Aroma Kitchen & Wine Bar

(212) 375-0100

36 E 4th St
New York, NY 10003 40.7274 -73.9922

Get Map & Directions »

Neighborhoods: NoHo, Downtown

AROMANYC.COM

Price:

$$$

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Romantic Dining, Outdoor Dining, Private Rooms, Lunch Spot, Group Dining, Happy Hour, Dine At The Bar, Bar Scene, Notable Wine List, Prix Fixe Menu

Cuisine:

Italian

What People Are Saying About Aroma Kitchen & Wine Bar

Featured Review

Kathleen Squires

Contributor

The Scene – There's a reason that the candlelit, brick-lined space is dominated by a giant, petrified wood bar: The friendly hosts Alexandra Degiorgio and Vito Polosa want you to enjoy their selection of Italian wines as much as they do. But they are happy to share their suggestions even if you choose to sit at one of the handful of wooden tables. Sunny yellow walls and sidewalk tables give the tiny front room a breezy feel; a walk through the subterranean kitchen reveals a second hidden room. – – The Food – The dishes emphasize light and nimble seasonal flavorings in…

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
Ask about wine pairings; Polosa's recommendations heighten each dish.
When to Go:
The wine bar also offers "aperitivo" Monday through Friday from 4pm to 7pm, featuring three flights and unlimited antipasti for $15.
Prix Fixe Menus:
On Sundays, the restaurant offers a three-course prix-fixe for $25, accompanied by live guitar. On Mondays, there's a five-course prix-fixe for $30.
Group Dining:
The downstairs "Farmhouse" dining room is perfect for group meals.
ambiance
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. Our table was the worst location (the other two large tables -- just inside the front door
  2. One could actually propose under these romantic conditions.
  3. Very romantic place
  4. The food was incredible along with the service and atmosphere!
  5. Overall the food was pretty good, the atmosphere convivial and intimate(but in a friendly way more than a romantic one), and the service thorough, knowledgeable, and pleasant.
  6. All of the necessary attributes for a romantic experience are not only present at Aroma, but handled to perfection.
  7. Thanks Alexandra and Vito for all of the good times/great food/fun evenings!
  8. place where there's great wine, great food, and owners that feel like old friends, and a place that's equally fun to go alone as it is to bring friends.
  9. But surprise I was very impress with the atmosphere and how friendly people are.
  10. In a city full of restaurants that act like they are doing you a favor by allowing you to eat there this was a quiet and cozy dining experience with great food, wine and service.
  11. The small cozy space presents a nice escape to the grind of the city.
  12. The room was cozy, intimate, and spacious enough for everyone to move around and enjoy themselves.
dessert
96.66999816894531% positive
  1. The food its delicious and the desserts are out of this world and the wine menus its very good.
  2. I had the most satisfying dish of lamb in a long time, the shoulder cake what a delicious idea with mush potato layer, Alicia went for the cod, crispy and great citrus flavor.
  3. The food is exquisite, and the desserts are amazing.
  4. Alexandra and Vito were extraordinary hosts going out of their way to special order a case of our favorite wine, allow us to order from the full menu, and bake 2 fabulous birthday cakes.
  5. We had a birthday dinner downstairs in the gorgeous private room, Vito brought us wine selections and basically provided a private tasting and descriptions and insight into the different wines which the guests loved, we had great cheese plates to start an
  6. The freshness of every ingredient of every dish combined with the chef's clearly skilled hand results in superb and original appetizers, entrees and desserts.
  7. The desserts are divine and to be shared.
  8. just went this past sunday, tomato-garlic soup, delicious pasta dish, creme brulee desert yummm.
  9. For dessert, I had the homemade assortment of sorbet - refreshing, tasty, like nothing I have had before!
  10. My duck salad was savory and the chocolate ravioli intense, and my friend (who's rarely happy after a meal) kept saying how great the veal was, and what a wondeful meal in whole.
drinks
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. Excellent Food; Great wine and Service
  2. We had glasses of the least expensive red wine on the menu ($8) and it was excellent, rich and smooth.
  3. The food is excellent prices are good and the service is ultra attentive, the wine list is a delight.
  4. Every time I go there, the staff is helpful, knowledgeable and so nice, the food is delightful and the wine list.
  5. This is a great spot whether to savor a full meal or to just sip some fine wines and nibble on aperitifs.
  6. place where there's great wine, great food, and owners that feel like old friends, and a place that's equally fun to go alone as it is to bring friends.
