Punch & Judy

I refused to go here for about 2 years. The lady and I had a really bad experience (waited for 30 minutes without menus/water, while the too cool staff chilled at the bar and talked to the too cool regulars). So we walked out, swearing to never return. But last week we found ourselves on Clinton in the middle of a snowstorm and decided to try again?we had walked into a few places, bar window shopping if you will, and walked out when we saw that nobody was there. Why don?t people drink during snowstorms? We found the spot empty as well, but we were cold and wd-50 seemed like a weird choice, so we settled on our long-scorned friend. Fortunately, this visit was much more successful. We settled on glasses of wine (white/red split) instead of a bottle. I found the list was nice, but they could have offered more by-the-glass options. The bartender/server was nice too, and way more Midwest-friendly than Midwest-surly. For food we settled on the cheese plate, which was a basic combination of sliced hard chesse (Manchego, provolone, something else) served with sliced French bread. Simple and tasty. We also ordered the shredded corn beef sliders. Recently I have been disappointed with bar sliders (why are they so damn trendy?). The bun always seems to be stale and the patty (beef, veal, lamb) just isn?t cooked right (nor hot). But shredded corn beef? A nice idea, for sure, but I wasn?t expecting much. I had originally ordered the braised short ribs, but they were out. Always a disappointment. So I went with the next thing on the menu (under pressure, for sure) and had instant buyers remorse. But when the dish arrived, I was pleasantly surprised. The corned beef was tender and certainly Katz-like and the bun was soft. There was some kind of condiment, maybe a spicy mustard, which worked well. Overall, a nice dish. So the spot has risen from the dead. Much credit to the new owners for bringing it back. Music was good too. more

The food was great, and cheap for how much you get. Fantastic drinks try the lemonade one and bartenders are friendly. Great music too check it out. more

Cute little place....but went there on a Friday night and it was empty! Bartender was friendly though. I have to say, this place should not be categorized under wine bar......especially since they only had a few different types of wine on their menu. Don't recommend this place at all if you're looking to be in a happening place or looking for an extensive wine list. more

What is all the hype about? The place was completely empty. The food was generic, and mediocre at best. And there was like 15 different types of wine. Not very impressive for a "wine bar". $30 bottle of Gabbiano?!?! (you can get Gabbiano at A&P Liquors for like $15). This place is not the jump-off everyone makes it out to be (could be that most of these good reviews are from 2004 - I guess alot has changed since then) I do have to say that when the bartender did finally get behind the bar, he was very friendly and helpful. Pros: Friendly Staff, nice decor Cons: Not really a good wine bar, mediocre food, place was empty more

love this place. the lemonade vodka drink is also great.... all of the food seems wonderful........ more

stay for the drinks - get a seat near the entrance to people watch more

I went there on a Saturday night, it might be different on other nights, but I doubt it. Punch and Judy is like a mirage, from far off (the internet) and from the street, it seems like an oasis. Upon close inspection (entering) it is just another acre of sand. To sum up, I do not recommend you go there, the name is symbolic of the Punch and Judy origin, the acoustics sound like you have been beaten with a cudgel by a savage ogre-like child and the music is bleh. more

Of all the places on Clinton Street, Punch & Judy has to be one of my favorites. It's a chill bar/restaurant, with delicious wine and snacks. (I think they stopped serving beer on tap but they did have an interesting selection.) The crowd is cool, and (I would guess) mostly local. Although I've heard everything from classic rock to electronica playing there, the music is always good. The staff is polite and helpful--with absolutely no attitude. Looking forward to summer, when they open the big windows in front! Pros: atmosphere, staff, menu more

At first we were asked to move b/c the manager was expecting a large party, we obliged b/c he was nice. We ordered drinks and chocolate fondue, which was the main reason I was there. Fifteen min after getting drinks, we started wondering where the fondue was since the place wasn't busy. Then a manager brought out fondue (our order?) to another table & took it away. In the 20 plus min that we sat there waiting for our fondue, no one from the staff came up to our table. Finally the wrong fondue arrived, afterwards the waitress went back to figure out the problem. After some time she told us that it would take more time to make our order. That's when we asked for the check. The manager should've apologized & offered us fondue on the house. Would not recommend this place, high citysearch rating can be misleading. Cons: Bad service more

First, this isn't a wine bar anymore. I went with my girlfriend expecting to relax in the neighborhood only to find that Punch & Judy has changed (they have like 15 wines) to a liquor bar. I was disappointed. We sat down to have a drink and couldn't believe how much fun we ended up having. The vibe and the crowd were amazing. It turned into this big, all-inclusive party. The DJ played spectacular music and the staff was having as much fun as the crowd! At one point, the manager (Ryan? Bryan?) asked us to move tables to accomodate a party. Two minutes later he was back thanking us and bringing us a free round of drinks. He then introduced us to the people next to us and we partied with everyone the rest of the night! This stuff doesn't happen in NYC anymore, does it? I'll be back. Pros: Vibe, Staff, Music Cons: Pretty Small more

