Vine Restaurant

11/10/08

Great Improvement!

by foodcrtic at Citysearch

Live in the neighborhood and used to go to Vine a while back but the food and service started to diminish. Went a few months ago and had horrible service so we decided not to go back any more. Recently we received an email to come and try the new menu...so we did...and boy are we glad we did! The food is great and the service was prompt. They had a special 50% off menu so we decided to take full advantage and try numerous items. The Short Rib Canelloni, Lamp Lollipops and Duck Confit appetizer were very tasty (served tapas style). The Halibut with Spinach was phenomenal and the Braised Short Ribs were excellent! If you are not having appetizers, I would recommend a side dish as the portions are on the small side. We usually never order dessert but decided to give the Blueberry Cobbler a try...it was well worth every calorie. All in all the new menu is a much needed improvement for Vine and I would recommend giving it a try.

• Pros: Great new menu

Bold flavors and a good wine list anchor the menu at this popular Va-Hi restaurant.

by Contributor at Citysearch

In Short
Though it sounds like a one-word fermented grape bar, Virginia Highlands' Vine is an upscale-casual eatery with self-proclaimed "European flair". The Euro-influence may be tough to spot, but the atmosphere in dining room is elegant with creamy walls and romantic lighting. The slow-starting wait staff is friendly and willing to take time to explain the conceptually-challenged menu. Curious appetizers such as the Baby Cola Rosa salad which mixes salty prosciutto with Fuji apples and sharp cheddar was interesting, however confusing as a salad. Velvety bleu cheese polenta is the sidekick on a lamb app, though the bleu overwhelms the wonderful lamb which cements the overarching theme of the menu - great ideas eclipsed by powerful seasoning. The signature prosciutto crusted halibut is overwhelmingly salty only curbed by the removal of the "crust." If very strong flavors are your gig, you will feel right at home.

05/25/08

Okay, but...

by swixie at Citysearch

Vine used to be my favorite restaurant. They had INCREDIBLE Italian food that rivaled any food I've had in Italy. I was extremely dissapointed when it was sold and the new owners and only had a couple of my old Italian favorites. Well, then it sold again, and now there is no Italian food to be seen on the menu. The new menu is good, but nothing special and the kind of food you can get anywhere. It's nowhere near as good as what it used to be... Sadly, while I still occasionally frequent Vine, it's not on my list of favorites anymore.

• Pros: Ambience is nice
• Cons: Food is just average

04/25/08

Creative Wine Tastings, Fantastic Customer Service

by StacytheDancer at Citysearch

A close friend of mine and I went to VINE on a Monday night a few weeks ago, just to grab a glass of wine and chat. Little did we know what was in store for us. Not only was the wine, and wine list, exceptional, but new owners had taken over and we were showered with their hospitality. They have completely invigorated this place. A taste of the Tuna Tartare Trio had us vowing (actually gushing with oo's and ah's) to come back on Wednesday for the weekly wine tasting (which is $10, but is free if you dine there afterwards) and dinner. We did come back that Wednesday and were not disappointed. The wine tasting was certainly informative, interesting, and delicious, but also delightfully relaxed and fun, thanks to the in-house sommelier, Chris, whose witty observations about wine are only accentuated by his witty observations about people. The service at dinner was impeccable, and the server's knowledge and recommendations for wine were just what we were looking for. Everything we dined on, from the Tuna trio to the PEI Mussels to the Seared Atlantic Salmon were wonderful. If you are not a seafood fan, there are plenty of meatier options on the menu, but I do recommend leaving room for the desserts. I have now been to VINE three times in two weeks, and while I didn't think it possible, it just gets better and better everytime.