Vinatería Reviews

Of all the high priced mediocre restaurants that have emerged along Frederick Douglass Blvds "restaurant row", Vinateria has been a long standing, dependably great place to eat. Considering its location, the prices are fair. Outside seating during the summer is a nice bonus. We come here whenever we can.

We had great meals and very attentive service at this small neighbourhood gem. Nice menu with something for everyone. Would definitely go back the next time we are in town,

If you are in the neighborhood go. If you are not in the neighborhood, take the subway, a taxi or Uber and have the whole roasted Branzino. What an incredible surprise. It was tender, flakey and very flavorful but not overpowering. Make sure you have enough bread left over to soak up the juices. I joked with the waiter (maybe an owner) it was so good that I could immediately eat another even though I was full because it was so good. He quickly responded, "Sir, I think you have had enough but you can definitely come back" and I will. My wife had the pan seared scallops and was equally impressed.

Very cute and cozy restaurant. Food was above average and wine list affordable. What really stand out was a great service: waiters were attentive and a manager was on the floor and responsive. My pasta campanelle was tasty and satisfying . Another friend had the whole branzino and was happy. Overall, a good time place. $80 pp for 3 courses.

We had dinner at Vinateria on two occasions while staying at 118th Street in Harlem. An excellent local restaurant, we were well looked after. Get a table outside if you can while it's warm.

The food was delicious however all they had was brunch and A few burgers. I went on Fathers Day with my family. When we arrived, they struggled with getting us a table because they messed up the reservation time. They told us that 2 of the specials were sold out, and there were only a couple choices.The earliest reservation they had was 3:00 and once we arrived we only has a half hour before the kitchen was being closed. The staff also talked bad about someone when they left because they were upset with them. I thought the customer was always right! To top it off, when we told the waiter what we were upset about, all she did was say sorry and walked away.

One enters - and it is really a lovely place. The tables, the décor, the whole corner feel is great. The drinks menu intrigues, the menu is compact. Our water arrived rapidly and was pleasantly provided; the waiter came up, gave us more time - a waitress arrived, we asked for more time. We ordered; wine well served. I ordered meatballs with cheese on a parmesan polenta. Four small meatballs on polenta - not bad, as I wanted a small dish. I also ordered the $9 broccoli rabe side dish. What an error in judgment. The rabe was very tough - I needed to ask for a steak knife. It took forever to eat it, and was tough to manage. Worst of all - by the time I got home, it no longer wanted to stay with me. Fortunately I made it upstairs. It is a pity - I so wanted to like the place.

My favorites include the black spaghetti, the Basilisk and the Matador. Outdoor seating is available but limited in peak hours.

Beets salad would be enough as a reason to go back the food was extra ordinary, the wine list impressive

We were a group of ten, and everyone loved their app, dinner and desert. My steak was cooked to perfection, seriously tasty. The squash soup was a wonderful texture. The calamari, terrific! My only complaint... Poor beer selection.

I really don't know where to begin with my review as I cannot decide what about Vinateria was the biggest miss of the dinner. Okay, so it is a restaurant so I will start with the food. Uninspired, not properly seasoned, and served luke-warm. My scallops were gummy even though they were overcooked on one side. Only one of our group raved about her meal, but I think she was trying to salvage the experience as she selected the restaurant. It is very small, the tables literally on top of each other and the noise level was off the charts. I was hoarse by the end of the night after screaming to be heard by my friends and our waitress. Even the dessert was eh and that is a very bad thing for not only me, but the entire group. And don't get me started on the coffee. When we paid the bill, with tip included, it was very overpriced for what we had ordered. Checking it off the list.

Went there with a group of 8 for 7:30 reservations mid week. Service was a complete disaster. Drinks took almost 30 minutes to get to the table, arriving with in seconds of the appetizers. No of the apps were memorable in any way at all. The main courses were totally lack luster. I had the lamb ragu on rosemary past. Not a hint of rosemary and the sauce was just plain with no real flavor at all. The seared scallops on risotto was not a good choice. The risotto was under cooked and a couple of the scallops were missing a good sear. The short rib dinner was dry. Desserts were OK but the coffee machine only makes one cup at a time. The cappuccinos were all cold and arrived a good 10 minutes after the deserts showed up. It was a trendy looking place but very loud.

A family restaurant with grandma , grandad helping out too . The food is amazing and you can sit outside- We would come back if we lived here .

Great neighborhood joint for brunch and drinks. They have a good wine list as well too. Food was good and service was friendly.

I went to Vinateria with no expectations, just wanted to get away from my neigborhood restaurants and this was one of the best meals and service I have had in months. The food was fresh and you can taste all the ingredients in dishes. The black spaghetti was out of this world. My friends raved about the lamb dish, saying it was probably the best lamb they have had in a while - they ordered an extra plate The wine list is spectacular and the cocktail drinks are delicious. The service is top notch. Andrea helped us and she is so knowledgeable about the menu and the wine. She gave us suggestions on what to order and then we drank the last bottle of the wine we ordered Andrea gave us great suggestions of other wine to have at dinner. I wish every restaurant employed people of her caliber. Needless to say, we will be back and if you are looking to get out of your neighborhood and venture out this place is worth it.

I did not know it at the time, but this is apparently one of the new "trendy" places to eat in Harlem. What an amazing menu. The appetizers were to die for and the main courses were brilliant! Great wine selection and knowledgeable server. We arrived early (5 pm) and were looked after brilliantly. As the evening progressed the place filled up pretty quickly. No doubt a reflection of their reputation. Highly recommend this one. Easy to get to by cab or Metro.

We went to Vinateria at dinner time and got an inside seat. There are outside seats, but it is summer and a prime time to enjoy a New York summer and to people watch. I had rib eye steal with roasted potatoes and broccoli rabe. Everything was so delicious. I couldn't eat all of it, so I got the rest to go. This is a cool restaurant to go to in Harlem.

We have been going here for years, so here are few tips. We always make a reservation even on slow nights specifying where we want to sit. We always get the table we want. That goes to show how excellent the service is here. The food is always pitch-perfect, and they have an excellent cocktail and wine list. The music is fantastic -- usually something retro like disco but never cheesy. The place has a friendly vibe that is cool and relaxed.

