- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Anfora
Categories: Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Restaurants Tapas/Small Plates Wine Bars, Tapas/Small Plates [Edit]
34 8th Ave(between Jane St & 12th St)
New York, NY 10014
Neighbourhood: West Village
(212) 518-2722
- Nearest Transit:
-
8 Av (L)
14 St (1, 2, 3)
14 St (A, C, E)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 2 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Music:
- Background
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
33 reviews for Anfora
Review Highlights
-
"great atmosphere and loved the comfy couches." In 4 reviews -
"...far was the ricotta, sea salt, and honey crostini, though..." In 4 reviews -
"...in the neighborhood and Anfora is my go to first date spot." In 3 reviews
Loading...
33 reviews in English
-
Review from ERICA E.
San Francisco, CA
2/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Super awesome bar next to a super awesome restaurant! We were recommended to check this place out. We had great nibbles nad suepr fab drinks. Had we know it was so amazing, we would have spent the entire night here and the next night at Dell'Amina!!
Sazerac for I and Gilliland for he
Lamb ragu sliders and crostinis!!!!
We'll be back in MAY!! -
Review from Carina L.
Manhattan, NY
1/29/2012
Love this place - it was recommended by a friend who lives in the neighborhood. Cool, cozy, hip ambiance without being a "scene." Have been here a few times and once found myself sitting next to John Krasinski, Emily Blunt and Billy Crudup having dinner at the bar - no one was bothering them and they were completely at ease.
Excellent wine selection (though you'll need a flashlight to read the menu), great crostinis (the ricotta one is delicious), friendly bartenders. -
Review from Harper S.
11/27/2011
I've been here a handful of times and really enjoyed it. They have a great Foursquare deal where you get a free crostini. The music is fantastic. The wine is delicious and I enjoy the scene.
Unfortunately, most recently when I was there, the service was AWFUL. When I say awful, I mean, we're waving at the bartenders and screaming "excuse me" and nobody is paying attention. They were chatting with their friends and completely forgot about doing their job. They could have gotten a lot more business and better tips but they completely forgot about us. Some guy came up to the bar and said he ordered food over 45 minutes ago and wondered where it was. The waiter completely forgot to put the order in. Really poor service.
There was a Seth Green lookalike. He was not cool. -
Review from Sheila S.
5/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is a solid wine bar in the heart of West Village. It is a dimly-lit, intimate little place with pricier, but well worth it selection of wines. Our waitress made pleasing recommendations which we really enjoyed as we waited for our table for dinner next door at Del Anima. We enjoyed a couple different cheeses which were recommended, which both went well with our wines. Definitely worth stopping in if you are looking for a glass of wine before dinner.
-
Review from Mary K.
Manhattan, NY
3/29/2012
Awesome bar with knowledgeable bartenders. Great service, not in your face or constantly nagging. A great place to grab a drink at the bar with a new friend or cozy up in a booth with a few close friends. Their paninis and salads are also quite lovely. Dimly lit, good music, not too crowded to make it "scene-y". Overall A!
-
Review from Serena L.
New York, NY
11/12/2011
a scene, but not A SCENE, if you know what a mean...
I spent a perfect Friday night here catching up with a friend for 2ish hours. The place was a perfect mix of chill and classy:
chill - no door policy, just walk right in; plenty of places to sit either at the bar or at the tables along the left; a crowd, so there is chatter, but no obnoxiously loud music that makes it so that you can't hear the person you are trying to converse with.
classy - dim light setting, beautiful people, nice cocktails and a large wine selection, great small plates.
about those small plates...
SO GOOD. we had the crostinis (4 for $8), and after those 4, we had another 4... my favorite by far was the ricotta, sea salt, and honey crostini, though they were all good (yes I tried them all). -
Review from Chad T.
1/25/2012
Didn't spend a lot of time here, but it was a nice quiet place to enjoy a drink while waiting for our spot to open up at Dell'Anima next door. Other yelpers report it can get very crowded later on, but I can tell you at 5:15pm on a Friday night you'll be just fine.
-
Review from Emily C.
New York, NY
10/22/2011
Took a chance on Anfora last night and I'm glad I did. Great cocktail menu, extensive wine list, friendly server. It was nice to arrive early 6pm on a Friday and get a spot on the comfy couches. Good place to relax and try small cheese plates and appetizers.
Candles and music set a relaxing tone.
Try the ricotta crostini. -
Review from Therese D.
