02/15/08

New beers at VINE

by SEOExpert

My wife and I are starting a blog for Atlanta Restaurants and have found that CitySearch offers a very wide array of input. We find the disparity of reviews particularly complex. In the case of VINE Restaurant in Atlanta, Virginia Highland or -more commonly referred to as Va-Hi- we were absolutely reluctant to a new concept, as advertised in the Ponce Press. However, in the Highland area, where we have lived for more than thirty years, there are not enough family-oriented restaurants -like the old country- to select from. Especially those that serve red meat, ha ha. New beers of European decent added to our feast!

We think more restaurants in the highland district should try something new. We also met the owner, a Jona Polasky, who seemed very genuine and sincere .. he offered us a free glass of wine, but we declined because we were in the mood for one of their new beers.

• Pros: good beers
• Cons: more wine than beer, but good parking

04/02/08

Sophisticated Yum

by worldismineforever

I was out and about shopping in Virginia Highlands when I stopped in to grab a bite to eat at Vine. I was in jeans and sandals but immediately felt right at home in this beautiful upscale but comfortable place.

I had the Seared Scallops as my appetizer; they were very very tender with a delicate flavor and a very tasty jus. You could tell just how fresh they were.

Prosciutto crusted halibut was my choice as it was recommended to me as the house specialty, so I was intrigued enough to try it. The flavors were outrageous, the potato salad was absolutely delish and the tomato oil is now one of my favorite things (I never had it before) Such hands on attention as the house cured prosciutto adds a tremendous touch to this dish making it one of my favorites in Atlanta.

BUT WAIT if for no other reason come here to have the Chocolate Torte with crushed hazelnuts I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I had the best coffee I have ever tasted with this. I left extremely satisfied and wish to return very soon with all of my family and friends. Their wine list and knowledge is enough to impress even the most seasoned and experienced vinophile but their approach is so friendly and unegotistical that anyone can get the most out of their wine list and enjoy the process. I was told that they have one of the most knowledgeable wine experts in Atlanta creating their wine list. Their patio has invited me back seeing as spring is here. I will be back.

• Pros: One of the nicest patios in Atlanta
• Cons: This is cozy so when it gets busy there is a wait

03/18/08

vendetta much?

by gayle74

Is it just me or do many of the reviews on Vine seem excessively mean and personal? As I read other reviews of restaurants on City Search, the reviews usually just have to do with the food and service. Get A Life!

03/14/08

Yeah! Vine was sold.

by jackking

Was making reservations on OpenTable and I saw that Vine was closed. I thought they went under as everyone was expecting, but then found out that Vine was sold. While it was only a matter of time, this is such good news. Hopefully we will see it return to its old glory. I called and found out that it is a chef and his wife that bought it. This is very exciting, it was sad to see what happened to this once great restaurant after it changed hands a year ago. Can't wait to see the new menu and watch the crowds return. Now if the guy that ruined Vine would would only sell Sala too we would return the Highlands back to a place for creative chef driven restaurants.

02/18/08

Tried new menu

by judyandjohn

We used to be a fan of vine but stopped going quite some time ago. We saw their new sign on a visit to highland pet so we ventured in last evening to give it another try. The menu was very confusing. They say they are steak and seafood, but there is not that great of choice. They don't say the size of the cuts (except the filet) they don't say prime or choice, no guide to temperature. The prices look lower until you find out nothing comes with the grill items, so once you add a side or two, you add another $7-$10 to the price. Our food was ok, but nothing exceptional. We like the creativity of chef dishes rather than a piece of meat off the grill. As other reviewers have said, the service lacks professionalism so I would not plan a special night. We had a very long wait for our initial glass of wine and our food took much longer than expected and the place was empty. I mean really empty. There should be no excuse for poor service. No one even came over to update us or check if we needed anything as we sat there. One last comment about the menu. There are type errors and some things in upper case and others in lower. The format itself does not look like a professional restaurant. So we tried their new menu and was not impressed, but be your own judge. For us we will let them work some of the problems with a new menu and try again in a couple months or until the word on the street is better.

• Cons: Too dark, poor service, confusing menu

02/16/08

Terrible service

by alarecherche

I've lived in Atlanta for three years, but I'd never been to the Vine, and since they had an open reservation the other night, I took it. I was so, so disappointed. Our waiter was just terrible, and everything took forever to come to the table. Nobody knew their right hand from their left. I saw a manager running food who ran it to the wrong table and just started walking around and asking each table if the entree was theirs. How incredibly unprofessional. It was like some bizarre reality tv show where people who've never worked in a restaurant try to run it for the night. The servers appeared to have tables all over the restaurant instead of sections, which had our server running like a chicken with his head cut off. Everybody looked confused.

The food was great, but no better than you can get at three dozen other places in town. I am not going back.

• Pros: Food was great
• Cons: Awful service and execution

02/16/08

good times~

by littledevil79

finally a new place to enjoy steaks at in the neighborhood! no problem parking and the service was great. great food too!

02/16/08

Steaks and Lobster!

by foodblogger

we recently went to VINE to check out their new menu, and enjoyed one of the best steak and lobster dishes ever. home made tater tots and collard greens made the meal! Our server was very good and knew her wine. We will be back, more soon.

• Pros: a new place to have steak and lobster in Virginia Highland

02/16/08

They are at it again

by suehill72

Looks like Vine/Sala marketing guy Eric H (ala destinationvideo) is at it again. He is leaving fake reviews when a bad honest review hits either Vine or Sala on Citysearch. It is too bad that a restaurant is so desparate to put their marketing guy up to such tatics to deceive the public that relies on honest reviews to spend their hard earned money. Look at the history, bad review and the next day a glowing review. Gee how coincedental that this happens. Both restaurants quality of food and service have gone way down, mostly due to the significant turnover in staff. You can go on Opentable and find reservations available anytime. It is sad, because both restaurants used to be great and very busy.

02/15/08

Reluctantly give one star

by Stevesst

My girlfriend and I made last minute reservations at Vine because it was about the only place left we could get in other than McDonalds. What a mistake, I am sure we would ahve enjoyed our meal and service much better at McDonalds. This place was totally disorganized, we ordered wine that took forever and then some slow moving heavy set guy brought it to our table and who was as pompus as they come. He had no personality, had a frown on his face like he did not want to be there and then tried to wow us with fake wine knowledge. It may have worked if it did not take 20 minutes to get a bottle of wine. When our steaks finally arrived they were over cooked and tough. We told our waitress and she said it was a new concept so the kitchen is still working things out. Why start something new on valentines day. We saw the menu on line and it no longer exists. We would have much rather had the menu that they advertise on the web site. What restaurant has one menu on their web site and it is totally different at the restaurant. The atmosphere is dark and manly like some boys club. Not romantic at all. Very bad experience and we will never go back. We are telling everyone how bad it was. We could not wait to leave. All I can say that is a sign of desperation when a restaurant changes a concept of what used to get a lot of awards (well at least their web site says they did). If the service and food stay as bad as we experienced, I am quite sure we will be seeing the last of vine very soon. We will go again once someone new takes over. My guess that will be very soon.

• Pros: none
• Cons: tough over cooked steaks, very bad service, ugly atmosphere