A really enjoyable meal at this restaurant. Interesting and delicious food and excellent and professional service with an extensive wine list. Will definately return.

I like the food at Vinateria's, but this time I was a little disappointed. My daughter and I went there for dinner before going to see Wicked. We both had the rib eye steak. My daughter's teak steak was intact, but mine was was in two separate pieces. I expected to have some kind of potato with it, but it only came with 4 asparagus spears and a few sautéed mushrooms. The steak was delicious, but $40.00 a piece, they should have made it a more complete meal.

This cheerful and elegant relative newcomer to Harlem is owned and run by a local family who are very much in evidence along with the friendly and attentive staff. It's a great place for lunch or dinner with friends & family, but I've also seen a lot of date-night couples there as well. In warm weather the outside seating is quite pleasant. The cuisine seems to me mostly influenced by Southern European traditions ie Italian, Spanish, Greek techniques ingredients and flavors. So it's delicious, healthy and nourishing. It's one of my wife's absolute favorite Harlem joints.

My wife and I went in the first time and were blown away with the place, the food the service. It was fantastic. The second time was totally different. We called for a reservation but they were so confused they asked us to call back. Instead we went in - first the hostess wanted us to sit at the bar and then she asked us to move since our daughter was under 21. When we protested about this treatment we were asked to sit off the bar on a side table, which we did. The high point then was the hostess throwing the wine list at me, becuase she was upset that we were making trouble for her. I was not going to leave till they asked to me leave - they never did. Never ever go there. The service sucks. They need to go out of business.

We ordered mostly sea food (octopus and scallops) and it was excellent! We asked for a wine to pair with the food and the suggestion made by the waitress was perfect! Our friends ordered small dishes too and we tried those too. Food was tasty, that's why it's a winner for me. Original combinations and fresh made! Of course we left space for dessert, we got one of each (there were three on the menu) and I have to say that they were all incredible! The panna cotta and the chocolate budin were a good size dessert. The dulce de leche zeppole was delicious but that one is a little heavier, so make sure you leave room for that and share it with someone!!...maybe ;) The atmosphere is really pleasant and modern, not super loud but some music in the background. We'll be back!!

I see many reviews are from local folks making the trip uptown. We made the trip from California! What an excellent restaurant!! The fun relaxed atmosphere, the staff...the food!!!!! We had grilled squid, pan-seared chicken, salads, olive-oil cake with cinnamon gelato. Everything was delicious!!! The atmosphere is lively and on the noisy side, so although the interior design is lovely, I don't think it would be the best spot for a quiet intimate dinner. Everyone there seemed to be having a wonderful time --due in large part to all that good food!!

I visited Vinateria after it was recommended many times and I was very disappointed. The menu sounds good, but the kitchen misses the mark. The welcome bread plate looks delicious, but upon first bite, that impression vanished. The crumb was dry with no bite or chew to it. Similarly, we ordered the special flatbread, and when it was brought to us, I could tell from the look of the crust that it was going to be disappointing. The crust had no rise and no color. On top of that, it was super oily. It was topped with peaches, which sounded amazing, but they were still too hard and unripe and should have been broiled (or similar) to soften them up and bring out some flavor. The real problem though was the service. The outside seating was full and we were seated in the near-empty dining room. Not a problem, except that we were ignored while the outside area was fully staffed and all the tables serviced constantly. We waited at least 15-20 minutes for a cocktail - my glass of wine was brought while my friend continued waiting. I was watching the bartender and was baffled by her slow pace. I thought perhaps they were understaffed, but then the owner/manager should have had his eyes on all the diners, but his focus was on the outside. It was so bad that none of the servers even turned their heads to us when walking past us to the outside/back inside to the kitchen and we had to shout to someone to request salt. Our server never checked on us during our meal after the food was brought. Maybe an off night, but you don't get another chance to make a first impression.

Food was pretty much ok, but main server, bit older man got you this grade. After we got appetizer and after that entree, did not come to us even once and was seeing and talking to people on other tables around us. After we asked food runner for a check beacuse he wasnt coming, server came after 20 minutes with our change: 40$ ij bills of 1$. Food and drink runners were really polite and were doing their job really well!! All in all, service ruined good food.

We happened upon Vinateria while wandering around a very pleasant Harlem neighborhood, and were drawn in by the beauty of the place. The eclectic menu did not disappoint, although the portions were a bit on the skimpy side. Most impressive was our server's gracious manner and knowledge of the details of the menu. We'll be back!

Another great spot in Harlem... the food was just great and the wine list was also above average.... the waiter was great and had some good suggestions... it's a trendy place and I am so glad I ate there...it's close also to the heart of Harlem and I got in and a seat immediately... I would go there again in a heartbeat!!!!! Super food!!!

Nice streetside restaurant/wine bar in Harlem - just down the street from the apartment we rented. Nice people, very good food, and an excellent wine list. Was a bit worried that there wouldn't be anything for the kids but they loved the Rosemary Pappardelle (our 8-year old son called it the best pasta he's ever had and our younger daughter wanted to go back the next night). I had the Saffron Linguine and it was very good too. The burrata opener was also very popular at our table. A very good choice in a great neighbourhood.

