 AYZA’s premise---combining a wine bar and a chocolate bar into one sleek zone of cocktails and confections---is an interesting one. It’s not just about wine and chocolate, though, as there’s also a full menu of Mediterranean cuisine; the chocolates, from Jacques Torres, just round things out. The wine list, with over 90 selections, is extensive, though a bit thin on new-world varietals. To pair just with the wine, the kitchen turns out cheese and charcuterie plates, including some topnotch St. Antoine and aged manchego cheeses, as well as duck pâté and saucisson sec, a hard French salami. However, the soups and salads are surprisingly a miss, as most are bland and uninspired. Go instead for the small bites like hot artichoke hearts, and particularly the white truffle pizza topped with bresaola. All pair ideally with a crisp, clean white wine, and are far more interesting than the entrées, which are ho-hum variations on chicken, salmon or pasta. On the whole, however, AYZA exceeds expectations, making it a fine choice in an area of the city that doesn’t have a whole lot of quality dining options.
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