AYZA Wine & Chocolate Bar
Address:
11 West 31st St
City:
New York, NY
Zip:
10001
Phone:
(212) 714-2992
Fax:
(212) 714-2996
Email:
info@ayzanyc.com
Hours:
Lunch: Mon-Fri 12:00 PM-3:00 PM
Dinner: Mon-Sat 5:00 PM-11:00 PM
Sunday Closed
Site:
Visit the restaurant site
Map:
Map
Chef:
Sean Chudoba
Cuisine:
Mediterranean
2nd Cuisine:
French
Area:
West 30s
Entree Price:
$15-20
Takeout:
Yes
Delivery:
Yes
Summary:
The proprietors of AYZA Café and Wine Bar are committed to providing an impeccable, first-class dining experience. The unique menu, coupled with a selection of over 90 fine wines and champagnes from all over the world, creates a truly remarkable experience. AYZA café, wine and chocolate bar, offers its patrons first-rate food and wines in an elegant, yet comfortable atmosphere, in which to dine, meet friends, or have drinks after work. - by AYZA
terrific dinner
We had a terrific dinner. The food was excellent,friendly service,their chocolate was AMAZING.Definitely going back.
eve
July 14, 2010, 9:44.44 am ET
love it
I love Ayza's wine list and food of course chocolate too.Nice spot after work.
June 12, 2010, 9:10.30 am ET
great spot
I love the filet and my gf liks this salad that they make with fruit and mixed greens. Of course when she’s with me we’ll often do chocolates too, though the molten dessert is really great as well. I know it’ sa pretty common one, but Ayza does it really well.
March 13, 2010, 9:14.52 am ET
I feel like so many NY wine bars are starting to get canned and branded, but not this one. It\'s truly unique, and you can tell that these guys really take pride in every aspect of it -- from the place to the presentation of all the food. Ever component of the dining experince is accounted for and seamless, at least for me it was. The cheese menu is awesome and we we did some of the charcurterie too, which was also great.
tom
December 5, 2009, 2:01.55 pm ET
Maybe Next Time....
Definitely not my favorite restaurant, or anywhere close to it. The food is not great, rather itls somewhat flavorless, and for a wine bar the wine list is rat;her limited. The chocolates are tiny and they are good but expeinsve. And then our waitress came really close to spilling on me, not once but twice. Luckily she didn't, but still, she didn't even apologize either time. That's just annoying. She also knew nothing about the menu and totally messed up our order, giving me a different entree altogether at first. The design could be really cool, but I think they've got a lot of work to do.
October 5, 2008, 11:44.40 pm ET
NoT PerfecT
Helen Wood
September 20, 2008, 6:31.01 pm ET
Best place close to Penn Station
I live in New Jersey and have to take Penn Station every night. I don’t like because not much in area, but this place real nice. It’s a real nice wine bar and pretty tables and inside. But we sit outside and enjoy wine and cheese and food. Food is yum but save room for dessert because chocolate is real real nice. Now I go with coworkers and have people meet me so I don’t have to go to other neighborhood before going home.
Sarah M. Sauvign
August 14, 2008, 3:16.36 am ET
Super
This place rocks! Friendly wait staff, good selection of wines, great outdoor seating. They have a photo album on their website http://www.ayzanyc.com
Newyorker
June 2, 2008, 10:46.01 pm ET
Super experience
I was in NY for a conference and picked Ayza off City Search because it sounded great - and it was. When we arrived we were immediately greeted at the door, by who we later found out to be the owner. Our waitress was a little less then helpful with the menu, but the waitress at the next table was fabulous, so I guess it is just luck of the draw. They brought me the wrong meal, but immediately fixed it and offered us free dessert to make up for it. The owner was very friendly and attentive. I highly recommend this place for either a romantic dinner or a dinner with friends. It is small so you want to get reservations. Delicious food and wonderful experience.
