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Arte Around the Corner
Rating Details »
Categories: Bakeries, Coffee & Tea, Italian, Wine Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Upper West Side274 Columbus Ave
New York, NY 10184
(212) 875-2195
- Nearest Transit:
-
72nd St (B, C)
72nd St (1, 2, 3)
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
29 reviews for Arte Around the Corner
I went in there wanting to just grab a cup of tea and do some reading, and ending up staying to have a meal. I had the Chef's salad, which is absolutely delicious. Fresh arugula, a good-sized piece of salmon cooked with dill, canned red peppers and artichoke.
The waitress there seemed a bit distracted and stressed, and I was about to write a horrible review on the waitstaff, but a waiter came in and he seemed much more friendly and attentive.
They play music and had an old Carey Grant movie on in the background.
Kind of pricey, but overall, a good experience.
Possibly the worst meal I have ever had in 34 years of living in NYC. Truly disgraceful--in fact I should have complained to the manager. I ordered the Fusilli alla Norcia (hot and sweet sausage), and it not only tasted like it came out of a Chef Boyardee can, but it had been clearly warmed in the microwave. Half of the sauce was still cold!! I have never been served refigerator-cold meat sauce, which, by the way, tasted like dog food (bad dog food), at a restaurant.
Stay away from this place, I most certainly will.
Super disappointing place. The space is nice, but the experience was sub-par. As I walked in with my girlfriend, we overheard the waitress telling another customer that on the weekends they only have on person for all of the tables both inside and out. I felt bad for her, as she was constantly running and forgetting things because she was overwhelmed.
The coffee was ok (iced coffee was served in a large wine glass which was a little weird), but the food was really bad. We shared a blueberry crumble cake (cake too dry and large) and a "pear" tart (had a layer of marzipan and tasted way too sweet and only like almonds). We also weren't happy with the bill, coffees were around $4 and the desserts were $8 each.
The blond waitress refused to serve me, an Asian. The cafe was not busy at the time (ca. 11am on a Saturday) and she served everyone else. I had to go up to the counter to order and retrieve my food and drink. When I got up to leave, however, she was very quick to clear my table (she had refused to pick up the dirty dishes, of course). I had to go up to the counter to ask for, and pay, my bill. She insisted on giving me my bill (rather than let the counter people deal with it) and made a point of being very slow to give me change. Needless to say, I gave her zero tip.
I was the only non-white person in the restaurant--aside from two other Asians, who were sitting with white people.
Disgraceful. That racist waitress should be fired.
This place is perfect for sipping on an iced coffee and people watching as you chat with a friend or read a book. i wouldn't recommend it for its lunch or dinner menu but much more as an upscale (fancy) starbucks. Great coffee, lots of snack foods, and nice little tables and huge overstuffed chairs to chill out on and enjoy. My favorite part is the floor to ceiling windows that give you a great view of Columbus to admire!
Maybe a place to just grab-and-go, definitely not a place to stay and linger. We waited almost half an hour before our server came over, and still she seemed clueless. While it's a cute little space inside with old antique sofas and chairs, it's much too crammed to be comfortable. Don't tell any secrets in here, everyone will hear.
I was just in the neighborhood looking for something to eat after work one day, and my friend suggested this place, saying it was pretty good. I ran into a colleague on the way in who told me it was great. So my expectations were pretty high.
The service was the worst I've had in this city. Fifteen minutes after we entered, one of the managers loudly told one of the servers to bring us water. Five minutes later, he brought us water. i asked for a coffee and the ravioli that the server recommended. He told me, actually, that he was eating a dish of the ravioli right then.
THE COFFEE WAS FANTASTIC. This was the only acceptable part of my visit. When he brought the coffee, he also told me that his plate of ravioli was the last one and that I couldn't have any. He was somewhat more polite than that, but it still sucked. I changed my order to the spaghetti con broccoli, which came out ugly and bland a while later. Then after we finished it took him forever, again, to clear the table and bring our check.
I would probably come back for coffee (delicious!) only. It was a nice little place with comfy seats and a friendly staff. It's just unfortunate that they're not any good at their jobs and that the food kind of sucks.
