Ayza Chocolate & Wine Bar

It was a shame because the ambiance is really cool but the blaring music made it a little less so. And the service wasn't as great as I'd expected. It wasn't terrible, but our server was a little dull. She didn't seem to know much about the menu either. Still the food and the great wine list made up for everything else. I was there with some girlfriends and sicne there are only a few four entrees we were able to get one of each and share them all. The chicken was a little bit dry for my tastes, but the bass was awesome and the seafood pasta was great too. I think my favorite was the filet though. So much flavor and yet really pretty light. So I will definitely be going back. The chocolates were too small to split between four people but we ended up getting 2 of each of the ones we wanted which worked out wel. My personal favorite was the passion fruit one, but everyone seemed to like something different. The chocolate martinis are yummy as well.

Pros: food,romantic

Cons: service

Posted 08/10/09

I brought my gf for a date recently and we had a nice dinner. The cheese plate is a must order, but their hummus is great too. Pretty much you can?t go wrong with anything on the menu. Though when my gf and I were there we had the souffl? for dessert. It came out not heated all the way through, but we told the waitress and she immeditably took care of it. She was apologetcic and fixed the problem pretty quickly.

Pros: food,design,service

Posted 07/30/09

I have been coming to Ayza since it first opened up and absolutely love the place. There is an amazing staff, great food, great wine, great music, and the location is perfect. The best part about the place is their service. You will never find such an attentive staff. The owners are always there to greet you and treat everyone who comes like they are guests in their own home.

Pros: great food, wine, and service

Cons: none

Posted 07/01/09

Wow. Good service. Good wine. Good cheese. And chocolate? Did someone just plop heaven down in Herald Square? Absolutely unbelieveable. Then there is the ambiance, which is uber chic though the outside is really the place to be -- so fun for summer evenings. I loved everything I ate. We went for just a drink and ended up ordering some cheese at the bar. Then we were chatting with the bartender, who convinced us to try the white bean spread, and then we moved to a table and wound up getting dinner. My waitress so nice and knew so much about the menu. Our bill was massive but that was only because we ordered a lot. In fact, for what we got, it was cheap. They have this great Mediterranean salad and their filet is fabulous, done really really well. My friend had the seafood pasteravioli and loved that too. At dessert the waitress recommended the motlen cake but of course we wanted to try the chocolates too, so we did a little of both. I have to say the chocolates were good but the cake was probably the way to go! By the time we were ready to leave we'd been there so long they were treating us like family. So fun I can't wait to go back and try other tings on the menu.

Pros: food,desert;service

Posted 06/28/09

All I can say is thank you Ayza. Thank you for being amazing and a great wine bar in a city of lot of wine bars that all start looking the same You are not the same. You are a little bit of everything. There are small plates that bounce from Asian shrimp dumplings to the most delicious hummus I've ever tasted. And it doesn't matter because the focus is on the wine. The wine and the chocolate, which is phenomenal BTW. I'm not usually a fan of sweet wines, but they have this white port that's so good -- and the whole thing is just luxe and lovely -- it's cool but friendly and the outdoor patio is a key -- and amazing spect since lots of wine bars are a bit sitfiling. I will definitely be back here again and again.

Posted 05/29/09

I?m newly obsessed with this place. I discovered it walking to the subway from work one day and was intrigued by the name at first. I stopped in just to see and ended up deciding to stay for a glass of wine, The gal behind the bar was super sweet and chatty and a glass turned into trying an appetizer -- this white bean spread that she recommended, saying it was new on the menu. And then that was so good I decided to try one of their salads too. I got this goat cheese salad that was simply dlish. They brulee the goat cheese so its crispy and sweet and just unbelievable. Anyways, then of course I had to try the chochlates too -- they have Jacques Torres but they also do handmade chocolates, which are to die for, so basically my "stop in to get a menu" turned into a whole evening. But such a good one. Now I want to go back and take my girlfriend. It's got a really romantic vibe and I know she's going to love it. I think it's going to be my ne go to place.

Posted 05/21/09

Romantic dining at a good price is so hard to find in New York, but this wine bar seems really resonably priced for all that it offers. I wouldn't call Ayza cheap, but it's certainly not expensive either, espeically given the atmosphers, excellent service, and fantastic food. I came here with coworkers one night and liked it so much that when I took a date a couple weeks later. She loved it, the whole wine/chocolate combo, and it was a nice night so we got to sit outside on the patio, which is nice as well. It's a pretty romantic place, and the fact that there are so many small plates for sharing helps up the romantic ante as well. We shared this white bean spread that was phenomenal and so unique and then we had shrimp dumplings too -- I'd go back just for them. The only drawback was that they wouldn't let me make a reservation so we had to wait a while, but that meant a glass of wine at the bar to get the night going, which was actually a really nice extra. In all a very nice experience.