Heard Vinateria was the place to be in Harlem, so as a foodie, I couldn't wait to dine here with someone close to my heart. We arrived earlier than our reservation and they were waiting for their night staff to arrive so we sat at the bar and sipped on the Matador, their citrus and very refreshing specialty cocktail. Before we knew it our table was ready and we were seated at a perfect table for 2 by the window. We ordered their special appetizer for the night, Burrata with pecans and butternut squash, it was creamy, delicious and delightful. We then shared the Polenta and marinated olives while sipping on a Spanish wine that we selected from their very extensive wine list. I then had the Grilled Pork blade for my entree which was delicious and full of flavor. We then shared the Chocolate Panna Cotta with Vanilla Beacn Whipped Cream which was the perfect ending to a delcious dinner. You won't find your average Spanish or italian entrees at Vinateria, but I can assure you, you'll find an array of electic, delicious dishes to satisfy any palette

I was blown away at the level of kindness, generosity and efficiency with the staff at Vinateria, and the food is just as amazing. During Covid, I called from Miami to order a dinner delivery for my daughter's 30th birthday. Even though I called with questions several times, they never for a second made me feel like nuisance...exactly the opposite, as they were so amiable and helpful each time. My daughter's meal was delivered directly by the restaurant (not a service), hot and exactly on time by the super-friendly Tom who, knowing it was my daughter's birthday, included an incredibly generous array of extras on the house, to make her night special....even a bottle of Cava, orange juice and cherries to go with it, and a whopping piece of their specialty cake in addition to the dessert we had ordered. They even included candles and wrote her a note. Amazing!!! The portions were quite sizeable and every bite was delicious (lamb chops with braised chickpeas, crispy brussel sprouts, focaccia and vanilla bean creme brulee. YUM.) On my next trip to NYC, Vinateria will be one of my first stops. I can't wait.

What a great restaurant! The staff was great and the food was amazing. Such fresh pasta! The place is smallish, intimate, well decorated and welcoming

Stopped by with a bunch of friends after the Harlem 1 Miler for brunch and we were given a whole section of the patio which was lovely. Brunch menu is excellent and they also offer boozy brunch, which is always a plus. I ordered the grilled vegetable salad with poached egg which was delicious and perfectly seasoned. One downside was they didn't have ice coffee so I had to make a Starbucks run, but other than that, we had a lovely time. I would definitely recommend if you're in the area.

My wife and I, our daughter and son-in-law went for dinner the other evening. Vinateria is a wine bar with a good (if high priced) selection of wines from the Old and New worlds. We had a bottle of Primitivo from Italy that was very nice. The best part about this place is the kitchen - inventive and competent, the small plates are very well done, as are the pastas and larger plates. A good restaurant.

I met 11 friends here for an early dinner. Although Vinateria accepts Open Table reservations, because of the size of our party, we arranged the dinner via call/email and the owner/hostess could not have been more accommodating and communicative (providing us with clear details on the reservation and how long we could be at the table.) The service was wonderful and the food truly delicious. We tried some of the appetizer specials that night, had some of the "house drinks" (one with a large square ice cube with a mint leaf in it - wonderful touch) and ordered many of the main courses on the menu. Everyone was enthralled with the taste of theirs. (I personally had a scrumptious head on fish dish). All of the food was served hot and in a timely manner (which is not easy with such a large table.) I loved this burgeoning street in Harlem and the restaurant itself is beautifully decorated/appointed. I'd give this a 4 1/2 star and my only "complaint" was the overall acoustics (noisy - but can't expect much different with a large table either) and the size of the pasta dishes (which were priced on the high side but were really very small in size - more like large appetizers.) I'd love to go again with a smaller party and to try even more of the offerings.

This is seriously the best new restaurant for me. The interior is sleek but not pretentious And very comfortable. The staff is friendly and accommodating . The food is wonderful. I was with other diners and we ordered different apps and mains. The meatball and polenta appetizer is lovely, the squid and outapus tasty and for the main dishes, we all had pasta and one was better than the next. This restaurant is worth the trip.

I ate here recently with my family. We had a really fun meal- good service, great food, waiter was very helpful with deciding what to order and we enjoyed ourselves. I recommend this restaurant. It can get noisy but not too bad.

My friends and I went around the corner of their building into the restaurant. It has started to rain so we didn't want to venture to far. We hit the Brunch Time as it was expiring. Calamari Fritti for starter, it was crispy and non-greasy. The dip sauce a pinkish Chipotle Aioli was good. The Applewood Smoked Bacon Cheeseburger were cooked to our different tastes and Mimosas to complement the meal. Service was prompt and attentive. Ambiance, ok, it got very loud at times.

This is the second time I’ve eaten here, and the food continues to be somehow innovative and classic, full of flavor and prepared just right. I ordered: malfade alla vodka sauce, linguine alla norma, bacalao croquettes, Lancaster county pollo al mattone. The mafalde vodka is plum tomatoes, cream, parmigiano, and vodka. It was creamy, al dente, and delicious. Linguine alla norma is eggplant, plum tomatoes, and burrata, also creamy, tasty, and filling. I haven’t had a bad pasta dish from this place. The bacalao croquettes is like a fried fish hush puppy, served with a chili aioli, and these were savory and tangy and delectable. Now, the Lancaster County pollo al mattone was the most extravagant dish that I hadn’t tried before. It is chicken (still on bone) served over mashed potatoes, sautéed spinach, flavored with lemon and capers. Though I usually cannot stand to eat chicken off the bone, this was different. The chicken was juicy, moist, and plentiful, and practically fell off the bone. The mashed potatoes were creamy and bursting with flavor, as was the spinach. Again, this is a great place for elevated Italian food.

Spent an evening In this place. Very fine wine and food . Good desert and latte. Service was outstanding. Very close to the Aloft in Harlem. Train station very near.

We have just finished our dinner and I could not help to write a review of this treasure hidden in Harlem. This is how a quality restaurant should work, no waiting time to seat, perfect timing between order and meal, great and friendly service and a fantastic wine list to play with. The prices are very reasonable considering the high quality of the kitchen and I was almost in tears thinking that I was going back to UK. Thumbs up for the Vinateria, definetely a place that will be on my list next time I am going to NYC.

I went to Vinateria yesterday with friends for pre-dinner drinks. I've been several times before, including for dinner, and it's always a fun place to be with friends in. The atmosphere is great and the service is very attentive and nice. I recommend it!

Came here for drinks in my neighborhood. Had viewed this still-new venue skeptically in passing by, but recognized that it would be the ideal spot to meet a friend, and so we did. We ordered a small plate to share as we sat at the comfy broad aluminum bar before going elsewhere for dinner. Along the way, I "discovered" their menu -- looks great; I'll be back. I ordered their bourbon and basil cocktail. Delicious! But lacking, I thought, enough actual booze. Their ice cubes are extra-grande -- a nice big block -- appealing to rattle around in the glass -- but not appealing enough to displace the drink itself. Perhaps the volume of their drinks match the commonly-acceptable size? I wouldn't know, not being much of a cocktail drinker. To return to my praises -- I usually write only about places I like -- the restaurant itself looked great. The vibe was friendly, convivial. The small plate of fried things we ordered was delicious. My friend, an oenophile, found all sorts of red wines by the glass appealing, and she was very, very pleased with her choice.

