This is a little gem tucked away in Bolinas that serves excellent food and has a great wine menu. Its a good spot for a date as it feels very cozy inside.  The wine list is top notch - the servers are all pretty knowledgeable and they make great suggestions.  Recently the wife and I came and shared a delicious salad of arugula and had a striped bass entree that were both excellent.  Be forewarned  though:  1.  its not cheap, so you will pay a premium for such good food and the portion are not huge. 2. It gets loud for such a small place when its filled, usually on Friday's and Saturday nights.  But the servers are friendly and the food is very delicious. I think Bolinas 123 is a great spot to take a date when you want to sample a few appetizers and split some dishes, without getting filled up on a big meal.
Review Source:This is one of my favorite date spots in Marin. Its a limited menu - but everything on it is fresh and amazing. They have a great selection of wines. Mostly I love the atmosphere...it is cozy, unique, warm, and local. Some people might not be as much of a fan given that the menu is so small- but I like that it is fresh and seasonal and always changing. I wish there were more places like this!
Review Source:Since July of 2010, 123 Bolinas has been kidnapping many Fairfax folks from having to leave the village for a fine dining experience that remains casual and classy. Â Or at least that is what my friends tell me.
My friends have lived here for about 10 years and said that for them, this place is sent from the heavens, and i now know why... Â
We started with flights of both red and white, and then we each chose a glass for ourselves based on our favorites. Â None of the 6 blew us away, which was actually a surprise given the quality of the food, the great service, and the interesting architecture... someone here has impeccable taste, they just haven't been tasting the wines?
We all agreed that the standout for the food was the slow cooked pork tacos, cabbage slaw, salsa verde, crème fraiche, and house pickled onion.
We also liked the salmon which was served on a potato cake... Yukon gold potato latkes, smoked salmon, dill, crème fraiche, and pickled onions.
I had heard from my friends that the gnocchi was excellent but they had just run out of this dish, so if you get a chance to try it, let me know if it is worth a trip back to Fairfax as an excellent gnocchi would likely add another star. Â Right now, it would not take much to get me on a plane.
I really liked the ambience and the food and the attention to creating an interesting dining experience, but wished we had been more impressed with the wines in general. Â Waitstaff was helpful, knowledgeable, professional, and kind.
Kidnapped by the memory of great conversations with amazing friends over salmon latkes, slow cooked pork and a fine cheese plate... Â I can think of no better end.
Came in to Marin county last night by way of ferry. Was picked up and whisked away to 123 Bolinas. This place is cute and cozy, with a warm and inviting atmosphere. We had a great time making up the names of the art pieces and laughing over good wine and good food.
The waitstaff were incredibly friendly and I tip my hat to the chef! The pizza with sausage, kale, and chili flakes was delicious! The gnocchi was good too! (Fun fact: I went to high school with the chef- you can cook for me anytime!)
Absolutely would recommend this spot to others, and delighted that I got to check it out!
I wish this place was better, as I love the concept. Anything halfway decent in Marin, particularly Fairfax, does well, since the competition is non existent. The main cons of this place:
- still very overpriced
- super snotty, rude waitstaff. Um, this is Fairfax, get over yourself. If you are so miserable, maybe waiting tables is not for you?
We've been here a number of times and always come away happy. Â 123 has become our go-to place when we want to walk dowtown and grab a bite. Â (If it's busy, and it is not a weekend night, there is almost always room at the bar.) Â Although the food menu is limited, the quality of each dish is terrific. Â Service is friendly and it never feels like they're rushing you like so many other restaurants do. Â The wine list is actually FUN to read and tells you a lot more about the wine selections than you'll find in most other wine bars.
