Vintage Irving

(212) 677-6300

120 E 15th St
New York, NY 10003 40.734694 -73.988357

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Neighborhoods: Gramercy Park, Midtown

Price:

$$$

Last updated 12.22.09

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Discover, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Notable Beer List, Brunch, Private Rooms, Date Spot, Group Dining, Dine At The Bar, Notable Wine List

Cuisine:

Tapas / Small Plates

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Vintage Irving

Featured Review

Keith Wagstaff

Contributor

In Short – The crowd might be well-coiffed, but they come to this homey downtown restaurant and wine bar to kick back. Chef Jason Bunin has created an eclectic, European-influenced small plates menu featuring everything from bouillabaisse (with shrimp, clams, calamari and mussels) to shell steak to jelly doughnuts. Luckily, alcohol is not an afterthought; the restaurant boasts a selection 80 rotating wines, 26 craft beers, a variety of classic cocktails and an absinthe bar. The restaurant's offerings might be sophisticated, but exposed brick walls and an abundance of bar stools keep…

Editor's Tips

When to Go:
Ask about Vintage Irving's weekly tastings, hosted by sommeliers, guest chefs and mixologists in the private tasting room.
The Extras:
Chef Bunin puts together daily tasting menus, so you can try something new every time you visit.
What to Drink:
The recently legalized absinthe's strong anise flavor (like black licorice) might not be for everyone, but just telling people you've tried it is worth the risk.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “The food was great and the atmosphere was just my style- cute, cozy and warm.”
  2. “The exeprience was worth posting a review about so I would recommend this place to the average person who wanted great food, ambiance and service.”
  3. “This cozy place in the Union Sqaure area is my new favorite.”
  4. “This is a great, comfortable place to come and drink.”
  5. “The place looked so cozy and inviting that we had to walk in and check it out.”
dessert
0.0% positive
  1. “My crab cake benedict was mediocre at best and not once did anyone offer to refill my coffee.”
drinks
84.61999893188477% positive
  1. “unique beers I have never heard of.”
  2. “was walking around my neighborhood last night when I stumbled across this wonderful Wine bar.”
  3. “My crab cake benedict was mediocre at best and not once did anyone offer to refill my coffee.”
  4. “We ordered a bottle of this great New Zealand white wine "Crawford" and ordered a few sharing plates (meats & cheeses, lobster bisque, gnocchi, riceballs (lol citysearch didn't allow me to put b*lls as a word on its own -good job in a restaurant review!”
  5. “After two bottles of wine and a bunch of delicious plates, we head over to the after party at SIDEbar, which is located right next door.”
  6. “All of the dishes were great, and the waiter couldnt have been more helpful in picking out the wine (my friends and i are not exactly sommeliers, but we know what we like).”
  7. “Good beer and drinks for her too.”
  8. “This is a great, comfortable place to come and drink.”
  9. “If you like tapas and wine, this is definately your spot.”
  10. “If you love wine, this is the place to be.”
  11. “It took nearly thirty minutes to get a bottle of wine and a beer, and the food was just awful.”
  12. “The food and wine pairings are great for sharing.”
  13. “We were met by an amazing manager /host who conviced us to stay for a round of drinks before our movie.”
food quality
75.0% positive
  1. “The food was fantastic and the service was perfect.”
  2. “The exeprience was worth posting a review about so I would recommend this place to the average person who wanted great food, ambiance and service.”
  3. “All of the dishes were great, and the waiter couldnt have been more helpful in picking out the wine (my friends and i are not exactly sommeliers, but we know what we like).”
  4. “(tomatillo sauce was an unbelievable compliment), the scallops served over a potato salad (the creme fraiche with caviar was a good choice to serve with), and finally the doughnuts which were recommended by the wait staff.”
  5. “We had a meat and cheese plate to start paired with a nice pinot noir.”
  6. “it draws a good crowd, but isn't overly packed and the food is to die for (the chicken meatballs are insane).”
  7. “He was friendly and nice, but sadly the food was still pretty horrible.”
  8. “Crappy food, bad service, good luck keeping the doors open.”
  9. “It was delicious, unique, and overall a really great experience.”
  10. “It took nearly thirty minutes to get a bottle of wine and a beer, and the food was just awful.”
  11. “perfect texture and fresh taste.”
  12. “The food was great and the atmosphere was just my style- cute, cozy and warm.”
  13. “The whole food situation was just completely not up to the standard of any place I've been in New York except for one random awful place around Times Square.”
  14. “Food was great, shared cheese platter, olives, seared scallops, truffled chicken meatballs and rice rounds All excellent!”
  15. “The condiments served with the meat and cheese were excellent.”
  16. “The food and wine pairings are great for sharing.”
  17. “We ordered a bottle of this great New Zealand white wine "Crawford" and ordered a few sharing plates (meats & cheeses, lobster bisque, gnocchi, riceballs (lol citysearch didn't allow me to put b*lls as a word on its own -good job in a restaurant review!”
  18. “My crab cake benedict was mediocre at best and not once did anyone offer to refill my coffee.”
  19. “would never order food there again.”
  20. “After two bottles of wine and a bunch of delicious plates, we head over to the after party at SIDEbar, which is located right next door.”
  21. “have dined here for dinner a few times and thought the experience was good, but until they get more waitservers and fix up the brunch food, I won't be going back.”
  22. “Great food, great time here.”
overall
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. “This is a great, comfortable place to come and drink.”
  2. “Last Saturday I took a first date to Vintage Irving because I read about it in the paper- It turned out to be a lucky move because it was a good place to bring a girl.”
  3. “They never rush you out, and it is such a great place to sit and chat.”
  4. “In a city where you can find great restaurants everywhere this place was terrible.”
  5. “We ordered a bottle of this great New Zealand white wine "Crawford" and ordered a few sharing plates (meats & cheeses, lobster bisque, gnocchi, riceballs (lol citysearch didn't allow me to put b*lls as a word on its own -good job in a restaurant review!”
  6. “It's a great place and will continue to be one of my fave places in Manhattan!”
return potential
0.0% positive
  1. “Overall it was a very disappointing experience and I would not go back.”
service
80.0% positive
  1. “All of the dishes were great, and the waiter couldnt have been more helpful in picking out the wine (my friends and i are not exactly sommeliers, but we know what we like).”
  2. “My wife started to annoy the waiter to bring out the chef and hire me.”
  3. “The food was fantastic and the service was perfect.”
  4. “The waitress also recommended the gnocchi, which was by far the worst.”
  5. “The service was fantastic, which you would expect if they were filming!”
  6. “We were met by an amazing manager /host who conviced us to stay for a round of drinks before our movie.”
  7. “All in all, great time- nice staff.”
  8. “went back again a couple of months later and wondered if the service would be any less amazing and it wasnt!”
  9. “He was friendly and nice, but sadly the food was still pretty horrible.”
  10. “amazing service.”
  11. “(tomatillo sauce was an unbelievable compliment), the scallops served over a potato salad (the creme fraiche with caviar was a good choice to serve with), and finally the doughnuts which were recommended by the wait staff.”
  12. “The service was impeccable and I never felt rushed.”
  13. “The exeprience was worth posting a review about so I would recommend this place to the average person who wanted great food, ambiance and service.”
  14. “Crappy food, bad service, good luck keeping the doors open.”
  15. “was kindly greeted by an extremely warm and friendly staff.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “The exeprience was worth posting a review about so I would recommend this place to the average person who wanted great food, ambiance and service.”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “It took nearly thirty minutes to get a bottle of wine and a beer, and the food was just awful.”
  2. “The place is set up with long tables and everyone in the place was cool- it was a good ice breaker to share a bunch of different things with my date.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/12/09

