Came to Vinifera on a Thursday evening for dinner with friends.
This restaurant/bar was chosen based on its location which was a mid-point for everyone to drive to.
Unless you know its located inside the Westin, this place is really easy to miss. Â We sat in the bar first before moving over to the dining area. Â The restaurant was relatively slow for a Thursday evening with only several tables occupied, so we were quickly seated and served. Â
Since none of us were too hungry, we decided to order bunch of tapa dishes for sharing. Â Based on our server's suggestion of 3-4 plates per person, we basically ordered one of almost everything on the tapas menu as well as a cheeseboard. Â That was actually alot more food than anticipated. Â Some dishes were hits while others were eh. Â I particularly liked the pork habana and the crispy calamari.
All in all, my friends and I had an enjoyable time catching up, and went home with a happy belly.
We ate here a few times over the course of a stay at the Westin and weren't impressed. The first morning, we walked in and the waitress told us the dining room was full, so seated us at a coffee table with a couch on either side. Not the easiest place to eat breakfast, but we dealt with it. We ordered and something as simple as blueberry smoothies took so long that she brought a strawberry smoothie out as an offering "on them." Not really sure why blueberry takes longer than strawberry, but whatever. I had granola and yogurt that was verygood. My friend had the oatmeal/banana brulee which was also good. My son ordered a bagel with butter - it came out with cream cheese and jelly, but no butter - so we had to ask for that. My other son ordered pancakes and the fruit plate, but instead of the fruits listed on the menu, he got a small bowl of berries - which he liked just fine.
After we ordered, it took 45 minutes to get breakfast. While we sat at there at our coffee table, another family came in and were brought to a row of empty (real) tables we hadn't seen when we came in. I'm still not sure why they were able to sit there and we weren't, but despite coming in after we'd ordered, they were eating before we got our food.
That night we ordered room service in my friends room while the kids watched a movie. Again, the food took 45 minutes to arrive. 2 cheeseburgers were fine. I got a charcuterie plate that was pretty good, except for the bread, which was toasted to the consistency of pumice. My friend ordered mushroom ravioli for his son - we should have suspected something was up from the low price, but what he got was a single ravioli. I realize now that Vinifera is a tapas bar, but nothing in the in-room dining menu indicates that. My  friend got a bowl of mushroom soup and a chicken ceasar, but the chicken appeared to be breaded and fried chicken tenders.
After dinner we ordered 3 bowls of ice cream for the kids. After clearing up some confusion caused by a comma missing between the names of the flavors as they were listed in the menu (it's Cherry Biscotti COMMA chocolate chip, not "Cherry Biscotti Chocolate Chip) the order was in - two chocolate, one chocolate chip. Forty five minutes later, we called down to find out what was up and were told that they were out out of cookie dough - which was kind of odd because we didn't order any. We cleared that up and they said they'd call back - and when they did they apologized that our order had been entirely overlooked. I told them to just forget the order but they said it would be on the house and up within 5 minutes. So, good. ok then. Now we're back on track. 4 minutes later there was a knock at the door and a man delivered 3 bowls each containing a scoop of ice cream roughly the size of a golf ball. Â
I should stop here and again point out that we didn't realize that this is a "small plates" type of restaurant  - because there's nothing anywhere that seems to indicate that. Sure, when you first look at the prices you might think "WOW! This is the most reasonable room service menu I've ever seen!". . . but there's a reason the prices are so low, I guess. I've never heard of ice cream coming in a "tapas" sized portion, but then, I've never been to Spain, so what do I know.
The next morning we headed back down there for breakfast and this time the place was empty. We sat outside and a woman who appeared to be a manager or hostess was very attentive. I really enjoyed the granola and yogurt I'd had the previous morning so I ordered it again. My friend liked his oatmeal banana creme brulee, so he asked for that again but she told him they were out of bananas and offered raspberries instead. Good enough. The kids each got a bagel with fruit, but this time, when they ordered she asked if they wanted "a fruit plate or a bowl of berries." Â Ah. . .so it's a choice.
When I got my breakfast, it was *entirely* different from the one I'd had the previous morning. Different yogurt. Different granola. Even a different bowl. When he got his "brulee," it was simply a bowl of oatmeal with 4 raspberries on top. No brulee. Â Even the kids pointed out that along with their bagels, the bowl of berries was different. . .even the little cup the butter was different. Not a big deal, but it shows there's a distinct lack of any well-established standards going on in the kitchen.
