Xai Xai South African Wine Bar

I’ve been there a few time. The food is great and the wine also. I just read about the bad comments about the service, but I totally disagree… The guys are really fun and nice! You have to keep in mind that the servers there do every little thing! They are bartending and serving and the place is always crowded! You are doing a very good
Job! Thank you for the awesome tile I had with my husband.
Keep doing what you r doing!

Unfortunately I can only give praise for the food and wine selection. The service leaves a lot to be desired — especially for a wine bar.
So as far as food goes, it’s mostly small plates. I ordered the warm octopus salad and the lamb curry empanadas. The octopus was perfectly cooked and tasty (though I’m fairly sure it was just warmed in the microwave by the guy working in the dark kitchen). The empanadas were delicious and filled with a healthy amount of braised lamb shank stew. The wine selection is good and mostly South African. The sad part is that the staff doesn’t seem to be very knowledgeable about their wine list. Which ultimately leaves a lot to be desired in a place like this.
Service: When I walked in it was fairly busy and I seated myself at the bar. It was easily 15 min by the time I was acknowledged (by one of the back of house staff members and timidly offered water). Once I finally order wine and food were delivered quickly. I notice two manager types wandering around throughout the night doing nothing to help. The only reason I mention them is because once my first glass was empty I see them notice it multiple times before approaching to ask only if I was okay (not if I wanted another glass or anything else). Almost as if this is a wine bar that doesn’t want to sell wine…
Long story summarized — visit for the food and decent selection of South African wines but bring your patience as the staff and service leaves a lot to be desired.

Wine and small plates were good. However, the waiter seemed annoyed that we were there. We sat at the common table and still spent 60 bucks in a half hour between apps and drinks while the place was completely empty. Maybe it was just his personality but as a customer, I think it takes away from the ambiance when the server is not friendly.

I’ve prob been here a half-​dozen times.
The food is pretty phenomenal.
They have a great selection of wines and options (glass, carafe, bottle).
I’ve always found the service to be impeccable.
Recommend–
peri-​peri prawn
bruchetta
lamb pot pie

This trendy little neighbourhood spot was where we enjoyed a lovely start to a girls’ night while on a recent visit to NYC. We ordered a bottle of the Graham Beck Brut, ordered some oysters and then I ordered the lobster risotto. This was my first time trying oysters, and I have to say, it’s fun to eat. Of course, I tend to wear what I’m eating, so I was nervous about the potential mishaps I could get myself into whilst eating the oyster, but it was fairly easy. I can’t judge how fresh they were or what not, but I did enjoy my experience. The sparkling wine was really good, and my lobster risotto was pretty good. My only objection is that there was a bit too much of the risotto. Near the end of the dish, it felt too rich and heavy. My friend in NYC uses this place to meet clients, as well as dates, and I can definitely see why. It’s hard to go wrong with food this tasty and an atmosphere that’s trendy but also intimate.

This one is a great combination of a wine bar atmosphere, flavour of an oyster bar and reeks of international cuisine. It’s South African with a quintessential Hells Kitchen ambience. It’s a cosy candled space, with beautiful darkwood tables, giving it a semi romantic feel. I was glad that we were promptly seated (Monday 8pm) although we were a group of 10. I suppose the windchill helped keep a lot of potential patrons at home.
The service seems to be a hit or miss, because we had an averagely attentive waiter, with short wait times between the order and the service.
The wine list feels a tad exotic because of the range of South African wines they carry, which you know you won’t get in your regular wine store, which unfortunately did come at the cost of a markup. The have a fairly adequate list of cocktails as well on the menu. The small plates were not bad, although somewhat overpriced.
This is definitely more a place for the wine, but make sure you have a more generous wallet.

Im not sure why it’s called an african wine bar. But it’s among the few wine bars I would go often.
The place is intimate, classy and also low key. If I need a drink I always choose wine over beer and the place just works for me. You can have a great conversation any time you sit down at the table.

I thought this place was great. I went on a Sunday night, around 630, and there were only a few other people there. The place itself is very pretty and has a great ambiance. Everything is dark wood and they have candles everywhere.
We got the Six Hats Pinotage, which is a South African wine. It was great and the service was great as well. By the time we left, around 730, it has started to fill up. I would definitely go back.

Such a dim, romantic atmosphere with a great bar and good food. I love the big selection of South Africian wine and the tapas selection.
We decided to go with the X platter which you get to choose from 5 full size tapas for $ 42. So we went with:
— Lamb Bunny Chow… delecious
— Ostrich mini burgers… delecious
— Grilled Eggplant with Goat cheese… good but would pass for something else
— Truffle Biltong Mac and Cheese… very cheesy and good
— Prawns with rice… delecious
I dont recall the name of the dessert I had but it was a tied donught type of dish which was not good at all, just dry.
Overall besides dessert I am very happy with the experience I had at Xai Xai. Food was really good and just the ambiance makes it all enjoyable. I cant wait to come back again with some friends.

