Alexander B.
Yelp
4.5 stars only because I haven't tried any of the food menu at Vin Sur Vingt (VSV).
As most other reviewers have noted, Vin Sur Vingt is the perfect bar to start or end your night with a diverse choice of wines by the glass and a massive, 250+ bottle wine list in its entirety. I've stopped in on multiple occasions, usually before going to a big dinner in the area or finishing the evening with the glass of wine I wish the restaurant I had chosen had offered.
The building itself has a bit of a mildew-y smell, which is somewhat unavoidable in some buildings in Manhattan just due to their age or other circumstances, but could be an area of improvement for the wine bar. Conversely, my friend remarked "smells like Paris," so maybe this is an authenticity issue. Regardless, the scent is not the best first impression of the bar (and you eventually get used to it).
The bar is never uncomfortably packed and is perfect for someone, like me, who does not see a point in loud, uncomfortably populated bars where no one can hear anything and no one REALLY cares what they are drinking. There is plenty of standing room and some limited tables in the back, all of which make VSV a perfect, casual, "stop in for a glass of wine" type place which can be difficult to perfect.
Trust your bartender on their wine selections, assuming that you've come to the French wine bar for some kind preference for French wine. They have all been knowledgeable and willing to discuss the wines with me. On the other hand, if you know your wines and what you want already, they likely have both a glass and a bottle to get your fix. For me, VSV has a bottle of Pinot Noir from Alsace (usually from Willamette Valley, Oregon or other US West Coast areas) that is terrific, and for only $54 a bottle, a steal for a bottle of good wine in NYC. Paired with a three cheese (sorry, fromage) plate, this is a perfect start to an evening.
VSV has made me a repeat customer for sure and will be my casual bar choice in Flatiron unless something radically changes.