There are few characters in literature as captivating and notorious as the foul witch. With her dark powers and sinister intentions, the foul witch has woven her way into countless tales and legends, leaving a lasting impression on readers and audiences. The foul witch represents a source of fear and danger, a force that can manipulate and harm those who cross her path. With her wicked spells and potions, she is able to control minds, shape-shift, and even bring about calamity. Her abilities seem almost supernatural, and her motivations are often rooted in envy, revenge, or a thirst for power. In many stories, the foul witch serves as the primary antagonist, using her dark magic to oppose the hero or heroine.

This Restaurant From Roberta’s Is Seriously Weird

Jaya Saxena is a Correspondent at Eater.com, and the series editor of Best American Food Writing. She explores wide ranging topics like labor, identity, and food culture.

Welcome to Scene Report, a column in which Eater captures the vibe of a notable New York restaurant at a specific moment in time. You can read other scene reports here, here, and here.

After years of hinting that a wine bar concept was coming, Roberta’s co-owners, Carlo Mirarchi and Brandon Hoy, have finally delivered. Foul Witch opened in the East Village (15 Avenue A, near Houston Street) in January, describing itself as a “magical” and “spooky Italian” restaurant and wine bar. What does that mean?

Eater’s critic Robert Sietsema visited shortly after it opened; I followed up to see how things are shaking out. On a recent visit, I kept thinking of the High Priestess tarot card, who has extremely witchy vibes. She symbolizes subconscious knowledge, hidden mysteries, the weirdness that exists outside of the mainstream world. Foul Witch feels like it’s tapping into that energy, serving modern Italian with discordant notes that zap you out of comfort. Just like Roberta’s opened the door to many New Yorkers experiencing at-the-time unexpected flavors like honey on pizza or duck prosciutto, Foul Witch wants to pop the bubble of comforting, rustic Italian food enclosing the city. It’s ready to get weird — in a good way.

The interior of Foul Witch. Erik Kantar/Foul Witch

The vibe: Foul Witch is flanked by empty storefronts on the southernmost block of Avenue A, a skinny facade that opens into a cozy, candlelit dining room with high ceilings, exposed brick, and a very Lo-Fi Beats To Study To soundtrack. (There’s no witchy-themed decor.) At 7 p.m. on a weeknight it was quiet, but an hour later, the front was filled with dates and double-dates, enjoying the surprisingly comfortable chairs, a true blessing in this day and age of metal monstrosities. Toward the back, there’s the well-lit open kitchen, where from the bar, you can watch the wood-burning oven in action, and things are a little livelier. It’s refined, but with artfully mismatched silverware, and servers ready to chat with you about wine or gush over desserts, it’s warm and familiar.

What to drink: Like Roberta’s and Blanca, the focus is on funky natural wines, like a Verdicchio pet-nat from Italy, and selections from Georgia and Croatia, along with a nice list of beers and nonalcoholic options. And while there are a lot of by-the-glass options, it’s clear the energy is on the bottle list. Take note: There’s very little under $100.

On the menu: The food is seasonal and ever-changing, with your standard meant-to-be-shared trajectory. Meals begin with a plate of baguette and focaccia with a sourdough tang straight from the oven, served with a smear of cultured butter — amazingly free after Roberta’s and Blanca were early pioneers of paying for the bread plate. But then the menu becomes playfully challenging. There’s testa and coppa. There’s a dish of hot fruit — on my visit it was Thomcord grapes draped in translucent sheets of lardo, for an unconventional sweet and gamey bite. Mackerel in labneh and watercress, with a hint of horseradish, evoked the neighborhood’s nearby appetizing mecca, Russ & Daughters. And a dish of celery “alla Romana,” (i.e., puntarelle) cut into curly noodles and dressed in pecorino and so much anchovy, was like a Caesar stripped of all its milder accompaniments.

