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Winegasm
Categories: Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Restaurants French Restaurants Mediterranean Wine Bars, French, Mediterranean [Edit]
31-86 37th StAstoria, NY 11103
Neighborhood: Astoria
(718) 932-3331
- Nearest Transit:
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Steinway St (E, M, R)
Broadway (N, Q)
46 St (E, M, R)
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sun 5:30 pm - 1 am
Thu 5:30 pm - 2 am
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 3 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
93 reviews for Winegasm
Review Highlights
"the mac & cheese hands down is delicious."
(in 16 reviews)
"The bacon wrapped prunes are a must."
(in 4 reviews)
"Good vibes (and good live music that night too."
(in 6 reviews)
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93 reviews in English
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Review from Stephanie T.
Brooklyn, NY
2/1/2012
First off, I love the name of this place, 'Winegasm'. That's probably what attracted me to this place in the first place, but I digress...
I came here after dinner to celebrate a friends birthday. Its a really nice place, very cozy. The owner of the wine bar, served us - very polite, very attentive. (i love good customer service).
They have great selections of wine, and although I didn't eat any "real food" here, I did have a chocolate dessert that was really tasty!
Overall, its a chill place. I'd recommend it to others! -
Review from Jonathan L.
Manhattan, NY
12/13/2011
Came here for a date on a Sunday night (who does that?), and it's a pretty cozy little wine bar. It's not exactly the west village as far as atmosphere goes, but then again you can't get a great glass of tempranillo for $7 in the west village, either.
The bartender (Allie) was great and let me sample some rose wines when I told her I had never actually had one before. The few red wines I had were good, and the chickpea fries were pretty solid. Would come here again. -
Review from mackenzie f.
New York, NY
12/5/2011
I had been avoiding this place due to its gag- name, but last weekend a met a girlfriend here for drinks.
i loved the vibe and atmosphere; they had an extremely well-priced selection of wines. but there was only one bartender working and it got pretty busy.
also - the food was not very good! we shared 2 dips - an olive and red pepper hummus - and both were totally meh. it also came with toasted slices of a baguette which were like, way crispy and kind of off. we weren't satisfied so we ordered a panini to split and it too was very unremarkable. it was like the proportion of filling to bread was off.
i'll definitely go back for drinks, but next time skip the food! -
Review from Christina Q.
LONG ISLAND CITY, NY
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Nice atmosphere, good service, nice selection of wine.
Good for a date. -
Review from Adalberto M.
Miami, FL
11/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love this place. Perfect size for an evening out with some friends for drinks and conversation. The service is really attentive just enough not to hound you every 5 minutes.
We had one of their "plates of 3" specials.
- Taleggio (it's a soft cheese similar to brie)
- Prosciutto
-Bresola (dark sliced ham, similar to salami but hard)
Bottle of wine of choice was Tannat Reserva from Uruguay. Can't ever go wrong with South American wine!
If I lived in NYC I would definitely visit this place more often. -
Review from Tiffany H.
Astoria, NY
Love this bar. It's around the corner from my apartment. It's a local hang where you can chat with your friends and the bartenders at the bar. The service is attentive and fast but they also give you space if you are having a conversation.
The occasionally have live music but I have no idea the schedule of it.
Great selection of wines and a few well made cocktails. The chickpea fries are delicious. The mac and cheese is really good but I love their mushroom panini with truffle oil. Yum!
Grab a flight of wines and a sandwich and kick back to the live music.Listed in: Bars
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/13/2011
love my wine and the people who work there are so nice. good selection of wine and the bartenders… Read more »
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Review from Daisy P.
Manhattan, NY
10/3/2011
I've been to this place twice and both times it's been completely dead. I've only come during the week but still surprises me because the food is great.
The first time the service was really slow and there were only 2 couples in the restaurant. The food made up for it however, loved the mac n cheese, bacon wrapped dates and last week when I went again on a Thursday night (still dead) I had the goat cheese peppers which were delicious. Great wine list if you order by the bottle but limited choices if you order by the glass.
Wish this place was more crowded. Maybe I just need to show up on a weekend. -
Review from Richard W.
Astoria, Queens, NY
This place has the feel of a remote Mediterranean villa. Something you'd experience if you were touring the countryside in Italy or Spain. There are dark wood beams, granite countertops, and terra cotta-style tiling on the floors that give the place a very relaxed feel. The color scheme of the place really makes you feel at home. For me, the decor of this place is a huge selling point, which is funny because typically I could care less.
