Casellula

Wine bars are huge in New York City and around the country.  Some are great.  Some are over-priced and mediocre.  Casellula is one of the great ones.  They have a wine list that is constantly changing and a cheese list with over 40 cheeses.  That means you can go back all the time and have something new and different almost every time you go.   That, in my opinion, is fantastic!

Tonight I just had a small snack.  I had a white bean crostini with bacon and mushrooms topped with truffle oil.  The bacon was so fresh it made me feel as if I was eating rashers in Ireland.  It was a spectacular appetizer.  We also had a 3-cheese plate.  The cheeses are always good, but the amazing part of our cheese plate tonight was the brown sugar fudge with the Ossau-Iraty cheese.  Ossau Iraty is a sheeps milk cheese from Spain that is always a favorite of mine.  Coupled with the brown sugar fudge it was outstanding.  It was the perfect marriage of tastes and I have never seen that before on a cheese plate.  I think you should rush down there just for that!

It is a small space so there is almost always a wait and they don’t accept reservations.  In my experience, it is best to get there either before 7pm or after 10pm to avoid the most crowded times.  However, that said, it is well worth the wait.  The other great thing is that once you are seated, it doesn't feel small due to the windows and the high ceilings.  It is really a cozy atmosphere.  If you like cheese, they have one of the largest selections in the city.  If you like wine, then this is your place.  For such an intimate space they really know how to deliver a fantastic meal.  Put this on your “places you must go” list.   It will soon be on your favorites list.

401 West 52nd St (between 9th & 10th)

212-247-8137