Pros: price,food

Posted 05/12/09

Here's a thought: if you're going to have a restaurant, have some of the food on the menu. They were out of the panini I wanted and when I ordered another they were out of that too. Finally on try three I got something they had, but then they were out of the chocolates I wanted too. Not a great way to run a restaurant. The service was ok, but th waitress was a little dense and got all fidgety about not having anything. I know it's not her fault, but she acted so strange about it.

Pros: food,chocolate

Cons: waitress

Posted 05/06/09

I started a new job and was hating my neighborhood, but one day a coworker took me here for lunch and I liked it a lot. The food is good and pretty inexpensive and the service at lunch is really quick. In the evenings it's a bit of a different crowd, definitely trying to be cooler than it should given the location, but in all, I think it's nice and I like the vibe. And the food, of course is very good. I like the fixed price lunch because you get a little bit of everything an it's reasonably priced. The paninis are great, though it's annoying that they won't let you alter them at all. I don't like mayo so there are only a few sandwiches I can get. I guess it has to do with a speed thing though.

Pros: food,ambiance,fixed price lunch

Posted 05/05/09

I've never been too much of a chocolate person, but I do like wine, and now I think I like wine and chocolate together. It gives a whole different taste to it. Ayza has a good selection of wines by the glass and a large wine list, though I still wish they'd expand their wines by the bottle lists. I like pairing wine with the chocolate though I think their pairings are a little off. I know they have to offer sweet wines, but since they are a wine bar, they should have more non-sweet wines that pair with the chocolates. Sure, you can make it up youselfe but that's less fun. I like a nice spicey red (their Corvina is great) with the choc. Not everyone likes sweet wines -- in fact, in my experience few do, so they should know that since they know wines. Regardless though, it's a fun concept and it's given me a new appreciateion for chocalate. And BBQ, because their pulled pork sandwish is awesome.

Pros: chocolate and wine

Posted 05/04/09

The neighborhood is not so exciting, which makes it even nicer that this fabulous wine bar has graced its streets. It makes Herald Square a lot mre likeable to know that this is nearby. I'd venutre to call it one of New York City's best wine bars (given the amount of wine bars in New York that's a pretty huge thing to saw). Their outdoor seating is great because you don't feel like you're right on the street and it's got a great vibe. The oversized red umbrellas are fun though, and the steel tables are nice and fun. In terms of food, it's a sort of a fusion of all things, but mostly Mediterranean food. There are a few Asian dishes though -- the chicken skewers are fantastic! -- and pretty much everything on the menu is really good. I've been a few times and have tried a lot of the items -- the small appetizer portions make it easy to do a sharing sort of thing. The latest I've noticed is this white bean spread that I really really like. Then of course there are the chocolates, though I'd recommened going for one of the desserts instead. A lot of them come from Lady M and one is better than the next. The crepe cake and the tartufo are both high on my list. I just wish it were bigger there is always a wait now.

Pros: food

Posted 05/04/09

My friend and I had tix to a show at Madison Square Garden and were sick of the usual fare over there -- which is pretty limited to things like TGI Fridays. Anyways, he found this place on yelp and we figured we'd try it out. I was worried that it might be more of a chick bar, I mean, wine and chocolates? And sure enough, it was full of ladies -- we may have been the only dudes in the place, but that wasactually a-ok. The food was pretty solid, though I'd say it was a little on the pricey side, and the poritions, were kinda small. Anyway, it was good for a nice splurge, and we had paninis were wheren't that expensive. They have beer too so you're not limited to just wine. I took my gf back one night and she was over the moon. Romantic, chocolate... She couldn't have been happier. She's already planning a trip there with her girlfriends.

Pros: wine,romantic

Cons: small plates

Posted 05/02/09

My girlfriend suggested Ayza for my Birthday. We went there for a drink and to try out a nice wine bar in the city. We sat outdoors under the huge red umbrellas. It gave us a very private and tropical feel....
We had such great time sipping on our Kir Royales we didn't notice it began to drizzle... Ayza is a nice place to come with a date to have a glass of wine or to sample chocolate. The only downside.. I felt Ayza was a little pricey and the appertizers were not the best but it's a wine bar I can't expect anything more.
Most importantly, I enjoyed my Birthday and have no regrets going to Ayza.

