Off the warren of streets that is Greenwich Village, is the tiny Blue Ribbon Wine Bar. 18 seats – all of them bar stools – are occupied by well-to-do youngish people, get-a-room couples and wise-looking locals. The bar staff (always 2 men, it seems) are knowledgeable and earnest. Yes, there is plaid, but not exclusively so. Food ranges from the always excellent Big Eye Tuna & Avocado (small, but dinner for me) at $18.50, to oysters, various French Bread “pizza” creations, and so on. You can definitely have cocktails and dinner here, though the food is light and prepared in an appropriately tiny kitchen by 1 guy.  So don’t go for a full menu.  Go for the wonderful & friendly patrons, excellent grazing, attentive bar staff, and wonderfully warm room (low light, wine bottles, bubbly chatter). The space is the size of my 2^nd apartment in NYC (some time ago); 18 people is a wall-to-wall crowd. Even though turnover is fast, have a back-up plan.