Aldo Sohm Wine Bar

Went here with a group of friends and we had a fantastic time. The food and wine were both incredible, though Im sure the amount of wine we drank made everything that much better.
The food truly compliments the wine and we took all of our waiter’s spot-​on wine recommendations. The Bordeaux, in particular, was so good that we ended up ordering a bottle.
To eat, we started with The Tower, which included a variety of meats and spreads. All of the meat was thinly sliced and very flavorful. We also had the selection of 3 cheeses (good but less memorable), the yak cheese (not recommended because it tasted like feet), the foie gras lollipop (amazing but each person needs their own because they are not shareable), the lamb merguez (my fiancéé’s favorite dish of the night) and the beets (also not recommended-​too much cumin).
Overall, it was the kind of place where you feel comfortable staying for hours, ordering food to munch on while drinking delicious wine and chatting with friends. I never felt rushed and the waiters were not overbearing.

I found this place to be quiet, homey, and snug. What it lacks in size it makes up in comfort in this lounge tucked away just steps from Le Bernadin. Ambience is great as I expected and the cheese plate I ordered was tasty. Made friends as I waited, people were friendly although it was a light mid afternoon crowd.
Service is 5 star and they were attentive, friendly, knowledgeable and made great recommendations. This was during day hours as I have yet to experience the night… but I would not hesitate to lounge here in the evening.
I’m going back, this place is that great.

Low key, casual yet upscale feel. Have gone in suit and jeans-​treated the same.
Great small plates. Merguez sausage wonderful. Staff knowledgeable, attentive and friendly-​no pressure, no rush.
Varied wine list by glass or bottle.
Can’t recommend highly enough.

I went here with a couple of friends over a year ago. We had such a great experience here. Our sohm gave us so many wines to taste. He was wonderfully helpful. The cheeses were perfect pairings with his wine suggestions based on our personal preferences. Killer lounge. This is a place to go to if you want to impress anyone.

Great space, fantastic wine selection. Would definitely go back.

Love this place. Very good selection of wines, and they have super duper fancy glasses!:-)

This place has a nice ambience and the staff is friendly. We were welcomed into the lounge even though we arrived around 11:15pm on a Saturday when they close at 12. Did not feel rushed or unwelcomed.
The wine list is definitely extensive but slightly pricey. I ordered a glass of prosecco for $ 14. My friends made the sad decision of getting a bottle of sweet wine which they regretted immediately. They were unaware of how sweet the wine was going to be and how small the $ 50 bottle was going to be. Definitely caught us off guard. It was so sweet no one wanted to drink it. I wish that maybe our server helped us out a little more with our decision.
The desserts were okay. We ordered Linzer tarts and the apple dessert. Nothing special. They should add a plain chocolate cake to their dessert menu.

I used to come here occasionally when it was Pianos Due. Now it has a new look and a new name. Tucked into a cut through mid block, this wine bar is said to be run by Le Bernardin’s master sommelier, Aldo Sohm. My friends and I shared a cheese plate and grabbed a few glasses of wine here on a Wednesday evening.
We shared the artisanal cheese selection of 4 for $ 24. Each cheese was paired with a garnish like honey or quince. The portion of cheese was very small, but they were from Murray’s, so they were delicious. The bread that they served with the plate was a good compliment to the cheese as well.
The wines by the glass here range from $ 12-​$ 70, with most in the $ 17-​$ 22 area. I tried the Pinot noir which was good, but at $ 20 not better than most $ 12 or $ 15 glasses I have had.
Named one of the 13 Most Beautiful Bars in NYC from Thrillist, they took the space and redecorated really well. In real life it really does look like its pictures.

