Grape and Grain

Summary:
Cozy little nook in Alphabet City. Fantastic selection of beers and wines with phenomenal choices for bites (not small by any means). Very cool ambience for a date I’d say.
Food:
My friends and I came during the snowstorm and got a few plates to share. The chorizo/​avocado pizza had a little bit of a kick. The cubano is a MONEY sandwich. It was crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, cheese melting off the sides, great Cuban sandwich.
Service:
It was a slow night since there was a blizzard but we were well cared for.
Atmosphere:
Very cozy and intimate. I’d love to come back here for a date.
Recommendation:
Good spot for a date if you’re in the area.

This was a perfect date spot. Good pizza and cozy atmosphere!

Really like this spot. Great food on cute little plates. The portions are tiny but it’s not completely unreasonably priced.

I got the artichoke pizza & it was just okay. The bartender was a little off honestly. He seemed like he was drunk. I wouldn’t come back here, because it was pretty weird

grape and grain is vino n eats spot for well-​behaved winos, no whining though. seewhatididthere
anyway, the space is small, cozy, intimate. lighting is pretty subdued – candles and a bit of turned down ceiling lights. tin tile ceiling (i think) and distressed wood effects in terms of tables, chair, etc. a bit of eclectic pieces here and. but the space isn’t cluttered or cramped and keeps the comfy intimate vibe consistent throughout. the L-​shaped bar seats about 8 – 9. also there’s plenty of seating around the perimeter of the restaurant – two– and four-​tops and a few corner nook spots. the bar overlooks sixth street which is a pretty sleepy residential block, so mind your voices outside. the bar/​eatery is also next door to its beer sister bar Against The Grain (whose beer menu choices) are available to Grape and Grain customers. a very cool date spot, light eats n drinks meeting up place OR catching up with your besties over beer, wine, etc. you can private party out this place as well if you have enough friends or can rent enough friends – HA!
the wine choices in terms of reds is top notch. nothing against the white wines just haven’t dabbled too much into it, but i am sure the strength of that list got muscle. do call on the expertise of the bartenders here (especially Matthew)…he or they will steer you right especially since they are constantly debuting new bottles here. if you are stop and going at Grape and Grape – get a quarto of your fave vino… however anything above two quartos… but the bottle… you’ll save $s. quartos range 13 – 15 bucks. bottles $ 30ish and above.
the tiny space behind the bar bangs out some excellent food whether it be brunch, light dinner, or late night eats. if you’re hangry, i would not try to get a full meal here, but a lightish dinner or late night eats works perfect as the menu accommodates accordingly. think small plates mostly except for the PIZZA! i’d recommend: short rib sliders; meatballs in marinara, shrimp ceviche, tuna tartare, and charcuterie plate (definitely a nice bite for one person and a small share amongst two).
my current favorite pizza: chorizo, avocado, jalapeño. think square/​sicilian pizza. you get about 6 small square slices that make up a medium-​ish sized pizza. definitely do not think you are getting a giant pizza, but it’s perfect for sharing for two or amply filling when you get late night hunger pains.
G&G also does brunch. the food has a nice variety to eat from breakfast pizza to fruit/​granola/​yogurt to nutella french toast and MORE. they do serve booze (wine n beer), but i prefer by own boozy brunch to be way boozier (hard alcohol). however to each his or her own and Grape and Grain works nicely as neighborhood brunch option or a nice break from morning/​afternoon drunch (drunk brunch).
the staff? awesome. knowledgeable. hardworking. and relaxed. if you’re expecting bustling midtown style restaurant service, then you will be disappointed. the service here is relaxed not slow. the staff is typically the bartender holding down the small bar area and playing waiter to tables. there’s chef making the food and that’s it. no runners, busbuys, etc. so chill out order ample wine or beer first, your food will come in time. treat the staff right and it will return to you tenfold.
the music? eclectic and fun. 70s, 80s, and 90s – thanks to Matthew’s djing (one of the bartenders).
if the Grape and Grain is crowded. you can always head right next door to Against The Grain where you can order the same food menu and be closer to the beer!
definitely do try Grape and Grain if you are looking for a relaxed beer and wine joint, date spot, or place to relax with something to nosh on and get spirited away. it’s a place for relaxed casual dining and drinks. the choice is yours, but ain’t it obvious.
drops mic because the music here is awesome!
i out.
zzz.

What if you were vegetarian, didn’t like pizza and were starving? Well you would certainly not go to this restaurant! The menu doesn’t offer a lot of choices and if you pick the salads, be sure not to be hungry or to prepare your wallet to spend huge amounts of money, for very little food. The owner is nice but obviously loves to drink (a little too much?;))
I think that the place would be just great if it was only a bar.

