Written by Karen Talbot

Sep. 24, 2014:  If you are looking for well-priced delicious wine and food in a bistro setting, then Sorell Wine Bar Bistro is the place to go.

It is located on Huguenot Street at the intersection of Division Street in New Rochelle. Parking is relatively easy--there is a garage on Division or you can park on Huguenot, but pay attention because meters, which take cash or credit cards, operate until midnight.

The restaurant seats 32 with 4 more spaces at the bar, which faces the kitchen for viewing the food as it is being prepared. Mustard walls are adorned with colorful modernist oil paintings with dark wood tables and chairs. It is very intimate, with an open kitchen where Christopher Daly, the chef, puts forth his culinary creations. Daly worked at Bouley with Thomas Keller of Per Se and The French Laundry.

We ordered two appetizers from the "small plates" selection: one called taco de pierna de pollo con cerveza as well as a rosemary parmesan risotto cake with ragout of wild mushrooms. Both were very tasty, especially the risotto cake, which was outstanding!

Our main courses consisted of Sicilian-style meatballs (it was actually one large meatball) bathed in a tomato sauce légère on top of parmesan polenta. My husband had the tuna pan bagnat with red onion, roasted peppers, capers, white anchovies, good olive oil, and lots of fresh herbs. This dish was very flavorful, but the only downside to it was that the bottom layer of the panini was very hard to cut.

Giovani and Soraya Velez, the husband and wife owners, both from Colombia, were very attentive and are passionate about making Sorell a positive dining experience. Benjamin, one of our waiters, couldn't have been nicer and kept coming over to check on us after each course. For dessert we shared an Upstate Farms peach cobbler with raspberries and whipped cream--the best whipped cream we have ever had!

A month ago the owners bought the wine store right next door and aptly named it Sorell Wine Shop. If you bring your dinner receipt to the wine store within 48 hours, you will receive a 15% discount on any purchase. We suggest that they list this perk at the bottom of the menu.

The wine selection in the restaurant was quite extensive. We prefer to order by the glass and over the course of the evening enjoyed a white Prova Regia from Portugal; a Malbec blend from California; Meritage Blend Five Lives--a Malbec from Argentina; Tierra Pronetiba; and a robust Côtes du Rhône from France, Les Violettes. Wine by the glass runs $8 to $15 and bottles range from $26 to $40.

Pictured here: Interior of Sorell Wine Bar Bistro in New Rochelle.

Photo by Karen Talbot