Nice place but a bit expensive. We really liked this part of Harlem. Many nice restaurants here. This place was popular. Nice food but a bit expensive.

The four of us had dinner at a table outside. It's a great location and the food is outstanding. We shared polenta stickers and fried calamari as appetizers, and then had various pastas and entrees. Every dish was interesting and yummy. It's one of my favorite restaurants uptown.

For my birthday my daughter took me Vinateria for dinner. The atmosphere is cozy, comfortable and intimate. Service is good and they know there food. My daughter ordered black spaghetti which was excellent and I ordered the 1lb steak medium rare. This steak was grilled just right, could cut it probably with a regular knife, the taste was awesome with just enough seasoning and this magnificent sauce. The baby potatoes were just right. They have a nice wine list to go with your meal or dessert. Hats off to the chefs.

I don't eat seafood so was concerned that the menu might not have good options. Wrong. It only takes one great dish to ensure a repeat-worthy dining experience. We had appetizers, cocktails and pasta. The beet root campanelle pasta was excellent! The cocktails were creative, but very strong and dry. They have outdoor seating year-round and adjusted the seating to make it comfortably safe.

Discovered this place thanks a very good friend living in the neighborhood. Fantastic hosts and great food, shared all plate in a Spanish way... had an amazing Bermejo from Canary Islands... I highly recommend. Thank you!

Hanger steak was doable, veal meat balls very ordinary and the Italian wine too light and icy cold. Quick service, loud atmosphere...we decided to have an after dinner drink elsewhere.

It is unusual for a restaurant to reach your expectations but a joy when it exceeds your expectations. Such is the case with Vinateria! I went there with 3 friends after hearing good things about the food there and we were not disappointed. Each course was pleasing to the eye and the palate. Service was efficient and unobtrusive. The ambiance was calm and welcoming. All in all, I recommend this restaurant to all, you will be happy you went!

An average wine bar with solid Italian food. Nothing really stuck out as exceptional, but good place if you'd like a plate of pasta. Nice decor and outdoor seating. Family tolerant.

Invited by very very good friends, nice aperitif, good starter, nice main course with Branzino, desserts were tempting. No idea of the bill, hopefully adequate... A little slow service but it improved during the dinner.

What a gem in the middle of south harlem. Very romantic and not too noisy. The food was great. We had the steak frites (37$) and the brick chicken (26$) which were super yum as were the croquettes app. Highly recommend

We had reservations for this restaurant for 6 PM and we arrived 45 minutes early. They were able to seat us and we were there in time for happy hour which was every day until 6 PM. The food was very good and the people were extremely friendly. A very nice intimate atmosphere.

Ordered through Uber eats during COVID 19. Fast delivery, very courteous on the phone. I ordered: wild mushroom ravioli, polenta fries, rosemary pappardelle with lamb ragu, and broccolini with chimichurri. The restaurant was out of the wild mushroom ravioli, but they had a new dish, which wasn’t even on the menu yet, and substituted that. I was a different kind of pasta, also made with smoky mushrooms, and actually ended up being my favorite dish! Again, when they called to tell me they needed to change my order, they were very nice! The rosemary pappardelle and lamb ragu was also very good. The lamb was seasoned well, all the pasta was al dente, and unless I’m fooled, you could tell all the pasta was made fresh on site. The polenta fries had great flavor and were tasty with the spicy chipotle dill aioli. And last, but not least, the broccolini was smoky, crisp, cooked well, and full of flavor. Order came with bread, butter, and biscotti. I would definitely eat here again. I imagine their on site dining would be fantastic!

Harlem sure has come a long way, baby. It's up to you to decide if that's a good thing, but I am amazed at the changes. Vinateria is great choice in Harlem's still-evolving restaurant scene. The food is absolutely terrific (pork loin, steak) and they have great wine choices. The service can get a bit spotty once they get busy - but that's true anywhere. On a full night, it's a noisy place, so don't expect to come here on a Thursday or Friday night for a quiet, romantic moment. We went twice in as many days, and that should tell you enough!

We had a enjoyable group dinner at Vinateria. There were some definite highs and lows, so it was an uneven experience. Positives --Our waitress (who may have been an owner or manager?) was very helpful --the homemade pasta is delicious. In particular, the Linguini di mari and the rigatoni with lamb were very flavorful. --both the calamari and octopus appetizers were good portions and very tasty. negatives --when they brought the bread, there were 3 pieces for 11 people. Really. We asked for more and they then brought a different kind of bread, also in small portions. --You can upsize the pasta dishes to entree portions for $10 extra. This brings the pasta entree cost to $28-29 which really is a lot. --Two of our party ordered entree sized portions of the ravioli. When the food came out, they were given the smaller portions and told "we don't have the entree size for the ravioli". We were not told this when we ordered, or at any point prior to the delivery of the food to our table. We should have been told, and offered the opportunity to change the order. Those two people were unhappy and hungry after their dinners. --minor irritation, but they kept giving the dishes to the wrong person at the table. Just ask if you are not sure. We were swapping plates around to get the order correct. Overall, delicious meal, overpriced, and with service issues.

First time visited for brunch, this time we went for dinner. Must say: second time was a charm! The menu was much more elaborate and appealing. Pastas were terrific, mussels appetizer and burratta caprese salad pretty good. It's industrial and of-the-moment decor. Waiter was a doll, attentive and offered to change (and did!) my berry spicy jalapeño margarita cocktail. Charming and a good meal if in the neighborhood.

Small, friendly, beautifully decorated. We had a taste of many of the dishes and enjoyed them all. Please, follow their wine recommendations!

I keep on going back to Vinateira, not only because of the good food, but above all, to look for Fay Leeper (Mother of Ivette Leeper-Bueno). Fay is an inspiration, a welcoming co-hostess, ensuring your dining experience will be sublime. Food service and quality have been continuously consistent ---what more can youu ask for.

