The new Auberge Laurent failed to open up for this years annual Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Associations Gala but according to a quote made recently in DNAinfo, owner Laurence Page expects to get things started this side of the year: LINK. Mr. Page had originally planned to open a second location for the Pink Teacup which would have been located on 120th and Lenox but now has decided to open a wine bar called Auberge Laurent because of liquor license issues. With that said, expect a New Year's Eve bash to kick things off for the eatery but also note that openings have been notoriously hard to pinpoint uptown in the past couple of years.
I live nearby and am excited for this place. I am generally not one to complain about prices and think many of the new restaurants/bars over the last 2 years have finally gotten it right ... but, bottles STARTING at $40? Seems high to me - and I'm one who sometimes has the OPPOSITE complaint about wonderful establishments like Lido and Nectar, but I respect what they are trying to do with affordable prices. I think it's great to have more expensive offerings but it would be nice if at least a couple of bottles started a bit cheaper than $40. We'll see ... I wish them luck but hopefully the owner is listening.
ReplyDelete"Bottles will start at $40, while glasses will range from $10 to $18." No thanks. Again, we need nice moderately priced places in Harlem. You can get a 40oz at the bodega and brown bag it on the sidewalk, or you can spend more than $10 on a single glass of wine. Why can't we have anything in between?
ReplyDeleteIn truth $10/glass is about city average but I agree could the bottles not be a bit more realistic?
ReplyDeleteI am not a big drinker so I will be more interested in the grub!!
Um, no thanks. I'll stick with Lido, Nectar, and the other places in the neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteWe definitely need more establishments in the middle range and not in the low / high range.
What's with all the antebellum kitsch in the photos on DNAInfo? It's just all wrong. If you're going to charge $18/glass you need to have sophisticated decor. That interior looks like a $5-10/glass sorta place.
ReplyDeleteLove the anger on this site when people find out about the imminent opening of a new and potentially very interesting establishment. None of us has been there of course, but lots of the obligatory "no thanks" from the usual suspects. How about letting those of us who WOULD like to splurge once in awhile have our day? I love Lido and Nectar (and Settepani, too), but sheesh--reserve some judgment until you've tried it!
ReplyDeleteFunny, we live in a neighborhood that lots of people judge without ever actually visiting, and yet Harlem residents here are doing the same kind of judging. Why? Because someone is taking a chance on an establishment in a building that's been empty for quite sometime, and that's had at least one stop/start project? Because an initial menu review shows wine that's 10 bucks per glass?
Give the guy a chance. Just because it isn't your cup of tea (or wine), you don't have to ruin it for everyone else.
Fair comment Christopher. My first immediate thought was $40 for a bottle, no chance!, but you are spot on, give the fella a chance. I quite like the sound of the decor and in reality ten bucks for a glass of wine is pretty average. Can't wait to try the food and fingers crossed it works out.
ReplyDeleteNo anger, just know that I cannot afford prices such as these and question whether the neighbourhood is crying out for a pricey wine bar.
ReplyDeleteGuess we will soon find out.
Christopher, what might appear as negative and angry may just be the voice of locals anxious to see this succeed and negative comments may be frustration at in this case insupportably high prices and fear Auberge Laurent will fail. Personally, I may go there on rare occasions to splurge, but I’m not sure it is a business model that can survive on a customer base who visit once a year. I hope I am proved wrong and really hope Harlem has enough clientele that will be regulars at these price points. Also I would add that the caviar bar that once occupied this space failed, it looked great but was always empty, I hope this is not a repeat and really hope this succeeds.
ReplyDeleteWest that caviar bar was a very silly idea!!!
ReplyDeleteRed Rooster is able to do well because it has a trendy celebrity chef as its owner.
ReplyDeleteS?ettipani is having a hard time of it in the current economy and. Not sure how Auberg an even pricer place, is going to be right across the street from there.
I hope this works, but I don't quite get the thinking here.
Vic ... I think Settepani has other issues than its prices. I root for the place, and think they do a good brunch, but I don't love their dinner. The menu is a little off - it's overly ambitious, I think, to start, service is slow, etc. But a good restaurant needs to make its money off dinner. I too am hesistant about Auberge's prices, but you never know. 67 Orange does a good business and it's expensive, but the quality backs it up.
ReplyDeleteI hope this place succeeds, but I'm not sure how it can without offering a "real" menu, and not just small plate offerings that are really just appetizers. To me this doesn't seem much different than the caviar bar that was there before. It's really unfortunate that the archaic liquor laws in New York prevent a restaurant with a full-service bar from opening up in that space, as the owner originally planned to do. An uptown Pink Teacup would have been a hit in Harlem!
ReplyDeleteI used to frequent the old Pink Teacup when it was on Grove St & have dined a few times at the new 7th Ave location. As a resident a few blocks away, I too was looking forward to the Pink Teacup coming uptown. Am less excited about the new concept, but will give it a go when it opens. I wish Lawrence all the best. And to all the complainers out there: you take a risk, fill a perceived void and open up your business in Harlem!
ReplyDeleteAt $10/glass, I'm willing to have one glass with a meal. At $18/glass, I'm going to go the the wine store, pick up a nice bottle, and make dinner. And the decor is so unusual, but not in a good way. Who wants to think about slavery when you're spending a lot of money on a meal?
ReplyDeleteI love Settapani and Lido, the few times that I've been there. Good food, nice decor. I would go every week if the prices were more affordable. I do frequent Red Rooster, for drinks because it's a great scene. But I'll only eat there on special occasions because of the price. At least at Red Rooster the reputation justifies the price, which actually seem reasonable given that the chef is a celeb and the president has entertained there. Not so with these other establishments. Subtract $3 to $5 on each item, and I guarantee these places would be packed.
Well, we shall soon find out about all the above as sign in the window states they will be opening this Friday.
ReplyDeleteI just came from this spot and I spent $28 on 2 glasses of wine and enjoyed myself thoroughly! The ambiance is very sexy and the wine is superb! Step it up people! It's a nice spot and it has a lot of charm. Yes, it's a bit pricey but Harlem is still considered Manhattan so these prices are to be expected! Go and actually check it out. It's a great date spot. There are some very cozy seating setups in the back ;-).
ReplyDeleteAll well and good and I am glad you enjoyed yourself ; I wish this boîte only the best.
ReplyDeleteBut just how many people are willing or able to shell out $28 for two glasses of wine remains to be seen.