I like this place. I don't come here with great regularity, but it's a good place to go if you want a cup of tea and your friend or date wants a glass of wine. In the winter time, they have mulled wine for only $8 a glass and it's absolutely delicious. They also sort of share the kitchen with Arte Cafe, which is on 73rd. I've never had a full meal here, but it seems more of a place to sit and chat rather than to have dinner.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/6/2007
This is my new favorite wine bar on the UWS now. Arte Around the Corner is also now Arte Vino.… Read more »
I was looking for a place to have coffee or a glass of wine, reading, and sit for an hour or so, and had a pretty difficult time finding something in the neighborhood. Yelp and several official sites led me here, and it was satisfactory. The atmosphere was more "tea parlor" than "coffee shop" - I was looking for a bit more of the latter - but it wasn't overly stuffy. I think there was a senior citizen date going on next to me.
The server didn't really know the wine list, so couldn't answer my questions, but he did pour three tasting glasses for me before I made a decision... which I preferred over a description anyway. (Turns out he had only been working there a few weeks... and was 20.) I was pretty satisfied with the wine, and I was undisturbed for about an hour until I was joined by a friend.
The place was full but not crowded on a Sunday afternoon/evening. Didn't try any food, but I'll probably be back.
For the uws, to feel a bit quaint, sexy , fun and cool, this place is adorable. I love the food, and the staff, is great! Once I went I had to go in and rangle them....but its so small I didnt mind. Food great , ambiance great, its very cute chic, and cool. I do not like the arte around the corner that much , its just a bit ...um impersonal, as I say this is the capri to that places roma...really arte is no where near as cool as rome, but I love the one on columbus. you ll be happy if you go there. The staff though small I think needs to just stay on it a bit more! But I love this place. its cute...
Came for wine and lite dinner. Good wine. Pretty good food except they didn't give us a menu. We ordered off the chalkboard (cute touch), but was a bit disappointed when I found out there were a lot more options. Overall, good food and service. Not rushing to go back - I don't think they have a kitchen. But not discouraging anyone to go! It was very cute, I am just picky.
A few outdoor seats and tiny tables with a nice ambiance. They were out of two of our requests for wines by the glass, and then comped our second round to apologize - which I really appreciated and felt was pretty unexpected.
I didn't try the food, but everything around us looked great. Seems like everything is made around the corner and heated up on site.
All the wines were served at perfect temperature, and our waiter made some great recommendations. However, he and the woman working with him were completely inattentive. Had we ordered a bottle, it would have been fine but at the rate we were finishing our glasses (which, maybe this is the universe's way of telling me to slow my roll) it would often take ten minutes of an empty glass to flag someone down to bring us the menu again and then five more minutes after we decided on our order to get them back. Considering there are all of 10, maybe 15 tables in this place, it was pretty unacceptable.
All in all, the place is affordable and has window, outdoor and bar seating as well as quaint little tables for two.
Another disappointment in the search for a good cafe in the UWS. The food was pretty bad. This place has no kitchen, and my pasta was nuked to a hard ugh consistency. The mimosa i drank didn't taste like it had much alcohol in it, but it helped wash down the knobbly gnocchi. The seats against the wall in this tiny place look comfy, but they're not. I think the best bet is to head to the outdoor seats with only a drink for some evening people-watching.
This theoretically seems like a good place. Coffee drinks, baked goods, pastas, paninis and small plates to nosh on. Theoretically. Stopped in to grab a quick bite around 6:30 on a wednesday afternoon. There were maybe a total of 3-4 tables of patrons, most of whom seemed to be done with their meals. So, why why why?! did it take the waitress 10 minutes to acknowledge us and take our order? We ordered two coffees (adequate) and shared a plate of rigatoni bolognese. The pasta was barely lukewarm and tasted like chef boyardee beefaroni. Meh. But we were hungry and in a hurry so we just ate it. We had to wrangle the waitress down to get the check. And then after sitting there for 5 minutes, I just walked up and handed the bill and our money to her. I'm never going back there again.
Was looking for a light dinner. This place totally hit the spot. Somewhere between tapas and full entrees. Decent $9 per dish. The service was a bit slow but since me and the girls were looking to chill, this place was perfect. They didn't try to shoo us out and we hung out there for a good amount of time. Pulled chicken salad is the best salad dish.
Must have gone on the wrong day I suppose. The only good thing about this place was the bus boy.