White beans at Foul Witch. Erik Kantar/Foul Witch

A chittara with Dungeness crab and fennel felt perfectly at home in New York’s pasta scene, and roasted goat shoulder with buttered turnips and allium was a beautiful riff on skirt steak and chimichurri. But desserts skew herbal, with things like bay leaf ice cream and sungold sorbet, the sweetest option being a sake pound cake with clotted cream and fresh honeycomb. So, if “not too sweet” is your highest compliment, you’ll be good.

Meat-lovers only: While servers, of course, asked if there were any dietary restrictions at the table, there are precious few options for vegetarians and vegans — a pasta or two and some small plates, but none of the larger offerings. Though that’s perhaps not a surprise for a place run by folks who were a big part of the charcuterie revival.

Charcuterie at Foul Witch. Erik Kantar/Foul Witch

Why go: This is where you go when you’re ready for strong, funky flavors, when you and your most food-obsessed friend want to be lightly challenged, or at least depart from the world of burrata and cacio e pepe. It’s the kind of place you’ll go “huh!” at the first bite of every dish, before gladly devouring the rest. And, to no surprise, you’ll be thinking about the bread for days to come.

The entrance to Foul Witch Erik Kantor/Foul Witch

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Foul Witch

Foul Witch is an upscale wine bar by Carlo Mirarchi & Brandon Hoy located in Alphabet City, serving a menu that brings the magic!

In many stories, the foul witch serves as the primary antagonist, using her dark magic to oppose the hero or heroine. She becomes a symbol of everything that is corrupt and malevolent in the world, a reminder that even in the face of innocence and goodness, evil still lingers. What makes the foul witch so fascinating is her complexity.

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Foul Witch

Foul Witch offers spooky Italian fare and an uninhibited natural wine list in an intimate gothic setting.

She is not simply a one-dimensional villain, but often possesses a tragic backstory or a twisted logic that justifies her actions. While her methods may be abhorrent, there is often a glimpse of humanity hidden within her character, reminding us that evil can arise from pain or desperation. Throughout literature and folklore, we encounter foul witches who take on various forms and appearances. From the classic image of a haggard old crone to the seductive enchantress, the foul witch embodies the darker aspects of femininity. Her presence challenges traditional gender roles and expectations, subverting societal norms and creating a sense of unease. In conclusion, the foul witch remains an enduring and iconic figure in literature and storytelling. Her power to both intimidate and intrigue readers is a testament to the universal nature of fear and the timeless allure of the dark side. Whether we sympathize with her, fear her, or root against her, the foul witch continues to captivate our imaginations, reminding us of the need for balance between light and darkness in our own lives..

Reviews for "Breaking the Spell: Overcoming the Foul Witch's Influence"

- Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Foul Witch." The storyline was confusing and hard to follow, and the characters were not well-developed. I struggled to connect with any of them and found myself not caring about what happened to them. The pacing was also off, with slow moments dragging on and exciting moments feeling rushed. Overall, I did not enjoy this book and would not recommend it.

- Michael - 1 star - I have to say, "Foul Witch" was a complete letdown for me. The writing was incredibly dry and lacked any sort of emotion. It felt like the author was just going through the motions and didn't put any passion or creativity into the story. The plot was predictable and unoriginal, with no real surprises or twists. I was bored throughout the entire book and found myself skipping pages just to get to the end. Definitely not worth the read in my opinion.

- Jessica - 2 stars - "Foul Witch" had potential, but it fell flat for me. The world-building was weak, with a lack of description and depth. I struggled to imagine the setting and feel immersed in the story. The dialogue also felt forced and unnatural, making it hard to believe in the interactions between the characters. The ending was abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving me with more questions than answers. Overall, I was disappointed by this novel and wouldn't recommend it to others.

- Robert - 2 stars - I found "Foul Witch" to be quite underwhelming. The plot was predictable and lacked originality, following the same tropes and clichés of other fantasy novels. The pacing was off, with slow buildups that didn't pay off and rushed climaxes that left me unsatisfied. The character development was also poor, with flat and one-dimensional protagonists. Overall, I didn't find anything exciting or memorable about this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.

Bewitched: Exploring the Powers of the Foul Witch