Two things distinguish the Tangled Vine, opening March 1, from other Upper West Side wine bars: the Mediterranean menu of David Seigal, formerly of Mercat, and the wine program overseen by author and importer Evan Spingarn, whose passion for the grape suffuses the 160-bottle list. Spingarn once worked at Nancy’s, where he must have cultivated his Riesling fetish; the varietal is well represented, with eleven choices, and offered as a “trio,” a flight of three themed two-ounce pours.
But the list, which identifies each selection as biodynamic, organic, or sustainable, covers considerable old-world ground, as does Seigal’s menu. Crostini are topped with ingredients like chickpeas and morcilla, and larger plates include scallops à la plancha, fideos negros with squid ink and braised cuttlefish, and braised lamb shoulder with heirloom polenta and preserved lemon.
434 Amsterdam Ave., at 81st St.; 646-863-3896
Tangled Vine Menu [PDF]
Tangled Vine Wine List [PDF]