Manhattan, NY
11/15/2011
So I live in the neighborhood and Anfora is my go to first date spot! The staff is friendly and depending on what night you visit the vibe goes from sceney to sceney but not obnoxious! They're a part of Del Anima next door so their small bites are superb!! It's a great place for a date or just out for cocktails with friends!
You won't be disappointed. -
Review from Jess K.
7/11/2011
I've tried to go to Anfora on a few occasions, primarily in the winter and it's always been packed, so I was excited when I walked in last week and there were several empty seats at the bar and banquette/lounge areas... the benefits of the summer exodus from NYC!
The dim lighting, leather-tufted banquettes, poured concrete bar, and thoughtful accessorizing lent to a sophisticated, yet homey feel... perfect for a date (though I am not sure how loud it is when full and crowded).
I described to the bartender that we were looking for a fruit-foward red with a smoky, cigar undertone... his eyes lit up and he said he had the perfect suggestion. He brought us a tasting of the Brunello... it was delicious and exactly as I had described. He brought the bottle out to us and walked around the bar, sitting down in the stool next to me and told us the story of the grape and the vineyard itself and it was so delightful to hear him talk, he was a great story-teller and it added to my overall enjoyment of the wine.
Great choice, try it out!Listed in: Date Spots
-
Review from A A.
Hempstead, NY
Who : A gorgeous gal DD and her fat ass fellow yelper
What : an enormous wine list and GOOD food
When : a breezy spring evening
Where : the village
Why : because it's low key yet comfy
How : it's too good to resist so DD changed her plan to get a drink
"Who else comes here more than I do?"
Said she.
Going to Anfora was not included their plan since she had to go home early.
But she couldn't resist when she introduced her fellow yelper to this place.
Mind insider of fellow yelper #1:
First impression:
1. SUPA friendly staffs
:: wonders if ANY of them are single ::
2. Comfy couches, not-so-bright-yet-romantic atmosphere
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
3. THICK menu ("thick is always good!")
Her fellow yelper checked in on yelp, and also checked in on Fo(censored)rsq(censored)are, and scored free 2 crostinis (with ricotta cheese, sea salt, honey)
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Since DD is a regular, Anfora's bartender gave them 4 so they could share this yumminess.
FYI: This fat ass yelper is NOT a regular drinker (she rarely drinks)
Listen to this:
:: almost finishes her crostini ::
"DAYUM, this crostini is too good and now I wanna get a glass of wine"
DD "Too late girl!"
DD ordered this Drink called "Ginger Cooler" and let her sip.
Mind insider of fellow yelper #2:
"It is surprisingly refreshing. Ginger and the hint of cucumber. Also pepper? Very interesting!"
This horny ass yelper still wonders if ANY of bartenders are available to take her out.Listed in: Cheezy My Neezy
-
Review from Diandra D.
New York, NY
Updated - 5/13/2011 13 Check-ins Here
Hey Anfora, it was so good running into you last night. You look fantastic. I see you did something different to your cocktail menu. I especially love the Pearplosion. And the nutella and mascarpone sandwich really seems to be taking off. I'm happy for you ...
Do you want me to say it? OK, I'll say it. I'm red with jealousy. How do you think it made me feel seeing you will all of those new customers last night? Has so much time elapsed that you don't have room for me anymore? I guess I'm not surprised. You've always been quite a catch and deep down I knew that sooner or later, the world would see what a hidden gem you were. I guess a part of me just wanted to keep you all to myself.
I hope we can still be friends ...1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/14/2010
Anfora is by far one of my favorite wine bars in the city, and without doubt my favorite… Read more »
-
-
Review from Haiku-Project H.
Los Angeles, CA
7/8/2011
You know a spot's dull
When we write, "Real nice bathroom".
Real good for a snooze. -
Review from andrea p.
New York, NY
8/29/2011
I'm a huge fan of this wine bar! Went on a Thursday night to chit chat with one of my friends. not too crowded, which was a surprise for a Thursday night. great atmosphere and loved the comfy couches. Had a great experience and will definitely be coming back here soon!
Cocktails: Started off with a Sandia del Guego - very tasty. perfect amount of watermelon and tequila. really like that combo. a little too much salt on the rim, next time i'll get it sans salt. Next drink had to be something that was a bit less salty so my toes didn't turn into fat sausages. Went for the Pompelmo, per the waiters suggestion. Had 2 or 3 of these... This cocktail was not too sweet, i hate sweet syrup-y drinks. the grapefruit added a nice balance.