Oh yeah, and as you'd expect, they have a bevy of different wine choices many of which are very tasty without being overly expensive. The port wine I enjoyed was sweet and rich without being too heavy. One of the owners sort of took me in and gave me some suggestions about wines to order and I had a really good time.
I'll definitely be heading back to enjoy the wine, the live music, and the conversation. If you haven't already, you should definitely check this place out. -
Review from A H.
Queens, NY
11/18/2011
Food is uneventfull in this place, I had to return my scallops they were tottaly undercooked. I would go back for drinks, but not for food.
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Review from Peter K.
5/3/2011
I think I went to their first brunch over the weekend because they wanted to try it out. They succeeded I think. I already had breakfast so I went for the steak, potatoes, and asparagus. Pretty damn good. Steak cooked perfectly. The potato had a ton of flavor and the asparagus was good too.
For an additional $7 you can do all you can drink Mimosa, bloody mary, or their signature cocktail which was really really good. It was a gin martini mixed with OJ. Who would have thought? A mellowed vesper?
Service was good. It was open air for outdoor seating. Could have given a little more food. -
Review from Mike D.
6/25/2011
Major disappointment. Came for the first time over a year ago and enjoyed it, but remember the service was a bit shoddy. Food was good on that visit, but always forgot to go back. It's sort of hidden off the corner of Broadway and 37th street. Last night, finally made it back meeting up with some friends.
Food was below average, but the worst part was the service. I ordered the bacon wrapped prunes ($5) to start and mac and cheese with bacon which I ordered last time and remember it being delicious. I requested they did not bring out the mac and cheese at the same time as the prunes. What do you think happened? Of course they were brought out together. Bacon on the prunes were charred and left a funny taste in my mouth. Mac and cheese ($10) had no bacon and was dried out. I made sure the waiter didn't charge me the extra $2 for the bacon, he obliged. Tried other stuff and wasn't impressed. Olive tapenade which is hard to mess up was disgusting. They ran out of the bean hummus which was ordered by our table. Even my red and then white sangria's ($7) were weak. Didn't even get a buzz.
It's a cool name and you want to love it because it's a pretty place, but I'd much rather spend my money somewhere else. I sat for over a half hour with an empty glass and we finally decided to go elsewhere. Even paying the check took forever and it wasn't even that busy. Might be ok for wine and cheese and that's about it. Food and service is sub par. After leaving I wish I had forgotton Winegasm a bit longer. What a shame. -
Review from Megan C.
5/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really loved the look of the place and God knows I love the name. I've been meaning to stop in here for two years now. I really enjoyed some aspects, not so much others.
The sangria was surprisingly delicous. I'm not usually nuts about it, but I was craving something cool and refreshing and I was impressed with the flavor. My roommate ordered the truffle mac and cheese and it was truly tasty - creamy and decadent and packed with flavor. I ordered the seared chicken breast with pancetta and capers in a lemon sauce and potatoes and it was meh. The potatoes were really good and the flavor was good, but the chicken was overcooked. It was obvious that the meal would have been fabulous if they'd stopped cooking it two or three minutes sooner than they did, but alas.
I definitely wouldn't write them off for it and plan on returning for some wine and a cheese plate soon.Listed in: Astoria Magic, Hot Date Night
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Review from Lisa L.
Queens, NY
11/9/2011
Good selection of wine if ordering by the bottle, not so much by the glass. The cheese plate is great as well as the chickpea fries.
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Review from Constantine K.
ASTORIA, NY
11/26/2011
bad ass little wine bar...food is wine friendlt and TASTY!!! The chef has a couple of awesome specials for the day...we had the paella which was slammin. Also some great deals on wine by the glass throughout the week. Tucked in off a pretty busy block but definitely in the middle of where it is all happening. Will be there next week again!
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Review from Jackie F.
Astoria, Queens, NY
10/6/2011
One place I keep going back to when I'm in mood for wine and cheese or sangria. They have live music I hear is good but never seem to be there at right time.
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Review from Raquel M.
Astoria, NY
Updated - 6/25/2011 32 photos
Wow! Again celebrating @ Winegasm.
