Hands down the BEST Salmon I have ever had!!! Subtle fusion at its finest! Â Pecan-Almond Encrusted Salmon atop Saffron Risotto and finished with a Hazelnut Cream Sauce? Â Could it get any better!?? Â
Aside from that, great wine selection, ADORABLE atmosphere (chic meets historic meets boutique), and service was fantastic too! Â The Chef came out to talk to us, even let us sit on the floor next to the fireplace with our bottle of wine! Â We had the best girls night ever!!
I'll post a simple mobile upload of the dish! Â It's a must try!
We got a sitter! OMG, we got a sitter!
My wife and I finally crawled out of the Toddler Fiefdom that has taken over our house, and we treated ourselves to a lovely (as cliche as it sounds) Date Night. Â We were going to have an adult dinner, with adult plates, and adult drinks, and some adult dessert. Â Then we were going to be adults and smuggle candy into a movie that was free from Muppets and Letters of the Day.
The Vine was a lovely place to start. Â Using our handy dandy Yelp app, we were able to find good reviews, secure a reservation, and find our way there. Â Thanks, technology!
This restaurant is cute. Â So cute that it almost fits in your pocket...almost literally. Â It's a small venue, so wrap your mind around eating next to another table that is nearly at your elbow. Â However, we didn't mind the proximity of other diners so much; it was our baby's usual sleep time anyway, so we were used to speaking in hushed tones...
The server was good. Â She recommended a good wine based on our entree choices. Â We started off with Lobster Stuffed Portabella Caps, and I had a Steak & Wild Mushroom Risotto. Â The food was delicious! Â I had also ordered a Lobster Bisque, but the server had forgotten to put the order back. Â A harmless mistake, nicely rectified by the manager when he sent out a dessert sampler after our dinner.
Overall, it was a very lovely evening. Â I wouldn't come here if I had a large group of people. Â Not that it wouldn't work, but I really think a large group of people would generate too much sound for the little dining room. Â This place is perfect for a intimate dinner with someone special. Â Or if you are just a refugee from a toy-strewn living room and an energetic toddler.
One of the best meals I've had in years! Great place for a special dinner or just to get wine and cheese or dessert. Â The Ahi tuna on risotto was fantastic, and the special Jambalaya was perfectly put together. Â Foodies will love this chef! Â The best meal on Main Street, maybe in St. Charles County.
Review Source:Came here on a Saturday night at about 6. Keep in mind this was during their Christmas celebration. The servers worked it so my wife and I were able to get right in. The wine was very good, and the sirloin with wild mushroom risotto was superb. My wife had the lobster mac & cheese. Also superb. The smoked duck bruschetta appetizers were to die for! When the check came, I thought our waiter must have made a mistake as the bill only came to $58!! We will certainly be going back to The Vine in St. Charles for all of our special celebration dinners!
Review Source:We were looking for delicious food and were hungry, my husband and I and 2 kids. The bruscetta was recommended by the waitress (and I sample often when out) and it was just ok. The warm bread brought out was great, would not have minded butter or oil for dipping. We shared the vegetable risotto and added chicken and it was FANTASTIC, and the Caesar salad. The Vine was great and said they could make something for the kids, although no kids menu. Had a homeade mac n cheese, kids ate it all and was nice for them to offer that option . Also had the Pinotini... Just so-so. All in all, risotto dish was awesome. Everything else, pretty good.
Review Source:The Vine is a wine bar on Main Street and hands down, one of the best if not THE best restaurants on Main...I know, I am basically reiterating Sean M.'s review, hehe. It's not difficult to be the best or one of the best on Main because the competition's food is kind of...well, mediocre in my opinion. The only other restaurant with halfway decent food on Main is Stone Cellar, and they're still in their infancy, plus only open a few nights per week, so I go to The Vine when I want a wine bar with the "city" flare of places like Ernesto's.