If you ever wondered what type of food you can «try» in NYC, TRY South African cuisine at Xai Xai for happy hour!
The flavors that you will taste comprises of a unique blend of traditional African, Colonial influences and exotic spices. With Dutch, German, French, British and Indian accents, Xai Xai really brings a fresh flavor experience to this part of the world.
Décor:
A great space! It is cozy without feeling too smushed. There are long wood furnishings and an almost «rustic» Spaniard flavoring to the architecture. Great for dates, catching up with friends or for some family get-​togethers.
Style:
I went for Happy Hour and they offered great small «tapas» style dishes that both compliment and enhance the wine experience that we had.
FOOD:
Ostrich BRAAI’D Mini Burger
Portabello Mushroom with Goat Cheese
Bilrong Bruchetta
Vetkoek with Apricot Jam and Grated Cheese– Bread dough fritter centered with apricot jam & cheese

Came here for drinks and dinner and was very satisfied with my meal!
We started with a plate of cheese, how can you go wrong? Had to get some soft ones (goats and brie etc). The bread was fresh/​warm, the olives were tasty and the honey and cheese pairing went beautifully with my rutherford (?) white wine.
For the main course we explored the shrimp scampi and the goat cheese wrapped in bacon. A-​mazing! Seriously, a new neighborhood favorite spot.
The ambiance was super romantic, dimly lit, lights and wood accents. The service was pretty decent and I will definitely be back!

Xai Xai Wine Bar has a mix of good and bad.
Service definitely sucked. The staff wasn’t really attentive despite it being a rather small restaurant. It was a busy night, but it just seemed like they only came to the table to take orders and give the bill. I literally stacked plates hoping they’d realize to take them.
Wine. Great selection. Ordered a bottle of the Gewürztraminer and it was a definite winner. It’s a sweet dessert wine akin to Moscato, but not exactly as sweet so finishing a bottle wasn’t a chore.
Food:
–I’d HIGHLY recommend the oxtail stew (small plate), but that’s because I LOVE oxtail and it’ll always be good in any form.
–I ordered the African roadrunner and didn’t enjoy the passion fruit sauce (but I don’t like fruit-​based sauces mixed with savory dishes). The ostrich filets seemed well cooked. My first piece seemed a little overdone but the second was quite tender. The taste reminded me of quail, for anyone wondering what ostrich tastes like.
–Rice, the rice was tasty. It seemed like they pan fried the rice a little or maybe baked it to give it a more crunchy/​crispy texture.
–BBQ chicken, it wasn’t particularly spectacular. Probably needed more BBQ sauce. Didn’t try the curry mash.
Atmosphere: Boy, it gets LOUD in this place. It’s fun and it’s a good mix of people who eat here. Dark lighting and a cute layout because there’s just rows and rows of wine lining the walls.

Pretty good wine bar here as a friend of mine invited me to swing by while I was in town. When I walked in I was immediately impressed as I love a joint that has exposed brick and wood. A good place to take a first date, in my opinion.
I had some really nice wine here… the sad part is that I do not remember the names of them as I had been drinking quite a bit before I arrived here. I wasn’t hungry so I did not eat, but I was told they have delicious South African tapas. I met the guy that runs the joint and he was very nice. so nice that he bought us a couple rounds of shots and shot the breeze with us for a bit.

I walked in here with my friend one day and came back a second time specifically for the Warm South African Octopus Salad ($ 9). The first time we also ordered a bacon and avocado sandwich dish and the Cape Chicken Curry Bowl — the sandwich was dry and the chicken curry was good to try, but I LOVED the octopus salad. It comes It comes with some tomatoes and celery in a balsamic-​like sauce? But it’s absolutely delicious! Second time I went there we ordered the Ostrich
Mini Burgers, the Truffle Mac & Cheese and the Avocado and Rock Lobster Salad. The ostrich burgers were good, it was a little game-​y and could have used some sort of cheese or something, but it came with a little bit of grilled onions, some kind of thousand-​island like sauce on the side and a side salad. The truffle mac & cheese disappointed me — I guess because the best truffle mac I’ve had was at a restaurant on the west coast in Orange County, where I was a regular. But it was too heavy on the cheese and could have used a bit more truffle. The salad was good, but I thought it was a little too drenched in an oil-​y dressing. Will be back for the octopus!

Lively energy, wonderful staff, and a focused wine selection makes Xai Xai a spot for a romantical rendezvous or dining with a group. They’re flexible.
The décor’s put together, wood and exposed brick, and a storefront of floor-​to-​ceiling glass.
As for the menu, it’s South African tapas. If you’re into dessert, share a plate of the Durban mango mousse, it’s a refreshing treat.