Last nite I had a farewell gathering for my good friend Menie. We had a prefix menu that was out of this world. You must see my pictures. The staff @ Winegasm was graceful and truly accommodating to all their guests. Wine, Sangria, appetizers, main course what more can you ask for. lol..I want to thank Daniel and staff for a memorable and fun evening. All was savory, fun, relaxed most of all comfortable. You cannot beat the price.
I know that my friends and I are always welcome @ Winegasm. Great job guys :)
Me n' my gang from work will be here again on Tuesday June 28 6PM . our last day of school and we are going to do it all over again! lol1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/10/2010
My friends and I love to go to Winegasm. It's name is what made us stop dead in our tracks and… Read more »
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Review from Sherley k.
Glen Oaks, NY
7/16/2011
Such a great wine bar. the openness and rustic decor makes for a lovely, relaxing hangout. Food was very good. Staff is VERY friendly and accommodating. He let me try out 3 different wines to figure out which I liked best. Will def go back.
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Review from Elle P.
9/12/2010
Beautiful warm interior with lots of dark wood, candles on every table casting a welcoming glow, and a little patio where you can sit outside and enjoy the remaining days of summer.
The inviting atmosphere was a good choice to have dinner with a dear old friend whom I hadn't seen in a couple of years. With a carafe of sangria, we ate and drank our fill as we got caught up with each other's lives.
We decided to order four different little appetizers/side dishes and a main course to split so that we would try an assortment of various items. For appetizers/side dishes, we had the wild mushroom crostini, the ever famous bacon-wrapped dates, sauteed spinach, and some kind of dip. So everything was tasty and nice, but not out of this world spectacular. I think this was the moment when I realized that I was becoming a spoiled New Yorker, whereas a shortly as a year ago, I would have been really enthusiastic about the food here. Now, I'm a bit jaded and saying, yes, it's not bad, but it's not anything that I haven't tasted before.
Out of the four, I liked the wild mushroom crostini the best. Mmm. . . umami. . . a rich savory flavor that was nicely supported by the cripsy cracker that served as the bread part of the crostini. The famous bacon-wrapped dates, well, it's in bacon, how can it NOT taste good, but I can't say that it was any different from other bacon-wrapped dates that I've had. The dip was some kind of variation of hummus and was a good filler to have as we waited for our various plates to come out.
For the main dish to share, we ordered the seared scallops with polenta. Okay, honestly, this was the worst scallops (except maybe for the fake scallops that I had at the worst sushi restaurant in the world) that I've ever had. The texture and taste were completely wrong. I don't know if overcooked scallops change texture so dramatically that they're very dense, firm, chewy and strange tasting, or if Winegasm didn't actually give us scallops and tried to pass off some kind of fish/skate as scallops. The polenta was very good, however, when I'm paying money for seafood, I care less about the other stuff on the plate and more about the seafood.
I was really glad that we had ordered a bunch of stuff and that we shared because if I had to base my rating on the main dish alone, I would have given this place 2*s. The quality of the appetizers and cozy, intimate atmosphere were strong enough to pull this place up to three stars.
In my opinion, I think Winegasm is a perfectly nice place for a date to have a glass of wine or two and order a couple appetizers in order to have a bite to eat. The place, at least on a weekday night, is quiet, intimate, and romantic and good setting to have a conversation. I'm glad Winegasm is here in Astoria and definitely serves a purpose, but I'm a bit reluctant to recommend this place for dinner just because the scallops were such an atrocity and should be unforgivable considering the quality of restaurant that Winegasm aspires to be.
So while the food here did not give me the "Big O," it's a pretty good start for a little foreplay. -
Review from Peter H.
8/11/2011
poor air conditioning on a hot humid night pretty much kills the vibe. came here with friends and my friend ordered an aged reisling which turned out to be pretty bad. My drinks were average, nothing great. I can see this place having good atmosphere but wish the wine was better. Sangria was also average here.
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Review from Nydia C.
8/16/2010
Went here ages ago on a date and liked the place despite the ridiculously cheesy name. Winegasm? Really? You couldn't come up with something classier than that? The name really doesn't match the atmosphere. It's a nicer wine bar with good wine and delicious appetizers. Definitely not the kind of place I expect to find in Queens. Needless to say I am not a fan of Queens but if you find yourself in this area and want to feel like you're somewhere nicer, check this place out. ;)
P.S. The bacon wrapped prunes are a must! -
Review from Mark M.
12/25/2010 1 Check-in Here
Shame on me - an Astorian for three and a half years and this was my first time here. This is the kind of place you'd expect to find in the West Village or perhaps Upper West.
