NYCReview
photo credit: Kate Previte
Foul Witch
Included In
Foul Witch is an East Village wine bar opened by the Roberta’s team, and like many nepo babies, it entered the world with a sense of self-assurance. The long, narrow space a few doors down from classic dive bars like The Double Down Saloon and Library Bar is decorated like a tavern from a rich kid’s D&D campaign, with a big wood-fired oven in the back, niches filled with flickering candles, and a sleek bar populated by folks in overly-designed denim. Drum and bass music blares incessantly.
photo credit: Kate Previte
photo credit: Kate Previte
photo credit: Kate Previte
photo credit: Kate Previte
This is a cool place to hang out and drink from a wine and beer list that seems like it was curated to impress that one friend whose fridge is filled entirely with $40 bottles of craft beer. Foul Witch also serves some pretty good small plates, but when we say small, we mean small. Think: $32 for three square inches of grilled pork.
Foul Witch notably doesn’t serve pizza, but the freshly-baked bread and cultured butter that hit your table as soon as you’ve ordered drinks are both excellent. This will set you up to think that you’re in for an exceptional meal, when really it’s a mixed bag. Everything we’ve had here tastes alright, and some dishes—like the grilled tripe with pecorino and mint and the polenta with uni—are exceptional. The musical monotony and the cost-to-value ratio of the food are the two main issues we have with this restaurant.
photo credit: Kate Previte
photo credit: Kate Previte
photo credit: Kate Previte
photo credit: Kate Previte
Given that most of the menu items are in the $20-30+ range, it’s hard to justify having a full meal here. And no matter how much you order, you’re likely to leave hungry. The best way to use this restaurant is as a preamble to your actual dinner. Come for drinks, bread, and the unmissable Fire & Ice appetizer of stracciatella and 'nduja, plus one or two other small plates. If you have a sweet tooth, the desserts here are worthwhile, and skew slightly savory. We recommend skipping the pricier main dishes, so just order a hodgepodge of snacky things to share and if you’re with a group where everyone is going to want their own starter and their own main, stop here for drinks and appetizers, then head somewhere else for the main event.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Kate Previte
Bread and Butter
photo credit: Kate Previte
Fire and Ice
photo credit: Kate Previte
Dressed Chicories
photo credit: Kate Previte
Peruvian Potatoes
photo credit: Kate Previte
Grilled Tripe
photo credit: Kate Previte
Polenta with Uni
photo credit: Kate Previte
Sunchoke Caramelle
photo credit: Kate Previte
Goat Garganelli
photo credit: Kate Previte
Grilled Pork
photo credit: Kate Previte
Ice Cream
photo credit: Kate Previte
Sake Lees Cake