But, oddly - through it all, while we were marvelling at how long things took and how everything was different day to day, there was a woman in chef's whites walking around the patio clipping herbs and trimming tomato plants and doing what seemed to be some planting of tomato trimmings. That's all well & good, but there are obviously some timing and quality issues that need to be worked out on the line before anyone is worried about trimming the basil out on the patio. It seems they're not seeing the forest for the trees.
I've been hearing tons about Vinifera for several years now, but earlier tonight I finally got a chance to try it out personally. We went for Mother's Day and I'm happy to report that we'll be coming back many times in the future.
Vinifera is essentially a refined tapas restaurant that places special emphasis on vino, and while that may seem like an odd combination, it works very well. Tucked away in the Westin Hotel right off Sunrise Valley, Vinifera completely belies it's "hotel restaurant" moniker, and is easily one of the best kept secrets in the Reston dining scene.
The menu is split into two halves: the small plate selection and standard entrée list. The small plates are moderately priced, which allows any size group at any budget to order a few to share and experiment with dishes you might not otherwise. The main courses are few in number but all very well done (all three of ours were outstanding from first bite to last). I ordered the lamb chops and was completely blown away: a dish which I find that most restaurants don't get right, my three chops here were perfectly cooked and paired with an incredible burgundy sauce.
The wine list is diverse and accessible- you won't find anything truly unique there, but what is present is more than capable of complementing your dinner. We ordered a rose and chardonnay, both of which were priced lower than I've seen in other local restaurants. Sufficed to say, we enjoyed both.
Dessert was a joy, as well. I'm usually not that big on chocolate cakes and other like-minded confections, but Vinifera's "chocolate decadence" plate was delicious. Most of my ire when it comes to chocolate desserts is due to their overwhelming sweetness, but that was not an issue here: the dark chocolate fudge cake was perfectly rich and (not over-) sweet.
While not the very best restaurant of it's class in the Reston/Fairfax area, Vinifera is absolutely worth a visit. As my family did this evening, you'll come to the conclusion that it will from now on be part of your regular dining rotation.
An oasis of savory quietude in a sea of otherwise noisy options offered in the Reston Town Center area..Vinifera is tucked away in the Westin about a mile away. We didn't find it right away, but when we did, it was a gem. The menu of small plates is extensive and well priced from $1-7per plate, most averaging around $2-3. Great for sharing. My colleague and I chose the chilled pea soup, calamari, spanish tortilla, watermelon salad, lamb pinxto, scallop pinxto ( Pinxto is the basque word for tapas) and a bunch of other tasty morsels, all lovely. She had a flight of reds and did a flight of whites. We shared everything and even though the portions were small, we had no room for dessert. My only tiny critique is that they could have slowed the service a tad so that we didn't have so many plates on the small table at once.. that said, it was really fun and the service staff was great. The ambience is adult, chill and understated, allowing the food to be the focus.They also have a menu of regular entree sized portions if you want a regular dinner. Highly recommended.
Review Source:I can't believe I am just now discovering this place after 6 years of living only 5 minutes from it. Wine Bar review: Tapas soo good, price good, wine good! Best part of all...warm, freshly baked, complementary raisin bread...great! 5 star quality, good service, and relaxing yet lively, romantic or business conducive ambiance. Totally underrated. Better than RTC. Will be back!!
Review Source:The atmosphere is inviting and modern. Â Not so impressed with the food or service, though. Â The appetizers were good, but the entrees; not so much. Â The Artichoke and Goat Cheese Ravioli was dry and overly salty; the Red Snapper over cooked and dry; the paella salty. Â After dinner, everyone ordered dessert, of which some arrived 20 minutes later (ice cream-nothing that needed to be cooked), only after we asked about the orders. Â The dessert items that did have to be cooked arrived 5-10 minutes after the ice cream. Â After a not so great experience, and mentioning it directly to the maitre'de, it stung all the more to have an 18% gratuity automatically added to our bill. Â Really?!?
Review Source:This review is predominantly inspired by the guy in charge of the wine. He's so friendly and helpful, even if you're a person (like me) who doesn't know much about wine and just likes trying flights that don't cost too much.
I usually try not to eat in hotel restaurants, considering them a little unoriginal and overpriced, but after driving around all day, the idea of venturing back out into the sprawl of Reston seemed pretty unappealing, so I tried this place. While quite pricey, it's not unoriginal. They have a huge selection of small plates, including delicious venison and a flavorful watermelon salad. The risotto balls are also of course delicious and very cheap at $4.