- Happy hour is pretty decent -- all of their premium cocktails are $5. No wine on the happy hour menu, however.
- For a wine bar, the by-the-glass selection is a bit dismal....and a lot of the bottles many would recognize (not that this is a bad thing, but at a wine bar I'd like to see labels that aren't available at any given wine store)
- Menu is nice, balanced, something for everyone and every level of hunger.
- Like so many reviews above and below - the mac and cheese is divine and needs to be in your order, regardless of how hungry you are -- and yes, get the bacon
- Service is good, ambiance is nice (especially in the winter), and it's convenient to all areas of Astoria -
Review from Justin S.
Astoria, NY
6/11/2011
Cute spot. Had been meaning to try it for some time and finally did on a so-so date. Cute, good selection. It was a little cramped & noisy in there since they had a large bday party for some fabulous gay guy and the room was stuffed with queens (in Queens.) But i will def go back on a more quiet night. Good vibes (and good live music that night too!)
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Review from Nellina D.
Long Island City, NY
1/13/2011
Winegasm..doesnt really give you "winegasms", but this is definitely my go to place in Astoria for a cozy quiet atmosphere (candlelight and dark golden lights).
The wine list is short but it doesn't disappoint. The selections are pretty good. I've tried several appetizers and courses and they were all pretty tasty. I really liked the risotto and chicken panini. They had a seasonal house made pumpkin pie that was really just amazing.
Ive always been very well taken care of by the waitstaff there and on occasion have even been given a glass of wine on the house.
I will most definitely be returning here quite often, for "winequivers".. ;D -
Review from Jubi R.
Brooklyn, NY
6/9/2011
The name of this place is unfortunate but the wine selection, food, service, and ambiance makes it worth a visit if you are in the area. It's as though it was plucked out of some trendy spot in Manhattan (say Bar Jamon in Gramercy) and inserted into Astoria, Queens sans the over-packed seating, wait, and high priced menu.
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Review from Kristy M.
Astoria, NY
5/28/2010
The best mac and cheese that we've ever had hands down! Must be the delicious truffle oil drizzled on top. :)
Wine selection is awesome, tried a few cocktails but weren't favorites. Try a flight of 3 to see which wine tickles your fancy.
Appetizers are pretty good too! A few recommendations:
Meat/cheese platter, haricot vert, sauteed spinach and prunes wrapped with bacon.
So good, take our word for it.Listed in: Why I LOVE Astoria!
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Review from George D.
ASTORIA, NY
7/6/2011
In my move from Clinton Hill to Astoria, I was concerned about leaving behind the bevy of great spots that I had scouted and frequented in my half decade there. Winegasm has eased some of my fears. The staff is very attentive and friendly. They remember me only after going there about four times in the year I've been here. The atmosphere is super relaxing. I like that it's off the Broadway strip. That keeps the noise population down. If you're looking for an oasis with good food, this place is a safe bet.
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Review from Candice K.
Astoria, NY
4/22/2011
After reading the great reviews, I decided to stop in and try this place. Maybe it was just an off night, but honestly, I'm not feeling a huge desire to go back there. For one thing, the music was WAY, WAY TOO LOUD for a place of that size. When I'm going to a wine bar, I don't expect to have to shout to talk to the person next to me. They did have a decent wine selection, though, and when I first walked in, the bartender immediately made suggestions and I was served promptly. However, after that, that was all I heard from the bartender. I wasn't once asked if I wanted food, or another drink, or anything at all, and I actually had trouble flagging down someone to give me my check (which was weird, considering that there were three people behind the bar, and the place isn't that big). This probably wouldn't have been quite as annoying if there wasn't a guy sitting next to me who wouldn't leave me alone, despite me being very blunt with him. All in all, not a very good experience.
I might be willing to try again if it's true that it's normally more quiet. The menu items looked interesting (and in fact, reminded me of the menu from one of my favorite places in Cleveland, OH), and I'd be willing to try them if someone would just be willing to take my order. The decor and ambiance of this place leads me to believe that maybe it was just a fluke that I had a bad experience (hence 3 stars instead of 2); however, I'm still not sure whether I'm willing to part with my money again to find out. Maybe. -
Review from Chris and Laura S.