IN SHORT: A smart-​casual den of wine from Le Bernardin’s notable wine director. With its upscale charm and reasonably priced food and drink offerings, Aldo Sohm Wine Bar is exactly what we needed in Midtown.
THE STORY: Any visitor or resident of New York City has at one point or another faced the following dilemma: You have tickets for a show in the Theater District around 7:30 or 8. Do you eat an early dinner before, around 5:30 at the latest, even though you finished brunch at 2 and aren’t all that hungry? Or do you wait until the show is over, and eat at 10 PM like a 20-​something night owl?
There may be no good answer to this quandary, but Aldo Sohm Wine Bar may put you as close as possible to a solution. Tucked away off an office plaza on 51^st Street, just down the block from Le Bernardin where Aldo Sohm serves as master sommelier, lies a bright, almost playful space perfect for sipping wine with friends and family on those shorter evenings.
Indeed, with a large, plush, U-​shaped communal couch anchoring the room, the space is noticeably unfussy. Colorful pieces of art and wine-​related accessories lining the walls give the wine bar the more casual feel of the living room of a young, sophisticated friend, and the prices on the menu match. Wines by the glass can range from $ 12 to upwards of $ 30 for truly unique vintages, but rotating flights (recently showcasing Gruner Vetliner or Malbec varietals) for $ 19 or $ 20 can be an enticing way to discover many of Aldo Sohm’s expertly curated wines.
French-​informed small plates are served at both lunch at dinner, though larger plates like salads and sandwiches are also available during lunch hours. Snacks like the Grilled Foie Gras «Lollipop,» a buttery bite resting on toast, while not as mindblowingly revelatory as certain courses at Le Bernardin, are nonetheless perfect and fun dishes for this kind of dinner.
Because the wine bar is still a member of the Le Bernardin family, the quality of the ingredients is never sacrificed. The Burrata and Mozzarella served with a pile of grilled bread drizzled with olive oil is some of the richest and creamiest found, while the Short Rib Skewer is almost unbelievably tender, resting on a potato purée and red wine reduction, and topped with delicately fried shallots.
This degree of freshness is especially noticeable in the House-​Made «Tuna in a Can» Tartine, a delightfully bright and fishy spread on toast covered in leafy greens, tomatoes, and green olives. It fits the experience of a wine bar, but it is all upgraded to elegant, Midtown standards.
The staff is quiet, refined, but entirely unpretentious, offering knowledgable insights into both the wine list and menu of small plates with ease. Blurring these lines between restaurant and bar, Aldo Sohm Wine Bar is precisely the adventure we want on those cultured Saturday evenings before we catch a show, and with its many successes, it guarantees it will become a place to which we will always want to return.
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This review could start off like a joke: So the sommelier from Le Bernadin’s opens a wine bar and gives you a phone book to choose a wine. Choose correctly or the staff laughs at you.
No way Jose! What an approachable wine bar. (No phone book)
Walking into this small space, I guess the word is out because the space was packed out. It’s Friday, after work and I’m BillySalts. Get off of my couch! There was a wait list for the sitting area but I was able to score a wall table with two chairs with minimum waiting
Very nice wine list and reasonably prices. If you have time, you could buy a bottle and a very nice looking plate of cheese. I have dinner reservations and planned it out to have two glasses of wine at Aldo’s joint.
When Veritas closed (RIP) it left a huge hole in the wine community. The first time I had a Riojo wine was at Veritas. But the most important thing I remember, the sommeliers were very informative and approachable. I’d say what I’d like and they’d said then you have to try this wine from this region. They’d pour a taste and we talk some more. That’s just me being miley.
Aldo Sohm Wine Bar has a great, earthy Rioja sold by the glass. It was so good, one of the best Riojas I had all year. I would have loved to relax, have a nice charcuterie plate and talk wine with these folks. Just not on Friday nite at 6pm.
One other thing I noticed was the stemware. Very expensive for the restaurant to hand out at a bar, it made the experience even better.
Amazing wine bar, highly recommended (except Sundays when they’re closed)

Take over the U-​shaped sofa with a group of friends. It’s easy to have fun here. cool, approachable, no-​pressure wine bar embracing questions and exploration. The Keith Haring paintings and brighter-​than-​dim lighting keep the place young and energetic, but not sure if I understand the eclectic assortment of trinkets showcased on bookshelves everywhere. Would love to hear the backstory on this :)
The Tower is a spinning, charcuterie stand of salami, rillettes, pâté, lardo, ham. you name it. Order to share, though forks will clash and compete for the country style and truffle mousse pâté. Grilled Foie Gras Lollipops were unavailable when I had visited but heard solid feedback about this one. Other menu items didn’t quite do it for me but the wine — not the food — should be the main idea here. I should also probably stop hoping Bernadin dishes will line out of the kitchen, ha.
If you’re exploring and finding your identity within the wine world, order any of the Flights. It’s a great way to preview and taste a general spectrum. Plus, they make great conversation starters. Sparkling Rose Flight is also quite nice, so don’t feel trapped in a wine only world here.
Aldo Sohm lacks hubris. Super refreshing for a wine bar concept.