Snacks: asked the waiter to make us a cheese and meat place and throw 1 or 2 crostini's on there. He asked us a few questions to see what we like and what we don't like. He returned with a plate full of deliciousness and lots of bread on the side to pair everything with. extra bread = big plus. not sure what we specifically ate but everything was great, fresh, and paired well with each other.
lesson learned: come here more often. trust the bartenders & waiters. always get here early enough to snag a seat on one of the couches. -
Review from Megan Y.
Brooklyn, NY
9/24/2011
This place is great. They have a good selection of wines and the service is super friendly. The bartender came to my table and sat down with me to talk wine and take my order. Cool atmosphere, cool music, awesome wine bar.
I'm reviewing every wine bar in Manhattan and blogging about it. Check it out for my complete and unedited review of Anfora. http://drinkofthevineb... -
Review from Erica L.
3/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
How is this place not more popular? On Monday nights from 5-7 they have FREE raclette with all the fixings. My 4 friends and I were the only people in the whole bar! They will only do the raclette for the next couple of weeks, so go! Quickly!
Otherwise, this place is spacious, has nice lighting, friendly staff and a great wine list. Go. -
Review from Andrew M.
New York, NY
10/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Beautiful ambiance and people, great wine, scrumptious snackles. I love this place.
-
Review from sarah w.
Brooklyn, NY
9/25/2010 1 photo
Anfora has some potential elements to be one of those talked about scenes and convince you to stay waiting for a table in line, or at the bar while it is jam packed like sales event at Bloomingdales. It was one of those weekend nights.
The bar is pretty with everything new and stylish lightings. Fairly attractive crowds.The staffs are friendly to talk to but nothing so ancient Greek or Roman about like the name Anfora - the ancient ceramic vases. Instead it carries a clear modern italian vibe. They had an intersting wine list with little cheese plates and tapas(very very tiny) provided by the famous Dell'Anima next door. The spice cookie someone offered me was very delightful which I still remember after long since I've visited Anfora.
The glass of rioja wine was good (Thanks to Laura A. I had had thousands of Riojas and Albarinos in recent years than any to support her national and reginal pride. LOL), the NY local creamery farmer's cheese plate ($8) that I got after the one I've ordered being sold out, was great as well. But tiny...
Converstations flowing while wines making my cheeks rosy. Having a good time at Anfora. Though..... I wouldn't jump in joy if someone suggests Anfora for drinks since it definitely lacks an intimacy which wine lovers prefer. So that they can enjoy the wine rather than unpurposely eavesdropping converstations from large GNO (girls night out) groups or staring ceilings to avoid the eyes of those guys who sits alone at the bar to looking for an opportunities unless you enjoy it.
It is extremely loud. It is extremely busy. I would say feeling like a beer bar than a wine bar except for the dressed up crowds. My voice was turning husky after shouting too much.
Maybe I should take my wines and cheeses to go.
Maybe if I had come on a week night, I would be able to enjoy more. Maybe you can try on a week night and you let me know. Thanks.Listed in: Cocktails and Poisons
-
Review from Jeff W.
San Carlos, CA
10/30/2010
Came here on my first night of visiting some local friends. Food was pretty tasty. They had more of a selection of wine than they did anything else which makes sense, but much like the food menu, this place as a whole seems to lack just a little bit in all areas.
My cubano sandwich was good but not great, the beer selection was good but not great, so on and so forth. The ambiance is very nice, but i cannot award more than 3 stars. Dont get me wrong, it was still good, just not a knock out in a city with knockouts. -
Review from Rich B.
Tuckahoe, NY
6/8/2011
For those of you that do not know of this gem, let this be a sneak peak. TRUST the bartenders at ALL costs. They will never steer you wrong with drinks. Anytime I have been there, I have left happy as a clam. Also, I have tried a majority of the menu, and there is nothing I did not like. The Lamb Ragu sliders will have you crying out if happiness as will the fresh ricotta cheese with honey and sea salt.
-
Review from Sascha M.
5/9/2011
Cute little wine bar in the West Vil. It can get super crowded in here. Met a date here- we ended up trying out a couple different types of wine and canoodled on the comfy couches. The waiters are nice and attentive but not too in your face, they let you try the wine first, even by the glass which is a nice touch. We ended up ordering a cheese and meat plate and the lamb sliders. Everything was pretty yummy. Definitely a solid little date spot.