Astoria, Queens, NY
10/22/2011
This place is way more than just a wine bar. Excellent martinis, cocktails, and a friendly staff. Also, the good was great. We had the pork chops and the burger and both were top notch. Prices are fair for the quality that you get. There is a happy hour with buy one get one free martinis and cocktails. I highly recommend it!
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Review from karen c.
Boston, MA
7/15/2008
Winegasm, it's you, not me. I wanted to fall in love with you. I was looking for love in all the right places-you boast a fine wine selection, you are attractive, and popular amongst my fellow Astorian.
You were hot. Really hot. My Prosecco was salty because I couldn't stop sweating in it, HOT. I should not be sweating while sitting still in an establishment. -1 star for temperature
You were slow. Really slow. If this was a date, you would have stayed somewhere between first and second base for well over a year. There were only two people working at the time (if you don't count the kitchen folk)-one bartender who was furiously making specialty cocktails, which takes time. I appreciate your zeal for cocktail creation. However, I only ordered a Prosecco, which involves 2 steps:
Step one: Open bottle
Step two: Pour
15 minutes to pour my beverage? Meh. Minus one star.
I want to love this place, because it is charming and a breath of fresh air in the Astoria neighborhood. If i have to walk by one more mediocre Greek restaurant, I might have to cut a bitch. The panini we had were delicious and a generous portion. Yum. The prices are extremely reasonable and we will definitely be back.
Promise to be better next time so I can give you more stars? Kthanxbye. -
Review from Adam S.
Brooklyn, NY
4/2/2008
Astoria has been waiting for a place like this. What a perfect neighborhood wine bar - lots of great wines, good food, knowledgeable staff, cozy atmosphere, and no pretension.
Passion is the first word that comes to mind when I think of the people behind Winegasm. Everybody that I spoke with seemed to really be gung-ho about everything to do with the wine bar, and with food and wine in general. The grand opening is on 4/12, but they had a soft opening last week, and I was able to come in and try a bunch of their stuff, and speak with a lot of the owners and staff. The staff is kind of a mixed bag - Croatian, French, Serbian, American, etc. - and they look to this wine bar to appeal to every type of Astorian and New Yorker, while not being specific to one ethnicity.
The place is really beautiful - exposed brick, copper cookware on display, a sunroof, and even a trellis. They said they should have outdoor seating soon, as well.
The menu offers a bunch of different small plates, panninis, salads, and meats and cheeses. I got to try the white bean and lemon flatbread. The portion size was very small, but so was the $3 price tag. It was more like a crisp fried tortilla than a focaccia, or the like. It was nice, with lots of bright, crisp flavors. The very informative sommelier recommended a wine pairing for me, which went very well. They also brought me the "gasm dip." This was really delicious and very unique. It was a puree of beans, carrots, and spices with house-made melba crisps. The saltiness of the crisps went really well with the sweetness and spiciness of the dip. I finished things up with a glass of the Alcyone, which is a Uruguayan dessert wine. It was fantastic. Very full-flavored, with a strong vanilla flavor, with hints of coffee and chocolate.
I am very excited to find a place like this in Astoria. It has a real Manhattan feel to it, and yet feels very neighborhoody at the same time. I'm glad I live right down the street. I'll be coming back often. -
Review from Sarah T.
San Francisco, CA
10/8/2008
I don't know the other yelpers for this wine bar are so grumpy about. Aside from the god awful name, this is my new favorite place to go and grab a drink. As far as I know, there is very little like this in my neighborhood and I was delighted to find it. The interior is beautiful, there is a fairly good wine list and lots of tastey little morsels. I had the salad and a few of the appetizers. While they weren't large portions, I don't think that's what you should expect of a wine bar.
If this place were in Manhattan, the drinks would be $3 or $4 more and the food would be the same. This is a great deal and you can usually find somewhere to sit as a walk in. -
Review from Marc A.
NY
11/18/2008
I always enjoy an establishment that tries its hardest to not relate to its name at all.
I've noticed Winegasm for quite awhile but never took a step into it. Why? The name. Winegasm is the type of name that people makeup when they are cornered on the internet and asked to name a new restaurant. It is a name that sounds better in the head than spoken out loud. It brings up images of shag carpeting, fireplaces, women wearing ill fitted tube tops and men with unkempt mustaches and way too much product in their hair. Winegasm isn't the name for a restaurant - it's a name for a location in the Onion.