My heavy meal for two people with wine and dessert was $100 before tip.
I've only been to Vinifera twice, but both times were outstanding. We went for drinks and appetizers. The cocktails are top notch. But the small plates are what really sets Vinifera apart. You have to try the pintxos. These tiny single bite apps are delicious and creative and fun to experiment with. Also had a great Monocacy Ash cheese as part of a small cheese plate. Need to go back for a real dinner some time.
Review Source:I've been here several times now, having booked through Open Table. If you're budget conscious, try 'em during Restaurant Week--they have much of their menu accessible for that! They also have themed dinners where the cuisine is inspired by a locale (France, California, Australia, etc.)
Quiet place, a little cool in temperature, maybe because ceilings are very high. Reeks of class and relaxation. In a dozen or so visits, have never seen kids, and it is always quiet and intimate, which can be a rarity.
Staff to customer ratio is great and there are often more than one managers available.
We went in early, ordered a fairly huge meal--6 drinks between 3 adults, 2 small plates as appetizers, one of our party ordered 4 small plates as her main, the other two diners had their main courses. Then came dessert, coffee and wine.
There was a *very* small snafu. They had one order left of the veal, and my husband ordered it. However, another diner, for various reasons really wanted the veal. The waiter (Rob, who was WONDERFUL) asked if my husband might accept a substitution and in the same breath said he'd buy my husband his entree.
No worries! Husband will have the veal next visit (TRUST ME there will be more visits!).
At the end of the dinner, Rob informed us that they'd taken care of our entire meal. That is *unheard* of. Bar menu and all.
I cannot tell you how impressed I am.
Food wise...here are some impressions.
I love that they have Pinxtos--basically amuse bouches. For a foodie like me, it encourages sampling. I've had the Harrisa Dusted Shrimp, Olive & Preserved Lemon, which was so smoky and tasty! Warm Fontina Brioche, Oven Dried Tomato & Chestnut Honey is creamy and the honey just makes everything melt together. The wild mushroom soup is so creamy and rich,
Tuna tartare appetizer with lemon creme freche is AMAZING! It is served on little crusts of bread (think melba toast). I have this every time I can.
As for mains, I've tried the paella. Now, I had some reservations about paella, as sometimes you get it with oodles of rice and a little meat, but this was the opposite, 2 shrimp, 2 huge scallops, chorizo all over the plate, two mussels, and a HUGE chicken breast. It was phenomenal. Minimal rice, but be aware this is a deconstructed version of a favorite and cooked to order.
Seared Duck Breast wasn't to my taste to begin with, but oh, it perked up when microwaved the next day.
Lamb chops remain my favorite entrée. They serve it with a  potato stuffed with goat cheese, and a pomegranate sauce and fig reduction. The sweet and tart just work perfectly for me!
Desserts can be a little hit or miss--their crème brulee is average, which, when the food is this high, is a little disappointing. If you order dessert--heck, whenever you order--ask them to suggest wine pairings. Two times now I've been recommended amazing choices--a Hungarian dessert wine and a chocolate merlot. They serve wine in two different sizes (4 and 6 oz I think) and have selections by the glass and an extensive by the bottle winelist.
Service has been incredible. These folks are right there at your elbow before you even realize you're out of a drink.
This is a fantastic, ideal place for a quiet night out, or for a special event. And foodies? You will be in your element here!
I'll be back!
Had a pretty good dinner here Friday night. The restaurant is attached to a hotel and does have a bit of that 'hotel feel,' but for a quiet evening I prefer it to the craziness of the town center.
The crab cake appetizer was awesome. The goat cheese and artichoke ravioli were also awesome, although I really couldn't taste the artichoke at all. My dessert sounded awesome--chocolate cake with caramelized bananas and pistachio ice cream--but was something of a disappointment. The ice cream was delicious, but the cake was flat and not very rich, and the banana was not as caramelized as I would have liked.
My husband got the lamb, which was good, but his dessert was also a dud. He got the creme brulee, which was described by our waiter as having hints of tea and orange, but it tasted overwhelmingly of bitter orange rind, and neither of us liked it.
So forget dessert here and instead just get your drink on. I got some sort of citrus martini, which was generously portioned and very well made, as well as two glasses of wine (steel-tank chardonnay with dinner and a moscato with dessert). My husband got a red wine flight.