They obviously have their crap together in the kitchen, which is 100% why I go to a restaurant anyway. Not for the ambiance, especially if the food sucks, which is why you will NEVER find me at Lewis & Clark's... in fact I really wish they'd either go out of business and have someone who knows what's up in the kitchen fill their space, or maybe just get their crap together. I know that sounds horrible, but I always think I'd want to go there if only the food didn't suck worse than Applebee's, and I actually don't mind Applebee's on occasion!
Anyway, I digress. The Vine is pretty dang good, although their menu could stand to be changed up once in a century. I know the building they're in is probably at least 100 yrs old, but their menu doesn't have to stay the same for 100 years either! ;) I went here about 1-2 years ago with a friend and the menu still seems to be the same to me, or maybe I just have bad memory, I dunno.
On my most recent trip, I had the roasted red pepper hummus. It did not come with pita bread, but that's OK because the sliced bread it DID come with was AMAZING. I dunno what the heck they do to make it both soft on one side and crunchy on the other, but holy crap, I don't care, because it's so good!!!
Only gripe is that I felt like our server didn't really come back to our table after we got the food and I wanted another glass of wine but I ended up not getting one because I was about done eating. If she had come back a little sooner, I would have bought another. Oh well. I hope their wine menu expands some as well as the food menu, and I wish they'd get Eschelon pinot grigio because it is so amazing (first tried at Ernesto's recently) and no other place seems to have it, I think only Randall's in the city.
One other gripe--the prices. Seems really overpriced to me, especially the entrees. I only paid $14 for one of the most amazing pasta dishes of my life at Ernesto's in the city, so why do their dishes cost upwards of $22? I mean, the pasta dish I had even came with lobster, shrimp, and scallops and it was a decent sized portion, enough to fill me! I think because they're on main they know they can charge more? I dunno.
It probably won't stop me from going back, though, because like I said, if I am tired and I don't want to make the drive into the city for decent, non-chain, food, and I want a little ambiance with my dinner, I would so hit up the Vine!
Also I LOVE the fact that the inside is NON SMOKING. Hallelujah! If only they could make the patio non smoking too, I would so sit out there, but it's hard to eat your dinner and enjoy wine when you're coughing in a cloud of cig smoke, ew. I can't wait for St. Charles smoking bans!
Excellent excellent food! Especially for the price, quantity, and quality. I went here with my family. We ordered the Beef Shawarma, Chicken Shawarma, Falafel Dinner, and The Vine Kabob. All entrees were delicious! My favorite of the four was The Vine Kabob, the sauce you dip the ground beef is fantastic. Also, they give you a complimentary "salad or soup" as your appetizer. Â Lentil soup is the way to go.
Great choice for great food under $15.
I was looking for something tasty and interesting on the menu boards in front of each restaurant in this quaint old town and found the Vine's menu to be short but each item spoke to me. I entered and was immediately seated and offered water and chose a wine with the dinner. This is a small restaurant in an old house that probably seats around 30 or so. Jessa was the only server there but she quickly and efficiently did her job and had a smile on her face the whole time. She recommended serveral things but I chose the pecan encrusted salmon with risotto and asparagus spears and topped with a hazelnut cream sauce. I also elected to try the lobster bisque as the soup of the day...it was a very good choice with nice chunks of lobster and a rich flavorful teaser for the meal to come. Sam is the chef here and he did not disappoint with the salmon dish. Cooked perfectly and flavor galore. At each step Jessa seemed to genuinely seek my impression of the food and how I was doing. All was good and I would consider trying virtually any of the other items served here. Apparently they also specialize in wine and cheese pairings as several other patrons indulged in some interesting choices. I'll be back.
Review Source:I had a delightful meal, at the bar. Lobster Bisque soup plus Lobster Mac and cheese. They were terrific. Since I travel for business, extensively and alone, I tend to sit and eat at the bar. This bar is quite interesting, very intimate, 2 seats. The wine list is good, bith by the bottle and by the glass. The manager/waitstaff/bartender was Jenna, she is delightful and helpful. My only criticism is the bar surface. It is a homemade version and they did not extend the top out far enough to facilitate eating. It is more of a flush counter instead of a bar top. If they fixed that, I would have given it a full 5 star
Review Source:Went here last weekend for a bachelorette party dinner. I never really head to Saint Charles, so I has no idea what to expect.