  7. It was a warm day and we had walked quite a few blocks so the water and the rose and white wines were very enjoyable.
  8. Vito recommended 3 different wines (all reasonably priced) and all were perfect with the accompanying dishes.
  9. And, if you love coffee, their espresso and cappuccino are some of the best I've ever tasted.
  10. The food was amazing, our waitress was very helpful and chatty, the wine was a delight-- they even gave us our own room so we could have some privacy.
  11. There were more ridiculous comments as to why we were so wrong about the wine, but after about 20 minutes of this, we decided to leave.
  12. Eight of us went to celebrate my dad's 80th and sat at one of the few tables (not nibbles and wine at the bar) on a Sunday evening.
  13. Just sit at the bar and sip some amazing Italian wines.
  14. An intimate vibe, candle lit booths, expansive wine list, and a creative (not to mention delectable) menu lay the groundwork for a memorable evening.
  15. Alexandra and Vito were extraordinary hosts going out of their way to special order a case of our favorite wine, allow us to order from the full menu, and bake 2 fabulous birthday cakes.
  16. They do have excellent wines though, possibly if you enjoy many flights of fancy you won't notice that the cuisine is boring?
  17. The food its delicious and the desserts are out of this world and the wine menus its very good.
  18. The separate downstairs dining room is down a narrow flight of stairs and through part of the kitchen, and it is a beautiful wine cellar, with the bottles on one wall and a long table in the middle, it looks like a lovely place to have a dinner party.
  19. didnt know anything about wines but I got to try different wines from different places it was very cool!
  20. unbelieveably good wines for the prices.
  21. The wine list is unusual and a refreshing twist from the typical Californian varieties seen everywhere else.
  22. found my night filled with great food and great wine.
  23. it's my new favorite place in my neighborhood to go for dinner or just a glass of wine.
  24. Food and wines are superb.
  25. The wine list's depth is amazing, and so are the reasonable prices.
  26. Amazing food, amazing wine, amazing service
  27. BEST wines for the price anywhere; food is like being in europe
  28. The wine was good, though completely off the mark in what our server had described.
  29. Rose the bar waitress was attentive and provided us with a couple of other dining establishment that we tried before the weekend was complete.
  30. The food as well as the wines were absolutely fabulous.
  31. great care is chosen with the wine list and while the wines are a bit pricey seem to be an upscale option if you are into that sort of thing.
  32. Ah, yes, excellent wine selections allow one to travel Italian regions without leaving one's seat.
  33. Yup, go have wonderful selections of wine and finger foods.
  34. Highly recommended for small or large parties if you are looking for gracious hosts, amazing food and of course fabulous wine.
  35. just be sure to sit at the beautiful bar and leave your upturned noses in the upper east side (see previous two reviews).
  36. Food and wine were delicious.
  37. In a city full of restaurants that act like they are doing you a favor by allowing you to eat there this was a quiet and cozy dining experience with great food, wine and service.
  38. Simply put, the food and wine are fantastic and the servers are a delight.
  39. The food was excellent--the recommendations of the wine steward were fantastic (and he didn't try to push the most expensive wines on the list on us, actually recommending one of the cheaper whites).
  40. Amazing wine!
  41. Vito chose excellent red and white wines for us, and Kristy (I think that was her name), our server, was extremely helpful and competent.
  42. went with my mom and boyfriend and we enjoyed the atomosphere, the really special wine list, and the food was delicious!
  43. Ask Vito to recommend a wine; he gave us several winers.
  44. Steaming little glorious plates of fresh pasta and appetizers with accents like truffle oil and gorgonzola seem to mysteriously materialize from behind the bar, popping up in the middle of conversation or between sips of montepulciano or full bodied barol
  45. My friend Peter took me to this lovely small winebar, he wanted to talk to me about his recent trip in Bhutan, he wanted to accompany his wonderful stories with a remarkable wine list and a tangibly tasty food.
  46. Although the food and wine is quite nice, Aroma misses the mark on customer service.
  47. We had a birthday dinner downstairs in the gorgeous private room, Vito brought us wine selections and basically provided a private tasting and descriptions and insight into the different wines which the guests loved, we had great cheese plates to start an
  48. the attention to detail has turned this tiny space into an amazing place to dine, or just have a drink.
food quality