Service was great and overall I'd say this is a good place to go for a special occasion or date night. We'll probably go back sometime when the weather's nice to check out the outdoor seating.
Service - 4 stars
Food - 3.5 stars
I came here for restaurant week with a group of friends. We ended up here because PassionFish didn't have any reservations available. The hostess sat us in one of their private rooms in the back. We felt like VIPs since we were the only ones dining in there. Melissa was our server, and she did a great job the entire night. She even gave us separate checks at the end of the night. The food was good, but nothing really impressed me. If you live in Reston or staying in a nearby hotel, Vinifera is a good backup for RTC restaurants. As for my meal..
First Course: Hawaiian Ahi Tuna Tartar with Lemon Oil, Toasted Pine Nuts & Lemon Oil
This wasn't bad, I just wish there had been more of it! They only gave me two little bites (see picture).
Second Course: Seared 1855 All Natural Angus Strip Loin Steak with Onion Marmalade & Zinfandel sauce)
I enjoyed this dish. The marmalade and zin sauce were pretty tasty and went well with the steak. Only complaint is that I asked for medium-rare, but it seemed a little closer to medium. One of our friends had to return her steak because she ordered medium and got medium-rare. In hindsight, we probably should have just switched dishes. The dish also came with mashed potatoes. They were delicious - smooth and creamy, just the way I like it!
Third Course: Chocolate Opus One with Pistachio Ice Cream & Berries
I originally ordered the Creme Brulee, but they were out of Vanilla Bean and only had Blueberry. So I ended up switching to the Opus One, which was basically a chocolate cake. It was a miss. The cake seemed to be frozen, because it was hard to cut into. The cake was also not very moist. The ice cream and the bruleed bananas were the best thing on the plate.
If you're planning to go to Reston Town Center, come here instead!!
Situated in the Westin Hotel, Vinifera is truly a gem of a place nicely located near Reston Town Center but without the hustle and bustle of Town Center. Â It may seem odd to choose to go to a hotel for dinner when there are so many other choices nearby. Â Let that thought go my friend, you will not regret choosing this establishment! Â This upscale restaurant is beautifully decorated with modern decor, which fits right in with what you've come to expect for a Westin Hotel.
Vinifera has recently changed to new management and what a difference that has made! Â We went a year ago and it was good but not great and we thought overpriced for what you got. Â Our most recent experience last week was the complete opposite, however. Â Everything was wonderful!! Â We were fortunate enough to sit outside on a lovely evening and actually had the whole patio to ourselves. Â Our server, Dawn was spectacular and incredibly attentive and on top of everything that our large party requested. Â I was impressed yet a tad overwhelmed with their extensive wine list, so Ryan, the new manager and sommelier was eager to help us make some selections. Â He was quite knowlegeable about each of the wines, making our decision making a bit easier. Â I love that they offer 4oz or 6oz pours, so you can try a few more things! Â
The food menu is exquisite. Â Our large party varied from carnivores to pescatarians and the menu did not disappoint! Â For apps we all shared the risotto balls (I have to admit, I wanted for the name alone, but they were super good!), cheese board with fresh fruit, crab cakes served over butternut squash puree (yum), gazpacho, watermelon salad with both red and yellow watermelon, and their special flatbread - hawaiian peach. Â Every appetizer was absolutely delicious! Â With semi full bellys, we were all a little unsure as to how we could possibly eat entrees....however once they arrived, this was no longer an issue. Â Everything was so good and going down very easily! Â For entrees, everyone in our party had something different so we really got to see and try many choices. Â I had the sesame seared ahi tuna served with passion fruit rice cake and bok choy. Â It was superb! Â Others got the seabass, grilled shrimp & scallops, seared maple leaf duck breast, and grilled lamb chops.
One small attention to detail that I happen to love is that with each entree choice, there's a suggested wine pairing that they offer by the glass. Â This really takes the stress out of deciding what to order to pair perfectly. Â Certainly other options work too, but this is a fun way to try something that you might not otherwise...
We could not have been happier with our food and wine nirvana evening. Â I'd highly recommend it if you're in the Reson area!
Exquisite food, beautiful wine list, in a beautiful setting--in RESTON! wow! Praises to the heirloom tomato salad and the lovely hawaiin tuna tartare!!
