Claud

Step into Claud and you’ll immediately understand why this East Village wine bar has been one of the toughest reservations in town since opening day. The space feels like you’ve wandered into a stylish friend’s apartment—all warm neutral tones, natural wood, and understated lighting that makes everyone look good. If you can snag the table next to the open kitchen, consider yourself lucky; it’s the best seat for watching the culinary action unfold.

The menu walks a delicious line between refined European classics and the kind of seasonal, produce-driven cooking you’d expect from a team with serious fine-dining pedigree. The razor clams deserve their reputation as one of the city’s best raw bar offerings, arriving bright and briny with an unexpected twist of apple and horseradish. For something heartier, the chicken liver agnolotti delivers pure indulgence—delicate pasta swimming in brown butter that’s impossible to stop eating.

What truly sets Claud apart is how thoughtfully every dish is conceived. The swordfish au poivre cleverly reimagines a steakhouse staple with flaky fish and aromatic green peppercorns, while the Moses Sleeper mille-feuille showcases Vermont cheese with shatteringly crisp pastry. And then there’s the chocolate cake—a towering monument to cocoa that might just be the best in New York. Order it early, because it sells out.

This is the kind of neighborhood gem that works equally well for a casual weeknight dinner or an impressive date. The wine list is thoughtfully curated, the service strikes the right balance between attentive and relaxed, and the overall experience feels special without being stuffy. Come hungry and leave room for that cake.