Pros: outdoor seating

Cons: pricey, only one bathroom

Posted 05/01/09

I really dig the modern industruial chic feel of the place. As an architect, I can tell that they had a really great designer. IT's a smart use of space and all that, though as a large man, I have to say that I wasn't thrilled with the tiny benches. I had to trade places with my girlfriend and sit on the chair because I didn't feel like I could fit all that well -- doesn't make you want to eat too much. Eat I did, though. The food is sort of Mediteranean fusion with a little bit of everything. I had the filet and it was excellent, and not to overpriced by NYC standards either. Our waitrress was a sweetheart and really quick, but didn't seem to know too much about the wines. With such a huge wine list, though, who would? She did, however, suggest some crepe dessert that was phenomenal -- and I don't even really like dessert. We got flights of wine at first, and we ended up with a bottle of one of them -- I oridinarily would have picked a more expensive bottle but their wines by the glass are fantastic. The owner came by and talked to us for a bit -- I like it when they do that.

Pros: food,design,service

Cons: tiny benches

Posted 05/01/09

I have to say this place doesn't seem to live up to the hype. I mean, the food was ok, and the wine list was rather impressive, but we had to wait forever for a table, even though there were two tables open when we arrived and no one else waiting. Supposedly they were saving them for larger parties, but in the 2 hours we were there not parties arrived. The waitress was nice enough, but didn't seem to know anything about the wine, which seemed alarming given it's a wine bar. All she wanted to do was recommend the wines by the glass -- which seems silly since I was prepared to order something much more expensive. we had this hummus that was really good.

Pros: food

Cons: service

Posted 04/30/09

The neighborhood leaves a bit to be desired but the wine bar is one of New York City's best (and that's saying a lot since there are so many wine bars in New York). They have outdoor seating, and it's pretty cool because the sidewalk is huge so you don't feel like you're right on the street like at some cafes with outdoor seatin in New York. However, the caveat to that is that the people watching isn't as good as in a more exciting neighborhood. The oversized red umbrellas are fun though, and the food is fantastic. I can't figure out what the theme is: sort of a fusion of all things, but mostly Mediterranean food, I'd say. There are a few Asian dishes though (I highly ecommend the Asian Steak Tartare). I think it's pretty cool that they don't stick to one cuisine -- it's about the wine, really, and they do that very well. I do think, though, that their winescan get a bit pricey. I mean, they are good, but $17 for the Cabernet (which is, alas, my fave) is a bit hard to swallow. I found the chicken paillard to be dry , but everything else I've tried has been fantastic (and I've tried almost everything). They change certain things on the menu seasonally and right now my favorite thing is the Butternut Squash soup -- that's an easy thing to mess up, but Ayza does it well. Oddly enough, however, the chocolates just don't do it for me -- I feel like Jacuqes Torres is overrated :)

Pros: outdoor seating,menu

Posted 04/30/09

I started bringing out of town guests here. They think the whole wine and chocolate thing is "so New York" and I guess in a way it is. It's always fun to order small plates and share things too, but I do feel i's in a bit of an odd neighborhood. There just isn't much around. Anyway, I brought my parents and then a visiting friend and everyone really liked it. The wine list is good and the food is great, though my dad thought the portions were on the small side. But overall they have something that makes it stand out which is good. And despite the neighborhood the atmosphere in the bar is pretty cool -- it just doesn't fit with the location. Oh well, I guess you can't indeed have it all. But Ayza does have most :)

Pros: food and wine

Posted 04/29/09

I'm way into this place. My gf has this thing about trying all the wine bars in New York, a habit that I usually make her do with her chick friends. Wine is not gennerally my thing. She went to this one one night with the gals and then came home and insisted that I must try it. After much cajoling I finally went and am glad I did. We actually stopped in for lunch one Saturday after running sme errands in Herald Square. Since I loathe Herald Square with every ounce of my being, I was not in the best of moods when we arrived, but it was a fairly nice day and they have outdoor seating so we sat outside and after a drink -- I admit it, I went for a beer-- and a tasty panini, I was feeling pretty good. I always think of wine bars as chi chi female, but they have a BBQ Pork Panini which seemed quintessentially male -- I know, it's the little things. Anyway, I liked it a lot, even if the service was a little slow. The waitress was nice, but I think she might have messed up the order or something because it seemed to take excessively long for a simple lunch to come out. It was cool though, since we were just enjoying sitting outside.