The food was great! We started off with a great cheese plate - I highly recommend the Manchego cheese; which was paired with apples, olives and fresh bread. We also enjoyed their tomato hummus, as well as their Lobster Bisque which I highly recommend.
The entrées were decent sizes, and everyone loved what was set in front of them.
The only complaint I had was that the staff seemed a little clueless at times, and made a mistake on the bill - which she said she was going to correct.
And on my 45 minute ride home I realized she did not correct it - even though I reminder her during the meal, when we were finished and even when I got the bill in my hand. Obviously partially my fault for not reading it closer before signing, but I surely thought "how can she forget that after I asked so many times?"
I would still go back, and recommend it - but just warn people to look at their breakdown list before throwing the credit card in :)
We had not been here in at least a year for dinner as the change in ownership (multiple times?) seemed to have decreased the quality of the food and the wine list. The final straw was ordering a glass of wine and getting the 4.5 oz catering glass only half full.
   I am happy to report that the current owners/managers/people in charge have made great strides and it was a lovely meal. We arrived on a Friday evening relatively early and were able to secure a table on the front patio. Our server arrived quickly and presented water and menus quickly. The menu was almost completely new (a few welcome hold overs from our last trip) but the good news was the wine list. The wine list was now appropriate for a place called "The Vine". Choices were organized by varietals and "interesting" whites/reds. Prices were from $30 for county/region bottles to $65ish for high end choices. We settled on a Three Saints Chardonnay (semi local, thank you Dierberg family). REAL wine glasses were presented and properly filled. Okay, we bought the whole bottle, but still...
   We had the hummus plate (one of the hold overs from the previous menu) that was a perfect amount and very tasty. Entrees were the Chicken Chasseur and Pasta alla Puttansesca. Both were amazing! The chicken was tender and flavorful, the pasta was cooked correctly and the sauce was enough to give flavor but not drown in. The only suggestion would be to give it a little bit of spice for a small kick, but that is a small suggestion. During our time there we repeatedly remarked at how much improved the whole experience was compared to our previous visits. At this time the patio was almost full and the number of servers available was appropriate for the crowd level. The service was prompt and not overbearing, allowing us to enjoy the meal and watching the world walk by.
    Overall, a great experience that we hope to repeat on a regular basis. The Vine has reclaimed its place in our rotation of dinner spots on Main Street and we look forward to our next visit!
4 of us had dinner at The Vine Saturday nite. We had reservations which were honored to the minute. I ordered the Ahi Tuna, my bride ordered a Crepe, our friends ordered the Salmon and a beef dish. we had no complaints at all. My Ahi Tuna was killer good. Even the bread was special. The wine list is the best on Main Street and priced very fairly. We had a SCHUG Pinot Noir that rocked. Our server was very attentive, a little "weird" but very attentive and efficient. We are going back.
Review Source:Let me start by saying that this place is by no means "bad," it just was a disappointment in several ways that made it a "meh" experience.
The Good:
The Vine has a romantic ambiance, though the Christmas lights taped to the ceiling do seem a little tacky or dorm-room like. The chocolate torte is AMAZING and ridiculously decadent. The salads are served with real greens (not that iceberg crud). The servers are very nice and attentive.
The Bad:
The hubby and I ordered the lobster macaroni de gratin and risotto with steak and wild mushrooms. The macaroni tasted like mac & cheese with itty bitty pieces of lobster in it. Good, but not special either. The risotto had hardly any mushrooms in it at all, with the mushrooms being used more as a garnish than a side (which I had high hopes for). There was also no bread served with the meal, which seemed oddly missing.