  I admit I'm a oenophile and the winelist drew me here.  I had been a number of times before with a friend and ordered a huge Chateauneuf-du-Pape, which the staff kindly decanted until we could swirl and smell the complex yet focused spice pot that is the Southern Rhone Valley! OMG, I love Syrah alone, but temper it with Mouvedre, Grenache and Cinsault and it dances across your palate.  To a non-wine lover, saying that the nose has a beautiful  pepper pot mixed with a forest floor after a rain, and old leather would sound atrocious, but to those Rhone Rangers who love the lovely bouquet of layered aroma you get when you swirl and sniff and sip slowly, it really is divine.  I'd also had a Left Bank Bordeau (love the Cab Sauv!) and a couple California varietals, all of which the staff served respectfully in decanter and proper bowled stems.  I remember getting a few small noshes, but honestly cannot tell you what they were.  Only that we ordered bits to highlight the beautiful full body (think heavy cream texture) and a couple fatty meats (lamb, duck, charcuterie)  to complement the tannins which painted the inside of our mouths in lovely suede and velvet.
 Then I tried Sunday Brunch--Hallelujah! Nothing comes to mind that I really love more the fat, ripe heirloom tomatoes in July and August. When the weather is hot, I dream of  Mr. Stripey, Zebra, Golden Beauties, and Purple Cherokees. They are a beautiful treat and the chef here uses local sustainable produce.  The rich, full flavor, the juciness that just begs to be eaten over the sink, and the lovely acidity which makes these beauties the perfect food with almost any wine. Vinifera has a wide enough selection which I'm sure will delight anyone's tastebuds! I chose a light Sauvignon Blanc, but you wouldn't go wrong with any sparkler , Pinot Gris, or Riesling--pick the texture and fruit range you like.
 Just like any other great wine menu, you'll do better going with a friend (or two) and ordering a bottle.  Wines by the glass are available but they are not the calibur you'll receive when you order a bottle. If you're looking for a bargain, try the Pintxos and pick a highly acidic white which will pair well across the board.  But if you're looking for adventure, try dinner or Sunday brunch!  Yummy!
So, this was a bit of a so-so experience. Honestly, I was expecting better.
We both enjoyed a generously-poured wine flight and had some small plates and pintxos to start. The seared venison was great and the sardines were also good. The duck wontons were OK, but the sauce served with them was really salty. The calamari was also salty, though fresh.
For entrees, my husband enjoyed his lamb chops, but my "medium" pork came out dry and overdone. And it was a HUGE hunk of meat wrapped in prosciutto. Just tough and terrible. Such a shame to waste a big cut like that. I sent it back, but given how large the cut was, it was going to take at least 10-15 minutes for another one to come out - and my husband's lamb was quickly going to room temperature.
Instead, I asked for two small plates in lieu of my entree, hoping they'd come out quicker and we could actually eat together. The scallop was great. The pheasant cassoulet wasn't. We had the chocolate dessert, which was so-so. The best part was the pistachio ice cream served on the side.
The check came, and the waitress declared "I went ahead and took the pork off the bill for you." Which I found super curious, since I sent it back after one bite - was there really an expectation that I was going to pay for something I didn't eat? No one came over to apologize for the error, and there was no offer to comp the small plates I ate in lieu of the massacred pork (those apps totaled $10).
I think this place has the potential to be good, but honestly, they didn't do right by us.
Excellent food! The Pintxos are reasonablely priced at just a $1 or $2 and just full of fantastic flavors that belnd together perfectly in a succulent taste explosion. You might as well try one of each and just sip on a glass of wine while enjoying a cool summer night on their patio surrounded by flowers bursting with color.
Atmosphere is trendy and upscale yet laid-back and casual. I would highly recommend this place as a first date where one can impress and be impressed all in one evening as you dine as a 5-star guest but don't have to pay the 5-star prices (if you do the wine and the pintxos) and can actually hear your own conversation instead of everyone else's talking.
Went on a date here and the food and service were great. It says the restaurant closes at 10 but we had an 8pm reservation and had no problem staying until after 11. Â
People are reasonably dressed up (blazer + nice jeans, nice dress) but the atmosphere is reasonably casual. Modern design gives the place a young vibe.
I'll definitely go back.