Posted 04/28/09

Perhaps my expectations were too high because of all the hype I'd heard, but I have to say I was a little disappointed. We did a girls' night out and were so excited about this new great wine/chocolate combo thing, but after waiting forever for a table we waited forever for a waitress, who utimately messed up our order and brought us first the wrong food and then cold food. When they finally got the food right, it was actually pretty goos, but by that time were were kind of over it. As for dessert, we ended up going with these chocolate martinis that were pretty rockin. My suggestion is head there for drinks but not for food.

Pros: wine list,ambience

Cons: service

Posted 04/28/09

The neighborhood leaves a bit to be desired but the wine bar is hip and very cool. I still haven't decided how I feel about the sidewalk thing though. While it's nice to sit outdoors there is something strange about sitting on the sidewalk where there isan't much going on around you -- it's almost just industrial. Still, it is really nice and they have these great red umbrellas that add to the ambiance, to it all works out. And the food makes up for any patio strangness. It's really really good -- everything I've tried at least. The chicken was a little bit dry for my tastes, but everything else I've tried has been fantastic. I think my favorite was the ravioli, very very tasty. I do like the chocolates but oddly enough it's the regular desserts that I love. I had to ask for the secret because I fell in love with this crepe cake thing they have. I don't know what makes it so special, becasue it seems so simpe, but it's like a little bit of heaven in every bite. Now if only they'd turn down that incredibly loud music!

Pros: desserts,ambiance,food

Posted 04/27/09

I'm a vegetarian and I like that there are lots of options for me here. They have good soups and salads and a veggie panini and pasta. I'm always scouring menus and here there are several options to choose from, which keesp me coming back. All are pretty good too, which is nice. I do hate that the music gets so loud, epecially in the evenings, but I'll put up with it for good wine and food. The service is usually pretty good though last time my friends and I were there we had the rudest server. I think it must have been a fluke though because I've been loads of other times and they've all been nice, even if some of them are a little slow.

Posted 04/27/09

I'm not really a fan. Bad ser vice for one. We ordered a few courses and from appetizers to entrees we had to wait forever. They had cleared one an it was literally 20 minutes before anything else came out. That normal? I know we're supposed to savor the wine but I wasn't e ven that into the wine. I don't know what our server was doing but she seemed more interested in talking to the other servers than in helping us. And they weren't e ven busy so it's completely inexcusable.

Pros: food and wine

Cons: service

Posted 04/24/09

My girlfriends and I like to come to this place becasue it's midway from our places and it's a fun girl's night out. You don't get much grirlier than wine and chocolate and we can also get lots of little plates to share too. The first time we can we all got flights but that is sort of a pain since then the table is covered in wine glasses, so when we went again we tried doing bottles. the wine list is good and there are several that are really good prices, which is nice. I really like the hummus -- I don't know what they put in it, but we always have to ask for more pite and wind up cleaning the plate of it. The decor is nice too, though I really wish that there was more than one restroom, that gets to be a pain.

Pros: food and wine

Cons: one restroom

Posted 04/23/09

So this is possibly my new favorite lunch spot.I come here at least once a week and I'm not sure I'll ever get sick of it. In the warm weather, it's great because they have awesoe outdoor seating and it's so nice to just be out of the office, but in the cold its pretty comfortable inside as well, which is great. The food is fantastic and the lunch special is cheap and good. The servers are great and fast and they have a really good selection of paninis to choose from. Plus then you get soup or an app to go along with that. Even though I'm there all the tie, I can't get enough of the artichoke dip and order it every time I'm in. And I don't even usually like artichokes! The only unfortunate thing is that their wine list is so great I always want to order a glass and can't when I'm going beck to work. All the more reason to go after work too, right?

Posted 04/23/09

I guess I'd say I'm a regular there. I go probably once a month or sometimes more to have a glass of wine. The service is ht or miss. Most of the time they are really on it, but there are a couple waitresses who are on the slow side.All things considered though, I just love the chocolate and the wine. What a fun combo. And the food is nice too -- they have yummy light salads that usually have very different and interesting combos. I mostly do the salads but the paninis are nice too. A lot of the time, though I just do the wine and chocolate. The problem is, it's just a little on the small side, so for someone like me who goes there often it gets a little annoying to have to wait and stuff.