This is by far my most favorite spot in the Big city! It’s cozy atmosphere and wonderful smelling food lured me in over a year ago. It left me craving the breakfast pizza until I was able to come back just last week.
Although it is a traditional city restaurant (meaning small shot gun style) there is plenty of room. There is an adorable bar where you can chat with the chef and bar tender. There is also plenty of 2 and 4 top table and booths.
I had a mimosa that will cure any hangover and as a starter the table shared the best stone ground grits. I am a southern grits aficionado. Nom! Then I mi Ed on to the reason for the season. The Breakfast Pizza! The crust is crusty the egg was easy and the veggies fresh.
The kicker is the adorable clean bathroom! I love you Grape and Grain!

I’ve been here for brunch, dinner, and late night and the food is always delicious, the beer and wine list is diverse, interesting, and affordable and the staff is very friendly.

Grape and Grain is a subtle out-​of-​the-​way treat in East Village. For a late night bite and drink without the noisy crowds of 1^st avenue, settle in for a chorizo pizza (I like it with extra jalapeños) and a good glass of Malbec. This was 3 out of my 4 meals during my first four weeks of living in East Village.
Come for almost everything that a low-​key neighborhood restaurant-​bar should have. The staff is welcoming and entertaining; strike up a conversation at the bar, and they’ll feel like family after two visits. The menu is brief but covers the spectrum from salads to cheese boards to, of course, pizza (the «grain» of «Grape and Grain»). Quick warning: They don’t accept most credit cards. But every other amenity more than makes up for this. Five stars.

We decided to try out Grape and Grain on a Thursday night after seeing such highly recommended reviews. Unfortunately, our experience wasn’t as expected.
The intimate wine bar is decorated tastefully, but the wine was anything but tasty. I ordered a glass of something along the lines of «vino verde» and it was completely sour. I would never have expected to receive a spoiled glass of wine at this place. My boyfriend opted for beer instead which was obviously the better choice. I would have said something to the waiter, but he looked so busy I felt bad being «that» customer. Very disappointing for 12 dollars.
Which leads me to my next point. the waiter was the only staff member in the entire bar accomodating guests. We had to go up to the bar, physically ask for the check, and waited over 10 minutes to even receive our drinks.
It seems others have had very different, more positive experiences at Grape and Grain, but I don’t think I’ll be returning any time soon.

Loved this little wine bar in East Village & it’s tucked away from all the busy bars/​food areas! My friends and I came out here on. Saturday night before we started our night out & it was empty besides for a few people, but I loved that!
We ordered a bottle of white wine & a cheese board. The wine was delicious! I can’t remember the exact name, but it was the first on the list. The cheese board was nothing amazing, none of the cheeses really stood out & the pairing with the prune jam, wasn’t so great.
However service, location & wine are all delicious! Very intimate spot & great for a date night with friends or your significant other!

Was looking for a quiet spot for a late dinner with the other half. The place was empty when we went in but another 6 – 8 people arrived in pairs during our meal which gave the place a nice ambience.
It’s really cute, cozy and lit only by candle which gives it a nice romantic feel but it would be great for groups of friends too.
We had a small plate each and shared a pizza.
Small plates were yum — Tuna Tartare and Beet Salad. Pizza was just the right size to fill us up and was topped generously.
Service was great. Food delicious. What more can you ask for? 5*

I came here with my husband, both of us with no expectations. Needless to say, I was more than impressed.
Our server was helpful, informative, and VERY friendly. We started off with the shrimp ceviche with grapefruit & fennel. I asked for pita chips on the side, and was served a whole bowl along with the his own comment on also enjoying pita chips on the side of dishes. We also got the white bean dip with spiced pita chips, deluxe pretzel: topped with pumpkin seeds served with jalapeño-​dill pickles & artisanal cheddar, and my husband enjoyed a margherita pizza served on focaccia bread. Everything was excellent; I have no complaints.
It’s an intimate space, with dim lights and a peaceful community garden right next door. I would definitely recommend having a date here, or bringing a friend to grab a bite and chit chat away.

After a stressful first day on the job, this place was exactly what I needed to unwind.
Went on a Monday evening around 7:30 pm and we were the only ones there! We were helped promptly by the funky yet pleasant waitress. We started off with the caprese salad. I just came back from Italy so and I thought the cheese could have been fresher and the basil was a bit gritty but it didn’t stop my boyfriend from enjoying the entire thing.
For an entre I ordered the portobello salad. I substituted bleu cheese for goat cheese which was a smashing success– I hope they offer it as an option on their menu in the future (not everyone loves bleu cheese but it’s tough to argue with its goat counterpart)! The mushrooms were served sliced as a garnish and pickled in a vinaigrette. Their acidity perfectly complemented the creaminess of the fresh goat cheese. Pair that dynamic duo with the delectably salty prosciutto and it made for one satisfying and memorable meal.
Since it was a Monday and I had to be up early the next morning for work, I didn’t try any of their wines but the list was ample. Maybe next time I’ll try a glass or three!
As far as ambience goes, this place has got it. The main reason I walked the distance was for a relaxing, rustic atmosphere and this place delivered. The music was cool, the light was dim and soothing, and it genuinely seems like everyone wants to be your friend in there. A redo!

