Coal Vines

I have visited Coal Vines on several occasions including brunch, happy hour, and dinner. I think that this is a great upscale casual place with a simple menu and very reasonable prices.  They have always been super accommodating to larger groups (8-12).  

Brunch offers a variety of classic breakfast items and also an Italian spin with delicious breakfast pizza and calzones.  I enjoy splitting the breakfast pizza with a friend. The benedicts were a big hit with the group.  Another great perk of brunch are the flavored carafes of mimosas.  

Happy hour is a good deal with a variety of appetizers, pizzas, and wines at a discounted rate.  I've never tried their actual entrees but am a big fan of the pizzas.  It's hard to go wrong with pizza and wine and I think that's what makes this place good.

Coal Vines... wow, what a disappointment!!

I have been a huge fan of this place since it opened.  I've been several times for the nighttime ambiance...I love the cozy feeling over a large glass of wine.  I go specifically for the ambiance and the smoked salmon tartar... which is absolutely fantastic.

I took my boyfriend for a rare Sunday brunch.  It was beautiful outside, the windows were open, but we wanted to sit on the patio.  After having to request a specific table outside, we were seated and the waitress appeared to take our drink order.

We ordered a $40 bottle of Pinot Grigio for a beautiful sunny Sunday, and the tartar to start.  She brought the wine, set it down, then left, for a good... 20 minutes.  I had to get up and ask the bartender for a wine chiller, as our wine sat in the hot sun getting warm.  Then our appetizer came (dropped off by someone else), she never came back.... and we waited....and waited.... she showed up to take a table's order that came in well after us.

After she finally touched back at our table, we ordered.  I requested additional wontons for the appetizer... which surprise!  Never showed up.  She never mentioned the wine chiller, and never stopped to ask how anything was, to refill wine, refill water, nada.  Another gentleman ran our lunches, and we requested a second time for wontons... which he promptly brought out.

My boyfriend had the meatball sliders - fries were excellent.  I had the grown up grilled cheese with chicken instead of ham, tomato bisque, and a salad.  It had an overwhelming horseradish flavor...thankfully I like horseradish but I don't recall reading that as a descriptor on the menu.  I also did not see any pears, which was indicated in the menu.  It was a disappointment considering the description read very differently on the menu.

The waitress did however, make a point to come back and point out they were able to sub the ham for chicken.  Well, obviously.  

She dropped off the check... and then I'm pretty sure she must have left the restaurant..  Never came back, someone else took our plates, and cashed us out.  I find that incredibly rude.... considering the service all together was pretty terrible.

good atmosphere, great pizza