Pros: chocolate and wine

Cons: slow service

Posted 04/22/09

I LOVE Ayza. It's such a fantastic wine bar, and stands out, even in a city where there are so many wine bars. I have to say, I was spilled on while there. The poor waitress, it truly wasn't her fault, and she felt awful about it. There was a problem opening the bottle and it slipped from her hands. Luckily it was white wine, but even so, the owner came over and was so apologetic. Thing is, stuff like that happens and it's all about how it's handled. They handled it so well, and the service was perfect the rest of the time. Other than that, though, the place couldn't stand to improive. The wine list is huge and has great selections and the food is amazing. You can eat outside, which I love, though it was a little too cold when we were there, still I can't wait until the next warm day! It's romantic but fun at the same time, and I really can't say enough about the staff.

Pros: outside eating,wine list,food

Posted 04/21/09

I know nothing about wines, so that this wine bar has the pairings is great for me. We got the cheese plate with the sommelier flight: the price tag ($40) seemed a little high btu when you think you're getting all that wine and cheese for that, and not having to choose the wines, I guess it's a good deal. We enjoyed all of it. I'm not a wine snob, butI hate it when wines by the glass are just the crp wines that taste like they come from a box. Here they were better, and after the flight we were each able to pick a wine we liked for a glass with dinner. Our food came out a little cold, though, which was frustrating. The waitress took it back and heated it up though, but it was still a bit of a glitch in the meal. The manager was really nice though and sent over a free dessert -- this amazing molten chocolate thing. I know that's a common dessert, but this was like none I've had in the past. Really delicious. It was really packed, which made it a bit noisy, but overall fun It has a European feel.

Posted 04/21/09

I think the wine/chocolate thing may be btter in theory. They do have a notable wine list, but I wasn't all that impressed by the chocolates. Not to sound like a pig or anything, but they were small, for one thing, especially for what they charge for them. I went by myself one afternoon on the way home from shopping and they let me sit at the bar, which was nice. I had a glass of wine which was quite good, but after ordering the chocolates (and I only wanted something small as a light snack) I had to order something else because they just didn't seem to be enough. And the service was a little slow as well, though it may have been that I was there at a weird time of day. When I arrived there were loads of people finishing up lunch, but shortly after it was just me, and the waitress seemed to want me to leave -- she did let me stay though, which I appreciated. I could just tell I shouldn't be there though. I guess I'd give it another try going at a normal hour, the food looked like it might be good...

Pros: wine list

Cons: service a little slow

Posted 04/20/09

I've visited several times, from the time I first discovered you about a year ago and I've loved watching the changes. Getting a bar, changing the menu, all these great things. Your wine list is superb and your food gourmet. Your ambiance is the perfect cross of romance and cool and I adore the friendly staff.

Pros: food,wine,staff

Posted 04/20/09

I always struggle tofind cool places to take visitors when they come around, but Ayza is a new staple for that. It's casual but upscale feeling at the same time. The decor is cool and the Mediterranean menu is amazing. Lots of yummy food and great wines and then the amazing chocolates and even better desserts.It's a great way impress visitors and feels so New York. I took some friends, who LOVED it ? then my parents, who are totally into wine and were really impressed by the notable wine list. We actually went back another night just for dessert. They loved the molten chocolate cake, and then we had some of the specialty cocktails, which are tasty as well. Thank you Ayza! You are a lifesaver! The staff was all really nice too, and overall it was just a totally great time and I will definitely be returning, with or without guests.

Pros: everything

Posted 04/18/09

Not only is it the best wine bar in New York City (great wine list and a little thing called chocolate!) , but the food is simply fabulous! I?m in the industry (bartender) and I get to see loads of places. I'm trying to be a chef myself and I really admire there chef. He's got a great mix of things -- lots of really unique takes on classic meals, which is really the way to go, especially in a city like NY where there is a gourmand on every other corner. As for the chocolates, Jacques Torres is really a genius, and I love that they pair their specialty cocktails with truffles. It's a great way to get a little taste of chocolate and a yummy drink, and it takes all the decision making out of it for me. The waitress I had last time was a real sweeite and gave lots of good recommendations. You could tell she liked working there, which is really cool to see as well.

Pros: food,wine and chocolate

Posted 04/17/09

Great place! Wine selection was amazing, delicious food at affortable prices: cheese platter with proscuitto, delicious cranberry/pistachio bread, and mouthwatering 20 layer creme brulee crepe cake. Quite small so need to get there early as they don't take reservations after 6.

