Vanguard Wine Bar (Upper West Side)

"Vanguard is one of the best first-date spots on the Upper West Side. It’s a big French wine bar, and even on weeknights it gets pretty full of couples talking about their siblings, and where they went to college. That said, it’s equally good for a drink with a few coworkers, or a catch-up with a friend. Just be aware that the whole place might smell like truffles, since they serve various truffle- and non-truffle-related snacks." - will hartman, bryan kim, neha talreja, matt tervooren

"Vanguard is a French wine bar with an open layout, a bustling atmosphere, and plenty of room for groups. Come with friends and get your night started here. Or maybe just sit at the bar and eat a meat and cheese plate by yourself. The next time you’re hanging out around Lincoln Center or Columbus Circle and you need a not-boring place to get a drink, keep Vanguard in mind. They also have locations on the Upper East Side and in Midtown." - will hartman, bryan kim, kenny yang, carina finn koeppicus

"Vanguard is a wine bar, but it isn’t quiet or boring. It’s just one big room with a very long bar and some vintage French decor, and even on weeknights it tends to get pretty packed. This place is perfect for an afterwork drink with a couple of friends - or for when you have a first date with someone, and neither of you has the energy to go downtown." - bryan kim, matt tervooren

"Did you know a cozy wine bar perfect for first dates, big groups, and/or big group first dates exists on a weird stretch of 2nd Avenue? We didn’t either and may regret sharing this information because Vanguard is somehow always at the perfect capacity. They play movies in the background, the service is great, and the wine list is always changing. Grab a couple of seats at the bar, order some pimento cheese and get to drinking. If you don’t know, now you know." - simona sudit

"We like Vanguard Wine Bar for several reasons. First off, you order at the bar, which means you never have to wait for a server. There are also plenty of stools in the long, dark room, so you won’t have to stand while you make painful small talk about your last vacation and the things you do at work every day. Meet up here, have a glass of wine, then make up a story about your dog being sick. The great thing about not knowing this person very well is that they’ll have no idea you don’t have a dog at all." - bryan kim