93.24000358581543% positive
  1. went with my mom and boyfriend and we enjoyed the atomosphere, the really special wine list, and the food was delicious!
  2. The food is yummy and interesting, the vibe was low key on a Thursday night but still busy.
  3. The food was poor, at least what I tasted.
  4. found my night filled with great food and great wine.
  5. The freshness of every ingredient of every dish combined with the chef's clearly skilled hand results in superb and original appetizers, entrees and desserts.
  6. The poached eggs were done perfectly, slightly cooked with a warm runny center.
  7. Perfect food is hard to find but when a place is small, I've always found the food to be extra good and Aroma doesn't disappoint.
  8. The food was amazing, our waitress was very helpful and chatty, the wine was a delight-- they even gave us our own room so we could have some privacy.
  9. Amazing food, amazing wine, amazing service
  10. The food as well as the wines were absolutely fabulous.
  11. Ok, yes I'm selective- I want great food with excellent service- we found neither.
  12. The food was fantastic, all 4 of us were happy with both our entrees and our appetizers.
  13. Great food, friendly owners and staff, would like to return
  14. The place is SUPER tiny, the photo above is deceptive, but IF it had great food that wouldn't keep me away.
  15. Food was fresh yet dull, especially for the price ($12-14 appetizers; $22-$27 entrees).
  16. Vito recommended 3 different wines (all reasonably priced) and all were perfect with the accompanying dishes.
  17. Everything we tried was really fresh and flavorful.
  18. Every course was delicious!
  19. Wonder if the place was double in size if the food would still be excellent.
  20. Although the food and wine is quite nice, Aroma misses the mark on customer service.
  21. Absolutely delicious food - charming space
  22. The service was impeccable, the food was outstanding, and as the clouds opened up outside the owner even gave us a spare umbrella to use to walk outside with.
  23. Highly recommended for small or large parties if you are looking for gracious hosts, amazing food and of course fabulous wine.
  24. The duck salad, beet lasagna bolognese, and orecchiette are fantastic.
  25. The greens for the salads were garden fresh, the pasta is made on the premises, and when we asked for a special order of a lamb chop with mashed potatoes and sauteed vegetable it came out just right.
  26. Steaming little glorious plates of fresh pasta and appetizers with accents like truffle oil and gorgonzola seem to mysteriously materialize from behind the bar, popping up in the middle of conversation or between sips of montepulciano or full bodied barol
  27. We live in the neighborhood and eat at Aroma about once a week - the food is amazing (probably one of the top five meals I've had in my life).
  28. Fantastic and innovative menu (the taste menu a great bargain, pasta dishes amazing),.
  29. The food was incredible along with the service and atmosphere!
  30. Every time I go there, the staff is helpful, knowledgeable and so nice, the food is delightful and the wine list.
  31. All the food was wonderful, especially the duck salad, roast lamb, bolognese and tuna tartare special.
  32. place where there's great wine, great food, and owners that feel like old friends, and a place that's equally fun to go alone as it is to bring friends.
  33. Was it a horrible meal -- no.
  34. BEST wines for the price anywhere; food is like being in europe
  35. The duck salad is out of this world and the lamb is superb.
  36. I had the most satisfying dish of lamb in a long time, the shoulder cake what a delicious idea with mush potato layer, Alicia went for the cod, crispy and great citrus flavor.
  37. The food is fresh, the ingredients high quality, and the menu diverse and seasonal.
  38. The food was delicious--best Italian I've had in the city.
  39. They do have excellent wines though, possibly if you enjoy many flights of fancy you won't notice that the cuisine is boring?
  40. The food is not too good unless you like chuck wagons.
  41. Amazing food!
  42. ..Warm beets salad with gorgonzola delicious little balls.
  43. In a city full of restaurants that act like they are doing you a favor by allowing you to eat there this was a quiet and cozy dining experience with great food, wine and service.
  44. The food is excellent prices are good and the service is ultra attentive, the wine list is a delight.
  45. The food was excellent--the recommendations of the wine steward were fantastic (and he didn't try to push the most expensive wines on the list on us, actually recommending one of the cheaper whites).
  46. Thanks Alexandra and Vito for all of the good times/great food/fun evenings!
  47. The seasonal soup had stringy parsnip fibers that the food processor didn't finish; my Orechette with sausage, broccoli rabe and other items was dry and had nothing to bind it
  48. amazing food, everyone at table loved it!
  49. This is a great spot whether to savor a full meal or to just sip some fine wines and nibble on aperitifs.
  50. After trying it out, I'm thrilled that the food is excellent and at a great price.
  51. would recommend Aroma to anyone that wants an amazing dinning experience along with real authentic food!
  52. Overall the food was pretty good, the atmosphere convivial and intimate(but in a friendly way more than a romantic one), and the service thorough, knowledgeable, and pleasant.
  53. just went this past sunday, tomato-garlic soup, delicious pasta dish, creme brulee desert yummm.
  54. rarely write reviews, but felt compelled to do this one because of the incredible service and food we experienced that day.
  55. The food was delicious from the olives, meat, and cheese plate to the meatball appetizers or the gnocchi with mushroom appetizer, or the veal chop special, everything was perfectly seasoned and a treat for the taste buds.
  56. For dessert, I had the homemade assortment of sorbet - refreshing, tasty, like nothing I have had before!
  57. My duck salad was savory and the chocolate ravioli intense, and my friend (who's rarely happy after a meal) kept saying how great the veal was, and what a wondeful meal in whole.
  58. the staff is great and so is the food.
  59. The food its delicious and the desserts are out of this world and the wine menus its very good.
  60. Food and wine were delicious.
  61. But overall the food really was great!
  62. Simply put, the food and wine are fantastic and the servers are a delight.
  63. My friend Peter took me to this lovely small winebar, he wanted to talk to me about his recent trip in Bhutan, he wanted to accompany his wonderful stories with a remarkable wine list and a tangibly tasty food.
  64. The food is exquisite, and the desserts are amazing.
  65. We loved everything we ate from the fresh organic mesclun salad to the meatballs and the monkfish with a delicious sardinian pasta in a light lobster broth.
  66. The food was exquisite.
  67. Deserts were fresh, interesting and homemade as well.
  68. (Vito) mantra is that good food is all about the balance - and of course - the freshness of the ingredients.
  69. Spend your dollars elsewhere to get a fabulous meal.
menu variety
78.79000186920166% positive
  1. The food is fresh, the ingredients high quality, and the menu diverse and seasonal.
  2. Ah, yes, excellent wine selections allow one to travel Italian regions without leaving one's seat.
  3. Yup, go have wonderful selections of wine and finger foods.
  4. Fantastic and innovative menu (the taste menu a great bargain, pasta dishes amazing),.
  5. The food its delicious and the desserts are out of this world and the wine menus its very good.
  6. We had glasses of the least expensive red wine on the menu ($8) and it was excellent, rich and smooth.
  7. An intimate vibe, candle lit booths, expansive wine list, and a creative (not to mention delectable) menu lay the groundwork for a memorable evening.
  8. It's not a huge menu but there's plenty of choice of panini, pastas and salads.
  9. The wine list is unusual and a refreshing twist from the typical Californian varieties seen everywhere else.
  10. Alexandra and Vito were extraordinary hosts going out of their way to special order a case of our favorite wine, allow us to order from the full menu, and bake 2 fabulous birthday cakes.
  11. We had a birthday dinner downstairs in the gorgeous private room, Vito brought us wine selections and basically provided a private tasting and descriptions and insight into the different wines which the guests loved, we had great cheese plates to start an
overall
100.0% positive
  1. feel good place.
  2. And, they have lowered prices, making it truly a good first date place.
  3. great 'neighborhood' italian place.
  4. Overall, I'd say this is my favorite restaurant in NYC at the moment - and I recommend it highly.
  5. place where there's great wine, great food, and owners that feel like old friends, and a place that's equally fun to go alone as it is to bring friends.
  6. Aroma is what makes NYC such a great place to live//well done to Vito and Alexandra.
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. We all love the place and will def be back.
  2. Great food, friendly owners and staff, would like to return
service
97.22000122070312% positive
  1. Amazing food, amazing wine, amazing service
  2. We had a very nice dinner here which was enhanced by the charm of the intimate front room, the friendliness of the owners and attentiveness of the staff.
  3. Every time I go there, the staff is helpful, knowledgeable and so nice, the food is delightful and the wine list.
  4. the staff is great and so is the food.
  5. Our bill was less then $ 150 with tip ,we had a great time, very good service a gracious host that showed us the downstairs with a communal table.
  6. The servers are pleasant and attentive.
  7. Although the food and wine is quite nice, Aroma misses the mark on customer service.