Er1c
March 31, 2008, 11:47.37 am ET
A pleasant dinner
After being there a few times and waiting for at least 20 minutes to get a table each time, finally last sunday evening we got to enjoy ayza without all the crowd. We shared a bottle of Chateau clerc milon with the recommendation of the heavy accented friendly French sommelier. It was a pleasure to listen to his detailed explanations. Oh yes it got even better, our waitress which seemed to have an attitude in the beginning came out to be a sweetheart, and she helped us to pair some cheeses and chocolate to go with our great bottle of wine. Sunday evenings seems to be the best time to dine at ayza, at least for now.
Agatha40
March 25, 2008, 12:39.34 pm ET
Little gem!
What a delightful evening. We sat back and surrendered to one great taste after another during a recent dinner at Ayza. This little gem of a wine bar complete with an appealing and cozy ambiance is the genuine thing. Have to admit the setting became secondary once we began tasting our food. The hummus, goat cheese brûlée , and cheese selection were truly exceptional but no more so than the stuffed chicken, filet mignon which were every bit as luscious. We could not find enough good things to say about the experience. It was great. Wines by glass were expensive, but good.
Powerb
March 17, 2008, 12:36.12 pm ET
4 or 5 Stars
I was torn on the 4 or 5 stars for Ayza...and the only reason I would've deducted a star was for the cost. The staff is delightful, the mood of the place is fantastic (small, intimate...think south of France in a family-run place), the cheese selection is OFF THE HOOK! Oh, and funny enough, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful FULL-SIZE, clean and wonderfully decorated restroom. lol We had a tasting of four wines as I previously mentioned...a Prosecco, a champagne, and two white wines--one with chardonnay and the other a pinot grigio. EXCELLENT. The tete de moine cheese was some of the best I've ever had!! And while they gave the history of the region and how each cheese is made. After the tasting a few of us ordered food...I had the hummus and goat cheese brulee which I would swear are the best in all of the land!! Great place to check out before you head out to dinner or even fun for an event all in itself.
Lovea40
March 6, 2008, 8:35.48 am ET
Over priced1
After reading some reviews i decided to go, saying i live in New Jersey its a long trip just to check it out, anyways the sitting was prompt even i didn't have a reservation, awful hostess though, very rude! waitress was excellent very patient, attentive and knowledgeable, the only thing i found wrong is that she didn't say the price for the bottle of wine, wine was ok only, nothing to talk about. What i so extremely wrong was the price, i got Amarone Bertani Villa Arvedi 2002, and it was expensive but 110 bucks for a bottle of wine, and what I'm the most angry about is that the waitress did not mention about the wine price. i am not a cheap person but i don't like to get ripped off i don't think ill make the trip again.
BloodyMary38
March 5, 2008, 5:16.12 am ET
Wine and chocolate great idea!
Perfect place to take your wife or husband.We were seated promptly,the staff was very polite,the owner was around to be sure that everything was OK and he cared with us by himself and my husband loved it so much.Candles,music,atmosphere,champagne,chocolates…Totally romantic.
Hillary
March 4, 2008, 10:11.06 am ET
Try it!
I took my family out for Saturday dinner. It is a small place, very cute, unique decor. I felt like I was back in Europe. Nice music too. The cranberry walnut bread is yummy not to mention the olives they serve it with: delicious! ordered the stuffed chicken which was pretty good. My father ordered the salmon which was a little bland. My mom and brothers ordered the hummus and hot artichoke which they thoroughly enjoyed. The sangria was superb, just right! For dessert, I recommend twenty layer crepes cake and chocolate truffles (they set it on fire: very nice!) Only thing, it took a while to prepare our meal. I don't think they're used to big groups (there were 12 of us). I would probably go back, with a smaller group of people, maybe friends...
Leslie8li
March 2, 2008, 7:32.02 am ET
It is just OK
I like the food and and the service but place is small so tables are very close to each other. It’s an average place to try. It could be more attractive once the outdoor space is open.
AdnanM38
February 29, 2008, 10:10.06 am ET
Best wine bar!
Small place with nice atmosphere Owners cared with us personally, a little small but cute place, I was really pleased by their friendly care.