It's only a matter of time before this place blows up! Â The food is FANTASTIC, but whenever I go, the restaurant is always just half-full, if that. Â Located in the Westin Reston Heights, it's kind of tucked away, and doesn't probably get that much play because of where it is, not clearly visible from the main road. Â But trust, people, it is deeeee-licious. Â
They have a concept kind of similar to tapas, where you get small plates of delicious goodness that only take two bites to eat. Â They are priced at $1 or $2 per plate. Â The risotto balls are delicious, crunchy and cheesy, served in fresh tomato sauce. Â
As far as entrees are concerned, they have that too. Â My absolute favorite is the Paella, served with mussels, scallops, chorizo, and chicken. Â It is not like the stuff I had when I used to live in Espana, but it is delicious nonetheless! Â And I would order it again and again. Â
This place is perfect for date night or a calm outing with friends. Â Every time I've been there, it's been quiet, low key, chill. Â I feel like I should be a little dressed up when I go, just because the restaurant looks very modern and upscale. Â All in all, it's definitely a hidden gem with fantastic fare!!
Went there for a company social event. I was excited that the bartender was able to get me some hot tea. Â More importantly, the tea was loose leaf - score 3 for the wine bar and bistro. Â
We only had finger foods and I can't really provide a good rating on this as most were meat and I don't eat meat. I was only able to taste the cheese and fruit and why provide details on that - as who can go wrong. Â I will say that while eating, I saw something on my plate which caused me to HALT all consumption of EVERYTHING.
Parking is plentiful and the workers are all gems.
I went to Vinifera for a Christmas party in December. Â Food and service were both top notch, and the wine selection was outstanding. Â Like others have said, it's a bit pricey but nothing worse than you'd find in Downtown DC. Â
The New York Strip I had came with crisped scallions, which added great texture to the meat 'n' taters . . . such an easy thing to do, frying scallions - don't understand why I rarely see it done. Â
Staff was great - as my dinner table got a bit rowdier as the evening went on, they remained unruffled and friendly.
Had lunch here during Restaurant Week. The servers were fine but never smiled. Only a few tables were occupied allowing us to converse without the deafening sound of Fri lunch crowds.
Mushroom Bisque: I started my meal with something savory which the alternative salad wasn't. The soup was creamy, warm, and well seasoned but started congealing towards the last bites.
Barramundi with rice. The fish had a perfectly lightly seared crust, flaky, & paired well with the red & green chili sauce.
Apple Crisp: 2 baked apples stuffed with sauteed apples? It required a knife to cut each bite making it messy & hard to eat. The dessert was also extremely sweet & caked with cinnamon. The vanilla ice cream accompanying it tasted better.
Will go again.
We enjoyed the experience. We took our mom there for her birthday and had the best time! The food was fun and different. Something for everyone. We like their $1 bites. Mom and I had the 'shroom ravioli with the friend sage leaf on top-delicious! Hubby had the lamb and
declared it: "tasty!" Excellent sommelier service on wine pairings and let us taste whatever we wanted before deciding on the bottle for the table.
It was slightly noisy in there, but that could be because a group of gals in the corner were way past their two-drink minimum and were really enjoying themselves at high volumes. It's all good, I guess. Kind of on the expensive side for a full-blown celebratory meal (apps, wine and dessert), but hubby and I enjoy coming in here after work for a glass of wine and some of the dollar bites.
We left here and were WOWed! We walked out the door and said wow over and over again. Â It was our anniversary which they knew and they treated us to a nice dinner with champagne and desert which was truly a treat.
We both got wine by the glass and enjoyed what we bought.
The tapas style appetizers were fun and reasonably priced so you could order a few without feeling like you were paying an arm and a leg.
I got the artichoke ravioli for dinner and loved it. Â It really was delicious. Â My husband got the new your strip and was pleasantly surprised. Â We both got desserts and loved them. Â The mini ice cream cones were a nice touch and my dark chocolate was great. Â Although I could have used a little more cake.
We would have given 5 stars except for the fact that services seemed slightly disorganized. Â Everyone was friendly and helpful, but not always attentive and seemed confused about attending to our table.
We will definitely make a return!
Came across a dozen or so parking spots out front convenient to Vinifera. For whatever reason, the main entrance was locked during business hours so we had to go through the Westin Hotel's entrance since the hostess podium wasn't manned consistently. *cough*Fire hazard*cough*. Limited but nice cheese selection from the deli counter on the left. Nice array of lounge seating available. Despite our response that we weren't interested in food, the girl who seated us was kind enough to mention that they were doing a world tour special menu, geared at Australia and New Zealand. Wine pairing recommendations only included for entrees, not small plates.
