Charming haley.henry comes with two serious bona fides: First, it's a go-to for tinned seafood enthusiasts wild about its extensive selection of tinned fish—from mackerel in piri piri and every kind of sardine variation imaginable to octopus and even minnows in cod liver oil—responsibly sourced from around the world. Second, its list of small-production, mostly female-owned natural wines is pretty rockin' too—so much so that haley.henry was named a 2024 James Beard semi-finalist for “Outstanding Wine Program.”
For all the hype, the place is quite modest in size and appearance. It almost looks like a hip little Wes Anderson seaside shack, plucked from the south of France and planted on a rather soulless street in Downtown Crossing. The walls and bar are wood-paneled, the bar is plated with punctured tin, and colorful stacks of tinned fish and jars of spices line the shelves behind the bar.
There are only a handful of tables—more in warmer months when the action spills out onto the sidewalk. The rest is bar seating—and there's not a lot of it. The staff is incredibly friendly and more than happy to make suggestions from both the food and, perhaps especially, the wine lists. From this writer's experience, their recommendations have been pretty spot on.
In addition to its preserved seafood offerings, haley.henry features daily crudo and ceviche. One standout dish, the buttered Jonah crab toast, is a prime example of the restaurant's knack for turning simple ingredients into something wow-worthy.
The vibe: haley.henry is a laidback, no-fuss wine bar with a sense of humor. The menu pays homage to 90s hip-hop giants with sections named "Biggie Small Plates" and "Bone Thugs & Charcuterie." The place buzzes when it starts to fill up, with staff bopping from table to table, fun music playing, and a jovial clientele blissing out on delicious tinned fish and wine.
The food: Imagine biting into a hearty piece of bread topped with sardines and liberal amounts of olive oil while nibbling on olives, pickles, and a handful of "not your granddaddy's nuts." The deliciousness continues with a selection of cheeses, crudo, and ceviche.
The drink: Wine that's fresh, clean, and purposefully chosen. Sample from the list of small-production vinos by the glass, or—if you commit to two glasses—they’ll open any available bottle for you. For your non-wine-drinking friends, there’s also a solid craft beer list.
Time Out tip: haley.henry's playful sense of humor shines through in their "Wiener Wednesday" event series, where they serve a selection of gourmet hot dogs with creative toppings. Each month gets a new pop-culture theme. February's nod to Billy Murray, for instance, included dogs like the "Slimer," à la Ghostbusters, with spinach and artichoke dip, and the "Shabu Shabu," a Lost in Translation-inspired wiener with sushi rice, enoki mushrooms, and pickled carrots.