But Winegasm does its best in trying to be something above its name. The wine list is expansive, the decor is exposed brick, dark woods, high chairs and low seats. The lighting strikes one as natural and probably purchased at ikea. The atmosphere screams european pretension and trying too hard. The hardwood chairs and tables are trying to convey and image of an alps ski lodge but fails because the high table in the center of the dining area is too high - it creates a scene were some diners are towering over others. It also makes the space cramped while leaving the bar area nice and open. Everyone should be raised or no one should be - the multi-tiered levels ends up being a distraction for diners and harms, rather than helps, creating the kind of conversations and vibes that a place like Winegasm needs to survive.
The Brunch menu (which is why I was there) is well priced if you don't drink. Some of the entrees come with 3 mimosas for 15.95. Without the drinks, they're 8/9/10 dollars for a smattering of food. If you love to drink but hate to eat, this is what you want to indulge in. If you like to eat, your choices are even more limited. The french toast is delicious but could have used some home fries. The sandwiches look better than they taste and the fact that the restaurant serves chorizo (as a separate side) seems so oddly placed that it makes me think that Winegasm hasn't figured out the concept of Brunch yet. If you want us to just drink, don't offer a mimosa deal - just make more food and charge for full drinks.
The drink list is filled with your usual attempts at high-end drinks with medium quality spirits and liquors. 9 dollars for a cocktail isn't a horrible price but when the name of the drink is more than 4 words and the drink description is longer than a few sentences, it makes me think that the ambition of the drink was far greater than alcohol used to make it. And, again, there was no separate brunch cocktail menu which seems silly to me for a place that prides itself on being an alcoholic establishment.
Service, surprisingly, was very spotty. There were five of us and the food took forever to arrive. We must have arrive right when the staff changed or something because people who arrived after us had no problems receiving their food. It took forever for me to receive my diet coke (it should not take 30 minutes for me to order it before I was told that the place ran out) though I did receive one about an hour after I ordered (they went to the local store to buy some). I will say that my water glass was kept full during my entire brunch experience (which is always nice) but the lack of a bread or "freebie" while waiting for our food was a minus.
Overall, Winegasm reminds me of way too many other places in Astoria that are trying to be like some up and coming east village restaurant without actually having to create the product necessary to thrive in the east village. Astoria is becoming dominated by people fleeing the high prices of Manhattan but that doesn't mean we should have our restaurants dumbed down to our bare minimalist expectations. -
Review from Cat S.
Astoria, NY
9/21/2009
Am I the only one that thinks their name suites the dining experience at this joint? Because to me, the food was delighfully orgasmic.
My boyfriend and I have a love for exposed brick walls, big wooden beams, iron gates and wine & cheese. After a long hard week at work and not having the opportunity to have weekends off all the time, we came here for Sunday brunch. We don't care so much for the brunch special for $15.95 which includes 3 mimosas because we would much rather sip wine than some bubbly. Their prices were steep ...$70 BRUNCH tab but you know what it was worth it !
Roasted peppers with warm goat cheese and crositinis - AMAZING !!!
Wild mushroom truffles w/ cheese on bread - Needed salt but it was good for the most part.
Marinated Skirt Steak w/ poached eggs and potatoes - TASTY and def. hits a spot.
Filet Mignon Panini w/ wine dipped onions - Delicious.
White Sangria - Mmmmm.
Cab and Bordeux - According to my bf, was good with a "bite to it"
Sunday brunch on a gorgeous day w/ good food, wine and my other half across from me. Ahh, I live for days like this.... -
Review from Mike S.
New York, NY
11/18/2008
I didn't enjoy much about my meal here. We did have some good wines, but I can buy a good wine at a liquor store and not have to put up with the other things I didn't enjoy.
It is kind of loud. This is a place you go to enjoy the company of your date. Not to scream over the background noise.
Food was OK at best. Had the skirt steak and it was fine.. but nothing fantastic. Tremendously over-priced for what you got. And guess what.. this is Astoria, and like Clipse said, "We get it for cheap"
Also, when an order gets screwed up, I'm very forgiving.. I never complain, but just say "sorry". The word means so much to me. It's all I ask wait-staff of the world. It shows to me that you care. -
Review from Lauren B.
Astoria, NY
2/21/2010
Great spot for a first date! It's a great setting, interesting food that will tell you about a person depending on what they choose, and there's some reasonably priced wine on the list to choose from too!