Pros: Wine flights, cheese platter, chic decor, creme brulee crepe

Cons: Slightly small

Posted 04/17/09

I knew nothing about Ayza when a friend told me to meet her there but was so pleasantly surprised. It's tiny and they couldn't seat us right away, but it was totally worth waiting. We wound up dining at the bar, which ws actually pretty cool as well. Our waitress was not too friendly but she was really on it and took great care of us. My friend got the Mediterranean salad and everything was all chopped up bitesize. I got a mushroom tart that was really really tasty. We each had a flight of wine, which was so fun and then we ended up ordering one of those as a bottle, which led to even more eating. Everthing was ridiculously tasty, and we loved the ambiance too. Dessert was the main event ghouth -- they have this crepes cake that the waitress recommended. I was less than enthused about it since it istn'y chocolate, but it was really really phenomenal. I cant't even express how good it was. Amazing really. The design is really modern and hip,the people are so nice, and there's just a general lively but sophisticated vibe. You can't help but feel happy there. But perhaps the highlight may jsut be the eye candy they've got working there :)

Posted 04/16/09

The waitress spilled red wine on my brand new shirt. It was an accident, of course, and she apologized over and over and the manager sent over free dessert, but it really messed up the whole viebe of the night. The waitres was awkward the whole rest of the time, and I was in a bad mood, and didn't even want the dessert. the food was alright, but not the best I've ever had, though the waitress didn't seem to know much about the menu either. The design could be really cool, but it's pretty tiny and it felt like we were practically on the other tables' lap..

Pros: design,food

Cons: saff

Posted 04/16/09

I came here on a date and ended up hating the guy but loving the place. I know wine bars are really common but Ayza is one of the best: hip atmosphere, notable wine list menu, yummy Mediterranean food and really nice people to top it off.. I had a veggie panini and really enjoyed it, though I felt lame getting a pnaini when they had so many other great things on the menu. All the more reason to go back. The guy complained about the cheese we ordered and said it was really smalle, but I thought the presentation was really pretty and they had this guava paste stuff that was very good. The waitress was sweet and in fact I think I enjoyed her more than my dateWe had cocktails after dinner and those were great too, and served with truffles, which was fun. After the stress of that awful date I needed some chocolate, stat!

Pros: ambiance,wine and food menu,presentation,chocolate

Posted 04/15/09

I was a little frustrated when I first arrived because it was so crowded and loud. There was one table open, but they wouldn't seat us because it was for four and we were only 2. It wound up being worth the wait though. Our waitress really sweet and totally on the ball -- she made great cheese recommendations, and even told us how to eat this one cheese( can't remember the name of it, but it was a Spanish cheese and she recommended putting it with this guava paste they give you -- great combo. She chatted with us and made made sure everything was cooked right (my girl had to ask for a change on the salad).Food was phenomenal and now I want to taste everything else on the menu. We had the Mediterranean salad and then shared the chicken which was really cool. I didn't know you could stuff paillard but they do it and do it well. and this great asuce too.We had a couple glasses of wine while waiting for a table and then ended up ordering a bottle at the table, sommelier?s rec. At first he seemed cold but was actually really cool, and the man knows his wine. He let us try a few things and was really knowledgeable. As for the chocolates, my girl couldn't decide and loves chocolate so we ended up trying one of each and there was not a bad one in the bunch! My fave was the hazelnut and she couldn't come up with a favorite. She had a peppermint chcolate martini too -- talk about a chocolate lover's heaven. The music got a little loud at one point, but other than that, the place was way cool. Romantic, too, and the presentation of all the dishes was really beatufiul. I will definitely go back.

Pros: wine,cheese,food

Cons: crowded

Posted 04/15/09

I?m newly obsessed with this place! Came for a friend's bday party -- she had it in this private room and I liked the food so much that I came back withmy bf to eat in the main dinignroom. We had a nice romantic dinner of shared items -- all the apps are small and great for sharing. We had cheese, which came out on this cool board and looked almost oo pretty to eat. They have these caperberries that I never tasted before but really liked. And then we had a salad, which was nice, and some really yummy chicken with lavender sauce. We finished off with his great white port that was light and not too sweet, and we had a few truffles which were great. Our waitress was a little slow but very sweet and it actually allowed us to have a leisurely dinner, which was nice. The decor is stunning -- very cool and interesting and a great use of small space.

Pros: apps,dessert,food,

Cons: service a little slow

Posted 04/14/09

Our waitress was sweet but a little on the slow side. It took forever to gice us our wines and then even longer for her to come back and take our order. She wasn't able to answer too many of our questions either. Perhaps she was new, but even so it was a little frsutrating. Anyway the food made up for it -- I got this truffle pizza that was amazing and worth the long time it took for it to come out. It was made on pita bread so it had a great texture, and the the truffle oil on the top was simply decadent. We enjoyed our flights of wines, and thought the outdoor patio was nice. It was too cold to sit outside the day we were there, but it's tough to find places in NEw York with outdoor dining, so I'll definitely be back for that.