Including the bus boy there were pehaps 4 people working this tiny bar and only the bus boy was doing any work. The two girls working the small space in front of the counter spent time polishing glass candlesticks and ignoring what really needed to be done. Then they proceeded to stand on the tables in front of customers to put lights in candles etc.. A quick dusting of the table with a dry cloth to remove whatever of NY was on their foot from the table before the next customer sits down! The whole experience felt like a fawlty towers sketch. I can only imagine the real owner had left it in incapable hands for the afternoon. And shit did they look miserable... Sorry, but you only get one chance in NY and I won't be putting myself through that punishment again.
was aiming for the muffin shop but it was just way too crowded with no seats available whatsoever
anyhow i head down to this little place and grab a cup of cafe au lait, and a recommended chocolate chunck biscuit.
it amounts to about 5 bucks.
i pick my little seat, and as i sat down i felt the springs in the cushion die.
very adequate response to its appearance.
i do what i gotta do and i eat and sip and read, as more people come in.
overally, the biscuit was good. the au lait was alright... and the prices were nice.
ambiance gets pluses and minuses depending on one's taste. service is alright, a.k.a acceptable.
will you see me in here again?
maybe?
Arte Around the Corner is a breath of fresh air. I live ... around the corner from this place, and it's become a go-to weekend morning location for me. There are plenty of places steps away to get your coffee and breakfast pastry, but AatC is by far my favorite, for several reasons.
1. The people who work there are lovely, the place is civilized even when crowded, and in general the customers behave like human beings, not crazed barking angry drones.
2. The coffee is good, and they have hazelnut coffee, which my girlfriend craves.
3. They use the high-quality cup lids, not the cruddy ones with sharp edges.
Their classic french pastries are also quite good and the polenta cookies are great - crumbly and not too sweet. But what keeps bringing me back is the small cafe experience, the tone of which is just right here.
Just to make sure... I'm rating the new Arte Vino. And it simply has bad service!!!! Pathetic! The food is meats and cheese. Can't go wrong there. The "organic" wine... whatever.
The only (and, seriously, the only thing) going for this place is the free WiFi. In fact, I'm Yelping this place while I'm sitting here. Since the wait staff seems like I don't exist. Even though I came in here two hours before closing, they were ready to leave and out of here since I came in.
Believe me, this is the second time, I've been here and I always give a place i think is bad and has potential a second chance. But they blew it for me this second and final time.
It's too bad since it's pretty close to home. But oh well, UWS is apparently the new "Wine Alley," so there are several options.
i up and left.
i might love that this is a romantic nook ... i might appreciate that ARTE is the name.... i might even adore establishments just for boasting pages of fine wine as the core of its menu...but i had to up and leave.
when i first discovered this charming neighborhood surprise one day walking down columbus, i was so delighted by it I decided to spend the following day off there as an introvert cafe writer. i woke up, i showered with rose petals, i carefully selected an outfit that best expressed the effortlessly beautiful dramaturg i decided I was that day.... was full of romance and artistic freedom....
i arrived, i ordered, i feverishly typed the next great american play.... but when i looked up for a moment to muse i realized the place was filled with tables of isingle women in their late 20's, mpeccably dressed, writing/reading the next great american yelp review... and secretly hoping for something (or someone) romantic to happen to them right here in this romantic nook ...
i put a $20 on the table and up and left. i only return with men.
Arte's chocolate chip cookie and sage and honey loaf were really good - but unfortunately that was before I tried Levain's chocolate chip cookie.
Big, flat cookie...not too sweet with mini chocolate chips. The sage & honey loaf was a little coarse and crumbly but I felt the rich honey crystals on my tongue and it was super moist and chewy.
The girl behind the counter seemed a little blase so when I paid, she only charged me $3 for the loaf. Two for one?? SCORE! I'm comin' back anytime, baby.
I use to go to here before they renovated and started serving "organic wines and small plates." Before the face lift and personality overhaul, it was primarily a place for coffee and baked goods, pastries etc. I wasn't a huge fan of their croissants and other goods (I am spoiled with Soutine on my corner and Claude's for the special occasions) but it was nice to have a shop in the area to stop into on my way to run errands.
