Parings Wine Bar

I would say my experience was more of 2.5 stars.

We came here with a living social voucher for a free dinner for two, including two entrees, an appetizer, and two glasses of wine. The restaurant is very cute on the outside and the interior looks like you're dining in someone's home with a bar on one side, some couches in some areas, and small dining tables in other areas. We were there on a Thursday night when they had live music, so that was enjoyable!

I'm no wine connoisseur, but there were four full pages of different types of wines to choose from so at least there is a wide, extensive wine selection. Three of those pages you would have to order by the bottle and one page you can order either by glass or bottle. I love my sweet wine, so I ordered my typical moscato-- Delicious!

For the appetizer, we decided on their highly-acclaimed Mediterranean nachos, a great twist and combination of  feta cheese, artichoke hearts, olives, and hummus over their pita chips and salsa on the side. Really good! If you were to come here to eat, I would suggest getting the Mediterranean nachos.

However, I would just stick to ordering just wine and caution when ordering the entrees. The Mediterranean nachos were great, but we ordered the lobster mac n' cheese and the ahi tuna salad, both of which were disappointing. Lobster mac n' cheese was fairly bland and requires maybe a sharper or some different type of cheese. Ahi tuna salad was alright, but I've had better.

Tiramisu is also something worth trying if you're already dining here. I would come for the wine but most likely not for the dine.

Parings has been on my "wanna try" list for a little while now and I was excited that we decided to stop in for a glass of wine.  

Some restaurant decors are very linear and others more freestyle.  For me it matters not if you prefer Frank Lloyd Wright or Diego Rivera - as long as it's comfortable and it looks good.  I liked the intimate two-tops placed throughout Parings but didn't like feeling a bit lost when I entered and had to find my way to the hostess for seating.

We were seated at a table by the window and had a nicely attentive server.  After deciding on our wine selection (she a Gewurztraminer blend from Chile and me a Garnacha from Spain) we ordered some light selections from the menu.  

Sometimes the weather in WNY lives up to the name "The Niagara Frontier".  And right now it's in the single-digits outside our window and I'm keeping my wine glass warm next to the candle on the table.  My forearm touches down on the tableware and wow - like ice!  I put my hand closer to the window and could feel a wall of cold and - after lifting back the curtain - saw the single-pane, steel casement window and felt, even more, the biting cold outside.  I'm uncomfortable.  The cold feeling is stealing away part of that warm and comfortable wine bar experience I came here to enjoy.      

Parings, much like Sample and the seasonal Della Mostra by Mulberry, deliver smaller portions that give the diner the opportunity to experience a wider spectrum of flavor and texture across a broader menu (if they desire).  But whether you're using a 20 inch charger to showcase a humongous, elaborate dish or 5 inch tapas plates - you still have to put in the effort.  The dish still has to taste good; so as not to disappoint - and taste great if you want return customers.  Sadly, I was underwhelmed with the singular noted soup and the uninspiring sampler plate.  

I always ask myself: Was today an off day?  Did all the staff show up?  Did the inventory arrive?  Was there a reason for the lack of inspiration, the low quality or shallow flavor profile in our meal?  Why weren't we offered water (I would have declined but it should have been offered).  Why was there a really cheesy wine coaster, t-shirt, wine charms sale display in the middle of the restaurant?  It reminded me of a postcard rack at a Midwestern diner.  Is there a plan to expand parking (perhaps there isn't a need for the circular driveway out front)?

Alphonso - if you read this - very nice wine list.  I really enjoyed my selection.

Scott - if you haven't moved on - there should be as much quality and depth of flavor in a paring as in any meal you put forth.

Sheila -  If you really do care.  This is WNY and we welcome ALL things food.  But we want to feel like you want us at your table.

I've been here many times for a glass of wine on the (beautiful!) patio in the summer. Heck, I live so close that if I have more than one (or two) I can easily walk home. Tonight, however, was the first time that I've ventured into the restaurant for a bite to eat.

It's kind of quirky in there.  I realize that it was a house back in the day... and "Mill Medical" before it was a wine bar... but the redo of the space is kind of awkward.  And the decor (although recently done) appears dated.

The menu has many, many choices of wines by the bottle, quite a few choices by the glass, and lots of specialty martinis.  There are also small plates, entrees, salads, paninis, and flat-bread pizzas.  

After sipping our wine and perusing the menu the two of us shared a bowl of the soup-of-the-day, a butternut squash and apple bisque. It sounds good, right? It looked good all garnished with a piece of toasted baguette topped with apple slices floating on top.  The first spoonful was pretty good, but then it quickly became boring. It tasted like little  more than a roux blended with (canned!!) chicken broth, apple juice, cream, and a hint of squash.  It had no texture and no layering of flavors.  And, it wasn't spiced at all.  Bland and blah!

Next we shared the "Italian Sampler" - garlic orange roasted olives, cheese, cured meat, and artichoke hearts.  There were also a few slices of toasted baguette.  It looked pretty nice... but nothing on that platter tasted very good.  Seriously, we left more than half of it uneaten.  The olives tasted like they were right off the olive bar at a supermarket and topped with orange marmalade and chili pepper flakes and then heated (yuck!) in the microwave.  The artichokes were right out of a can.  The meats were pepperoni slices and prosciutto (or was it ham?), and the cheese was two types of provolone (plain and herbed). Yuck!  Seriously... that's the best cheese you're going to get in a wine bar?

The other odd thing about this place is that it's called "Parings", but no suggested wine pairings are listed on the menu.  In my opinion a place like this should have fewer food choices.  All of them should be top notch.  And, all of them should come with suggested pairings. Until that happens, when (or if) I come back it will be ONLY for the wine.