Savvy Shoppers’ Survey

Crossroads Wine & Liquor
55 W. 14th St. (5th & 6th Aves.)/212-924-3060
Mon–Sat 9am–9pm.

The Edge: Good selection at good prices. § A cluttered store featuring a large selection of wines with good coverage of Australian, Californian, French, Italian, and Oregonian wines, plus port. Also a large selection of champagnes in a wide range from inexpensive to very high end—carefully selected and priced well. A shabby-looking shop with anything but shabby service. 10% off. § “Huge selection.”

Food & beverages
Wines & liquors
quality style service value: 30 20 22 25

Cork & Bottle
1158 1st Ave. (63rd St.)/212-838-5300
Mon–Thurs 9am–10pm, Fri–Sat 9am–11pm.

The Edge: Good selection of wines. § Cork & Bottle merged with Jim McMullen Wine & Liquor, which was owned by restaurateur Jim McMullen, who’s beloved by the Upper East Side senior set. Prices are okay for a local Upper East Side shop. § “Specials daily.”

Food & beverages
Wines & liquors
quality style service value: 32 34 34 32

Burgundy Wine Company Limited
323 W. 11th St. (Greenwich & Washington Sts.)/212-691-9092
Mon–Sat 10am–7pm.

The Edge: Great selection of—what else?—burgundies. § Find a very good, large selection of top Burgundy and Rhône wines and now a small selection of very fine wines from elsewhere (including California). Often the wines are from smaller vineyards. An ever- changing (but large—mega-hundreds of bottles) inventory. Expensive.

Food & beverages
Wines & liquors
quality style service value: 47 37 37 17

Astor Wines & Spirits
12 Astor Place(Lafayette St.)/212-674-7500
Mon–Sat 9am–9pm.

The Edge: Huge inventory of wines from around the world. § The shop has a huge inventory and following. It’s particularly strong on South American wines and champagnes. Offers a large selection of moderately priced wines. Also a large selection of kosher wines. § “Huge variety of all liquors.”

Food & beverages
Wines & liquors
quality style service value: 39 33 33 33

Acker Merrall and Condit
160 W. 72nd St. (Broadway)/212-787-1700
Mon–Sat 9am–10pm.

The Edge: Strong selection of German and Alsatian wines. § It’s strongest in Californian, German, and Alsatian wines, but features a good selection of Australian, French, and Italian wines as well. Carries wine-related gift items, including corkscrews, baskets, books, and glassware. § “Very helpful staff. Love the California selection. Fine choices from smaller vineyards.”

Food & beverages
Wines & liquors
quality style service value: 44 38 39 34

67 Wine & Spirits Merchants
179 Columbus Ave. (67th & 68th Sts.)/212-724-6767
Mon–Thurs 9am–9pm, Fri–Sat 9am–10pm.

The Edge: First-rate selection of French and California wines. § A large selection of Californian, French, Australian, and Italian wines and champagnes. Okay, but not rock-bottom, prices. § “Nicely chosen selection, good advice.”

Food & beverages
Wines & liquors
quality style service value: 40 35 33 35

Word of Mouth
1012 Lexington Ave. (72nd & 73rd Sts.)/212-734-9483
Weekdays 10am–7pm, Sat 10am–6pm, Sun 11:30am–5:30pm.

The Edge: Good basic takeout. § One of the first gourmet takeout stores. Specialties include meatloaf, sliced steak, lamb stew, salads, rice pudding, brownies, pecan bars, and peanut cup bars. If you stick to meatloaf and sliced steak you’ll be happy—the salads are often disappointing. Catering and picnic baskets available. Delivery for a fee. § “Delicious takeout, enlarged menu.” “Not as good as it once was.”

Food & beverages
Takeout
quality style service value: 38 37 35 33

Williams Bar-B-Que
2350 Broadway (85th & 86th Sts.)/212-877-5384
Daily 9am–7:30pm.

The Edge: Traditional Friday-night Jewish dinners. § Chicken and all the fixings, including chicken soup (with egg barley, mushrooms, and noodles), chopped liver, kasha varnishkes, potato pancakes, and more. Plus capon, duck, fried chicken, and turkey. No credit cards. § “Best in its class—for Friday-night dinners.”

Food & beverages
Takeout
quality style service value: 37 37 37 37

William Poll
1051 Lexington Ave. (74th & 75th Sts.)/212-288-0501
Mon–Sat 9am–6:30pm.

The Edge: Some good things, but out-of-sight expensive. § Best items are the frozen hors d’oeuvres (phyllo dough stuffed with spinach and cheese, meatballs, etc.). Known for its caviar, dips, smoked salmon, and baked potato chips in seven different flavors. Will make up sandwiches, which are small and expensive. At Christmas it offers handmade gingerbread houses, which incorporate music boxes and Christmas lights, for $150+. Gift baskets also.

Food & beverages
Takeout
quality style service value: 41 35 35 31

Whole Foods Market
www.wholefoodsmarket.com for locations
Weekdays 8am–10pm, Sat and Sun 9am–10pm.

The Edge: Healthy. § Quality healthy ingredients. § “Uninspired taste.” “Just not as good anymore.”

Food & beverages
Takeout
quality style service value: 40 35 35 25