THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Pair of 8's

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Pair of 8's Restaurant Review:

If you're expecting poker-green décor, think again. From a rough-hewn wooden plank ceiling to dark wood accents, this Upper West Side eatery is like a night spent in an extravagant wine cellar. And since Pair of 8's actually is a wine bar, the setting is only apropos. Alongside your appetizer of oysters on the half-shell or a spinach salad topped by bacon vinaigrette and shavings of Pecorino Romano, peruse the 150-bottle wine menu for the perfect vintage to accompany both your palate and your meal. The owner and wine director is a Café des Artistes alum, and the aim is to ease the process of pairing a good wine with good food. So while you decide between wild striped bass in a sauce of braised leeks, mussels, clams and prosciutto crisps; a burger mixed with Pecorino Romano and bacon; or sautéed skate wing with arugula noodles; swirl and sip one of the 30 choices of wine by the glass (or a two-ounce tasting). If you're unsure as to an agreeable pairing, the staff is extremely helpful in choosing a selection.