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Centro Vinoteca
74 Seventh Ave. South, New York, NY, 10014
nr. Barrow St.
212-367-7470
| 6.3 | "Mixed Reviews" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10 |  |
Really, Anne Burrell? Leah Cohen? Whoever's in charge here??
aow from 10011 | Posted on 9/14/09
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200 words can't even begin to cover how terrible my experience was. Seated almost an hour after our reservation, bartenders, servers, hostess, and manager were rude and inattentive, and we were served straight-up raw chicken. Do not bother!
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Skimpy portions, horrible manager and mediocre overpriced food
GGKatusha from 10006 | Posted on 8/11/09
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Don't waste your money here. For starters, if you are looking for a reasonably priced place with an actual regular portion size, I would NOT recommend going here. My friend and I got the cod and it was a tiny piece of fish in water, tomato water with no flavor and 4 cherry tomato halfs. The sides were not offered on the menu as an a la carte. We explicitly asked what came with the entree, the waitress didn't know and didnt offer us sides. We were really left hungry and felt like we over payed and then when we complained to the manager, he just said, well yeah that's the menu. his hospitality skills were in the negative.He didnt' offer to comp our side dish or make up for the bad service in any way. sucks going to a restaurant where I feel like they cheat you and don't even try to make up for it.
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what happened?
qusiesue from 10014 | Posted on 8/10/09
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i've been to centro vinoteca many times... i actually live across the street, so it's mostly out of laziness... but seems i'm going to have to put in a little more effort in the future, b/c this place is just not as good as it used to be. their wine list is exceptional and i love the quartino carafes they use (for a glass and a half), but the food is just... mediocre. i love the green pea ravioli, but when i had it last, the pasta seemed not as fresh and, to be honest, not cooked all the way through! (i like al dente, but these were actually crispy.) also, our service was very slow although there was practically no one in the place. i'm gonna put this one on the bench for now, maybe it'll look better next season.
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Pleasant surprise
foodieQ from 10011 | Posted on 6/24/09
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The vibrant crowd, often too noisy by the bar kept me away from this place for several months since they opened, but my first meal was a pleasant surprise. The rich hamachi served on top of lightly seared foie gras was balanced perfectly with sweet and sour muscat grapes. The Ravioli stuffed with English Pea on the other hand was a dish I enjoyed with the nose, peas and truffles. Their wine selection is also as eclectic as the decor.
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Good Lunch Prix Fixe
JCity from 07306 | Posted on 5/12/09
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I recently went for lunch and had the prix fixe - which was a good value (appetizer, main, and dessert for $19). The constant subway vibration was a bit strange and also there was a food tour going on at the same time but the service was good, food was tasty (the chips were a little over done), portion size was good, will probably go back.
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Appalling time management, good food
Jesster from 10014 | Posted on 3/17/09
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Went on a recent Saturday, and had made a reservation for 6 people at 9pm in advance. I live very close to the restaurant, and called to let them know we would be running 15 minutes late, which they said was not a problem. When we arrived, the host and hostess said our table would be ready shortly. After half an hour, when I asked about the timing, they amazingly blamed me for showing up late. We were finally seated around 10:30 with minimal apologies. They gave us 3 free piccolinis, which showed up on the bill and I had to ask them about it. The waitress herself was great, and the food didn't disappoint. Fun seeing Leah from Top Chef working very hard as well. Simply awful time management service from the host/hostess given I called in advance, they thanked me for letting them know at the time, but then had to wait 75 minutes before being seated. I like everything about this place, but will probably never go back given my recent experience. There are too many amazing full package restaurants in the area to put up with such abysmal service.
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A "Top" Experience
WhitneyB from 30601 | Posted on 3/4/09
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As a devoted fan of "Top Chef" I was very excited to visit Centro Vinoteca last weekend with two friends on a trip to NYC. Even though Chef Leah Cohen was not there, the experience was still great. The dark decor and dim lights provided for a nice, cozy atmosphere. We ended up eating at the bar where the bartenders were very friendly and knowledgeable about the food and drinks. We decided to just get a bunch of dishes and share them. The deviled eggs (which I am not usually a fan of, but was glad I succumbed to trying), the squash ravioli, and the skate were among our favorites. But, the cookies with caramel sauce we had for dessert were even more amazing. They were the perfect combination of salty and sweet. Overall, it was a wonderful night had by all and I will definitely return on my next trip to the city.
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great food - loud space
poochbehrens from 91311 | Posted on 2/5/09
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I thought the food was fantastic. A little too loud, but I'm older and less appreciative of that kind of exuberance. The service was a little slow, but that (to me) came with the territory. I got the feeling that, they wanted me to stay and enjoy... and, enjoy, I DID! I would absolutely go back and I would also recommend it to friends... with the proviso that others found it lacking. However, bottom line, I ate like a pig, and enjoyed every morsel. Maybe next time, though, I'd go with people I didn't need to hear, or I'd bring personal "cones of silence." Is that showing my age?
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Awful Service, Awful Food
arts10022 from 10022 | Posted on 1/5/09
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Rachel Maddow, why would you eat here? The waiter did not know the wine list (the restaurant was out of our first choice) or the specials. The piccolinis lacked any distinction. The skate and cod were served over the same puddle of mashed potatoes. Everything was fried to an indigestible crisp. To add insult to injury, we were seated between a toddler wielding a beeping electronic toy and a group of young woman taking flash photos of themselves, their food, and everyone around them. Awful, just awful. We could not get out of this restaurant fast enough. The kitchen and staff have a long way to go in providing an enjoyable environment and cuisine to match.
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Comfortable, vibrant addition to the neighborhood
linrtt from 10036 | Posted on 8/5/08
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This one hit the spot. I went after work on a Thursday, and even though we didn't have a reservation, the bar seating was immediately available for an enjoyable girls' night out. Our waitor was very attentive and accomodated to our indecisive ordering with incredible patience. We went with quartinos of wine (many to choose from and sample) and the piccolinis (small tapas plates). The truffled eggs, grilled shrimp and eggplant cakes are the big winners here. To top it all off, I loved the 80s music in the background. Would definitely come back here, although for a more private dinner, ask for a table upstairs...
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