The olives are wonderful, the shrimp dish I got was super unique to any flavor combination I've tried, and the cheese plate had a very funky combination of cheese, fun bread, and pieces of fruit and nut that we decided was meant to all be eaten together in a mound - DELICIOUS!
The staff was a tiny bit pushy with wanting to take plates off of the table (I know it's crazy, but I want to try the cheese scraps from the cheese plate with my divine spicy shrimp in the flavorful sauces you've put in front of me! Please don't swipe away everything the second it looks like I'm done!). But overall my friend and I had a laugh over this, and I wouldn't say it affected my experience negatively! If anything I've found this typical of wine bars in general.
I'd recommend this place highly, especially on a weeknight. Probably best for one-on-one ventures than groups, but it makes for an impressive place to take a lover! -
Review from Tim L.
8/15/2009
I know a lot of the other reviewers have had an issue with their name, I'm really not sure why. Sure the name could have been better but seriously, is the name going to affect your experience there so much?
If it is then this is most definitely not the place for you.
Winegasm is probably one of the most laid back enjoyable evening experiences you can have in Astoria. Especially if you're sick of the beer gardens or all the lounge / pseudo clubs that pump up the volume on that crazy Euro techno. This is probably also not an appropriate place for you if you like the crowds of guidos and other random orange skinned bimbos (seriously can someone explain where they come from? Astorians in general don't consist of this demographic, just the night life.)
The laid back atmosphere is created with intimate mood lighting, rich wood tones and great mix of music that's just perfect for the ambiance. As such this makes it a great place for those out on a date (there's a nook to your left as you enter if you foresee some evening canoodling) as well as for friends just looking at hanging back and having some great conversation infused with great tasting wine.
I'm not sure how good this place is to wine connoisseurs since I'm definitely not one myself. I am however someone that having tasted a wine I enjoy will try to learn as much about it as possible. For someone like me, they've never disappointed with their recommendations and are great at explaining what to expect.
The staff are all very friendly. Jenny in particular who I seem to bump into the most, will add some witty banter to your conversation whether you're with company or not and the staff if business is slow will make great conversation.
With this combination it really seems like you're going to a place run by a bunch of friends. The food is surprisingly delicious and especially that decadent molten chocolate cake. -
Review from Charm N.
Los Angeles, CA
12/13/2008
The name alone entices curiosity -- I wanted to find the Sex & the City fanatic who brought up the 90s a little too soon. Maybe he had back issues of AdAge?! I don't know.
Apart from that tragedy I found the dimly-lit, dark stained wood space (a la P-Barn) more current; a nice change in quaint Astoria. The food was freshly prepared in the open kitchen and the drinks made special during the happiest hour (two-for-one). It was the perfect setting in the warm early evening and the service was friendly. -
Review from Chap James D.
Astoria, NY
10/18/2009
I have to agree that the name is a bit much. The food was good, but i love a place that has tapas style food. The wine list was extensive.
The best time to go IMHO is for the brunch. It is a good introduction to the place, the wine, the food, and affordable at $16...including Mimosas which seemed to keep refilling.
I also have used Winegasm for a group event, and was very pleased, finding the staff highly attentive.
For dinner, this is a pricey stop in Astoria...and some of the food is worth it....some.Listed in: Brunch Spots, Best Happy Hour
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Review from Gina K.
2/28/2010
Winegasm.... I think not!
Worst service I've had in a long time by an unpleasant waitress with some sort of British accent. The three of us came in for wine and dessert. She couldn't keep our wines straight and she forgot to put in for our Creme Brulee. 20/30 min later we ask about our dessert and she says oh it's busy tonight these things take time. They have an exposed kitchen and we saw her go right to the line cooks. We only assumed that she had asked them to make them ASAP.
It comes to our table five minutes later with a hardly a sugar crust on top and tepid on top and ice cold on the bottom! They just took it out of the fridge and didn't even do a good job of burning the sugar! Worse than that I don't appreciate being lied to. If it was forgotten, just say it was forgotten. It's ok to be human.
It was the worst experience I had in a long time made possible by bad service and horrible dessert. (Which they did take off the bill.) -
Review from Kurt A.
Long Island City, NY
2/14/2009
Terrible name, great food.
We've eaten here twice, and we've been very happy both times. The first time was with a group of four, and we all fondly remember the bacon-wrapped prunes. The second time we went as a couple for Valentine's Day. The prix fixe menu was very good, though it left us a tiny bit hungry.
Worth a visit.