Posted 04/14/09

Maybe I went at the wrong time. When I got there it was packed and it took forever to get a table. Then it took forever to get a menu, I think they may have forgotten me. The waitress was all aplogetic when she finally came over but it had put me into a bad mood to start with. The wine I had was ok but nothing special. They seemed to have good wines but the waitress recommened this one and it wasn't all that grand. The food was tsaty but the plates were small for the prices they charge. As for the chocolates, they were definitely a plus to the whole experience. I thought they were a little expensive as well, but they were worth it, and a good way to relax after what seemed to be a stressful meal.

Pros: food

Cons: expensive,crowded

Posted 04/11/09

My girlfriend and I like to come to this place becasue it's romantic and they have such a great menu. We've tried a lot of things and usually will get a bunch of appetizers to share. The cheese plate is great and they serve it on one of the sides from a wine crate which is a really cool, unique idea. The wine list is great, but I like that they also have beers and a full bar in case I just don't feel like drinking wine. The entrees are a little overpriced, bbut that's ok because with all the other offerings there isn't much need for them. THe shrimp dumplings are my favorite -- they have the best crispy texture. and don't even get me started on the truffle pizza. You've never tasted anything like it! They usually play a sort of loungy electronica music -- it works for the place but can get a little on the loud side.

Pros: bar,cheese plate,food

Cons: music

Posted 04/10/09

This wine bar is fabulous, one of New York?s best. The decor is minimalist but so cool. Steel and dark wood, and these really gorgeous hanging lights over the bar. Up above you can see all the wines, and sometimes you even get to see someone climbing up and down the ladder to get to them. They have great decorations on the bar too -- this really awesome ball of lights that I'm obsessed with. i like that you can dine at the bar, which is what I did, and it was really fun. the server was sweet, and she seemed to know a lot about the menul. Not only that, but she was enthusiastic about it too. Told me what her favorites were, and all that. When I couldn't decid on a wine, she gave me a choice of two and tried to hep with recommendations as well. I ordering too much, surely, but it was allreally good. My girlfriend is a vegetarian, but ther was plenty for her to eat too. We both agreed that the hummus was the best we'd tasted and even their pita seemed better than most!

Pros: decor,wine,hummus

Posted 04/09/09

I've never been too much of a chocolate person, but I think that was before I had chocolate with wine. I took my girlfriend to this place for her birthday, thinking that their Mediterranean menu looked cool and that the wine/chocolate combo would be something she'd love. She liked it, but I was the one that was more impressed, oddly enough. They have a very notable wine list, with a lot of greats and some I didn't recognize. we tried a nice bottle that the owner suggested. A blend I'd never heard of by a winery I ddin't know, some French wine, and it was truly amazing. I am a bit of a wino so I'm picky about my wines and this was a good one. The menu is great and there is a lot of variety. It's mostly Mediterranean, and a real good cross-section too. Definitely French and Italian inspired with some hints of Turkish in there as well (the owners are Turkish). Their hummus is delightful and the white truffle pizza was like nothing I'd ever tasted. I had the filet, which was good, though I feel like I should have gone with something a little different -- my girlfrineds bass was fantastic and their chicken had this lavender sauce that sounded really unique. But hte highlight ended up being dessert. We went with the six chocolates and a flight of sweet wines. It seemed a little pricey for the tiny chocolates, but I guess the wine along with it made it a deal. THe got milk truffle was my favorite (I love cognac) but my girlfriend liked the white chocolate love bg. And they went so well with the wines. they have a white port that is like nothing I"ve had before -- amazing.

Pros: bar,menu,wine

Posted 04/08/09

New York City has its share of wine bars, but this is one of the best. They have such a great wine list -- selections from all over and good options to fit every udget, and a pretty unbeatable menu too, it's mostly a French and Mediterranean restuarant, but there are flashes of all sorts of other things thrown in. It's great because they don't confine themselves to one food type so the focus is really on quality food and great wine. The design is awesome sleek and modern and though they leave the lights dimmed, there is lots of soft, flattering lighting as well. Im a real foodie and I cant stop going back to Ayza. I love that they have a menu of staples, but change out key items with the seasons. They have a great selection of wines by the glass and the service is always really good -- not only fast but friendly. They also have a private room -- I just hosted my brother's birthday there and it was perfect -- everyone thought it was a ht.