Review Source:123 Bolinas has been a restaurant I enjoy despite its limited menu because they use quality ingredients and the preparation is creative and talented. Recently, however I found the service to be appallingly bad and the waitperson incredibly rude. I don't say this lightly...I have actually never been treated in such a condescending manner by a waitperson. When my entree was served I was asked if I wanted a second glass of wine and I ordered one. Which is when things went wrong. I delayed starting my entree so that I could have the wine with my dinner. Yes, the restaurant was busy, but the waitperson was sitting at another table chatting with friends when my husband asked her to cancel the order if the bar couldn't get it to us in time to accompany our entree. He reported that she just gave him a dirty look. When I got up and explained that I would really like the wine with my entree (she was still sitting and chatting) she explained, as one would to a small child, that she had a restaurant full of people at which point I mentioned that I had been letting my entree get cold while waiting for the wine she had offered. Still no offer to get it right away although she was still seated at a friends table and stayed there. 10 minutes later when I had finished my entree, she shows up with another "apology" about the busyness of the restaurant...though not about her behavior...and offers a half glass on the house. This did not make it ok and did not make me want to ever return to a restaurant I had previously liked. There are so many really good restaurants in the Bay Area, it's  a shame when real ignorance about hospitality ruins the dining experience the kitchen staff has worked so hard to create.
Review Source:Cozy cute wine bar in Fairfax, with great attention to produce and ingredients:
-- The heirloom salad was delightful, with some of the best and fresh tomatos that I have ever had.
-- We really enjoyed the cheese plate as well, which we devoured quickly. The  Central Coast Creamery Big Rock Blue (cow's milk) from Paso Robles was phenomenal, especially for a non-blue cheese eater. I don't come from a background of eating cheese with accompaniment, but 123 Bolinas' selection was excellent.
-- The pizza with sausages, kale, and clams -- great mix of fresh ingredients. I would like the dough at the border of the pizza to be a bit smaller, but the toppings were great!
-- I was a bit taken back by the wine especially when wine is the first thing in the name of the restaurant. I had a glass of sancerre and it was mediocre. don't come if you are a wine snob.
We had the best meal here last week. We were a group of six and we all came away impressed and happy with the evening. Food was inventive, so fresh and wonderfully flavorful - I can't emphasize that enough. The slow cooked pork was awesome. PIzza one of the best I've ever had, crust was perfect. Friendly staff, comfortable surroundings. Seems the chefs put a lot of thought into creating special dishes and pairing it with the wine selection. This is a real gem, I love it and we definitely be back.
Review Source:Have to really disagree with K H of mountain view. Â These are not tourist prices.
These are carefully chosen and unique wines. Â That face this person remains initials only shows they are not confident enough in their reviews to give their real name.
I'm always suspicious of reviews like this. Â Oftentimes they are friends of other competing establishments. Â Also zins aren't such great wines and aren't what this place is about. Â Â I personally don't like huge alcohol wines and prefer the
real winemaking artistry to shine through.
Wine: Limited selection. Â No zins.
Food: Good.
Service: Good
Unique: small and intimate. Rustic trendy design.
Atmosphere: upscale but relaxed
Value: Poor. Â Tourist prices. Â I'm really tired of places that do not serve a glass of wine for $10 or less. Â There's no reason except greed for such high wine prices.
I love that 123 Bolinas exists. Great fresh, seasonal food that is creative and delicious. The wine and beer selection is plentiful but not overwhelming. The atmosphere is upscale but chill. Service is very good. Â
123 Bolinas balances out the other options in Fairfax and I hope they stay open for decades to come.
love, love, love 123 Bolinas! Â We have been several times and have always been impressed with the wine list which has amazing, surprising, lovely selections of little known (at least to me) wineries. Â The food is always fresh, creative and delicious. Â The atmosphere is wonderful, decor is calm and inviting, so well done. Â
Go, and treat yourself to some delicious food and wine and you will probably make a new friend or two while you are there!
Don't go there if you are hungry!
If you are into overpriced tiny portions of pretentious food this is the place to go! They will even charge you for a side of bread, butter is extra too. The first time I went there I nearly laughed out loud when I saw the so-called cheese board. Yes - it is indeed a  big wooden board and if you  would get to keep the board the price would be justified. But 3 teeny tiny slices of artisan cheese and even less bread to go around?  It really makes this order look involuntarily funny. If  you end up ordering an extra slice of bread to make up for the void they charge you extra.