Listed in: Italian Food and Pizza
-
Review from Jess M.
San Francisco, CA
8/31/2011
great fan of this wine bar. its great cuz the atmosphere is nice and its busy without being packed and stuffy.
luciana was amazing in helping me reserve the back table for a small gathering we were hosting. the wait staff was sweet and the selection of wines and champagnes is extensive. they have a full bar (which my friends promptly took advantage of *ahem*patronshots*ahem*). -
Review from Princess M.
New York, NY
7/9/2010
Bad ventilation - your clothes will reek of the smell of whatever food the bar prepares.
Weird atmosphere that felt a little off and tacky... I somehow recall sitting on pleather...
Good small bites - the lamb ragu sliders (sloppy joe-like, slightly spicy and between chewy ciabatta bread) and the Borough Market panini (grilled cheese and onion sandwich) were DELICIOUS! -
Review from Arjun T.
San Francisco, CA
5/19/2010
Came to this place on the second night of business, and would definitely return. Why, you may ask?
- Superb wine list
- Good selection of cheeses
- Delectable small plates (tried the endive salad and lamb ragout sliders, both were tasty)
- Charming decor
- Wait staff devoid of pretension
My only wish is that the selection of food was a bit more robust. However, seeing as how this place is founded by the crew from Dell'Anima, you can be assured the quality of the food meets expectation.
I came around 8pm and it was busier than expected, especially given the atrocious weather. We found a place to sit, but as it grows in popularity (and it should), I could see seating becoming an issue. For now, it works just fine! -
Review from Jessica S.
Manhattan, NY
1/29/2011
Cute unpretentious wine bar which is hard to come by in Manhattan. The staff is very attentive & friendly. Even when ordering by the glass they poor a sample and let you "try before you buy" which I like--you're not committed to sipping on something you thought would be good. My one complaint is that you leave smelling like the bar food they prepare since there isn't a separate kitchen. Anytime someone wants a grilled panini the entire place stinks. All in all pleasant experience.
-
Review from Johnny K.
New York, NY
5/24/2010
Oh, Anfora. I'm torn on this because I really wanted to like this place, but ultimately found that it's, at present time, just 'ok.'
This place is good, but could be great. I was excited to learn that a new wine bar / cocktail lounge had opened in the neighborhood, and based on the other reviews, I checked it out on Saturday night with a couple of friends.
On the positive side, the staff was friendly, the decor and design is stylish, and the wine list was extensive and interesting.
On the negative side -- they charge $3 for a tiny saucer of mixed nuts which they call the "Anfora mix." Really, you guys?? Are you serious? This identical item would be free at most bars and readily available to every guest who is paying $12-15 for a single drink. This felt very nickel-and-dimey to me. The other apps and such on the menu seemed ok but are prepared on the panini grill / toaster oven set-up rather than in a kitchen (from what I saw).
The other negative about this place is that while the layout is inventive, it's also prone to odd traffic jams and inconvenient seating arrangements. For much of the night, I was squished in an awkward banquet, sitting side-by-side with my friends facing people's backs and rear-ends at the bar. I wasn't alone. If you are coming here, I would suggest trying to make a reservation (if that's even possible?) or else really carving out an area at the bar. Trying to sit with 1 or 2 friends back in the banquets / "booth" areas is challenging (good luck finding a spot) and also makes it very difficult to get the attention of the wait-staff.
Overall, Anfora is a good spot and I'll go back, but I think it has some kinks to work out for sure. -
Review from Ma Le A.
Manhattan, NY
2/20/2011
Love this place!! Atmosphere is great and cozy. The drinks and not to mention the food tastes so fresh!! My favorite wine bar downtown!!!
-
Review from Laura A.
6/5/2010
Anfora can be truly tagged as a wine bar, a Mediterranean beauty, a first date, a space for small groups like girls night out for instance, and the new crush in the West Village. Many different missions to accomplish. Anforas are those recipients used to transport wine or olive oil and grapes and olives in the Ancient Rome and Greece that with a successful functional purpose somehow reproduce the body shape's of Mediterranean women. You know, feminine and curvy, sexy for some tastes; under the same principles, Anfora has been presented as a wine recipient; the space is so beautiful. A functional beauty but dressed in modern lines. Whoever design the interior has an exquisite taste creating a sophisticated ambiance where wines have to be the main theme.