  8. Rose the bar waitress was attentive and provided us with a couple of other dining establishment that we tried before the weekend was complete.
  9. couldn't recommend better service for those who enjoy eating while a neurotic waiter and owner stand over you and breath down your neck.
  10. Good service, & Alexandra arranged everything for us fabulously.
  11. Ok, yes I'm selective- I want great food with excellent service- we found neither.
  12. Food was excellent and service was outstanding.
  13. Simply put, the food and wine are fantastic and the servers are a delight.
  14. The event planner Allene was absolutely amazing and beyond accommodating and friendly!
  15. The wine was good, though completely off the mark in what our server had described.
  16. But surprise I was very impress with the atmosphere and how friendly people are.
  17. Alexandra and Vito are like your friendly neighbors that you always enjoy seeing.
  18. Great Service, attentive staff,
  19. Great food, friendly owners and staff, would like to return
  20. Small intimate restaurant with excellent friendly service.
  21. Vito chose excellent red and white wines for us, and Kristy (I think that was her name), our server, was extremely helpful and competent.
  22. The service was impeccable, the food was outstanding, and as the clouds opened up outside the owner even gave us a spare umbrella to use to walk outside with.
  23. Their staff is great too.
  24. Service was attentive, gracious and friendly.
  25. The food was amazing, our waitress was very helpful and chatty, the wine was a delight-- they even gave us our own room so we could have some privacy.
  26. The food was incredible along with the service and atmosphere!
  27. The hostess its just a dear and the server are so helpful when I didnt know something.
  28. Pretty good intimate spot w/ friendly service
  29. But the owners and staff have always helped me through it, all the way to a good pour.
  30. In a city full of restaurants that act like they are doing you a favor by allowing you to eat there this was a quiet and cozy dining experience with great food, wine and service.
  31. The service was very good and made some outstanding recommendations.
  32. rarely write reviews, but felt compelled to do this one because of the incredible service and food we experienced that day.
  33. The food is excellent prices are good and the service is ultra attentive, the wine list is a delight.
  34. The service is friendly, warm, and attentive.
  35. The waiter was very attentive and friendly.
  36. Overall the food was pretty good, the atmosphere convivial and intimate(but in a friendly way more than a romantic one), and the service thorough, knowledgeable, and pleasant.
value
79.7599983215332% positive
  1. And, they have lowered prices, making it truly a good first date place.
  2. The wine list's depth is amazing, and so are the reasonable prices.
  3. The food is excellent prices are good and the service is ultra attentive, the wine list is a delight.
  4. After trying it out, I'm thrilled that the food is excellent and at a great price.
  5. Oh, and the prices are reasonable as well.
  6. It's not a huge menu but there's plenty of choice of panini, pastas and salads.
  7. Food was fresh yet dull, especially for the price ($12-14 appetizers; $22-$27 entrees).
  8. BEST wines for the price anywhere; food is like being in europe
  9. unbelieveably good wines for the prices.
  10. We had glasses of the least expensive red wine on the menu ($8) and it was excellent, rich and smooth.
  11. The food was excellent--the recommendations of the wine steward were fantastic (and he didn't try to push the most expensive wines on the list on us, actually recommending one of the cheaper whites).
  12. Spend your dollars elsewhere to get a fabulous meal.
  13. great care is chosen with the wine list and while the wines are a bit pricey seem to be an upscale option if you are into that sort of thing.
  14. Wine pairing at it's best, with a price tag that is palatable to boot!
wait time
80.0% positive
  1. and for a long time have thought that the city's best chefs begin their careers in the east and west village.
  2. Although brand brand new (i went before it had been open 2 weeks), Aroma is single handedly the best italian dining and wining experience I've had in downtown manhattan in a long time.
  3. There were more ridiculous comments as to why we were so wrong about the wine, but after about 20 minutes of this, we decided to leave.
  4. I had the most satisfying dish of lamb in a long time, the shoulder cake what a delicious idea with mush potato layer, Alicia went for the cod, crispy and great citrus flavor.
  5. The separate downstairs dining room is down a narrow flight of stairs and through part of the kitchen, and it is a beautiful wine cellar, with the bottles on one wall and a long table in the middle, it looks like a lovely place to have a dinner party.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/12/10

