On our last night before Jack arrived, Brian surprised me with a visit to Vinoteca, a cool wine bar with a pretty great menu.
The setting:
We were surprised when we walked in – we expected something more along the lines of Veritas with muted lighting and muted colors, and instead it seems more like a neighborhood cafe/diner. The floors or walls desperately need something to absorb the sound; we were barely able to hear each other talk and the restaurant was only around half full.
The service:
Our waitress was very nice, although I wouldn’t think her out of the ordinary. They were out of what I originally ordered and it took a while to hear back and then my order was misheard. (To be fair, I asked what the woman at the table next to us was eating and said it looked great but then ordered something else – I got what the woman next to me had).
The food:
I was pleasantly surprised by how great the menu was! It was really reasonable, and the mix of affordable charcuterie, cheeses, and small plates meant I got a good taste of everything – and the selections were great! Brian and I both ordered the scallops, which were served with bacon (mmm…bacon) and a wonderful green sauce. The scallops were served already cut into more manageable pieces, making it seem like a full meal, even though there were only 3 full scallops.
The wine list is also pretty great. Brian really enjoyed a baby Barbera and I loved my glass of Greysac Medoc (which I had recently read about in Julie & Julia). This would be an excellent place to try some smaller pours of a few varietals while enjoying some charcuterie.
Best for: A fun night to try some new vino.
Worst for: A romantic date – a fun date, yes, but this isn’t the place to whisper sweet nothings in candlelight.
Tags: Charcuterie, Greysac Medoc, Julie & Julia, Scallops, Wine, Wine Bar, Wine Tasting
July 7, 2008 at 11:40 am |
i want to hear about bastille!