Fri 11 Sep
This was Friday, September 11.
Friday is the book's worst night, so tonight we skipped it. All five of these keep seats for whoever comes to the door. Three are in Brooklyn, because that is where a Friday door still opens.
We never hold, resell or book a table. Availability moves minute to minute, so go early rather than late.
Rhodora Wine Bar
Fort Greene
A low wooden ceiling with dried flowers hanging off it, marble tables, exposed brick, and natural wine poured all evening. It is small enough that the room fills with one conversation, and nobody there is in a hurry.
walk in — they take no reservations
Their own site says "no reservations" and lists Friday hours of 4pm to 11pm.
Cervo's
Chinatown
Iberian seafood on a narrow stretch of Canal Street, with a bar that spends the evening reworking old cocktails. Through October the dinner tables are out on the pavement, which is the best seat they have.
take an outdoor table — first come, walk-in only
Their own site: outdoor seats on Canal Street are "always first come first serve for walk in only" through October. They also save indoor room for walk-ins. Open every night 5:30pm to 11pm.
Bunny
Bedford-Stuyvesant
A couple from Istanbul and Hamburg cook and serve a Turkish-German menu in a candlelit room on Nostrand Avenue. He cooks, she serves, records play, and the bar is where you want to sit.
walk in and take a bar seat
Walk-in only, per The Infatuation's review of the room. Their own site lists no booking page and no reservation form, so the door is the only way in. We loaded both at midday.
The Ten Bells
Lower East Side
A dim natural-wine den that has been on Broome Street since 2008, with oysters and a happy hour running to 7pm. It stays open to 1am on a Friday, so a late table for 2 is a real option.
walk in — a table for 2 cannot be booked here
Their booking page offers no party smaller than 4, so a two walks in. Friday hours 5pm to 1am, per their own site, checked again at midday.
Place des Fêtes
Clinton Hill
A Clinton Hill wine bar leaning Catalan and southwest French, with seasonal small plates built for sharing. Anchovies, mortadella, sourdough and olive oil, and a list you can sit with for two hours.
walk in — they take walk-ins every night
Their own site: "Reservations are available online via Resy. Walk-ins are always welcome."
None of these work tonight? Tell us what does — $12.
Your party, your neighborhood, your hour. One person researches tonight and sends three to five rooms with the way in, under 10 minutes.
We loaded every one of these pages ourselves before writing this. Check their hours again before you put your coat on.
Tonight’s five are here.