According to the place the crowd fall in the stylish category as well, in their late 20s and up but never reaching the medium age. I saw a few chasers in the bar, there was a few groups of establish couples or single? ladies and a few first dates/new couples. As in Stanton social tables are shared among unknown when spots are open. But while groups are noisy as they want to have fun, and sometimes they also want that everybody else know how much fun are they having, dates however need intimacy, space, and a noise level in 40 db or less appropriate to maintain a conversation or even whispers. Guess who is the loser in here. But not like groups have it more easy as to get a table even for 4 is almost impossible. I could get 2 spots in the bar waiting just a few minutes but after 11pm the line was insane. If the idea was to relieve Dell'Anima packe-ness, it doesn't seem to be working for now as both of them are already too popular.
The personnel try their best to handle the craziness of the place. I was attended by 3 different and the bartender too and they are lovely, I didn't feel unattended but they were clearly overwhelmed by the requesting customers resulting in a weak service because of that.
The wines selection is pretty good but don't expect a large menu. For a wine bar I should ask more. Still, I got a Rioja Crianza ("Cubillo", Lopez de Heredia 2004) and it was fantastic as I expected. Whiskeys are cover as well, you can even order Suntory Yamazaki (12 year) a Japanese brand not really known as the Scottish or Americans and that I happy to see as is the only one I like. But the cocktails need to be worked much more as my Anfora Highball consisting in Gin, Fernet Branca, Ginger Ale, Lime wasn't good at all. It was actually pretty bad. Unbalanced to the most because the fernet was overused. The food seems to be a miss as well. First, the offer is short and second our plate of cheese, a Casatica and Blue cheese, was nicely presented but quite normal and coming along with a few dipping sauces that didn't excite me too much.
The potential for Anfora is high. Really high. I went during the opening week after public announcements and having behind Dell'Anima team how it couldn't be longly expected. But the tendency seems to be under my point of view as I describe above and I wonder how are they gonna manage that now? strict reservation policy? I guess it could help as much as it bother all of us. Or at least control the number of customers at the same time. They have the power to control that. Add to this that among the wines, cocktails and food offer I should just keep the wines. Anfora, keep the shape but change the content, more wines, less people and a bit more of anything else.Listed in: Thirsty moments...
-
Review from Hayley R.
New York, NY
6/28/2010
Great wine selection and good ambiance. Had a varied selection of wines which ranged in price from about 35 to 150. They organize the wines by distributor which can get a little annoying when you want to look by variety. I didn't try the food, so I can't comment on that aspect.
-
Review from Talia R.
6/12/2010
wine good. cheese good. service good. everything else needs to get better. like why remind me of your affiliation with dell'anima & l'artusi if you aren't really going to serve food? feels like a taunt. also what's up with charging for nuts?
i am tempted to wait 6 months to post this review because much like the aforementioned 2 sister establishments, but first experience at those joints were also only so-so. now a few years in they are so solid & probably my most often visited dinner spots.
so, anfora, welcome to the neighborhood. eager to see you grow up! -
Review from isabel m.
New York, NY
7/21/2010
Went to Anfora for the first time last night. Loved the wine, loved the decor, so my star rating is based on that...but man was it noisy in there! Really loud. It chilled after a while and maybe last night was an exception. The bartenders were very cool and nice so another plus. I didn't get to try the food so will definitely have to go back and try the menu more extensively.
-
Review from MASON J.
New York, NY
5/17/2010
Delicious wines and nice decor
-
Review from Lauren L.
New York, NY
5/20/2010
New York has been waiting for a destination like Anfora. It manages to be a place where I would feel comfortable walking in for a casual, quick pre dinner drink in jeans or grabbing a bigger group in one of the banquets and staying all night (they're open until 2am I hear). Seldom does one find a wine bar with such a well-edited list by the glass and bottle whose food quality rivals that of a well heeled restaurant (the group's resto, Dell Anima, is a few doors down). I went last night for the second time, and found that, even though the place was jammed-packed, the staff was friendly, the service prompt, and the food quickly prepared and hot upon delivery. Definitely try the lamb ragu sliders (byo bib-they're a little messy, like the best sloppy joe you've ever had) unless you're on a first date, the grilled cheese sandwich with onions, and the delicious cheese and charcuterie offerings. Although the menu doesn't seem that robust, in my experience, every item was filling and delicious. The portions were also generous. Pretty amazing that they are able to prepare everything from that tiny kitchen behind the bar. It's an intimate space and although full, it has enough enclaves to prevent the feeling of playing sardines.
