Thursday, May 10, 2012

☞ DRINK: Vinateria Arriving at 2211 FDB

We received news about the arrival of Vinateria back in November but the appointed location on FDB turns out to be a little further north.  The corner storefront at 2211 FDB had plans originally for a cupcake shop but that business ran into financial difficulties and never opened: LINK.  Based on a Bespoke reader's tip, it has now been revealed that the Facebook site for Vinateria is up and that the commercial space by the corner of West 119th will be the new location of what possibly could be a wine bar: LINK.  Does anyone else have additional information for this new eatery?

9 comments:

  1. Good news! Glad to see some nightlife options coming farther up FDB. Hopefully this won't feel like a JetBlue airport bar like Nectar did!

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  2. Maybe I'm just grumpy because the dog just ate a wing chair but it seems to me that we need another wine bar like we need a cup cake store.

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    1. I agree. I'll root for any new business in the neighborhood but it feels like they're simply not listening to the market. Two wine bars in the immediate vicinity (Nectar and the one on Lenox) have closed in just the past few months, so what's to say a new one won't run into the same lack of enthusiasm from the community? Maybe those other two had issues (@GG...JetBlue airport bar?! ouch) and maybe Vinateria will knock our socks off, but I hope it's more of a small-plate Italian place ala 'inoteco downtown than it is another classic wine bar.

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  3. With a little further digging, iit seems Vinateria is most often used by Spanish-type places. Or at least that's what our old friend Google brings up. I'd be quite excited if it was a tapas-style or Spanish small-plate offering. "Wine bar" as a descriptor may be underselling what they're going to be. Suppose we'll just have to wait and see!

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  4. First, I don't think there are any other wine bars in the area. As for the failed ones, I don't want to bash them, but others have noted the same things I did. Nectar: sterile atmosphere, lacking in food department. Auberge: no hot food, high prices, kind of a wierd vibe, and a more difficult location (and I live off Lenox so am not an obvious "FDB bandwagon" person). I'm not convinced a wine bar can't work if it serves decent food as well. I can think of some great neighborhood places in Chelsea, the village, and hell's kitchen that serve a variety of small plates that cost $8-$20 and wines by the glass that are $7-$15. Just because somebody has tried something before doesn't mean better execution can't get the job done. We could have written off Italian after Frizzante failed, but Lido seems to have gotten it right. People said high end cocktails couldn't work in Harlem but 67 Orange seems to be doing well.

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  5. @GG: If recent history tells us anything, it that folks in this neighborhood demand to be FED.

    Small plates and cheeses won't cut it.

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  6. VV - 67 Orange has small plates/bar food, but the food is good and filling. I think just serving cheese/cold food may not work, but cheap small plates where one can piece together a meal by ordering several? 2-3 small plates at 8-20 bucks each is no more than a meal at Applebees or Red Lobster ....

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  7. Vinatería will be a casual restaurant located at 2211 Frederick Douglass Blvd. that will offer a market-driven menu with global influences. We will offer the highest quality wine and food at a reasonable price, while providing friendly, attentive and knowledgeable service.

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  8. David - Thanks for posting here. Can't wait to come by for a glass of wine.

    Any particular slant as far as your wine offerings? Was HHH accurate in assuming a focus on Spain?

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