Had an absolutely excellent meal here during a business trip. Had been sightseeing all day (it was the weekend) and stopped off on the way back to the hotel. The waitress was amazingly helpful, and guided me in selecting a variety of things that wouldn't be too much food; the main courses are small plates, so it was easy to have a couple of dishes without overeating. Had a fantastic paella cake with scallops that was absolutely unique. Will definitely visit if I'm back in the area.

We had a lovely dinner, and decided to splurge and order a fancy hot chocolate drink with alcohol. My son and I split it, since we were both pretty full. It was one of the coldest nights in years (sub-zero windchill outside), and were we ever looking forward to a hot drink. Alas, the $13 drink was barely room temp, and when I mentioned this to our waitress, she mumbled an excuse (something about the drink sitting at the bar before it was served, maybe?), and that was it. What really needed to happen was for us to either be offered a replacement, or have the cost deducted from our check. I should have pushed harder perhaps, but it was late, we'd been on the road all day, I was tired, and just didn't have the energy. Not a great ending to what was otherwise a very tasty meal.

Enjoyed an amazing dinner dining outside after a rainy day. Comfortable outdoor seating protected by awnings. A birthday dinner with my 4 month old grandson was devoured as he slept for us. Service was excellent and food tops. We all enjoyed the calamari appetizer . We had scallops that were perfectly done and also a juicy tasty skirt steak.. oh also the bread was extremely good.

I have been several times for Happy Hour. Excellent food and wine selections for Happy Hour and they do not rush you! they have outdoor seating where you can enjoy the evenings and watch Harlem go by. The service is impeccable, polite, attentive, everything you want. For happy hour I usually get the Truffle Fries, the Glazed, shaved Brussel Sprouts with Pine Nuts and the Meatballs, all delicious. Their Happy Hour wines are excellent whether you choose red or white. They even have a choice of free bottled water, still or sparkling!

Great food, friendly service. This is a great place to come with your friends for drinks or dinner. The water with gas is on the house (they make their own). The place is beautifully decorated. Must order fried artichokes, they're yumi!!!!. Good selection of wines.

My carnivore and pescetarian teenagers both enjoyed it. We were in a rush, and the kitchen obliged. Small plates made the sharing easy. The three of us had dinner (without alcohol) for about $100. Very enjoyable.

I've been to this restaurant twice since they opened and both times have found the food to be very good. They offer something different than average restaurant along this street. The wine list is also very good though you won't find any bottles under $40.

The menu and ambiance looked promising, it was packed but thankfully we had reservations. The waitress was very "enthusiastic" to put our order in, we had hardly had any time to glance at the menu. Everything we ordered (calamari, steak and chicken) was extremely salty, even after have 2 glasses of water. The drinks were mediocre (Moscow mules), which is an easy drink to make. This was overpriced and not tasty, left hungry since we could not finish our meals. Never again. The highlight was my victim, I mean date :).

Stopped in here on way to airport. Had their brunch: frattata special and their steak and bacon/egg sandwich. Hubby said it was the best sandwich he has ever had! They also make some very different/fun sounding drinks. Wish we could have stayed longer and tried them all! Will visit again when we're back in NYC! Waiter, Raven, very attentive!

Tonight I visited one of my favorite Local restaurants to see what was new. I love this place for the ambiance, the super friendly wait staff, the managers, drinks and of course the food. They've been hit and miss with the chefs in the kitchen for the past year or so. Well tonight I tried their special which was a filet minon with a sauce that I could only describe as truly SPECTACULAR. The sauce was something different which complimented the filet minon like a dance by Fred Astair and Ginger Rogers. A synchronized, well choreographed dance in flavors. I love filet minon but seldom order it even in fine restaurants cause they always fall short in flavor and imagination. I took a chance at Vinateria tonight because I am very fastidious when it comes to steak and love this local restaurant so much for its tasteful, non pretentious atmosphere. Peace, ambiance, great service and great food. I ordered my filet minon medium! Told them pink inside not bloody or red! I was blown away by the perfection of the steak and the sauce prepared by Chef Diego! Remember his name because seldom do you find a chef who knows how to tantalize your taste buds with pure magic! As a regular, I want to say Chef Diego is a keeper and this dish should be put on their regular menu!!! I love surprises and this one is now my #1 dish hands down. Come on over to Vinateria at the corner of 119th Street and Frederick Douglas Blvd, Harlem's hidden gem! Can't wait to try this dish again.

They have a few outdoor seating rooms that made it easy to social distance with a reservation. Brunch was delicious and came with a free drink.

This pleasantly eclectic place serves a wide variety of foods, including black spaghetti with octopus. I had a steak with crushed potatoes and a broccoli-like vegetable; my meal was very good, if a bit on the oily side. All the other members of my party enjoyed their meals and considered it one of the best restaurants we have eaten at on our two week-long vacation. The atmosphere is very nice, with nice, modern furnishings and a cool bathroom. Our waitress was OK but not super helpful and service overall was about average. Prices are a bit high (appetizers go for $10+, my steak dish, which was a good sized meal but not huge, was $26 or so), but for special occasions (or if you have a lot of $$$ to throw around) it's worth it. Well worth a visit -- food is good and the atmosphere is cool (although the indie dance music can get a bit tiring after a while).

This has become one of our new places that is in our restaurant rotation. Delicious food with great atmosphere (can be loud at times). Staff is always great. Summer has outside seating too. Happy hour, brunch, afternoon drinks, dinner...

Stopped by for happy hour. Had the calamari and meatballs at the bar along with a glass of the happy hour special red. Food was great service was good too. We will be back!

We were out for a walk in Harlem and we stopped by at this restaurant a Sunday afternoon. We ordered 2 French burger, delicious buns, the burger were cooked to perfection. The only downside was the wait.

Took a ride uptown after ready some good reviews about Vinateria on TA. Glad we did. Welcomed with a smile and waited at the bar for our table. Ordered a Matador, VERY refreshing. Try one. Diverse menu with something for everyone. Quaint, friendly, very good food. I'd definitely go back again.