One of my most favourite places!

by NikkiX

I have been to Vintage Irving a number of times and felt i had to write a review.

A friend of mine introduced me last year, when Zagat were filming the first televised version. We wasn't expecting there to be cameras but we did have to laugh! The service was fantastic, which you would expect if they were filming! The food and wine pairings are great for sharing.

I went back again a couple of months later and wondered if the service would be any less amazing and it wasnt! Once again my group was treated like we were the only group in the restaurant (the place was actually full this night!).

I have been back several times and have never once been disappointed. It's a great place and will continue to be one of my fave places in Manhattan!!

  • Pros: Staff, food, wine
1 Star Rating: Poor

06/10/09

Brunch was not good

by eastcoastgirl

I never post reviews on citysearch, let alone negative ones, but my experience here warranted a review. I had looked at the menu a couple times for brunch and tried it out a couple sundays ago. Since I was solo, I sat at the bar and maybe that was the problem. It took about 15 minutes for anyone to even take my order or offer to get me anything to drink. I almost left. After finally taking my order it was at least another ten minutes until I got coffee. When the food arrived the potatos were burned right through - yuck. My crab cake benedict was mediocre at best and not once did anyone offer to refill my coffee. Overall it was a very disappointing experience and I would not go back. I have dined here for dinner a few times and thought the experience was good, but until they get more waitservers and fix up the brunch food, I won't be going back.

  • Pros: Great menu
  • Cons: Just ok food and slow service
3 Star Rating: Average

05/06/09

wonderful experience

by kimmaee

I had a wonderful experience at Vintage. The service was impeccable and I never felt rushed. We sampled the cocktails from their menu and they were awesome.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

04/21/09

20 Wines for $20--AMAZING

by JoeDee

The Thrillest posted a list on Vintage Irving and it sounded awesome so I checked it out. I urge you to do the same! The atmosphere is upscale and classy with a wine selection that will impress. The food is served tapa style and allows you to try so many different dishes (get the Duck Prosciutto). And if your into absinthe, this is yourplace

And 20 wines for $20 every month? Really? This is amazing! They have an amazing wine list so I will be checking this one out for sure on 4/27/09.

  • Pros: atmosphere, price, wines
  • Cons: What are the drawbacks?
4 Star Rating: Recommended

03/26/09

Great Small Plates, Wine and Beers

by jimbos1015

Service was efficient and very friendly. Food was great, shared cheese platter, olives, seared scallops, truffled chicken meatballs and rice rounds All excellent!

  • Pros: Good Food, reasonably priced, nice wine list
  • Cons: none

The Details on Vintage Irving

Place Categories:

  • great cozy place
  • great food
  • bad service
  • wonderful experience
  • great wine
  • awful place
  • nice staff
  • unique beers
  • great waiter couldnt
  • great small plates
  • good ice breaker
  • great restaurants
  • great ambiance
  • not good brunch
  • good crowd
  • barely warm actual gnocchi
  • annoy waiter
  • flat squares
  • like tapas
  • warm vibe
  • good drinks
  • fantastic joint
  • excellent condiments
  • amazing manager host
  • best meals
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