaigrette in it.
We also ordered the Caramelized Brussel Sprouts which had a lime-mint glaze and fried shallots. This was my first time having brussel sprouts and can I please say this dish was amazing and filling!! It had a texture of a bok choy, but the glaze gave it a nice light flavor, and the fried shallots tasted like the fried onions you would put on top of a green bean casserole, only without such a strong onion flavor.
I had the Pastrami Sandwich by myself. I wished it was peppered up. It was a little plain in taste in regards to the pastrami itself but I still liked it enough that it still passed in my book. It was juicy, complemented well with the caramelized onions, and had a tint of sweetness from the apples.
For dessert we shared a hazelnut Ice Cream Sandwich and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. The hazelnut ice cream actually had real hazelnuts in it! It was creamy but not too sweet, and it had that nice raw hazelnut taste. However, I honestly didn't think it needed the chocolate cake part of the sandwich because I couldn't taste the chocolate and it didn't add anything to it. The hazelnut ice cream went really well with the Homemade Cookie. My wine surprisingly went well with the dessert too.
It was a terrific experience and the service was wonderful too. I would love to go back again, and the 30% off from Blackboardeats really helped our check, not because the food was expensive but because of the amount of food we ate. Ardesia really serves quality food here! -
Review from Jennifer R.
Brooklyn, NY
Our initial destination was Caselulla, but as we approached the wine bar I peered through the glass window and saw that it was packed so I searched for another wine bar in the area and fatefully found Ardesia, which is conveniently located on the same street a few avenues away.
Upon entering, I immediately bookmarked this place in my head as a great date spot. To your far left, there is a comfy couch nook, straight ahead is the bar and to your left and right are sit down tables.
They have a generous wine list as well as food menu from Artisanal Cheeses to Duck Banh Mi?! Yes, Duck Banh Mi. Did I try it? Unfortunately, no but we did order a cheese plate to accompany our wine. Our waiter was extremely patient and helpful albeit it wasn't as packed as Caselulla.
This wine bar has a little bit of everything - finger food, sandwiches/salads, beer (tap and bottled), wine, dessert, dessert beer/wine, coffee and tea. If you're in the mood for something light yet fulfilling, and want to catch up with a friend or impress your date, this would be the perfect spot.
They also have outdoor seating for warmer days/nights.
TIPS:
+ Happy Hour is Monday-Friday 5-7 PM $6 glasses of wine // $5 draft beers
+ Sundays 4-11 PM they offer oysters and champagne
+ GET THE CHEESE PLATE -
Review from April B.
New York, NY
Updated - 5/1/2011 1 photo
If i had to describe this place with a song i would choose "Manhattan" -Kings of Leon.
Great wine, great time.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/10/2010
This place is small but perfect in so many ways. The menu is simple and easy to understand for those… Read more »
-