I have to admit that we set the bar a little lower while in New York, because, generally, the service is never as good as we receive in other cities. Vinateria was the exception to the rule. Our server (I believe her name was Catherine) was excellent and very attentive. They were especially gracious in allowing us to bring in a stroller for my 5 month old grandson, during dinner hour. It was restaurant week and three of the four of us ordered from the pre set menu. The food was delicious...everyone enjoyed their selections. We will definitely visit this restaurant again, as my son lives just around the corner. Hopefully, this was not a fluke, lol.

Vinateria is like the warm, welcoming kitchen of a long time friend. The food is fabulous and the atmosphere draws you back. We go there as often as we can.

If you want a treat, head to Vinateria in Harlem. Our pre-wedding celebratory dinner exceeded all expectations. You can’t miss with wine director Tom Odeen and his team of waiters and servers, who greeted and seated our sizable party in an outdoor space all our own, and looked after us as if we were guests in their own family dining room. Vinateria’s Spanish- and Italian-influenced menu reflects some inspired curation. The black spaghetti with octopus and roasted branzino in Calabrian chili nage, among others—were superb, and the delicious olive-oil surprise birthday cake (a lime-lemon, mouth-watering house specialty), with candles and singing servers, was a huge hit. Thank you, Vinateria!

My friends and business cronies live on Frederick Douglass, and I took them out as a thank you for a couple nights' stay. Harlem has changed some since the 1970s, when I first arrived in New York. Pleasant ambiance of the Edison-light-bulb variety; noisy. I would describe the cuisine as Italian-meets-gastropub. We had pasta and other dishes that would not surprise anyone who has eaten in this or another restaurant in a large American city. $170 bucks for dinner for three, though.

Very good brunch spot in Harlem that has very good food, isn't pretentious and not overpriced. I'd heard many good things from friends who had been here, so decided to go for brunch. There are a lot of outdoor seats which was great on the day I went. I split two dishes. The rib eye steak breakfast sandwich was so good I didnt want to share it. The steak was perfectly cooked. I also shared the huevos rancheros but it wasnt as good. Waitress said to get the salmon eggs benedict and she was probably right. All in all a good place and price included a coffee and bloody mary or mimosa so that kept things under 20 per person.

If look for place where you can enjoy a great time and fell they are taking care of you in any aspect of you experience there, well trust me, an try Vinatería then you tell me if I wrong

I had my first meal here in Vinateria on Harlem's restaurant row. Staff is terrific; very helpful. Interesting pastas. I had the Beet Root Campanelle and it was delicious. I will be back soon!!!

This particular street in Harlem has grown rapidly to become 'restaurant row' with dozens of different options available to the discerning diner. It's been a bit hit or miss for many of those establishments so it is always refreshing to try one that is more of a 'hit' than a 'miss'. Such is the case with Vinateria, they've got pretty good food and a nice wine selection, the prices are fair and the staff are friendly so it would seem a promising start for the restaurant. That said, as with any new opening, there is room for improvement. The food, while solid and generally well prepared is on the predictable side, I got the impression they were playing it safe for their grand opening so it was a little underwhelming. Hopefully once they are up and running for awhile they will improve on the menu and the execution and take it to the next level. I think also that since it is a wine bar it lends itself better to small plates so it would be good to see the menu reflect that more. The other complaint we had was with the staff...not that they weren't friendly and helpful (because they were) but because they were constantly hovering over us all meal. This is a mistake I find a lot with new restaurants, they are so eager to please they forget to leave you alone to enjoy your meal! It's a nice space and nicely lit, you want your customers to be able to have a romantic meal without interrupting them every 2 mins...we even had a busboy come and wipe down the table while we were sitting there (it wasn't even dirty, a few crumbs). If they can improve in these two main areas I would give them 4/5.

Nice place. Observant and polite staff. Good cocktails. Creative italian food with relevant Wines. Many guests -so we placed ourselves outside i the NYC summer evening. Rememerable evening.

We visited Vinatería for brunch over a month ago. The inside was actually a bit smaller than I thought it would be. Still, spacious and very bright with loads of natural light coming through from the large windows. Their brunch menu includes complimentary coffee, tea, mimosa, or bloody mary, which is great! Their coffee was strong, real-deal coffee! We had Baked Eggs and Applewood Smoked Bacon Cheeseburger. The Baked Eggs & Pomodoro was nice, eggs perfectly poached, and the tomato sauce flavor was tasty. Cheeseburger comes with fries or salad, but I substituted them with Truffle Fries for extra $4. The fries were soft and potato-y, just the way I like it. Great aroma and flavor or truffle. The burger was really big! The buns were fluffy, but very dry, which was disappointing. Bacon was meaty, almost crunchy. Patty was super juicy! Other than the super dried out buns, which made it difficult to eat, it was a good burger. I just left the buns on the plate… Service was nice and polite, they don’t rush you. A nice spot for a brunch, good portion at affordable prices.

The food here is great! Our server, Katie, was extraordinary. She was attentive and knowledgeable. We ate exquisite pastas - ESP the black spaghetti - and the linguine with wild mushrooms. We had the special flat bread, with aubergine and raita, and the crispy artichokes as appetisers. My friend raved about her grilled pork blade and I was ecstatic about my olive oil cake dessert. (We are embarrassed by the fact that we tried the cheese cake too!!) Coupled with the food, are the cocktails. They are perfection. Try the Wave and The Temptation cocktails ... Sublime. The whole ambiance was pleasing and we lived the vibe... This is a happening spot! Hail a cab now!!

Vinateria offered the three of us well-prepared meals served by an Italian waiter from Rome, Italy. Two of us had Black Spaghetti prepared with Octopus, Bay Scallops, PEI Mussels, Grana Padang and Breadcrumbs, $22.00. One of us has a gluten allergy which the restaurant was more than happy to accommodate with the dish of Rosemary Pappardell Lamb Ragú and Fresh Ricotta, for $20.00. The servings are in European portions, but for $6.00 more per dish you can get larger servings. It was a really good experience in a relatively spacious and quiet restaurant, at 7pm on a Saturday night.