Blenda28
February 28, 2008, 11:23.00 am ET
Poor experience!
The food was over priced, poorly staffed and the food was average at best.
Catherina40
February 27, 2008, 11:07.09 am ET
Great food,OK service
This wine bar looks nice on the outside and inside. This is a place where you look around & everyone is happy to be there. Even though we had to wait a little for it, the food was excellent. Filet mignon was juicy and delicious. Their cheesecake was one of the best I had. The wine list is varied with many decent bottles.
Eizabeth47
February 26, 2008, 5:45.21 am ET
Superb palace!
Not in a busy street, I would never notice if my boyfriend didn't take me there. Friendly service, not that fast on busy times but worths to wait. salmon soup served in teapot suprised me a lot. I wasnt expecting that fancy cheese plate when the owner offered me to taste the cheese, perfect selection.
Amilia
February 25, 2008, 12:55.33 pm ET
A New york must!
I take great pleasure in dining out and experiencing new and exciting cuisine but I was in for a classic. I didn't know what to expect from ayza wine & chocolate bar but it was flat out incredible. I frequent places with my girlfriend and she is the toughest critic and even she was impressed. The food and service is above and beyond what I have had in a long time and she cant wait to go back. Here's to the most romantic wine bar in N.Y.C
Sheila
February 23, 2008, 3:23.13 am ET
Amazing!
I was there on Thursday night with my boyfriend. It took us about 10 minutes to get our table. The ambiance is very romantic, mostly candle lights. We’ve tried delicious cheeses and chocolates with our wine flight by the recommendation of the sommelier. Tables were so close to each other, It felt like I was having dinner with the next table but except this I enjoyed my night.
Monica Pellisas
February 22, 2008, 9:43.30 am ET
Loved it!!
The place was great... the wait staff was friendly. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was quaint. We had to wait briefly for a table to open up, much shorter than the 20 minutes they had told us. I forget exactly what we ate but it was awesome. Their staff was informative as we both had no idea what some of the wine menu items were. Ok, so you're rubbing elbows with the people at the table next to you but it's part of the charm :) Highly recommended!
February 20, 2008, 9:55.57 am ET
Only one word;Amazing
My boyfriend took me to Ayza and the entire experience was perfection!! Everyone he knows is just buzzing about this place so we had to check it out. The ambiance is cozy and relaxing. The service was friendly although a bit slow. Actually the slow service aIlowed us to savor the wine and atmosphere. It was so refreshing to see the owner interested in our experience and chatted with us for a while. The sommelier was very pleasant and took the time to offer advice on food/wine pairings. We will certainly be back!!
Taylor
February 18, 2008, 1:45.52 pm ET
Wonderful ambiance Great food
I was there for Valentine’s day.I would highly recommend this restaurant. Very friendly service and wonderful food. Great ambiance.
Jennifer40
February 17, 2008, 8:08.00 pm ET
Wonderful!
Ayza just opened this summer and I was presently surprised, it was an answer to my prayers. The concept of the place is to be a more accessible place to get fine wine, cheese, and some food without having to deal with a high end restaurant and reservations. On this note it succeeds 100%.I enjoyed a delicious panini, glass of Shiraz wine, and three different cheeses. I found everything to be delicous and tasted exactly as I would have hoped.
George40
February 16, 2008, 5:25.45 pm ET
Make a reservation
I was just there over the weekend for a late lunch with the visiting parents. The place itself is impressive. It is sleekly designed, a combination of well dressed business types and young. The food was terrific, the menu comprised of traditional dishes with a creative twist. Everyone with me seemed impressed. Only shortcoming? - the long wait to get a table. Our waitress was excellent. Nice to see places like this.
MariellaF
February 16, 2008, 6:05.50 am ET
Great place to dine!
I was welcomed Warm and kindly, indoor is a bit small but the atmosphere is gorgeous. I tried Hot artichoke hearts, pita tart, fillet Mignon and I can say that the dinner was superb. I can suggest Merlot as red wine, you should definitely try the 20 layer crepes cake. As they say their chocolates are made by Jacques Torres never heard of him before but I searched him over Internet and learned that he was famous :) The manager complimented me with a sweet red port wine and it was great with the chocolate bonbons. The service was not as good as place itself but I will definitely visit again.