3.5 stars. I was really expecting to like this place, but the whole experience was lackluster. Nothing was BAD, I just had higher expectations considering the reviews. Maybe it was an off night?
Came here on a Friday around 8:30 — the place was almost empty so the service, as expected, was on point. I’m a big fan of the atmosphere here — very cozy and intimate. Would definitely recommend for a date. It’s small but not suffocating, and if you’re lucky enough to sit in a corner seat, you have the options of reclining on some decorative pillows (actually limited my elbow room and were obstacles more than anything else — but aesthetically, very very nice).
I suppose I should’ve come in the mood for wine… but I didn’t. Wine drunk for me is not a pretty picture and we were planning on going out afterwards, so for my own safety and dignity, I avoided wine. If you’re this way, perhaps coming here on a weeknight to have a couple glasses of wine with dinner and calling it a night is the way to go. So, I got beer instead, which was quite enjoyable. Against the Grain, Grape and Grain’s sister beer bar next door, has a decent selection of beers, so the waiters just hop on over there if beer is your drink of choice. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the IPAs I tried. I’ve never been one for hoppy beers, but palates change, I suppose.
Where this place fell short for me was the food. The menu looked diverse and tasty, but nothing wowed us. It was all edible, but there was zero character to anything we ordered. Literally and figuratively — but mostly literally — bland. We ordered:
— Deluxe Pretzel: topped with pumpkin seeds served with jalapeño-​dill pickles & artisanal cheddar — this should have been served with beer cheese dip, as the best bar pretzels are. Instead, just 2 pathetic little slabs of cheddar cheese on the size. And the pickles were equally disappointing — we’re both pickle lovers, and these were just not good. I’ve had good jalapeño-​dill pickles — these were not them.
–Shiitake mushroom tart with black truffle oil — I think there were a total of five small mushrooms in this tart. More arugula than anything else here. At least that was good-​ish.
— Chorizo, mozzarella, avocado, & roasted jalapeño — probably the best dish of the night, but it still didn’t wow me as much as it could have. Look at those ingredients — so much potential, right? I think the chef needs to take Spices 101 or something. But it certainly wasn’t bad — had two slices. I just was expecting more — clearly, the theme of the night.

Great wine bar (with a sister beer bar next door — Against the Grain).
Intimate — great date spot. Bartender is alright — not overbearing but not overwhelmingly helpful.

The brunch items are simple and fresh. I ordered the truffle eggs with bacon, which were both bomb. The bacon was perfectly crisp, not burnt nor soggy. My friend ordered the Francisco plate which just looked alright.
This place was empty on a Sunday during prime brunch time, which I thought was a bit strange at first, but it actually made our experience much better.
The bathroom is decked out with door knobs. They even try to trick you on the door going in! You’ll need to check this place out to see what I mean.

Excellent date spot. I checked out Grape and Grain with my boyfriend on the rainy Sunday evening between Christmas and New Years, looking to end our date night with a nice glass of wine in a romantic atmosphere. Check and check. G&G was perfect.
We were the only people in the place, aside from the one kind server/​bartender who was perfectly attentive — he promptly brought us our carafes of wine, checked in on us once, and left us alone until we asked for the check. The wine list was extensive, the music was soft, and the décor was cozy and intimate with lots of candles. The lit Christmas tree in the front corner was a lovely touch.
I will definitely return for date night or a girls night out!

First off, the staff is friendly and sassy. My friend gave him some sass, and he just sassed her back. Not in a mean way, but just sassy enough without coming out rude. It was a pleasant surprise. So that was fun!
Second, the inside is, in the wise words of my friend, «tres cute!» There’s couch seating along the walls, a lounge area up in front next to the window (open on nice nights) and some bare seating. It all gives a very chill vibe and a place where you can catch up with a friend or maybe go on a date with your significant other.
Third — their flat bread pizzas are pretty darn good. We ate 2 of them. Their salmon & tuna tartare was good as well. All delicious and filling and went great with our wine/​beer.
I had a good time. I recommend!

What a hidden gem in the East Village! When strolling by, we were lured in by the wonderful smells of breakfast. Excellent bacon, great atmosphere, and stellar service. The place is very traditional and historic with cute chandeliers and awesome flatware. They can seat probably 50 people or so, with about 7 – 8 stools at their bar.
We sat at the bar and were greeted by one of the cooks, who cook the food right behind the bar. Talk about organized… they prep their food in the basement and bring it up to cook right behind the bar. We ordered two mimosas which were healthy pours of brut champagne. I ordered the arturo, which was a pizza topped with scrambled eggs, roasted jalapenos, bacon, ham, mozzarella, cilantro, and mozzarella as a base. It tasted even better than it smelled! It was so unique yet SO so good… I’d go back just for that. Sara got the breakfast pizza with slices of asparagus, bacon, and a sunny-​side up egg. She loved it!
If I lived in the East Village, this would by my go-​to breakfast spot, no questions asked.