We came from Italy to dine here with the members of our wine club and we could not make a better choice. We organized a wine tasting with our wine friends and the staff was amazing, especially Franco took incredible care of us, but in general everyone was so friendly. Good food, nice atmosphere and probably the best dessert I have had in long time(and I own a restaurant in Tuscany) I highly recommend this great little restaurant in Harlem, we are planning to come back next year to organize another memorable Perbacco Wine Club event!

Vinateria was recommended to us by a local and we're so glad he did. The restaurant was warm and welcoming on a chilly night, the food was delicious and the staff were welcoming. The calamari was the entree highlight for us. A wonderful staff member recommended a Californian Chardonnay that we consumed with gusto alongside some delicious pasta. All in all a great find that we thoroughly enjoyed.

I've been to Vinateria maybe 10+ times, mostly because I lived nearby. The ambiance and vibes are great, the food is.. ok? Had had some great experiences with a couple of dishes like the Short Rib Ragu + Grilled Octopus but also had not so great experiences with the salmon or an overcooked burger. Don't get me wrong, I keep coming back so the overall experience is positive, vibes+ service are great and they have great happy hour specials and good cocktails.

Vinateria has become a regular neighborhood dining spot. Has a consistent quality and preparation as well as service. Love the roasted chicken and the specials have always been delicious. Also try the octopus and pastas.. Fab!

Vinateria has a nice atmosphere and a solid menu. While portion sizes are on the small side the quality of the food has been good.

Wonderful place with great outdoor seating on a lively thoroughfare, just a couple of blocks north of the NW corner of Central Park. Food was all excellent: salads, pastas and fish. And a good range of wines by the glass with a very knowledgeable sommelier. We had a great waitress too. Can't fault it!

Great food and service. the bar serves small batch hard liquor, so experiment, it was fun. There was three of us all had different dishes and all were fantastic

I met friends here that said it was their favorite place on the Upper West Side. I suppose if there were only two of you and you sat close it might be worth a try, but do not attempt to get caught up with friends you haven't seen for a while here. Too noisy for me. The place clearly had had complaints because they covered the walls with a batting material but I sure couldn't say it helped. For my meal I ordered a green salad that was way more interesting and large than the typical side salad. Great combo of nuts, cheese and spinach and some other stuff I couldn't identify, perfect light dressing - it was delicious. I had the lamb ragu over homemade pappardele that was really excellent. I would absolutely go back for the food but I wont because it was just no fun.

Not only was the food excellent but the service was also excellent. On top of that it was affordable and romantic. You won't be disappointed. An excellent out of town experience.

We ate at Vinateria tonight, not by any means our first time. The menu is relatively small but everything is delicious and the way it is presented and cooked is one of a kind. The staff was wonderful, getting us out in time so that we made our movie. The manager, Vonnie, kept checking in to see how we were doing and even brought us a creme brulee on the house! I am only sorry that they aren't open for lunch! I would go there more often if I could meet people there midday.

Came here with a friend who had recommended Vinateria. We arrived around 8:45 with no reservations and the place was packed. However, there were 2 open seats at the bar which we quickly occupied. Starting off the dinner I ordered the "Temptation" cocktail. By far one of the most delicious drinks I've ever had. What I loved most was watching the bartender make my drink while adding fresh herbs. It was so refreshing! For dinner we ordered a bunch of small plates. Some of my favorite included the porcini mushroom and bacon croquettes, veal and ricotta meatballs and the grilled octopus. Unfortunately, we were too stuffed from dessert. All and all the service was good and the food and drinks were great. Although pricey for the cocktails, I wouldn't hesitate to come back.

We stopped by to have dessert. Not only were we seated right away, the host even turned down the music so we could more easily visit. Excellent choices of dessert.

I enjoyed the menu and service at Vinateria (ordered black spaghetti). The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive. Space is pleasantly decorated and the atmosphere is vibrant. The space is not quiet- do not count to have a romantic evening. Vinateria is festive and ideal for big parties and extrovert personalities. A nice addition to the Harlem community.

I went to dinner with friends and family, nice atmosphere but conversation is not quite possible because of noise from the bar. Food is pretty good and the price not bad. A family w children was there. The place gets quite busy, I suggest you make a reservation!

We were very impressed with the tasty food, nice wine list, friendly service and a greeting from the owner -- always a nice touch. Finding Vinateria on our first visit to Harlem answered the "where's a good place to eat" question very nicely. The varied menu gives one many options as well as the complimentary wine list. Wonderful food, nice environment, definitely worth a visit.

Walked in looking for a late night meal after a crazy evening downtown with all the Halloween festivities. Had a great pasta entree and enjoyable evening with good service. Others in my party had (mostly) good luck with their food as well. Would definitely return.

The restaurant had a really nice ambiance and the service from the main waitor was excellent. However the food didn't live up to the price at all. The liguine mare was a range of temperatures and didn't have the rich tasty sauce that would be expected - it was bland. Two of the 4 main deserts were sold out leaving no reasonable alteratives. They did find a grappa, so points for that, though not on their drinks menu, but it was not good quality and very sweet. Overall disappointing. Nice place but they need to up their game.

Great neighborhood joint. Great customer service. One of the owners came by our table to see how everything was. Every plate was delicious. I would definitely order the black spaghetti and grilled octopus. Drinks were great. Disappointed they didn't have zeppoles for dessert. Would definitely return!

The kind of Italian food which makes you think, how exactly did they come up with that and cook it so exquisitely. A small menu which bears repeat visits. A well-rounded Italian wine list that pulls from all regions. My only complaint is that it would have been nice to have a few more wines in the under $50 range (and a good Aglianico)

We visited Vinateria on our first trip to Harlem. I started water melon balsamic salad. Opted to go small with veal spicy meatballs. Both excellent and offed food choices i had never tried before. Just what I expected from a NYC restaurant. Wine choices were out of the world. Service was outstanding and accommodating to my wife and son who cannot eat dairy. There changed the Steak recipe to remove dairy and made with chimmi churri. He loved it. My daughter had the Lamb special. Yes, I agree it was special!, especially because she gave up a bit. ;) Thank you!