The Ugly:
This was Oktoberfest weekend, so it seemed like the restaurant might not have been prepared for the extra traffic. They ran out of several items on the menu, including the cheesecake with chocolate ganache that we ordered. It's just no fun when you keep ordering things to hear that they are not available any longer :(
The tables were also extremely close together. I was celebrating a wedding anniversary with my hubby and we were hoping for some romantic conversation reflecting over the past year. It's hard to have that kind of conversation when you're practically sitting on the lap of the people at the table next to you. I felt like my every word could be heard, because it could!
Overall, the Vine was just alright. Maybe our experience would have been better on a different (non Oktoberfest) weekend and with a selection of different entrees. The table next to us ordered a filet which looked great, and another table had a delicious fish main course. I'm not steering you away from the Vine, but in terms of value for your buck...at least on this visit, the food just wasn't worth it.
The Vine is definitely one of the best, if not THE best, restaurants on Main Street. My friend and I came for dinner this evening and shared a cheese plate as an appetizer. Holy cheese, Batman, was it fantastic! The plate came with 3 cheeses - Red Windsor, Petite Basque, and Drunken Goat. I'll never give up my mozzarella, but these cheeses were divine. For the main course, we both had a vegetable risotto that is to die for! Vegetarians rejoice! There is a restaurant in St. Charles that has GOOD veggie options! Desert was cheesecake with the most decadent chocolate port wine ganache. If you are on St. Charles Main Street and are looking for the high class food scene, The Vine is the place to go.
As a side note, they offer several kid choices for food (The ones I heard were grilled cheese and mac 'n' cheese).
This place was wonderful. My girlfriend and I were staying in St Charles and were looking here on Yelp for restaurants to check out, and came across The Vine. Â The restaurant was small, a house with a small bar and a few tables inside, and about 8 tables outside, but with a very warm vibe. Â
For the food, we had the cheese platter, the duck brushcetta, and the pecan crusted salmon. Â Everything was wonderful and I would get them all again.
The owner Mike came over to us as we received our first drink and chatted with us for a few minutes. Very friendly guy who really seemed to enjoy talking with his customers. Â After we had finished our meals I went to the restroom and upon returning was informed that Mike had come back over and paid us a few compliments and then gave us their homemade cheesecake on the house(which was amazing)!
This place was awesome. Â We are unfortunately about 45 minutes away now, but will definitely return to The Vine anyways.
Just ate dinner there....found on the restaurant coupon site and wanted to try some place new. Only had 5 other customers besides my party...very slow night I guess (even though the place right down the street was hoppin). Small portions of the steak meals, had more potatoes than meat, meat lil tough. bouillabaisse was very oily and was served clam that didn't open up (BIG NO NO, not unless you want your customer to possibly get sick from eating a dead & possibly spoiled clam), the soup base was pretty tasty when got away from oil. Chicken was tasty I was told. Very pricey for 4 people (well over $100 and only had one glass of wine with 3 waters). Soon after I finished eating, my stomach started hurting (an I was not over stuffed) - I ate the steak Gorgonzola....? cheese that upset me???? On the upside, the lobster bisque was tasty and stuffed mushroom caps with lobster and cheese was good....this is the only reason for the few stars. The waitress was attentive, I know she had to hear us complaining about some of the food...but she didn't even ask.
Next day...stomach hurt all last night. woke up this morning feeling sick to my stomach along with the stomach pain still present. It is hurting in my epigastric region, so I know that it is the food that I ate that is causing the discomfort and nausea. Needless to say, I will not venture back to this establishment.
During our cross country trip my wife and I found ourselves wandering around St. Charles looking for dog friendly place for dinner and ended up here. The wine list has a good selection and is reasonably priced and the food was quite lovely. We had a sampler place with homemade salami and some tasty cheeses. The caesar salad was a knockout and we had a lovely conversation with the owner. After subsisting on subpar midwestern fare for over a week The Vine was a much needed culinary respite.
Review Source:You have to wonder when both the top and bottom parts of the restaurant are reserved by two different programs in your company to celebrate milestone achievements...