I cannot say enough good things about this place. I have dined here on nearly every night of the week, and it is always lives up to my expectations. They just redid the decor a short while ago, making it even more chill, relaxing, and comfortable then it already was. The low lighting with the red 'glow' decor makes it romantic enough without overdoing it, trendy enough to fit in well in the area. The price is very reasonable. I have NEVER spent more than $75 on a date there, which includes several tapas to share, a bottle of wine, and possibly a drink/dessert. If you are looking for a great date spot, then I would absolutely recommend Punch & Judy. I am a big fan of 'sharing food' on dates, and the menu is perfect for this The service is extremely friendly, and just all around up beat. Pros: price, ambiance, service Cons: location is annoying more

I threw a private party here the other day. From beginning to end, the owners and management and staff were super cool, taking care of anything and everything that I asked for. The party was a smashing success, due in large part to the sweet vibe that the bar/staff created. The food was absolutely killer, and all of my guests have repeatedly told me how much fun they had. A couple of them are already planning to have there own little gatherings here. I have nothing but praise for Punch and Judy. All I can say is Thank You. Pros: vibe, great food, cool staff Cons: too far from my house more

I was really disappointed with this place. Vibe is OK, decor is good. But there were <20 wine by glass (a great wine bar with only 4 different flights? No). There were only 4 people in the bar, and yet our food came 45 minutes later. By food, I meant smoked duck & 2 cheese, no cooking involved. Waitress standing around, chatting, finally went to cut up one cheese which is clearly not what we ordered. I asked and the bartender just said "it's cheese, you ordered cheese right?". Apparently he just didn't want to admit he forgot the order. I'm not going back. Pros: Decor, Quiet, LES Cons: Bad service, Clueless staff, Attitude more

I have taken a number of dates to Punch & Judy. The wine and food are consistently wonderful (and have brought me back) while the music is consistently loud and out of place. I mean, I love the Red Hot Chili Peppers but not while I am enjoying some intimate chocolate fondue with a friend. Will someone please take care of that iPod and change the tunes? Better yet, get rid of the thing altogether. In addition to the wine and food, the crowd and atmosphere are beautiful and simply beg to be enjoyed w/o (overbearing) music. Pros: Food, wine, atmosphere Cons: music more

The smartest wine list and food menu, nice owner who is actually "visible," good service, smart decor, charming neighborhood... How can I ask for more??? I have tried at least 10 to 15 different wines at this place so far, and have never been disappointed with their wine selection. They have great wine selection for all different price levels, too. Try Chocolate Fondue- it's decadent... Pros: Good Service, Excellent Wine List, Nice Decor more

I had reserved a spot for Valentine's Day at the Fondue Lounge and was called back to say that my reservation had been bumped - Punch + Judy was my second choice and I couldn't have been happier! After speaking with Constantine on the phone, he assured me that he had a spot for me at 9:30. When my boyfriend and I got there, he remembered me from our earlier conversation and although our table wasn't ready, we were encouraged to sit at the bar. I loved the dessert wine and our meal was amazing. I thought the boar was tasty and loved the cheese plate. I love the intimate feel of the restaurant and I felt the service was great. I would definitely suggest this restaurant as a great place to hang out with friends or your honey! Pros: Great ambiance, Good wine, Friendly servers more

My girlfriend and I followed the Citysearch review last year and went to Punch and Judy last Valentines Day (2004), and enjoyed a spectacular prixe fixe dinner for about $45 or so (the same offerings as this year). Everything was fantastic, down to the menus prepared in envelopes like valentines. We decided to return for this year. I cant comment on the food we left as soon as we saw the price. $90. Ninety. Dollars. Per person. Even the Clinton Street Baking Company a few doors down was half that. I understand that restaurateurs price to market demand, but do people really want Punch and Judy that badly? Needless to say, my girlfriend and I made a rapid exit. Pros: ambience Cons: price! more

Highly recommended?!! I've lost all faith in Citysearch. The food was an a nightmare. I took my fiance for the day before Valentine's. The fact the restaurant was almost empty should have been a sign. The food was so horrible that we were making jokes about Sizzler and how we were going home hungry to cereal and swishing mouthwash to get rid of the awful memory. Best fondue? - well it was the only thing on the menu that didn't taste totally lifeless and disgusting. The service? Mostly good until the waiter left the check on our table and expected us to take it to the bar even thought WE WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE SITTING DOWN AT THE TABLES! This is the worst culinary experience by far in New York and even if we hadn't brought high expectation b/c of the Highly Recommended Citysearch recommendation. Words cannot express my disappointment. Cons: awful food, bland food, service more

This is, hands down, the best wine bar in the city! If you are thinking of trying Morrell's, stop, and go to P&J! Pros: great selection, great prices, great service more

I went there last night, just passing by, for the first time and had such a great time. I was waiting for a friend who never showed up, but the staff made me feel like they were MY friends, met new people over a glass of Australian red, while we chatted with the bartender who was such a nice guy, he made great suggestions and added a little surprise at the end...chocolate fondue with fresh fruits. The food is great, the wine is great, the scene is wonderful, I recommend this place, it was cold outside but it was nice and warm inside, this is one of my new favorite places...very relaxing. more