Aroma ROCKS!

by Amanda80

I planned my best friends bachelorette dinner at Aroma and couldn't have been happier. The event planner Allene was absolutely amazing and beyond accommodating and friendly! The event was this past weekend and it was FLAWLESS! The food was incredible along with the service and atmosphere! I would recommend Aroma to anyone that wants an amazing dinning experience along with real authentic food! I can't put into words how marvelous the staff was! I look forward to planning another event or going for dinner!

  • Pros: Stellar customer service
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/22/09

Aroma for New Year's Eve

by Claire7

I took some friends to Aroma few weeks ago, it was such a great evening! Every time I go there, the staff is helpful, knowledgeable and so nice, the food is delightful and the wine list.. fabulous!

I just learned they offer early and late seating menus for New Year's Eve that sound delicious.. The perfect time to try it!

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/04/08

Trendy Restaurant

by amydams

I took a friend here for his birthday and had a lovely experience! We went on a Fri night so the place was busy. Atmosphere is trendy and charming without being pretentious or over done. The dim lighting and decor add a nice touch. Service was good but not great. I felt like they could have showed a bit more attention for the prices. But overall the food really was great! I highly recommend trying it for yourself :)

  • Pros: food,
  • Cons: service
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/16/08

Amazing wine! Amazing food!

by elsabean52

Very intimate setting (read: very small!), but cozy and great decor. I went with my mom and boyfriend and we enjoyed the atomosphere, the really special wine list, and the food was delicious! I keep dreaming about the gnocci/lamb dish I had. Sooo good! I highly recommend this restaurant. Oh, and the prices are reasonable as well.

  • Pros: Great atomosphere, wine and food
  • Cons: A bit too small/tight
4 Star Rating: Recommended

08/10/08

quaint place..good expereince

by trexx102

On our most recent trip to NYC my wife and i stopped in Aromas for a late lunch. It was a warm day and we had walked quite a few blocks so the water and the rose and white wines were very enjoyable. I had veal meatballs in a red suace that was excellent. The wife had artichoke parmesan which she continues to rave about. These were small dishes which was what we were looking for and really hot the spot. Rose the bar waitress was attentive and provided us with a couple of other dining establishment that we tried before the weekend was complete. We plan to return for the Sunday brunch on our next visit!

The Details on Aroma Kitchen & Wine Bar

Place Categories:

  • great food
  • friendly service
  • great wine
  • great first date place
  • great staff
  • attentive server
  • creative menu
  • favorite restaurant
  • reasonable prices
  • intimate room
  • best sunday brunch
  • homemade deserts
  • most satisfying pasta dish
  • always happy lovely couple vito
  • divine desserts
  • loved everything
  • original appetizers
  • full meal
  • outstanding recommendations
  • always happy alexandra
  • great overall italian
  • not too good food
  • wonderful culinary experience
  • warm elegant treasure
  • memorable entire evening

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