Due West

"What It Is: A cool West Village wine bar with good small plates Perfect For: Drinks And A Light Bite, Date Night We first tried getting into Due West, a new West Village wine bar, on a Saturday night. We did not succeed. So we headed back on a weeknight, and made it in without a wait. Aside from a big birthday party at the bar, it was full of people who looked like they might be named Allegra or Alfons, sitting in groups of twos and threes in blue velvet booths. This is generally the kind of place where meeting for drinks could turn into dinner - we liked the burger and the fried chicken bites (i.e. very good chicken nuggets). It would also work for a date with someone who makes electronic remixes of Death Cab For Cutie songs, or the subsequent catch-up with a friend so you can talk about your failed DJ date. Just know that it gets pretty loud in here. The Verdict:Due West is a great place to meet someone for drinks that might turn into dinner in the West Village. We’ve added it to our Bar Hit List." - hannah albertine, bryan kim, katherine lewin, hillary reinsberg, chris stang, matt tervooren

"Due West is sleek and loungy, and it feels like it should be in a neighborhood like Tribeca or the Meatpacking District. But it’s actually on West 10th Street, and you’ll find it useful if you have to plan a nicer date or grab drinks with some clients in the West Village. The space has white brick walls and velvet banquettes, and it gets pretty crowded. They also have a little dinner menu with things like crab dip, oysters, and a pretty good burger. Just be aware that this isn’t a huge place, and be sure to make a reservation." - bryan kim, katherine lewin, neha talreja, carina finn koeppicus

"Due West is a West Village wine bar and small plates place where everyone looks like they could be named Allegra or Alfons. It’s generally crowded, and has blue velvet booths, and cocktails on tap called Green Witch and the Village Manhattan. As far as the food goes, Due West makes a good burger (that comes with what must be drug-dusted rosemary fries) and little plates of scallop crudo and fried chicken bites. Come here for drinks with a date who won’t mind shouting about how responsible he’s become since adopting his labrador retriever puppy, because Due West gets pretty loud." - Hannah Albertine

"Due West, a new wine and cocktail bar, opens with a menu including a raw bar, small plates, and bar snacks." - Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya