I recently raved about Amy Babic’s Copinette, a restaurant renowned for its amazing American cuisine with French influence. It was time to try Amy Babic’s second restaurant Kurant Wine Bar located at 1091 2nd Avenue between 57th and 58th Street in Manhattan.

Kurant is a wine bar boasting an extensive menu. To guide you on a journey of what’s offered at this amazing wine bar I’m going to let your mouth water your way through the choices made by my friend and me. Here are the rustic seating areas.

This was a particularly lovely evening so we celebrated with Prosecco.

We shared two delicious appetizers.

The Grilled Octopus Salad with its mixed greens, sweet peppers, onions, olive oil, lemon, and parsley was by far the finest octopus salad I’ve eaten. All ingredients were fresh and the grilled octopus was tender and tasty. It was marvelous! The Formaggi Board exceeded expectations as well. We selected a three-cheese board that included a Bruschetta Truffle cheese made of sheep and cow’s milk and enhanced with a tender black truffle  The second cheese we selected was soft and rich French Brie, made of cow’s milk. The third cheese we selected was firm and buttery Manchego made from goat’s milk. Served with that formidable Formaggi Board were toasted raisin bread, grapes, and fig jam. Building on that delicious combination of starters came our main dishes. My friend ordered the eight-ounce filet mignon served with asparagus and mashed potatoes in a red wine demi-glace.

My dining partner could hardly stop raving about the freshness and the quality of the ingredients and their preparation. I ordered the organic chicken with lemon garlic marinated breast, roasted potatoes, and brussels sprouts with Manchego cheese.

The chicken dish was tasty and delicious. The way that each of the ingredients was prepared and especially with the Manchego cheese put this recipe on my list of top favorites. It was time for dessert and we went all out tonight. Because of Covid, I had not seen my friend for ages–tonight became a celebration. My friend ordered New York Cheesecake and I, Tartufo with a Zabaione cream center surrounded by chocolate gelato and caramelized hazelnuts). It was as divine as my friend’s cheesecake, which she graciously permitted me to taste.

To top off our post-pandemic celebration we both ordered a Kurant specialty cocktail, the Espressotini. The concoction is comprised of Ketel One vodka, Kahlua, Baileys, and Espresso. It rocked and I can’t wait to come back to have this again! Kurant Wine Bar 1091 2nd Avenue New York, NY Readers may enjoy these reviews of other Manhattan restaurants including La Copinette, Barbetta on Restaurant Row, Tony’s Di Napoli Italian Restaurant, Junior’s Restaurant, The Russain Tea Room, and Elio’s in Yorkville.