“A warming stumble – Review of Cavatappo Wine Bar”

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

Cavatappo Wine Bar
347 3^rd Avenue
Gramercy
212-448-1919/cavatappo.com

Looking for shelter and glass of something that would warm me up, I stumbled into Cavatappo Wine Bar.  It was around 3 O’clock on a Saturday afternoon and there was no one in the place, save the help.  Our waiter informed us that we had arrived just in time for happy hour, and proceeded to list off all the drinks that were included in the $4 specials… House wines, sangria, a few different beers, and the list went on.  I settled for the Pineapple Sangria.  The wine list wasn’t extensive but I later learned that it is always changing.

Pineapple Sangria - Photo by Carolyn Onofrey

They had a good selection of beers ranging from Spaten to American Craft brewed beers and even the rarely seen Michelada!  Michelada is a Mexican way of serving beer, think Bloody Mary minus the tomato and vodka, plus the beer–very exciting.  The pineapple sangria (a white wine sangria) was a healthy portion of sweet (but not too sweet), pineapple infused wine with delicious pineapple chunks waiting for you at the bottom of the glass when you finished.

Although delicious, I wisely chose the Chianti for my second drink to save myself from the headache I was sure I would have if I had kept up with the sangria.

Bruschetta with herbed goat cheese and truffle oil

We couldn’t help but snack a little before dinner and ordered the bruschetta with herbed goat cheese and truffle oil ($8) and the hummus ‘especial’ with pita bread ($7).  The hummus was quite delicious, still slightly chunky with nutty finish.  The warm pita really rounded out the simple appetizer.  Ordering the bruschetta, I was sure it would be delicious; after all, truffle oil makes everything better!  Unfortunately, I was left disappointed with a super dry, too thick French bread bottom and an oily top.

Despite the under par bruschetta, I really did love this cozy little wine bar.  By the time we had left there were three more parties, chatting away over wine.  I will come back to Cavatappo (or one of their other three locations on the east side) one day to drink away a rainy day and I will most certainly take another gander at the menu, perhaps asking for a recommendation from the accommodating staff.

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