What was I thinking only giving this palce 4 stars in my first review? Aldo Sohm is an integral part of my life now — delicious wine and food in a beautiful space with warm, friendly, & knowledgeable servers. What more could I ask for?
What I recently discovered is their amazing lunch. You can order two places off their lunch menu for $ 16. I’ve been on a corn chowder (with bacon) and turkey tartine kick. Today, my friend ordered the chicken & vegetable soup. It sounds plain, but there’s ginger and lime in there that give it this tantalizing flavor. The turkey tartine comes spattered with sriracha; it’s good and filling. I’ve also tried the mozzarella panino, which I liked relatively less. It’s less special and unique… but still tasty. Aldo Sohm does everything well!
There are also lunch items apart from this 2 for $ 16 list. I’ve only tried the (yummy) duck confit salad.

Have been wanting to go to this spot for a while and eventually made it. Nice small area with comfortable casual seating. We sat at the bar and ordered some appetizers and a Rioja. The staff was super knowledgeable and easy to talk to. Very enjoyable evening. The food was good. Small portions well presented and delicious. Cheese board was a hit as well as the Iberian ham.
Will go back!

Thank you, Aldo Sohm Wine Bar for making my last evening in NYC outstanding!
As a traveling friend/​part-​time chaperone on a school-​related theatre trip in late December, I was lucky enough to be able to sneak off periodically to enjoy some tasty bites in non-​teenager friendly spots. Aldo Sohm was my pick of choice on the last night and I stopped in before heading over to see The Curious Incident… So glad I did!
I’m not much for dining alone, but, not wanting to miss out on great places, I got used to it during this trip. The server I had was great! I arrived early enough to be able to snag a table along the couches, so I had a spot to relax and people watch! I was very surprised to find a very nicely-​priced bottle of sparkling rose and ordered it up for myself. (Perhaps I’m a bit of a lush. Don’t judge me!) I also enjoyed the Foie Gras Lollipops (so much that I ordered a second!), the spicy Lamb Merguez, and the Truffle Pasta with Grated Yak Cheese. I enjoyed everything so much!
Next time I’m in NYC, I’m stopping by for sure =)

Aldo Sohm Wine Bar (Aldo) is the gold – scratch that – platinum standard by which all wine bars should be judged. Brought to you by the gastronomical alchemists of the legendary and next door Le Bernadin.
This is a alpha to omega wine bar experience that titillates every sense of one’s being. I daresay Aldo has access to its über-​famous relative’s wine cellar and many incredible selections are offered by the glass and bottle (40 by-​the-​glass and 200 by-​the-​bottle). And speaking of glass, Aldo serves its Dionysian offerings in very the incredible, hand blown, delicate-​feeling but very durable Zalto glassware (I’d rather not say how I know about their durability but take my word for it).
The staff is well mannered, friendly and exceptionally knowledgable. The charcuterie is outrageously delicious and cut fresh. And while some may find it a bit burdensome on the ‘olé wallet Aldo is an outright bargain. For example, I recently visited a popular wine bar in Astoria and ordered a $ 15 plate of charcuterie. It seemed that they served decent, middle of the road cold cuts. The same fifteen buck plate at Aldo yields gourmet charcuterie of exceptional quality. from a quality and taste perspective there was no comparison with Aldo being exponentially superior. Tip: at $ 50 bucks the charcuterie tower is a bargain and it can easily satisfy three but the great charcuterie is the reason to order the tower.
I have but only one gripe: Aldo isn’t open on Sunday. C’est la vie…

I love Aldo Sohm, and I don’t even drink wine.
I come here for lunch fairly often as it’s connected to my building and their lunch menu is extremely affordable. Their paninis are absolutely delicious and you have the opportunity to snuggle into an extremely comfy couch while enjoying the meal, likely with a nice glass of wine.
The last time I came here my coworker and I ordered from the actual menu, which was really a series of tapas like dishes. While the food was good, it came out to be quite pricey as the portions are extremely tiny for the price.
Boudin Blancs – I enjoyed these, though the dipping sauce that came with it was really spicy! Had a strong kick to it
Warm Baby Beets – very soft beets and very good sauce. I normally don’t like beets but this was good
Short Rib Skewer – super tender meat, one of my favorites
Chicken Drumstick – you literally pay $ 7 for one drumstick, but the servers were so kind and gave us two so my coworker and I could both enjoy one. Very flavorful and the chicken was so tender it was falling off the bone
Spicy Lamb Merguez – this was by far the favorite dish of the day and I don’t even like lamb! Once again you’re paying $ 7 for one small pita but it’s sooo worth it. Not too spicy, perfectly seasoned, absolutely delicious
Warm Goat Cheese Potato Parfait – interesting dish, though a bit too much goat cheese
Dark Chocolate Ganache – not really the dessert I was expecting. Literally four medallions of chocolate, but was definitely high quality chocolate and exactly the type of chocolate I like
Definitely come here for the wine, the lunch paninis, and their cheese plates. Aldo Sohm is a wine bar, after all. Their food is very high quality, but mostly finger food and not ideal for a full meal like my coworker and I tried to do. Gets pricey!