Carolina E
February 15, 2008, 11:18.57 am ET
Elegancy
I was quite glad to stumble up this place for a relaxing dinner. The cheese platter was well prepared, decorated, it was perfect. Nice selection of wines to taste from a variety of regions. Service was very friendly and attantive. Perfect wine glasses. The music was a bit loud for a while, We mentioned it to the manager, and he took care of this issue right away. The overall experience was great.It is also very close to Madison square garden and empire state building and that makes them superb.
898Sean
February 13, 2008, 11:33.30 am ET
Overly Rated
This is the first time I went to this place. I read great reviews about it on this site and was very disappointed with Ayza. The waiter was not very knowledgeable about the wines and since this is a wine bar it was a bad experince since I am not too familiar with wines. I ordered the hummus as an appetizer and found that it was too garlicky. The chicken paillard was much better, but overall the food was average and overpriced for the size of the portions. I will not go back to Ayza and it is a shame since it seems the owners have invested a lot of money in the place.
February 12, 2008, 5:32.27 pm ET
Lots of fun
I have gone to this place with advice of a friend, I went alone but the stuff felt like they were friends, helpful about making decisions which is quite difficult for an indecisive person like me. Fillet mignon with port wine sauce was delicious and well-matched with Santi Valpolicella Solane red wine. Thanks to staff...
NATALIE ISAKSSON
January 31, 2008, 6:23.36 pm ET
Wine, Cheese and Chocolate
We went there last Saturday with my girlfriends. Got there around 8.30 PM. It was so nice to see the owner welcoming everyone in person. After having some champagne cocktails at the bar, we moved to a table to enjoy the lovely food. We had a cheese platter as appetizer. Fillet Mignon and Stuffed Chicken as entrées. At the end we tried the chocolates and had some port with the recommendation of our friendly waitress. It was an absolutely fantastic evening.
Anne Norkin
November 29, 2007, 10:01.13 pm ET
So Chic !
We found the place from the web. In fact it was higher than our expectations. The food is great, the service is slow but the presentation of food is great. These people really know that the devil is in the details. The hospitality is as expected from a high class restaurant. The Food is the fusion of great French - Italian Kitchen. The cheeses are well selected. And I do not have enough words to describe their desserts.
Joe Santiago
November 29, 2007, 5:48.54 pm ET
We had a terrific dinner. The food was excellent,friendly service,their chocolate was AMAZING.Definitely going back.
eve
July 14, 2010, 9:44.44 am ET
love it
I love Ayza's wine list and food of course chocolate too.Nice spot after work.
June 12, 2010, 9:10.30 am ET
great spot
I love the filet and my gf liks this salad that they make with fruit and mixed greens. Of course when she’s with me we’ll often do chocolates too, though the molten dessert is really great as well. I know it’ sa pretty common one, but Ayza does it really well.
March 13, 2010, 9:14.52 am ET
I feel like so many NY wine bars are starting to get canned and branded, but not this one. It\'s truly unique, and you can tell that these guys really take pride in every aspect of it -- from the place to the presentation of all the food. Ever component of the dining experince is accounted for and seamless, at least for me it was. The cheese menu is awesome and we we did some of the charcurterie too, which was also great.
tom
December 5, 2009, 2:01.55 pm ET
Maybe Next Time....
Definitely not my favorite restaurant, or anywhere close to it. The food is not great, rather itls somewhat flavorless, and for a wine bar the wine list is rat;her limited. The chocolates are tiny and they are good but expeinsve. And then our waitress came really close to spilling on me, not once but twice. Luckily she didn't, but still, she didn't even apologize either time. That's just annoying. She also knew nothing about the menu and totally messed up our order, giving me a different entree altogether at first. The design could be really cool, but I think they've got a lot of work to do.