I've given the place the benefit of the doubt quite a few times, but overall the quality of the food has been inconsistent and way too expensive for the tiny portions. Another thing that I found annoying is that once the place is busy, it's so crazy noisy you can barely have a conversation with your neighbor.
Nice try.
My brother turned me on to this place in Fairfax and I had a great time. It has a rather wierd set-up with the bar dominating, but the atmosphere is very casual and young. Hipsters abound and for good reason. The service from the owner was very friendly and her food was simple yet extremely creative. A very interesting wine list compliments the artistic foods and samples. We had a great time and the buzz got pretty loud, so don't come here to relax, but rather come here to meet people and have an exceptional flavor experience. It's a wine bar that doesn't copy the french style, but succeeds in having an ambiance and still keeps it's bohemian location authentic.
Review Source:Loretta wanted dinner somewhere special on her birthday. Â The older reviews were discouraging, but the newer ones were better, so we gave 123 Bolinas a try. There was already a line at the door when we got there and the greeter said that Open Table was late with letting them know about reservations, so they had over-booked, but they would be able to seat us soon. Â The high communal table in the middle was full and we were offered to share one of the perimeter tables with another couple, but Loretta wouldn't have it. They were coffee table height and the seats had no backs, so we held out for seating at the crowded bar. The bartender was pleasant and efficient, but flustered with the crush of customers. We ordered our food and she suggested one of the Syrahs which turned out to be great. Â So far, Loretta and I were having a good time and looking forward to the meal since just about everything on the menu looked enticing - warm comfort food on a rainy night.
The salt cod did not disappoint and the gnocchi with oxtail was every bit as good, but the guinea fowl was tough and inedible. Â I am only a fledgling cook, so I couldn't begin to tell you what went wrong; all I know is that it wasn't good.
We were just finishing our meal when Loretta noticed something floating in her wine glass. Rather than go poking around ourselves, we asked the bartender to remove it for us. She got a long spoon, removed the fly and handed the glass back to Loretta. Â Ha Ha! Â That was funny! Loretta declined the wine, saying that it already had enough terroir without the fly.
My friend and I shared the five sparkling/champagnes that included Proseccos, Cuvees, Brutes & Roses. Â I was surprised when I enjoyed ALL of them. Â The atmosphere is clean and comfortable and faces the beautiful park, where the Fairfax Farmer's Market was taking place. Â The menu is layed out beautifully and the smallest pour is adequate to share even though it is identified as a "Smidge" on the menu.
The creative cheese platter with toast and goodies was presented beautifully and complimented the bubbles.
The only thing we didn't love was the music, but that, of course is just subjective.
Oh, and I have the same wine-barrel wine stools at my house! Â Very nice!
I came here on a Friday night with a friend. We got lucky and found a spot, as it was pretty crowded. I love the coziness of this place. Not much of a wine-o so I let her choose, but whatever we got was delicious. Â I also ordered a charcuterie board, delicious olives! Love all the wood blocks and lighting in this place. The rest of the food being brought out to other parties looked so yummy, but I was in the mood for snacking. They update their menu often, so every time I'm sure you will be pleasantly surprised.
Wonderful service. This place is so Marin, but it's tucked nicely across the street from the park in Fairfax. The crowd here is fascinating to me (not a Marin native, but a Fairfax resident).
I would definitely come back here. Maybe for dinner at the bar, solo ;)
Not very expensive.
Totally farm/local fresh.
Super friendly owner/staff.
Comfort food with some flair.
Casual but beautiful design and atmosphere. Â
Right across from the park.
Reclaimed oak tables: either shorter coffee tables like you're eating in a friend's living room, or taller bar-level communal table.
Everything was super delicious...
Gazpacho great. Â Salmon and cauliflower, delicious. Â Wine list fine -- I like the possibility for ordering "smidge" size, though the glass shape could have been a lot better. Â Pizza? doughy, like we made in elementary school... was it frozen-brand? Â Did anyone taste the combination of toppings and cheeses before putting them on? Â A side of stale bad bread is $1.50, and butter to go with it is an additional $0.50 -- now this is pathetic. Â Combined with service that was lazy, inattentive, slow to respond. Â Who serves wine without bread? Â Certainly noone anywhere near wine's origins. BYOBread and butter and olive oil.
