Serena's Wine Bar: A lovely new addition to the UES!

My boyfriend and I were very excited to see Serena's Wine Bar (1268 2nd Ave.between 66th and 67th St.) open up not far from our apartment. We feel that a good, traditional wine bar is hard to come by these days with the abundance of mixology and craft beer places opening, so this was a pleasant surprise. Serena's is a bright and airy traditional wine bar, with the standard charcuterie/cheese platters, flatbreads, panini,  salads, and tapas that we have all come to know and love. It's the simple things in life that we cherish. 

Serena's is quite affordable and offers a happy hour special everyday, which unfortunately I cannot remember the deal since I did not go during happy hour, but I recall it's a good one! 

We went during the afternoon on a holiday weekend and the refreshing atmosphere was exactly what we needed after walking around the city on a hot day. The service was not the fastest service I have ever received, but neither of us was in any rush, and figured they were short handed due to the holiday. 

As per usual, we ordered a selection of small plates to share to try a smorgasbord of things. 

Fresh Burrata Mozzarella - Heirloom tomatoes, roasted peppers, olives, basil, arugula 

The fresh burrata was served beautifully, with it being presented on top of a bed of arugula, and surrounded with tomatoes, roasted peppers, olives, and sprinkled with balsamic vinegar. I loved the addition of the peppers and the arugula to this dish, since normally it is served with only tomatoes. The presentation made it into a salad that I would consider ordering in the future to eat as a salad, rather than a shared appetizer. The burrata was tasty and creamy, however I like burrata extra creamy! The best burratas are the ones that ooze and basically fall apart the second you stick a fork in. Even though this one was more of the consistency of mozzarella with a burrata center it was still very delicious!

Stuffed Grape Leaves

The grape leaves were delicious! I am very picky with grape leaves, because when done wrong, they can be VERY wrong. These grape leaves were the perfect consistency, with tons of flavor, and spices packed inside. This dish was also served with a beautiful presentation with tomatoes, arugula, and lemons accompanying it. Everything just seemed so fresh and healthy with the additions of vegetables and arugula on the platter:) These first two dishes made me feel less guilty about the charcuterie and cheese platter that was to come...

Crunchy Baguette Served with Charcuterie and Cheese

The charcuterie and cheese platters were either 3 for $12 or 5 for $18, all mix and match, which I thought was a great deal! I love when you have the ability to choose whatever you want on your platter in any combination. The platter was served with fresh baguette slices, and also some pumpernickel style bread with grapes, jam, and mustard to accompany the platter (I unfortunately did not take a picture of the pumpernickel, jam, and mustard platter!)

Mix & Match Cheese and Charcuterie - 5 for $18

We ordered a combination of prosciutto di Parma,  bresaola, goat cheese, camembert,  and asiago cheese which we were given a bountiful helping of each! The cheeses were very fresh and of great quality, and the meats were additionally very fresh and delicious! My boyfriend accidentally dropped his whole slice of goat cheese on the floor (slippery little sucker) as soon as the platter came to our table, and the waiter was very accommodating in bringing him another goat cheese to make up for his casualty.
We were given plenty of time to enjoy our food and drink our wine and were not rushed through our meal, which I loved. Serena's has a more European feel in that way, where you are given the time to enjoy your food and wine at your own leisurely pace.
The wine list is a little lacking in  variety of choices, but every type of wine is offered and at moderate pricing. I enjoyed the wine I ordered and felt that the waiter was helpful in making the right choice.
I definitely plan to return to this gem of a spot because of the lovely atmosphere, service, great basic food, and location! Being at Serena's makes me really appreciate wine bars for their basic food and great experience. I hope to check out their happy hour next!