The Tasting Room

Address: 72 E 1st St
Zipcode: 10003
Phone Number: 212.358.7831
Website: http://www.thetastingroomnyc.com

Proof that smaller is better, this groovy, pint-sized wine bar-cum-restaurant, helmed by young chef Colin Alevras, pours splendid American wines – and serves up seasonal cuisine to match. The menu is divided by “taste” (smaller plates) and “share” (main courses that will easily fill up two hungry diners) offering ample opportunity to sample all that Alevras and his skilled crew has to offer. Try the rabbit terrine with roasted brussel sprouts salad or a platter featuring three game birds – pheasant, guinea hen, and squab. It’s the all-American wine list, featuring over 300 excellent choices, that has firmly placed the tiny Tasting Room on the Manhattan map. Plan on enjoying at least a bottle or two; the chatty, knowledgeable servers can recommend pairings. For some, this closet-sized eatery will feel too cramped, but for many New Yorkers, it’ll feel just like home.