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Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar
April 21st, 2008
It’s undecided whether it was the inflated prices, laughably meager portions, or horrific service that made dinner on a beautiful Saturday evening at Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar worse. After reading about Ayza in a NY Times round up of wine bars in Manhattan I wondered to myself… “Why haven’t I heard of it?” Strange. The article discussed the flood of average, uninteresting wine bars in the city. I should have known. Nevertheless, I rounded up some friends to try it out with me, after looking at beautiful photos of the space and food online. Maybe it was a hidden gem?
Well, of course it wasn’t. The beautiful outdoor seating I saw on the web site is mainly directly underneath a vent from the kitchen which spews hot, food-smelling air onto the helpless diners. Our waitress was a disaster. After perusing the menu I asked if she preferred the Gruner Veltliner (Graf Hardegg’s 2006) or the Albarino (Morgadio Rias Baizas 2005). I wanted something crisp to kick off the evening. She nervously offered to ask the bartender. That’s fine for a regular restaurant, I don’t expect the waitresses to know every bottle. But if you’re a wine bar, you best train people so that they know the menu. I opted for the Albarino of my own accord.
After she opened and poured our first glasses, it seemed we were on our own to pour the rest. Long spaces of time would occur with no wine in our glass, she’d pass by, and no refill. We repeatedly took the bottle ourselves to pour, as other waitstaff walked by without noticing the mishap. We ordered a cheese plate ($18) which arrived no less than an hour later and consisted of 5 tiny slivers of cheese separated by 5 olives and no bread. I wish I had taken a picture of this thing! All we could do was laugh. Was I on boiling point again? A hummus appetizer was similar, a tiny ramekin of spread with 4 tiny pita toasts.
The manager came to our table and asked how things were going. I was frank, and explained the issues. He apologized disingenuously, then defended her saying she was under the impression that we were waiting for our entire party to arrive to bring the cheese. (A couple of friends were late) Had this been true, I would have acquiesced, but I had asked the waitress on two occasions if the cheese plate was ready. Obviously holding off on it was not our intention.
He made up for it by bringing some additional cheese and bread and doting on us when we ordered our second bottle, the Gruner, which was delicious. I still got the feeling that he didn’t get the problem though, and was merely placating me. Oh well. That will surely be my last visit to Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar (cheesy concept anyway).
Following our dinner, I Googled Ayza and remembered I had heard of it, it was featured in one of Eater’s beloved “Adventures in Shilling” columns, in which they point out restaurants that deceitfully advertise themselves on restaurant review web sites like Chowhound and Yelp, disguised as regular consumers. No wonder.
Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar: 11 West 31st Street
Cuisine: Wine Bar, Mediteranean
Average Entree Price: $15-$21
10 Responses to “Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar”
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I 100% thought that cheese plate was a joke when it first came out…the 4 slivers of cheese were so thin that they were see thru!
Get a life blog nazis!
Sofia Bradin
You must be wrong or in a bad mood when you came to this place.I think that for Ayza’s staff, the GENUINE care and comfort for the customers are their highest mission. I come often with friends and they really now about good wines and chiq places…..I assure you that they uses the finiest and freshest ingredients in all the plates, ambience in chiq,service in ok,the place is bit narrow,but still looking nice… but anyway, for me,sounds very ridiculous to make many bad comments of a place, better stay at home then if peopple can’t enjoy wherever they go. sorry for you.
ha, perfect shilling in action.
HAHA OMG is clau serious? Someone who doesn’t know the difference between the words “in” and “is” should not be writing blog posts. PERIOD.
Go back to school.
I heart shilling!
Hello again its me Clau….Yep I need to learn more english… of course that I know the difference between IN an IS … MR perfect. what is this? ….now Can you take me to school…then…this is completely funny. cheers !!! OMG…
Dearest Clau,
Your incoherent ramblings never cease to amaze me. Although I am happy to hear that you agree with me that you need to learn more english, and am thrilled that you are so eager to get to school that you’d ask a complete stranger to take you, I will have to respectfully decline your request. Perhaps one of your other friends can take you?
Love,
Mr. Perfect
DEAR Mr. Perfect……You are so cute…..Thanks for taking time to reply….you see, I have time for you too…..DOnt worry about taking me…. but I can teach you portugues…anytime….and we can have a good chat about good wines….here or in sao paulo…..take care funny boy….LOL
hahaha…Why don’t you focus on improving your restaurant rather than trying to improve negative comments made about it on the internet?
What kind of strategy is that?