Profile

Owned and operated by two Gallic ex-pats, this unpretentious Long Island City wine bar offers up a great selection of Old World, New World and lesser-known vintages. The carefully-curated list fits on one sheet, front and back, making it tough to steer yourself wrong. Chatty bartenders know their stuff—and inform you with it, rather than lord it over you. Bar snacks of flavored olives, a resident jazz trio that sets up in the corner every Thursday, and the cool, classy décor feel authentically Parisian, as do the high-arched café chairs, post-industrial scissor lights, and a massive wooden cabinet. The just-married-with-no-kids crowd lingers over fresh oysters, foie gras, and cheese plates, contributing to Domaine’s simple, inviting vibe. Ask nicely, and you may even get a free taste of Pinot. — Ben Lebeaux