In May I had the pleasure of visiting Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar for the first time. I first heard of Ayza via Twitter and was immediately intrigued. What could be better than an establishment that specializes in my three favorite things to savor: wine, cheese, and chocolate! This wine bar is conveniently located on 31 st street in midtown Manhattan and offers both indoor and outdoor seating with plenty of heat lamps for cooler weather. It is the perfect setting for an after work happy hour or a romantic date. I highly recommend making a reservation as it gets very crowded even if you go earlier in the evening.
The wine list has a nice variety of options by the glass or bottle with many regions represented. Flights are also available should you want a little variety. I ordered the Michel Torino Malbec Don David from Argentina and I really enjoyed it. Typical of most malbec it didn’t disappoint. My boyfriend had the Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain which is his favorite region.
The food offerings at Ayza consist of standard wine bar snacks, salads, paninis, tartines, and a small selection of entrees. We ordered the hummus dip, truffle pizza (to die for), and a plate of three cheeses. Our cheese selections were the bucheron, aged manchego, and the shropshire blue. The bucheron and the shropshire blue were both excellent. For dessert you may choose from Ayza’s homemade chocolates or selections from famed chocolatier Jacques Torres. I choose several pieces from both options and paired them with a glass of Cockburns 10 year tawny port from Portugal to end a perfect evening.
Since my May visit I have gone back again and will continue to venture to Ayza for my wine and chocolate fix. You can also venture over on Sunday nights for their romantic Couples Night as well as Girls Night Out on Tuesdays.