October 5, 2008, 11:44.40 pm ET
NoT PerfecT
Helen Wood
September 20, 2008, 6:31.01 pm ET
Best place close to Penn Station
I live in New Jersey and have to take Penn Station every night. I don’t like because not much in area, but this place real nice. It’s a real nice wine bar and pretty tables and inside. But we sit outside and enjoy wine and cheese and food. Food is yum but save room for dessert because chocolate is real real nice. Now I go with coworkers and have people meet me so I don’t have to go to other neighborhood before going home.
Sarah M. Sauvign
August 14, 2008, 3:16.36 am ET
Super
This place rocks! Friendly wait staff, good selection of wines, great outdoor seating. They have a photo album on their website http://www.ayzanyc.com
Newyorker
June 2, 2008, 10:46.01 pm ET
Super experience
I was in NY for a conference and picked Ayza off City Search because it sounded great - and it was. When we arrived we were immediately greeted at the door, by who we later found out to be the owner. Our waitress was a little less then helpful with the menu, but the waitress at the next table was fabulous, so I guess it is just luck of the draw. They brought me the wrong meal, but immediately fixed it and offered us free dessert to make up for it. The owner was very friendly and attentive. I highly recommend this place for either a romantic dinner or a dinner with friends. It is small so you want to get reservations. Delicious food and wonderful experience.
Er1c
March 31, 2008, 11:47.37 am ET
A pleasant dinner
After being there a few times and waiting for at least 20 minutes to get a table each time, finally last sunday evening we got to enjoy ayza without all the crowd. We shared a bottle of Chateau clerc milon with the recommendation of the heavy accented friendly French sommelier. It was a pleasure to listen to his detailed explanations. Oh yes it got even better, our waitress which seemed to have an attitude in the beginning came out to be a sweetheart, and she helped us to pair some cheeses and chocolate to go with our great bottle of wine. Sunday evenings seems to be the best time to dine at ayza, at least for now.
Agatha40
March 25, 2008, 12:39.34 pm ET
Little gem!
What a delightful evening. We sat back and surrendered to one great taste after another during a recent dinner at Ayza. This little gem of a wine bar complete with an appealing and cozy ambiance is the genuine thing. Have to admit the setting became secondary once we began tasting our food. The hummus, goat cheese brûlée , and cheese selection were truly exceptional but no more so than the stuffed chicken, filet mignon which were every bit as luscious. We could not find enough good things to say about the experience. It was great. Wines by glass were expensive, but good.
Powerb
March 17, 2008, 12:36.12 pm ET
4 or 5 Stars
I was torn on the 4 or 5 stars for Ayza...and the only reason I would've deducted a star was for the cost. The staff is delightful, the mood of the place is fantastic (small, intimate...think south of France in a family-run place), the cheese selection is OFF THE HOOK! Oh, and funny enough, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the wonderful FULL-SIZE, clean and wonderfully decorated restroom. lol We had a tasting of four wines as I previously mentioned...a Prosecco, a champagne, and two white wines--one with chardonnay and the other a pinot grigio. EXCELLENT. The tete de moine cheese was some of the best I've ever had!! And while they gave the history of the region and how each cheese is made. After the tasting a few of us ordered food...I had the hummus and goat cheese brulee which I would swear are the best in all of the land!! Great place to check out before you head out to dinner or even fun for an event all in itself.
Lovea40
March 6, 2008, 8:35.48 am ET
Over priced1
After reading some reviews i decided to go, saying i live in New Jersey its a long trip just to check it out, anyways the sitting was prompt even i didn't have a reservation, awful hostess though, very rude! waitress was excellent very patient, attentive and knowledgeable, the only thing i found wrong is that she didn't say the price for the bottle of wine, wine was ok only, nothing to talk about. What i so extremely wrong was the price, i got Amarone Bertani Villa Arvedi 2002, and it was expensive but 110 bucks for a bottle of wine, and what I'm the most angry about is that the waitress did not mention about the wine price. i am not a cheap person but i don't like to get ripped off i don't think ill make the trip again.
