Sabor Cigar and Wine Lounge

I wanted to like Sabor, I really did.  Having recently moved back to the area after a few years in California, I have become accustomed to patronizing wine bars to sample new wines.  Since Farpoint and Tivoli closed while I was away, I was eager to see what Sabor had to offer.  Unfortunately, I visited Sabor on the wrong night, as they had not received a new wine shipment this week and their selection was very limited.  They had two pinot noirs available, and I opted for the Picket Fence.  That wine retails for $8.99 a bottle at Trader Joes, and I paid $10 for a glass.  Granted, it was a generous pour, but I've never seen a wine bar charge more than the cost of a bottle for one glass before.  

Still, I would have been okay with the pricing if the atmosphere had been better.  The bar itself was very attractive, and clearly the owners had an upscale look in mind when they were designing the decor.  I wish they had dedicated the same care to the ventilation system, because the interior was thick with the smell of cigars.  I am a smoker, and even I could not handle sitting inside for more than a few minutes.  There is a small patio outside, but it is uncomfortable to sit out there because a pack of kids from the adjoining townhouses were skateboarding in the alley next to the bar (in front of the "no skateboarding" sign.  Ironic.)

On the plus side, the price for beer was very fair, and our total bill was not outrageous (we've paid  $100+ tabs after a couple of hours at wine bars that featured specialty beers before).  I don't know anything about cigars, and Sabor is probably a pretty decent cigar bar.  It's just not a wine bar.

Unfortunately, I was looking for a wine bar.

Great local place with great friendly service. Give it a try, it's a good place just to hang if you are in the area. Bartenders are very friendly.

Took my wife here on a date night. We both enjoy fine cigars and good drinks to go with them. Although Sabor sells cigars, they have only a limited selection and no flavored cigars (my wife likes those) so we brought our own.

My wife ordered a dirty vodka martini with a lemon twist and I just wanted some single malt scotch. I like to try a scotch (especially single malts) at a bar before I buy a whole bottle to see of I like it so I ordered the Oban 14 year.

The place is small and cozy (although some of the furniture needs maintenance...another patron nearly fell on the floor due to a broken leg on one of the couches) so I was able to watch the bartender making my wife's martini. Everything was going fine with the drink until the bartender put a rather large splash of sweet and sour mix into it; my only guesses are they were out of lemons or don't have them at all.

Anyway, the bartender brought my wife her martini and told me that they were out of the Oban 14 year and said he would sell me some Lagavulin 16 year for the same price as the Oban. I said sure, but wondered why he didn't mention the lack of an actual use of lemons in the martini.

Upon her first sip of the drink my said that it tasted odd, I told her about the bartender's use of sweet and sour mix rather than lemon. She said it would be okay, but I could tell that she didn't exactly like it as much as she would had it been made correctly. If it had been my drink, I would have refused it, but my wife can be overly polite (to her own detriment) at times.

The bartender then brought me a glass of scotch which I tried and found to be quite rough for a 16 year scotch. When he came back and asked how things were, I then stated that I thought that a 16 year old scotch be a bit more smooth, he then told me that it was Balvenie 12 year that he had brought to me. I asked him why he had changed what I had ordered. He apologized, and said that this glass would be complimentary because it was his mistake(?) and that he would get me a glass of the Lagavulin 16 year right away. Far be it from me to complain about getting a free drink, but I just don't get the switch in the first place.

Regardless, the rest of our time there was pleasant and we might go again if given the opportunity. Three things that stand out in my might that most need attention.

1.) Fix the broken furniture
2.) Offer some flavored cigars
3.) Don't make substitutions without getting the customer's consent first