Producer Scouts: Wining and Dining at Bar Veloce

Last night, I rediscovered an old, but forgotten, favorite when friends and I decided upon a quick bite and after-work drink at Bar Veloce. Back in the day, when I lived on Lafayette Street, this wine bar lived beside a few Centre St favorites (Mexican Radio, the old Va Tutto!, and Eileen’s Special Cheesecake), and was a place I walked by daily and stopped into on occasion to unwind.
 
And though the aforementioned venue is now closed, the intimacy and casual sophistication still thrives at two other locations: 176 7th Avenue and 175 2nd Avenue.
 
After a couple of tastings, the Rosse Conero carried us through the night. A glass that’s fuller in body and dry with tastes of plums, bing cherries, and cocoa–it’s a perfect drink to take you from savory appetizers to the indulgent desserts.
 
But even though a spread of nutella and sorbetto sounded incredibly enticing, we decided to save dessert for next time and stick to the beautiful cheese and bread plates. The Piatto Mozzarella (mozzarella di bufala, basil, and tomato) had the freshest ingredients enhanced with a touch of spice and the natural salt of the cheese–it literally melted in your mouth. I loved the bruschette of prosciutto di parma because of its unexpected sweet and crunchy bite from the fig tartare and pine nuts that sat underneath the freshly cut ham. And the arugula panini was a crowd hit–with pecorino, tomato, red onions, and cracked black pepper.
 
Bar Veloce is a perfect place for those times when you just need a place to stroll in and unwind, but I’d definitely recommend it for a first date or that casual but intimate Valentine’s Day night.
 
Bar Veloce
176 7th Ave
New York, NY
212-629-5300

175 2nd Ave #1
New York, NY
212-260-3200

 

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