Review Source:Amazing.
I dream about this place when I'm not there! We try to go once a month (it can be a little spendy) and it's my favorite hands down. The menu changes seasonally which is a real treat. Their wine list also changes, and I've only had one glass I did not like.
The downside? The seating is less than ideal. I don't mind sharing a space with others, but the tables are too low so you wind up hunching over to eat your meal. I want to take my elderly mother here because I think she would like it, but I just don't think the tables are up high enough for her. The big table in the middle is great, but the stools do not have backs so that's not good for her either.
Good to have this place around, and definitely one of my favorites.
Friends had their party here. I'm glad to rediscover Fairfax because it's been about 15 years since I set foot in the little town. It is sweeeet! No longer a grungy, ex-hippy place. I imagine there are many remnants of that left but this cozy wine and tapas-style place is very current.
The staff was pouring champagne to celebrate our friend's engagement. Dishes I tried included a fresh & chunky style hummus, grilled pepper crostini, and a gnocchi with wild mushrooms. I would have added a bit of salt to the gnocchi dish but we were all standing around, chatting, seeing old friends so who had time to look for salt?
I'll plan to stop by here again...in less than 15 years. Promise!
Still great. Â The wine list has expanded-- Â still sustainable, biodynamic or organic, but farther reaching. And the chef still comes up with knockout dishes. The blue cheese with the wee dribble of honey is great-- Â reminded me of how they do it in Italy (ok, so they use truffle honey, but same idea....)
Review Source:Have to update that since the last review, 123 Bolinas has reconfigured its seating just a bit by offering a bar-height table (with bar stools) in the center of the dining room. It looks comfortable and the bar stools will place less demand on your core than sitting posture-perfect on the low stools. There are still low stools by low tables, but now not as many. I've been back a couple times and each time never disappoints! But I don't go here for the seating, I go for the excellent food! So should you.
And oh, they should tie down the charcuterie plate--because I like going in and cutting it loose!
I like this place, and here's why:
Wait, first I have to mention that, in spite of another reviewer's claims, there is nothing elitist about this place. Â I've gone in there a couple of times, once all dressed up with the girls, another time wearing the same pair of leggings I'd slept in the night before. Â (Don't judge.) Â Guess what? Â I was treated the same both times. Â I think that said reviewer walked in there with a chip on her shoulder (or maybe because I'm one of the "25 caucasian faces" in the joint).
Sorry, I digress, but that review really stuck in my craw.
Anyway, I have to admit that I'm not much of a wine buff, especially because I think I've become allergic to it. Â But I like the atmosphere and the food is clever and tasty.
Atmosphere was fun, and wine selection interesting. Â I thought the way they served the "smidge" tastes of wine was cute(in little tumblers) but not really a great way to experience wine, can't swirl, can't truly appreciate the boutique. Â Also they didn't seem to care that I thought the polenta cakes with pulled pork was bland.
Review Source:I love the concept of a wine bar with local food on the menu in Fairfax. But in practice, it just doesn't work for me. Most times, the wait staff is wonderful - super friendly, warm and accommodating. And I like the style and look of the place.
But, I think it's overpriced.
We went there last Saturday and my husband ordered the cheese plate. $10 for three small slices of cheese w/ a few dried figs, some bites of bread, and some honey drizzled over one slice - ridiculous.
And the whole "smidge" thing and the lack of wineglasses is annoying too.
I guess if you want to feel like you're in Mill Valley in Fairfax, it works. But if you want delicious wine and food for a reasonable price, it doesn't.
When I first heard that there was a new hip wine bar in Fairfax I was thrilled. I have visited their website for several months waiting for an opportunity to enjoy an evening at 123 Bolinas. But after visiting for the first time Saturday evening with my husband I can only say is this is a wine bar for people who really don't like wine all that much.