I've been to this restaurant twice and I highly recommend it. I had black spagehetti. The spaghetti was well cooked and had a delicious clam sauce flavor to it. This restaurant is seriously cool. The sreaks are very good too, but You must try the black spaghetti.

This restaurant came with rave online reviews and my daughters and I were eagerly anticipating a visit to taste the food. We were excited to go and dressed up for it. Business was excellent on that Saturday night, outside as well as in the restaurant proper. We were led to our table, and left to wait for almost 15 minutes without even a glass of water. At first we were trying to catch the waiters' attention (there were several serving other tables), but by and by when no one came, we gave up and just timed how long we had to wait before someone noticed we were there. Finally,we got service and was told it was Restaurant Week so there was a $42 dinner special. Two of the three orders came within reasonable time, but the third order was unacceptably slow. That didn't bother us so long as there was something to eat on the table. We realized the kitchen was busy. The food was deposited by a runner from the kitchen, not be a waiter, and again throughout the meal, no one came to check on us. Dessert came around and one of us wanted a hot tea. Again, no one came. Although we sat in the middle part of the restaurant, it seemed we were practically invisible. It took another 10 minutes to get a cup of tea. Finally, the service was SO BAD that nobody bothered to give us the bill even when we asked for it. The suggestion on the bill that we give 18%, 20% or 25% tip was daring to say the least. Although the food was better than average, but it was not enough to make up for non-existent service. In fact, this type of service shames the restaurant! Reminded that waiters still depend on tips for their wages, and it is the owner's bad judgment not to hire extra helpers on the weekend, we most grudgingly left a 12% tip. Shame on the owner!

A good Italian restaurant in Harlem. Pastas are all house made. The pappardelle was good as were the meatballs (though they were a little hard). Tomato sauce was good. The fish and the salad were good. Service was slow and infrequent and the restaurant was noisy. Those were the two negatives, but not enough to not want to return.

Too loud to eat, assault on the nervous system. Food was ok but not great and expensive for what it was.

The service by Gaetan was superb. We loved our lunch. The spaghetti was really tasty. Nice mimosas too.

I went to Vinateria on a business trip recently with a few of my coworkers and had a great time. You would never think that you would find such a great Italian restaurant in an area like Harlem but since the recent Gentrification, you feel like you're more in Midtown then anything else. What we ate/drank: -We had two bottles of red that night that seemed like water (dry, flavourful). -I and 2 other of my colleagues had the Black Spaghetti Squid pasta which honestly has to be the best pasta I've ever had. My other colleague had the Parpadelle which was sort of like a typical Bolognese styled pasta which was also great. -We finished off our meal with a dessert each. I had the Olive Bread with the side of ice cream which was good. If you don't like dry cakes then don't get it. My other colleagues had the cheese cake which is always a good choice. The service: -Polite and professional. Restaurant atmosphere: -Like I mentioned before, you wouldn't think you're in Harlem. It seemed like you were in a high profile area then anything else. I'd go back for sure. That Spaghetti was way too good!

Had a fun dinner at Vinateria that started with great cocktails at the bar. Although the wine list gets high marks, don't neglect the incredible list of cocktails. On the Saturday night we stopped in, the cocktail list was dedicated to a Spanish film director with the names of each delicious concoction somehow connected with his movies. I had a special drink with vodka, fresh squeezed lemon juice and fresh oregano that the bartender picked out a selection of glass herb jars on the bar. Very fresh and different. Next up - the apps. The lightest, crispiest calamari ever with a zingy tomato sauce and meatballs in another kind of sauce that required extra bread for all of us to sop up every last drop.Dessert was amazing - the creme brulee was incredibly creamy under a perfect crust and the zeppoles were a combo of chocolate sauce, caramel and ricotta that was better than any we've had in Little Italy. My family enjoyed their pasta entrees. I ordered the black spaghetti with octopus and my husband and son-in-law ended up finishing it because it was not my fave - probably just a wrong choice on my part. The service was lovely and we were definitely not rushed - a rarity in NYC when it seems restaurants want to turn table as much as possible. On our way out at 9:00 pm the bar was packed and all the table were full. Go early-ish as they do not take reservations for less than parties of six..

We trekked far uptown to have brunch with a family group and we were not disappointed. There were several other groups enjoying brunch and they were very accommodating to folks with young children. A high chair was available and they were not upset when the visiting two year old got up to walk around. In fact, there were 2 two-year olds in the restaurant that morning! The menu is quite varied so there is something for everyone from French toast for kids and big kids to eggs Benedict to Shakshuka to grits with mushrooms to steak and potatoes and more that I cannot remember. We were all delighted with what we ordered. Service was excellent. We would return to this restaurant when we return to New York.

Foodgasm Guaranteed! There’s not a single dish here that will disappoint you. I have dinned here about 4 times now and each time, I walk away satisfied and in cloud nine. The gates of food heaven open up and I float right in. If you love Mediterranean flavors then this is your spot. There’s a dish to satisfy the steak lover, the chicken lover & the pasta lover like me. The flavors of the sauce for the rosemary pasta hugged my taste buds gently and held it there until the end. The recipe must be a well guarded secret. The seasonings are deep but not overwhelming. The rosemary notes are phenomenal. The grilled octopus is DELICIOUS!! I can eat a grilled octopus everyday if it’s done righty and let me say, it is done right at VINATERÍA!!

Enjoyed a meal here with my son and his wife who live in Harlem-this is a favorite place of theirs. I was very impressed back in December especially with the mushroom pasta. Revisited in April and it was warm enough to dine outdoors. Although the service was a bit hectic the servers were very attentive and the food delicious again. My partner had the pasta with pesto and I the pasta with the lamb ragu and fresh creamy ricotta. BUT...the highlight of the meal were those polenta fries-strongly suggested by my son. Don't miss these!

The staff are incredibly accommodating. Truly authentic Italian food that is delicious and very good value for the money. Also, the owner is a sweetheart.

Love the food, love the hostess, Fay, love the area... an excellent place to find a good meal with friends! We have family in the area and dine here every time we are in town.