BloodyMary38
March 5, 2008, 5:16.12 am ET
Wine and chocolate great idea!
Perfect place to take your wife or husband.We were seated promptly,the staff was very polite,the owner was around to be sure that everything was OK and he cared with us by himself and my husband loved it so much.Candles,music,atmosphere,champagne,chocolates…Totally romantic.
Hillary
March 4, 2008, 10:11.06 am ET
Try it!
I took my family out for Saturday dinner. It is a small place, very cute, unique decor. I felt like I was back in Europe. Nice music too. The cranberry walnut bread is yummy not to mention the olives they serve it with: delicious! ordered the stuffed chicken which was pretty good. My father ordered the salmon which was a little bland. My mom and brothers ordered the hummus and hot artichoke which they thoroughly enjoyed. The sangria was superb, just right! For dessert, I recommend twenty layer crepes cake and chocolate truffles (they set it on fire: very nice!) Only thing, it took a while to prepare our meal. I don't think they're used to big groups (there were 12 of us). I would probably go back, with a smaller group of people, maybe friends...
Leslie8li
March 2, 2008, 7:32.02 am ET
It is just OK
I like the food and and the service but place is small so tables are very close to each other. It’s an average place to try. It could be more attractive once the outdoor space is open.
AdnanM38
February 29, 2008, 10:10.06 am ET
Best wine bar!
Small place with nice atmosphere Owners cared with us personally, a little small but cute place, I was really pleased by their friendly care.
Blenda28
February 28, 2008, 11:23.00 am ET
Poor experience!
The food was over priced, poorly staffed and the food was average at best.
Catherina40
February 27, 2008, 11:07.09 am ET
Great food,OK service
This wine bar looks nice on the outside and inside. This is a place where you look around & everyone is happy to be there. Even though we had to wait a little for it, the food was excellent. Filet mignon was juicy and delicious. Their cheesecake was one of the best I had. The wine list is varied with many decent bottles.
Eizabeth47
February 26, 2008, 5:45.21 am ET
Superb palace!
Not in a busy street, I would never notice if my boyfriend didn't take me there. Friendly service, not that fast on busy times but worths to wait. salmon soup served in teapot suprised me a lot. I wasnt expecting that fancy cheese plate when the owner offered me to taste the cheese, perfect selection.
Amilia
February 25, 2008, 12:55.33 pm ET
A New york must!
I take great pleasure in dining out and experiencing new and exciting cuisine but I was in for a classic. I didn't know what to expect from ayza wine & chocolate bar but it was flat out incredible. I frequent places with my girlfriend and she is the toughest critic and even she was impressed. The food and service is above and beyond what I have had in a long time and she cant wait to go back. Here's to the most romantic wine bar in N.Y.C
Sheila
February 23, 2008, 3:23.13 am ET
Amazing!
I was there on Thursday night with my boyfriend. It took us about 10 minutes to get our table. The ambiance is very romantic, mostly candle lights. We’ve tried delicious cheeses and chocolates with our wine flight by the recommendation of the sommelier. Tables were so close to each other, It felt like I was having dinner with the next table but except this I enjoyed my night.
Monica Pellisas
February 22, 2008, 9:43.30 am ET
Loved it!!
The place was great... the wait staff was friendly. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was quaint. We had to wait briefly for a table to open up, much shorter than the 20 minutes they had told us. I forget exactly what we ate but it was awesome. Their staff was informative as we both had no idea what some of the wine menu items were. Ok, so you're rubbing elbows with the people at the table next to you but it's part of the charm :) Highly recommended!
February 20, 2008, 9:55.57 am ET
Only one word;Amazing
My boyfriend took me to Ayza and the entire experience was perfection!! Everyone he knows is just buzzing about this place so we had to check it out. The ambiance is cozy and relaxing. The service was friendly although a bit slow. Actually the slow service aIlowed us to savor the wine and atmosphere. It was so refreshing to see the owner interested in our experience and chatted with us for a while. The sommelier was very pleasant and took the time to offer advice on food/wine pairings. We will certainly be back!!