Well, I went the other night after dinner for coffee and dessert. I was intrigued by their new seating and atmosphere and when I stepped in, I really liked the cozy, dark, candle lit room. Things were going well. My husband and I opted to sit on the bar stools over by the window and was ignored by the two waitresses. I even went over to the waitress/hostess/barista, who was dressed for a hipster party in Brooklyn, only be further ignored. When I did get her attention (she was on her cell phone), I ordered my two coffees and cranberry loaf. The coffees were lukewarm to room temp at best and the loaf was rock hard around the edges. Not hard from baking, but hard from sitting out too long. No one came around and asked if we wanted anything more. At least the bill came to about 6 bucks.
I didn't try the food off the small plates menu, but a lot of the stuff looked like it was behind the counter and was being heated up via microwave (I'm not totally sure though, so don't ding them for this and I have to say I heard the cheese and meats are quite nice). However, given the service, I am not likely to go again. Unless I want iced coffee that is.
RE "cool seating": there are two benches outside!
Very small, but you can stay forever on one coffee or tea. We have language lessons here, though it can get noisy, with the espresso grinder and the many voices. Sort of tight, too, between tables, which are tiny.
Nice sandwiches and salads and pastry.
I really want to like this place.. I've tried FOUR times! The cool points are that it's small,with a cozy feel in the winter and nice outdoor seating for summer. The menu looks appetizing and while not gourmet, I did have a dessert there once and it was tasty. The problem is in the way they do business.. the service is just dismal. I'm not even talking about the service in how long it takes to for what you order - I mean right from when you walk in, they seem to work hard at getting you to feel like they would just rather you NOT be there. No help in understanding how best to order - for god's sake do you or do you not want me to sit before I order or just order here. TELL ME! And then you order and basically under their breathe they debate if they actually have that item and with no interest in your experience whatsoever mumble 'don't have it' and move on to something else. Yes, they just walk away. Whatever happened to asking - "would you like something else instead?" or "You know what else we have that's good... " Or really a smile would even be occasionally nice to see. I'd understand an off day but I can't imagine it's been an off day on each of my 4 visits..
Such as bummer as it really did have great potential to be a terrific neighborhood spot.
I'm staying in an unfamiliar area of Manhattan (Upper West Side), and I'm looking for a coffee shop. I see a Starbucks, and while I like Starbucks, being from Seattle I want something different, something local. I come upon Arte Around The Corner - its got some cool seating outside, and while small on the inside, the place looks comfortable. The espresso is great, and I tried a whole wheat blueberry/peach muffin which was very good as well. The baked goods look homemade, instead of the look-alike pastries at other shops. Definitely a great local coffee place.
It's not ideal. The tables are too small and the service is questionable. But, the coffee is decent. A small, intimate space that looks onto a bright, bustling Columbus Ave so you'll have plenty of opportunity to people watch. Cozy atmosphere. Not a great place to bring a laptop, but a fine place to chat with a friend. I'd stick with drinks: the food looks just OK.
I can't believe no one's posted about this place, so I'll be the first. Arte Around the Corner is a little cafe that is connected in ownership (I think) by Arte Cafe on 73rd (west of Columbus). It is a tiny, cozy place with 2 little tables, but I think of it mostly as a takeout place. The espresso here is fantastic and authentic. And every baked good I've tried there has been awesome. I especially love the lowfat strawberry muffins and the lemon polenta cookies--try them!!! There are lots of things I haven't tried there, like the scones and cakes that look delicious (I'm usually trying to be "good"). If you're ever in this neighborhood, no need to go to Starbucks or Columbus Grill across the street--and I definitely prefer it to Alice's Teacup around the corner!
This midwesterner stumbled upon this tiny yet wonderful wine bar when I was in NYC last week. Great organic wines - try the pinot noir, definitely the 6 ounce size. The imported Italian cheeses and accompanying breads are excellent. Also loved the espresso. Charming atmosphere, friendly and efficient staff...I visited this place three times in three days.
i love this place. i am a grad student and i love doing my work in coffeshops because i can never work in my apartment. the problem with arte around the corner is that it's tiny and it can get pretty busy in the afternoons and on the weekends. if you can get a good spot (my favorite is the table by the window on the right), you're golden. the coffee is great and the environment is nice. i have never had any issues with the staff there and i like the food too! it's a great place to meet up with a friend to catch up and a nice place to read during the off-hours. i like doing work with some background noise--this place doesn't get that loud but it's certainly not a quiet place most of the time. anyway i would certainly recommend it! i hate that starbucks has taken over all the coffeeshops on the uws. this is a nice alternative.
