December 9th, 2011
43 E 20th Street New York, NY 10003(212) 253-3700
Winter time; the Holidays; a Great Meal; add these all up and the need for a great bottle of red wine may come to mind. This equation helped us select Veritas, an oenophiles friend located in the heart of the Flat Iron District under the Executive Chef Sam Hazen. Ironically, Veritas sits opposite Gramercy Tavern, the location of our special December meal exactly one year ago.
We arrive right on time and find our table will not be ready a little while. Generally this is no issue, but the bar is at capacity and having one of us on crutches makes for an awkward wait. We manage a lovely Petite Syrah while dodging the wait staff, but sadly growing a bit impatient with every minute. We survive.
Crutches gone, menus in hand, including a book that is the wine list, we begin to settle into the cozy ambience of the small dining room. Small groups and families alike, mostly older, all seem jovial with their wine and add an air of sophistication to the room. Now, what wine to order?
The one problem with such an extensive wine list is, well, that it is extensive. Many names are familiar but like most lists, many more are unfamiliar, and with the flip of the first page prices seem to board a bullet train to the top of the Alps, or at least out of sight of our wallets. With much help from the sommelier, we land on a 2009 Donelan Syrah at a healthy $120. It is beautiful and opens up throughout the meal only revealing more fruit, possibly blueberry.
The food seems secondary, but after a small amuse-bouche our appetites are back. “Bone marrow and oysters, please, and the veal chop and filet sound lovely. Thank you. Oh, however the chef recommends. Thanks.” Okay, enough talking, time to get back to our wine.
The meal is perfectly complimentary but the wine is clearly the star of the meal. A couple petite flour chocolates and espresso macchiatos set us straight before we head out into the wintery, holiday-spirited evening. You know what that means, a perfect night to enjoy a bottle of red.
Experience: 5/9