Ruxi Rogue

Vinateria is the kind of place that reminds you Harlem is one of New York’s most underrated neighborhoods. It’s chic and chill and blends a modern aesthetic with a warm, welcoming vibe. There is an understated cool here that doesn’t need to scream for attention because the food and atmosphere do all the talking. Let's start with the bar. It's intimate yet lively, serving up a full dinner menu without pretense. The bartender? Unshakable. Calm under pressure, navigating the packed house with effortless control that makes you trust he knows what he's doing. And then there is the food —because that’s what you’re really here for, right? The Bacalao croquettes arrive golden and crisp, delivering that perfect contrast of crunchy exterior and soft, flavorful salt cod within. The orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe is textbook perfection al dente, the sausage adding richness without overpowering the rabe's bitterness. Get that dish! And then, the star of the night: the whole branzino, deboned with surgical precision, put back together, head to tail, and stuffed with spinach; it was perfectly cooked, each bite melting into a delicate balance of flaky, sweetness, a dish that reminds you why simplicity, when done right, is unbeatable. And let’s take a moment for the complimentary house bread with olive oil. Yes, they still do that here. When did it become a forgotten luxury to be offered good bread and oil at the start of a meal? At Vinateria, they know the little things matter, and those touches make you feel like you are in on a well-kept secret. The prices? Fabulous. Finding outstanding food at reasonable prices feels like a minor miracle in a city where a mediocre meal can drain your wallet. Add in the fact that Vinateria is Black-owned and Michelin-recognized, and you realize this spot is not just worth a visit —it’s worth the trip uptown. Oh, and a quick nod to the bathroom: clean, fresh-smelling, and a bold, shocking red that somehow fits perfectly. Vinateria doesn’t just deliver a meal; it delivers an experience — a delicious nod to why NYC remains a mecca for food lovers, where every bite tells a story, and the vibe is just as satisfying as the plate. Go!

+9

Jenny Xu

Came here with a group of 3 and had a reservation so it was easy to get seated immediately. Good: - Omg the free bread was great - focaccia bread - Good intimate dinner vibes - The food all came out so quick! - Polenta fries were amazin, good crispy texture - Mushroom appetizers were savory and sweet - Ragu was tasty and very well portioned Bad - it’s on the expensive side Overall I’d come again! This place was impressive in vibes and in service

John Bingham

I recently dined at Vinateriá and I must say, the food and service were absolutely phenomenal. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted warmly and seated promptly. The menu offered a variety of authentic Italian dishes, and everything we tried was delicious. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the sauce was rich and flavorful. The service was attentive, friendly, and truly made our dining experience exceptional. I would definitely return to this restaurant in the future and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fantastic Italian meal. 5/5 stars.

+2

F M

When we arrived for our reservation time they sat us right away. When seated we were given bread for the table. AMBIENCE Went on a Friday at 8 left around 11 pm and the restaurant never really got full inside, but our door seating seemed at capacity. Wonderful indoor and outdoor seating. This is definitely a date night spot OR a nice place to go out and have dinner with friends. I’d recommend you be dressed nicely since that seemed to be the overall vibe. There were many couples throughout the night. FOOD/PROS Everything we ordered was delicious! The food ordered included: lamb lasagna lamb chops roasted half chicken with mashed potatoes and spinach Bronzino stuffed w/ spinach Drinks were good too! CONS Only complaint was slow service. Drinks took forever to come even ordered and there only seemed to be one waiter for the inside and outside.

ikc

We had a 6pm reservation for 11 of us and I arrived about 30 minutes ahead thinking that the parking would be difficult. I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was to find parking. We were seated right away by a very helpful gentleman who took a wonderful picture of us outside the restaurant. The service was outstanding and the food was very tasty. Great job.

+7

Ana Perez

Came here for happy hour and we don’t regret it. The food was excellent and the staff was great. For drinks we had el matador, which was amazing. The Thyme one was okay. The COD croquettes were exquisite, Brussel sprouts 10/10, the polenta fries were different but delicious. We could have done it without the veal meatballs - they were not our favorites. And we also got the chicken, but took it to go. It was plenty for 2.

+2

Janelle L

I am beyond impressed with this restaurant. Specifically, I was super impressed with how attentive their outdoor staff were for the private dining "pods" as well as how good the happy hour specials were. My friend and I split some oysters, mac and cheese, brussel sprouts, these little fish ball things which were super good, and some veal meatballs. This is definitely going to become1 of my regular outings for oysters. I highly recommend this gem.

+7

Kelly Roth

I’ve been here twice for their happy hour. Once I sat at the bar and the next time at a table with others. In both instances the staff was attentive, service was quick and precise. The food was good in both visits. I really loved the croquettes. Recommend this place for any meal or if you can take advantage of their happy hour it’s a good value.

Lkay J

Black spaghetti was really good . Grilled octopus starter is a must try. Service was friendly and attentive. Nice place for a quiet date and nice ambience.

+4

Artem Akhiyarullin

Something went wrong this time. Be aware of chairs in outdoor area they have sharp metal edges my partner ripped out his shorts. Oysters were very fresh and tasty. Branzino was good too. Short ribs pasta extremely overcooked. Service is bad bad bad. Annoying old man not giving any second of privacy, no water service, check is been requested and waiting time was ridiculously long. Do i want to return? No way. I’ve had enough. P.S. Even if they are responded you here on google and asking you to send them email they never get back to you over email. Hahaha what’s the point? Idk.🤷

Jessie Thomas

As a upper west side residents for years I came here for the happy hours when i moved here. I am used to the $7 to $9 wines and $12 vodka (H Hour only) in all the trendy restaurants in the UWS. I found i was paying $15 for a 4 ounce of wine. Tax and tip $20. Vodka is $17. These prices are extremely high when we get a minimum of 2 per person. So i just stopped going here. Other than that the vibe is good.

Jorge Paredes

We were very excited to try this restaurant that a friend recommended us. It was indeed a really nice restaurant and the food was good especially the oysters and the black spaghetti with octopus. The service however was not great. Our server never came to take our order. She was asking everyone else around us if they were good except our table. Someone else brought us our drinks and the manager took our order. Never experienced anything like this. At the end finally she approached us to ask if we wanted to order dessert. I asked her can you tell me who is our server because we are so confused who is supposed to take our order and she said “anyone can take your order” with a really bad attitude. We just decided to leave. My girlfriend felt that we were discriminated because we were the only Spanish people in the restaurant. It was very unpleasant, she should be retrained on how to deal with customers.