Pros: huge menu,price

Cons: What are the drawbacks?

Posted 04/08/09

I love their superb wine list, but their cocktails arealso fantastic and some are so unique. Tt?s great for a girls' night but it's also really romantic too. Not to mention that they have a nice outdoor patio which is so great on warm days. The people are really nice -- we had this server who made some fantastic recommendations, and event old us what she liked and flavor combinations that worekd. Now that's dedication and knowledge. The presentation on everything was just gorgeous. We got these shrimp dimplings which were served in this pretty little dish over seaweed. You can just tell that they pay attention to the little important details, which I love.

Pros: wine list,cocktails,service,food

Cons: What are the drawbacks?

Posted 03/17/09

I love this wine bar. There is a selfish part of me that doesn't even want to write this reivew -- I'd like to keep it for myself. But since it's already pretty crowded at peak hours, I guess the secret is out, and it should be. This is one of the best wine bars in New York. They have great Mediterranean food, and it' nice because there is a good variety. While the entrees are fantastic, there is also a huge menu of yummy saladas and appetizers so it's great for sharing. The atmosphere is really romanitc, though sometimes I'll come by myself and just eat at the bar. Really, I gues it's the best of all worlds :) I've gone so much that some of the staff now know me, which makes it even nicer. It's just a really great place and it seems to continue getting better. I've really liked watching it grow and it seems that they don't miss anything -- the littlest detials are all impeccably accounted for.

Pros: large menu,Mediterranean food

Cons: none

Posted 03/11/09

Liked the Place; not the big thing though but still.Nice wine list & food. I think I saw the chef on the Tv. Last week on Chopped. Service ok; I've been in better places. Its too romantic for my type. Prices bit high for the area.

Posted 03/10/09

Murray Hill just got a little cooler. I know that sholdn't take much, but it's now home to one of my favorite wine bars in New York. Ayza is really incredibly cool. They have a huge, all-star wine list and a great menu of dishes that truly complement the wines on offer. I've been a few times now and there isn't anything I've tried that I haven't liked.. Excellent food, great wine, yummy chocolate. It's a great place for a night out with friends but it's also swank and romantic for that special someone as well. And the desserts are unbelieveably. The last time I was there, we just did dessert and we went all the way -- special cockatails (which come with a truffle, so precious) and two desserts. They have this crepes cake thing that is unbelievable. I don't even know how to describe it, you just have to try it.

Posted 03/09/09

This place is just fun and hip andI like the whole wine pairing aspect of it. I don't know much about wines but I do know about cheese so I just go backwards, pick my cheese and then pick my pairings from there. I wishe they would expand the cheese list though. They have some good ones but there are some others that would really add to it. Anyways, I like all the other food I've tried too. They have this mushroom appetizer that's like a pizza on pita bread and covered in mushorooms -- it's really really tasty. I'm not much of a dessert person but my gf always loves to order, so we tried the crepe cake here and it made me a dessert persson. It was that good. And the staff are really nice, but sometimes i feel like they are just a little too nice. It's cool when they come and talk to you but sometimes they want to talk a little too much.

Pros: wine pairings,cheese list

Cons: talkative staff

Posted 03/09/09

I had a friend visiting from San Fran and we have this running joke about which of our cities has the better food (New york, of course). Anywayz, she's always making fun of the fact that there are so many wine bars in NYC, so I threw her off by bringing her here. She was like, you're taking me to a wine bar, but when we got there she had to admit I was right. It blew her away., She loved the cool desgin and wanted to order just about everthing on the menu. They have a lot of good Cali wines, so of course she was a fan of that as well, though she ended up choosing the Malbec on ec from the watiress, who was awesome. Thanks Ayza for helping me win!

Pros: wine,design

Posted 03/08/09

I consider myself a New York wine bar connoisseur and was really looking foared to this place, but it didn't quite live up. It should feel romantic, but it's too noisy to be so, and the tables are relaly close together so you feel like you're dining with the people next to you. The wine list is nice, but they could use a bigger cheese list -- I mean, what's a wine bar without a supberb cheese menu. Plus it gets too crowded and waiting for the bathroom is like standing in the middle of traffic. My molten cake arrived with the middle still cold. then it took a really long time to get another one, and trying to get coffee took forever. I think there is definite potential but they have some things to fix.

Pros: wine

Cons: noisy,small

Posted 03/08/09