"Number 9. Number 9. Number 9. No, we’re not channeling John Lennon’s on the “White Album.” We’re talking about Nine Cases, a little East Village wine bar that’s more committed to the number nine than the United States Supreme Court. They offer nine reds and nine whites (starting at $8.50 for a three-ounce pour, and $51 a bottle), and nine seasonal small plates, plus some snacks and beer. The playlist also roams through at least nine genres, from Electric Light Orchestra to the Lumineers. If you need a casually elegant bar to duck into, Nine Cases’ candlelit brick walls, hung with real art, are a good backdrop for a wine cocktail and some pork rillettes, or for splitting a bottle or carafe with a friend or date. " - Will Hartman