Came here for dessert and wine with a group of friends post-​dinner. I’m a bit horrified to see the reviews on regular dinner, but either way please note that this review is for drinks and dessert only.
First of all, the ambiance here is impeccable. This place has by far, one of the most beautiful and romantic that I’ve been to in the city; in fact, we decided to come after passing by this establishment many times in the past, each time thinking it would be so cool to actually eat here. The wine menu is also this super cute chalkboard tablet written in chalk. Very nice fixtures and interior/​exterior décor in all.
I can’t comment on the wine because I didn’t have any, but the dessert was quite delicious and fairly priced. We ordered some South African pudding (can’t remember?) and the chocolate cake, and both were great and distinctive. The service was also decent. Not amazing, but not disdainful either.
Overall I’d definitely come here again. The other reviews are a bit concerning, but definitely for dessert and drinks.

When going out with colleagues for a final night out in NYC for our quick hit project we decided to head over by hell’s kitchen and happen upon something for dinner. This place was a solid find.
We sat down and grabbed ourselves a nice shiraz and some oysters.
We then went with the ox tail stew, delicious, the dates stuffed with cheese, also delicious, and the peppers wrapped in bacon, also also delicious and last but not least, the lamb empanadas also also also delicious.
I’m thoroughly pleased we just happened upon this place when looking for dinner because the flavors were all solid and the place provided for a nice atmosphere.
I’d definitely recommend it to someone looking for a quick meal with some flavor.

Ostrich burgers?! OSTRICH BURGERS! Hopefully that is enough to make you want to come in!
You might immediately think, well this person has clearly never eaten South African food before or if you are anything like me (a person just starting to explore the flavors of other cultures other than my mom’s best most amazing cooking) then you will be blown away and come in to try other items on their menu like the oxtail stew or their carrion fish. Now with that said, we ordered the octopus salad and the ostrich burgers… sadly the carrion fish stock was depleted so could not try it and we were not in the mood for stew.
The octopus salad was ok. I think maybe a bit over cooked. Octopus is somewhat rubbery texture but when over cooked it gets a little more challenging to break up in your mouth. Not to say it was there, but I think it could have been better. Back in Puerto Rico, we make octopus all the time so it might be different to cook fresh rather than frozen, not saying they carry frozen, but I am not sure. Now to the main plate that caught my immediate attention, the ostrich burgers. Ohh, how can I describe the idea how excited I felt to try them! To me, I imagined my taste buds they wee going to be carried into a juicy state of amazing flavor I had never tried before. I felt excited and scared like swimming in a pool in the amazons were there might be something in the water, but it’s the amazons! Anyways, after the burgers arrived my hype was over. The burger was a bit on the tasteless side, I had to ask the server about the color of the meat because as soon as I bit into it it seemed too gooey and after inspecting with my finger and the flashlight on (the fun lighting of the place does not help to distinguish between well done or raw meat) I noticed that it was pretty pink and that the inside was just about warm, but not hot at all. My bf ate his and agreed it wasn’t special as he has had it before somewhere else. I can’t help to feel I was a bit let down… maybe we should have stuck to the truffles mac and cheese.
I am sure we will give this place another try. We both lived te décor and the chilled industrial-​rustic feel. I don’t think it inspired me South Africa as much as it inspired me southern charm but at least it inspired me to come in.
This, if you find the food great, can be quite an amazing first date type spot. I am sure any date would love to be taken to such an intimate spot with dim lighting and low music. my usual only worry is that with fun lighting, it’s hard to inspect what is well cooked and what is raw or the basic color of your food… and no one like turning on the flashlight in the phone to really see what’s on your plate… you don’t want to be that guy so don’t do it! :)

Stumbled upon this place today and we were so happy we did. The décor is cozy. Our server, Leo, was not only an attentive and fantastic server but also one of the friendliest people in NY. The menu is creative and the wine selection is limited but all good stuff. Both of our wines were delicious. The oysters were fresh, tasty, and came with two unique and yummy sauces.
And the ostrich sliders did not disappoint. Even the bread, which was grilled, was a great addition to the meal. Highly recommend this place but maybe go around lunch time to avoid the service pitfalls that other reviewers have encountered.

I was going for a maybe two stars because the food here is actually good and they have Gewürztraminer, which is one of my fav wines… BUT, and it’s a big one, the service is beyond terrible.
The servers, and for some reason we had two, were not nice… had no patience… and were even rude. When we had questions, they looked and talked to us like we were the stupid ones.
As I sit here and write my review with this newly updated app, the server hovers over my shoulder, and then pushes my friend out of the way to tell me to say that I had an amazing server and other such compliments in which he didn’t deserve.
In one incident, my other friend and I had ordered a dozen oysters, but had only received 11. Not a big deal as we were getting full, but we wanted to make sure he would take the dollar off the bill. Not to be picky but already being fed up with the service, I didn’t feel the need to pay for something I didn’t consume. I brought it up with one of the servers saying nicely, «we ordered a dozen oysters but only received 11.» He apparently didn’t believe and I had to repeat myself and then he counted them looks at me and say, «and?». Are you serious? Do I really need to spell it out? Apparently, I did. So I kindly asked if he could just take the dollar off the bill. In which case he told me he was unable to do that, only a manager could do that and the manager was not there so no. So then I had to ask if we could get one more… so off he went to do that.
Did he really say «and?» to me? So ridiculous!