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Kurant Wine Bar

Entrance to Kurant Wine Bar. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Entrance. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
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Rating
4.8/5

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.

Side view of Kurant Wine Bar. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Side View. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Outdoor Seating at Kurant Wine Bar. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Outdoor Seating. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff

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.

Indoor Dining at Kurant Wine Bar. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Dining Area. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Bar Seating at Kurant Wine Bar. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Bar Seating. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff

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

Prosecco at Kurant Wine Bar. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Prosecco. Photo: Sora Vernikoff

We shared two delicious appetizers.

Octopus Salad at Kurant Wine Bar. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Octopus Salad. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Formaggio board at Kurant Wine Bar. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Formaggio board. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff

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.

Filet Mignon at Kurant Wine Bar. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Filet Mignon. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff

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.

Organic chicken at Kurant Wine Bar. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Organic chicken. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff

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.

New York Cheese Cake at Kurant Wine Bar. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
New York Cheese Cake. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Tartufo at Kurant Wine Bar. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff
Tartufo. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff

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 CopinetteBarbetta on Restaurant Row, Tony’s Di Napoli Italian Restaurant, Junior’s Restaurant, The Russain Tea Room, and Elio’s in Yorkville.

 

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Kurant Wine Bar

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