Comments (0) Best Wine Bars - 2006

Cav Wine Bar

This chic, minimalist-to-the-max spot has the most ambitious kitchen of any of our top wine bars. Here you can put together a real (and well-cooked) meal to accompany your red, white, rosé, or dessert wine. (Beer and cider, too.) Cav offers an extensive and tempting menu of "bites" (including tapas, mezze, fondue, and charcuterie — the house-made salumi is as good as it gets), plates small and large (boudin blanc, pasta, stews), and a lengthy cheese selection (available in assortments of three for $15, five for $25, or go nuts and taste everything for $95) to accompany its list of more than 300 international wines. Perch in the front room on one of the tall stainless steel-topped tables, or snuggle against the long black banquette in the rear. On special nights, winemakers are on hand to pour their wines and tell you all about them.