Places to get a glass of great wine in NYC?

Last night, I wanted to celebrate some terrific news with a friend and a nice glass of wine. Was going to see if I could sit at the bar-section of Cru, but it was closed (don't know if its permanent, but I remember seeing rumors that Shea Gallante was leaving there).

So my question is: where are the wine bars (or restaurants with bar sections) in NYC, specifically Manhattan, that are more focused on the wine than the scene? I know of (and enjoy) Terroir, but that's way the heck east. In midtown I generally go to Morrell's. I'm trying to find places that have a combo of a decent bottle selection with good wine-by-the-glass at varying pricepoints (say, $8-25).

Did you find anything?

Alas, there was nothing south of 14th street. Had I wanted to go a bit further north, I would have gone to the bar at Union Square Cafe...

Alas, there was nothing south of 14th street. Had I wanted to go a bit further north, I would have gone to the bar at Union Square Cafe...

Still north of 14th, but what about the bar at Veritas?

Mark Lipton

I really like Otto, but then I love Italian wine, and you may have been looking for someplace fancier.

Alas, there was nothing south of 14th street. Had I wanted to go a bit further north, I would have gone to the bar at Union Square Cafe...

Still north of 14th, but what about the bar at Veritas?

Mark Lipton

To be honest, I've never been there and they don't have a wine list online. I know the list is supposedly great but I was worried that they'd have a middling WbtG/half bottle selection...