Aroma - a wine bar with good food

Aroma - A Wine Bar with Food!

In the fashion world, the new look is all about color. In restaurants the fashion seems to be EGGS! Not only here on the East Coast, but also on the West Coast in the San Francisco Bay Area. Poached eggs, quail eggs, deviled eggs and more. There's probably an egg in some form or other on most menus these days and the menu at Aroma was no exception.

Paul and I have been eating out less but trying to explore different types of restaurants that afford smaller portions, interesting wines, outdoor seating and sometimes a bar with music. Aroma is in NOHO near the East Village. A cozy spot, with an excellent wine list, has an interesting menu with small portions and yes, an egg appeared on the frisee salad just like in Paris. The chef uses fresh seasonal ingredients; Paul's salad and pasta was just what he was looking for and my beet salad which came warm, layered with cheese and a sprinkle of nuts served with a drizzle of balsamic and little balls of deep fried Gorgonzola. It was more like a dessert then an appetizer. The soft shell crabs which followed were a delight and perfectly sauteed on a bed of greens. The white wine recommendation, which I've already forgotten, was a perfect choice and Paul enjoyed a red Italian as much. The bread, always our downfall was plentiful, warm, crusty on the outside with a flavourful center. Our only disappointment was the uninteresting meat platter we shared. The selection was bland and uninteresting as was the small slice of toast with a coating of red sauce. Espresso was excellent and judging from the smiles at the next table, the ice cream must have been great.

"aroma" Caesar salad, parmigiano reggiano, poached egg, sicilian anchovy

orecchiette, sweet fennel & spicy sausage, broccoli rabe, pesto, pecorino

warm beets, gorgonzola, fig jam, walnuts, warm beet dressing

puntarelle, rocket, frisée, bosc pear, gorgonzola dolce, toasted walnuts, white anchovy vinaigrettee

Villa Ile Barbaresco 2000 (Piedmont)

Feudo Principi di Butera Insolia 2006 (Sicily)