With that in mind, the service worked like clockwork with nary an empty hand in sight. Â The quaint atmosphere was great, though, unfortunately, the rainy weather kept us from spending time in patio.
Alright, the following that I have to say is pretty ridiculous and by no means makes me a snob.... errrr....
I do have to call them out - I'm pretty gosh darned sure their lobster bisque just had crab in it. Â There's nothing wrong with calling it a lobster/crab bisque! Â People like crab too! Â It was definitely yummy.
Also, the 4 dishes offered all had some Marsala wine sauce... though understandable as you had a crap ton of orders coming in at once, I still have to say that I'm a little let down.
I'll definitely be stopping by again, though. Â My experience was an excellent one.
First, let me start by saying I AM a fan, but I do have "concerns".
It's a small place with a lovely small patio that's open in nice weather. Meanwhile the inside has an occupancy of around 37. ha!
I went there in the summer and sat on the patio. The server was nice, and my friend & I got wine and a cheese plate. Server guy was very helpful and suggested wines and cheeses. Good deal!
I went 2 days ago with 2 friends, sat inside- and had a few small concerns... the server lady was not able to suggest any wines and even said she didn't like wine... so I asked if she could say what was popular, and after a few unsure facial expressions she named one and said she wasn't sure. I think the poor girl was having a bad night because then she spilled a good amount of wine on the tablecloth in front of my friend. She made amends by bringing by another glass.
All in all- it has a great atmosphere for being so tiny. It's actually very cozy with the little fireplace (and it is little). It's not upscale really- but the pretty black tableclothes with red accents do make it have class... good for wine with friends.
As for the food, the cheese selection is good, although a bit pricey (2 cheese for $9, 3 for $12 and incl small amount of crackers, fruit and bread) - the hummus was good - very "earthy" and chunky (around $8, and a good amount), and my friends stuffed mushroom appetizers? FABULOUS.
I know I'd be willing to go back... but more apt to go down the street to Winery of the Little Hills.
LOVE The Vine. Â Quaint, intimate setting in a visibly ancient building. Â Great patio for nice weather. Â I loved the cheese selection, we have been a few times and tried most. Â The aged white cheddar is a personal favorite. Â Our server is very kind and eager to recommend menu items and wine pairing. Â I would definitely recommend this restaurant for a first or hundredth date!
Review Source:Andrea did a great summary. I've dined here twice while on business in St. Charles. The first time I was smitten. The service was EXCELLENT; even the chef visited with me to talk food for awhile. The menu is small but it's got a little something for everyone. The wine list is impressive, it totally schooled me.
Last week I visited again. I think they were hosting a large party (upstairs?) which may have accounted for the less than excellent service but the server was still very nice, just a bit distracted.
The lobster bisque was not delish but the rest of the meal was very good.
The place is small and quaint. It's really comfortable. I didn't mind dining alone but I could see this being an awesome place to share a bottle (or more) with friends or have a nice romantic little dinner.
I am a fan and I will visit the next time I am in St. Charles.
This is an excellent place to eat if you find yourself wanting to venture outside of St. Louis a bit.
Located in historic St. Charles, The Vine offers up traditional American fare with a pretty extensive wine list. Their atmosphere is laid-back--the patio is a great place to sit and take in the quaint Main Street surroundings. With the cobblestone streets, mature buildings and the riverfront nearby, it's ideal for a nice spring, summer and (especially) fall evening.
The service was above average when I visited. Our server was attentive without being overbearing, and was nice about offering a cheaper wine recommendation. I personally liked the wine list because it offered plenty of wines in the $20-$30 range. It's great for people like me who must eat and drink on a budget.
I didn't give it the extra star because while the food was great, it didn't have too many offerings and nothing too out-of-the ordinary. But--what they do serve is above average. I was skeptical about the tuna steak I ate, but it was cooked and seasoned to perfection.
All in all, it's a great place to visit during a visit to St. Charles. Spend the afternoon visiting shops, have a great dinner and then spend the evening walking by the riverfront. Sounds like a perfect date to me!
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