More like 3.5 for me.
The space is very pretty but cramped. No real area to wait for a table so you are hovering over seated guests waiting for your table to be available. Though the wait wasn’t very long since it was just the two of us.
Wine selections were on point. I had a delicious red with low tannins from the Beaujolais region and it paired nicely with everything we ordered food wise. And what was with the ridiculous wait between courses?!
Food was just OK. Ordered the Foie Gras «lollipops» — large generous portions of FG but the tomato chutney spread underneath on the toast didn’t do much for the dish, wish it was just a tad sweeter to cut the richness. The whole head of marinated and roasted cauliflower was pretty tasty. I think the pork rillette was the only thing I’d ever order again here, nicely presented and prepared. The short rib skewer was very tender and well braised. Now the illusive truffle pasta… what a waste of $ 22. First off, if you advertise that the dish has truffles in it then please let it at least smell like there was something truffle in there. It was pretty much a flavorless heavily buttered pasta dish… you know the kind you serve kids who are picky eaters…
Go for the wine, go elsewhere for the nosh.

So I heard this place was the new wine bar from Le Bernardin. Of course I had to get on over since the food would be great and at a lower cost. However, plates are tiny so ordering a few items can also get costly. Great selection of wine too.
Foie Gras Lollipop: very juicy and second favorite of the night
Short rib skewers: Tender, very soft and tasty
Chicken: This dish was okay in my opinion, wouldn’t really recommend it
Truffle pasta: My favorite of the night! Very well tasted the truffles and it was amazing

Aldo Sohm is a super trendy and high-​end wine bar with tapas from Le Bernadin.
Pros:
* Luxurious in all details from lofty décor to the fine glassware and silverware
* My favorite app were, hands down, the Foie Gras Lollipops (albeit being $ 15/​pop) and Short Rib Skewer.
Cons:
Tapas will always be overpriced in NYC– and at Aldo dishes are overpriced in the extreme. You’re basically paying super-​inflated prices for the Le Bernadin name and the luxurious ambiance.
The warm Goat Cheese parfait, beet skewer, Tuna in a Can Tartine are OK– didn’t blow me away like the Short Rib and Foie Gras Lollipops.
* Don’t take reservations
The service wasn’t stellar when my gf and I came on a Thursday at 7pm. The hostess told us it was going to be a 15 – 20 min wait but it turned out to be closer to an hour. Also, they ran out of napkins or cutlery when we got seated.
There isn’t any waiting space. While they give you the option of drinking a glass of wine while waiting, you’re still awkwardly standing by the entrance
Because of how pricey it is, would only come here once in a while for special occasions or when it’s for business meetings.

Aldo Sohm Wine Bar is the latest midtown hot spot started by a Le Bernadin sommelier with Eric Ripert overseeing the food menus. The interior is undeniably cozy, with low plushy couches, hanging lights from the gorgeous high ceilings and modern art adorning all the walls.
Unfortunately I feel like there’s an identity crisis going on here. The space is too big and corporate to truly be a romantic wine bar, but has too much of a «date-​night» or «girls night» feel to it to properly cater to the working crowd in the area.
The wine selection was good, with 1 page of by the glass choices and pages upon pages of bottle options, which seemed to span across a good price range.
The food was disappointing though. I would say a charcuterie board is probably the safest bet if you’re hungry, but I’d just stick with drinks and grab dinner elsewhere.
The whole baked cauliflower was probably the highlight of the menu, but the seasoning was unevenly distributed leading to a overly salty top and bland bottom. The truffle pasta was overly greasy and something I would expect from one of the tourist traps in Times Square. And the spicy lamb was dwarfed by the pita it came with, although our waitress did warn us the lamb is about the size of her index finger.