Decor: GREAT
Menu: GREAT
Beer List: GREAT:
Atmosphere: GREAT
Wine Selection: very disappointing.
I can only surmise that the owner/operators were trying to keep the wine price point modest (which is an admirable goal). But if you really like wine there isn't a thing on the menu you would recognize and probably not a thing you would want to try a second time. We had planned on making an evening at 123 Bolinas but left after a flight of mediocre wine and a very nice charcuterie plate. I left feeling like it was a shame I couldn't bring my own bottle of wine d pay a corkage fee. My husband's exact words were "this wine list makes me very very sad". So we went elsewhere and had a bottle of wine that didn't make us sad.
If you like beer or don't mind drinking ballpark quality wine this place is a winner. If you really like wine - skip it.
What a cute neighborhood joint. You want to walk in because it looks welcoming and nicely decorated from the outside and once you are inside you wanna eat and try their wine and food. They have a limited food menu, but the gnocci looked delicious as did the salmon. They also had several salads which all sounded tasty and only $6. They have smidges of wine, glasses and bottles. If you wanna try a few wines, I recommend the smidges (they aren't really that small) and are about $3-5 each. We both did the tasting for $10 each and it included 3 smidges. Â Lovely place.
Review Source:My wife and I went to this place a while back.... we love the place, the Wines, the food and our waitress was very good.
As wine aficionados (snobs maybe) we were dismayed by only one thing. When we ordered a glass of wine after some smidges, it came in a bar glass instead of a wine glass. In the bar glass it really brings down the experience and level of what they are serving. No way to swirl and sniff the wine etc. When we asked for a glass my wife did get one but we were told at first that you were "out" Â due to breaking, environmentally friendly something or other.
We really do want to go back! I would understand if I was in Minnesota, or Georgia, but Marin/Northern California and now Wine glasses?
Before posting this I sent 2 of the managers emails telling them about our experience we gave the following suggestion:
Buy some good stemless wine glasses if washing is an issue. There are many great ones on the market today... Riedel has a line called O-Riedel Tumblers.
After many weeks we have never gotten a response, maybe they do not care?
I was waiting for the place to settle in before doing a review- have been there a number of times, from the very beginning to now (really nice to be able to walk home). Â Started out with a bit of a thin beer list, and thinner food- but true to the name good, interesting and organic, "clean" wines at surprisingly reasonable prices. Â Then, BANG- the food changed to "real" food, the beer list, while not extensive has excellent choices in many styles including my favorite IPA, the wine list just keeps getting better. Â Oh- and pregnant wife LOVES their Italian sodas as do I- they are so good on a hot day I'd consider it over a beer which is sacrilege for me. Â And now the food- yes, the portions are not huge, but I ask you- so what? Â I can never finish an entree at most restaurants, and the prices in my mind are proportional to the sizes- I'd rather pay a bit less like here for seriously excellent food (note- also excellent gluten-free choices like an unbelievable polenta-butternut squash) in reasonable sizes, than pay more for average food that I have to bring home. Â Maybe it's just me, but to keep my girlish figure smaller is just okay with me- and leaves room for another beer or glass of wine. Â
Add excellent and "green" design, and a killer fireplace, and it's the new local for me.
I was VERY impressed. I have not had gnocchi that good since I was in Italy in 2007. Way to go. Wine was not half bad either. I was surprised to find so many parents out with babies out on a Friday night, kinda spoiled the atmosphere a bit...
Hubby walked in thinking we were just stopping for a drink and then on to dinner- wasn't necessary. Loved the decor. They are raising up the low tables which will help.
Hello 123 Bolinas! Â Your chic interior, dizzying array of vinos and beers and friendly staff have made me a quick and loyal fan!
123 Bolinas would not be out of place in Ross or Tiburon or even the Marina, but it has the laid back atmosphere of Fairfax to balance it out. Â They offer a wonderful selction of local and organic wines, and offered a quick and friendly summary about each glass we sampled. Â This will easily become one of my favorite places, and I think it is going to benefit the town as a whole. Â Welcome, 123!
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