Taylor
February 18, 2008, 1:45.52 pm ET
Wonderful ambiance Great food
I was there for Valentine’s day.I would highly recommend this restaurant. Very friendly service and wonderful food. Great ambiance.
Jennifer40
February 17, 2008, 8:08.00 pm ET
Wonderful!
Ayza just opened this summer and I was presently surprised, it was an answer to my prayers. The concept of the place is to be a more accessible place to get fine wine, cheese, and some food without having to deal with a high end restaurant and reservations. On this note it succeeds 100%.I enjoyed a delicious panini, glass of Shiraz wine, and three different cheeses. I found everything to be delicous and tasted exactly as I would have hoped.
George40
February 16, 2008, 5:25.45 pm ET
Make a reservation
I was just there over the weekend for a late lunch with the visiting parents. The place itself is impressive. It is sleekly designed, a combination of well dressed business types and young. The food was terrific, the menu comprised of traditional dishes with a creative twist. Everyone with me seemed impressed. Only shortcoming? - the long wait to get a table. Our waitress was excellent. Nice to see places like this.
MariellaF
February 16, 2008, 6:05.50 am ET
Great place to dine!
I was welcomed Warm and kindly, indoor is a bit small but the atmosphere is gorgeous. I tried Hot artichoke hearts, pita tart, fillet Mignon and I can say that the dinner was superb. I can suggest Merlot as red wine, you should definitely try the 20 layer crepes cake. As they say their chocolates are made by Jacques Torres never heard of him before but I searched him over Internet and learned that he was famous :) The manager complimented me with a sweet red port wine and it was great with the chocolate bonbons. The service was not as good as place itself but I will definitely visit again.
Carolina E
February 15, 2008, 11:18.57 am ET
Elegancy
I was quite glad to stumble up this place for a relaxing dinner. The cheese platter was well prepared, decorated, it was perfect. Nice selection of wines to taste from a variety of regions. Service was very friendly and attantive. Perfect wine glasses. The music was a bit loud for a while, We mentioned it to the manager, and he took care of this issue right away. The overall experience was great.It is also very close to Madison square garden and empire state building and that makes them superb.
898Sean
February 13, 2008, 11:33.30 am ET
Overly Rated
This is the first time I went to this place. I read great reviews about it on this site and was very disappointed with Ayza. The waiter was not very knowledgeable about the wines and since this is a wine bar it was a bad experince since I am not too familiar with wines. I ordered the hummus as an appetizer and found that it was too garlicky. The chicken paillard was much better, but overall the food was average and overpriced for the size of the portions. I will not go back to Ayza and it is a shame since it seems the owners have invested a lot of money in the place.
February 12, 2008, 5:32.27 pm ET
Lots of fun
I have gone to this place with advice of a friend, I went alone but the stuff felt like they were friends, helpful about making decisions which is quite difficult for an indecisive person like me. Fillet mignon with port wine sauce was delicious and well-matched with Santi Valpolicella Solane red wine. Thanks to staff...
NATALIE ISAKSSON
January 31, 2008, 6:23.36 pm ET
Wine, Cheese and Chocolate
We went there last Saturday with my girlfriends. Got there around 8.30 PM. It was so nice to see the owner welcoming everyone in person. After having some champagne cocktails at the bar, we moved to a table to enjoy the lovely food. We had a cheese platter as appetizer. Fillet Mignon and Stuffed Chicken as entrées. At the end we tried the chocolates and had some port with the recommendation of our friendly waitress. It was an absolutely fantastic evening.
Anne Norkin
November 29, 2007, 10:01.13 pm ET
So Chic !
We found the place from the web. In fact it was higher than our expectations. The food is great, the service is slow but the presentation of food is great. These people really know that the devil is in the details. The hospitality is as expected from a high class restaurant. The Food is the fusion of great French - Italian Kitchen. The cheeses are well selected. And I do not have enough words to describe their desserts.
Joe Santiago
November 29, 2007, 5:48.54 pm ET