Good conversation on restaurants and pricing

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60763-i5-k14673388-Name_your_favourite_mid_price_restaurant_NY-New_York_City_New_York.html

So, here's the thing about wine bars. Some are really excellent, and have great selections of wine, and knowledgeable staff able to make excellent selections. And some have a couple of predictable wines on the list, staff that knows nothing, and bad small food plates. There are a lot of such places in the East Village. There's one or two decent ones, but I never remember the names. But if you can go to Noreetuh, that's a treat.

Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels on Centre Street is very good. They'll blind test for you, if you like doing that.

Terroir is excellent, the service is incredibly knowledgable. Forget the menu, tell them what you like and they will get it for you.

Chambers is a wine lovers restaurant. The Sommelier is probably one of the best in the city. And the food is amazing. This is where people in the business go.

If you want to go in midtown, OCabanon is on W 29th is very French, very good, nice selection.

Of course, not really a wine bar, but really a great way to have wine and small plates is to sit AT the bar at Gramercy Tavern. I'm reminding myself that I haven't done it in a while, and need to do that soon, one of my favorite places to drink good wine and not over-eat.

Corkbuzz is well liked too.

Great wine bars are an excellent place to get wine and have a meal. But many wine bars aren't great.

This is a list from the NT Times wine critic from 2022.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/25/dining/best-wine-bars-nyc.html?ugrp=u&unlocked_article_code=1.lU0.4gt2.dH0lp9nQIIo8&smid=url-share

In Williamsburg, Four Horseman is the place to go.

One of the hardest reservations to get right now is at Claud.

Chambers is consistently excellent and I second Risa's acknowledgement of the somm there. She was there when it was Racines and has an incredible amount of knowledge if you want to talk about wines. Food isn't too shabby either. Be careful. You can run up quite a bill there. I had a painful lesson.

We had good evening meals in Hardrock cafe and The Bryant park grill ,they also had a good menu for my wife who is coeliac

I liked Justine's on Hudson when I tried it last year. Good food and service, nice atmosphere but the prices might be a little high for your budget - you could take a look at their menus.

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One possible option - Bemelmans at the Carlyle. You can double it with a visit to the Upper East Side (museums, Charles Schulz Park, Central Park etc.)

https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/the-carlyle-new-york/dining/bemelmans-bar

Here is a great UES guide - https://www.girlwiththepassport.com/things-to-do-on-the-upper-east-side-nyc/

Other Wine Bar options on the Upper East Side -

https://www.festivalcafenyc.com/

https://serenasnyc.com/w/

https://www.felicerestaurants.com/felice-64/

Been wanting to go to Bemelman's but can never find the time (and far from my beaten path). Love the little "tapas like dishes" and the Martinis look like they are another level.

However, will that even fit the OP's budget? Tax and Tip et al.

I have to say that food prices in North American (and that includes "humble Vancouver" are stratospheric compared to Europe)/

Just spent way too much time looking at the Chambers website.

Looks great.