Bartender serviced us throughout the evening and was reasonably attentive given that there didn't seem to be many staff on duty. One or two tykes running about pell-mell that seemed to belong to kitchen staff. Certainly friendly, if a bit discombobulated despite the low customer traffic. After perusing the wines (2.5-star list) we settled on the Chateau Ste Michelle riesling. Bottle markup was on the higher end for the Reston area. Wine was not chilled, and the ice bucket really didn't do its job until the last glass. We also decided to split two small plates-- ironically some of the least thematic on the menu: "BBQ jumbo shrimp on ginger glass noodles" and "fresh berry pavlova."
The two shrimp were forgettable, a touch overdone and crying for acidity. Garnish baked dry with purpose. When I see glass noodles on a restaurant menu, I expect lush cellophane noodles, not thin rice vermicelli. A few bits of julienned carrot and mung bean. Without the surrounding drizzle of soy sauce, the dish would've been bland; I love ginger and tasted none of it on the plate. Pavlova came out structured like a sandwich, which we ultimately flipped open for easy eating. Cream holding the berries in place wasn't flavored. The meringue-ish parts had some flavor and the somewhat crispy shell as expected, but they were so thin that the moist interior we anticipated was nonexistent. This resulted in a gummy texture with every chew. The vanilla ice cream saved this plate more than the soy sauce saved the noodles.
B+ ambiance & service, B- cheese counter, C- wine list, D+ food.
Just had dinner here and it all makes sense now. The only reason to be here or in at the Westin in Reston, VA is for business (expense account) and the only nearby dining options are vending machines (captive clientele) the food sucks. Had paella yesterday -- salty. Had the NY steak tonight -- salty and tough with flavorless sides. I cannot believe I ate here twice in two days.
On the upside, the drinks are good and large - my gin Gibson was 8 ounces. Too bad it didn't help make the food more palatable.
Vinifera needs new management. Â Plain and simple. Â They have a potentially great thing here but management is out of whack. Â
They have many wines here......let me restate, they have many wines on their menu. Â But one time, all four of the bottles I wanted were out of stock. Â And apparently the wine cellar is in Timbuktu, because whenever I order a bottle (sometimes a bottle of a rarity like, um, Malbec), it takes 15 minutes for a staff member to find it in the cellar, only to return and tell me "out of stock." Â Virginia Wine--they have Fabiolli wines on their menu but NEVER have them in stock. Â Take it off your damn menu, then. Â It's called bait and switch. Â Fabiolli is 30 minutes down the road---someone needs to get their butt out there and pick up a case or two. Â
When I inquired about why they are usually sold out of bottles less than $40, one gentleman (not sure if he's the manager or not) said "the low price bottles always fly off our shelves." Â Two things wrong with this response: Â One, implying that I'm a cheapskate and only buy "low price bottles." Â $37 is not enough for you? Â Not all of us work for defense contractors with $5 billion contracts, or attorney offices, or lobbyists. Â Not all of us have deep pockets. Â The other problem---if you acknowledge that the low price wines "fly off the shelves," here's a tip: Â GET SOME MORE. Â And get that Fabiolli on the shelves, or take it off your menu. Â I understand being out of this wine one time, but the last four times? Â And running out of a "rare" wine like Malbec is unacceptable.
The atmosphere (light jazz played at the correct volume; TV volume turned all the way down; well placed tables) is good. Â The outdoor patio will be inviting for warmer days. Â Some of the bar tenders are chatty and attentive. Â But the person in charge of the wine needs to read the Dummys Guide to Sommeliering. Â Oh, and the food - I needed a chainsaw to cut my flatbread and apparently the steak is one notch away from Ponderosa quality (quote from my friend).
Can only speak of the wine bar, as I did not have dinner. Â The atmosphere provokes relaxation, dim lighting, dark woods, very comfy furnishings. Â The selection of wines is impressive, as it should be for a wine bar, but.... Â the bartender and wait-staff are clueless in wines. Â I asked about a Chardonnay and she started talking about a vineyard that produces only Merlot. Â I told her that she must be mistaken then she moved on to Riesling...I joked with her and said "your getting warmer that is the correct color"....she did not find the humor. Â She then delivered the menu. Â
Now here is the shocker...I know this is located in a Hotel (The Westin) and I know that a premium is standard for such a location but Good God they are terribly overpriced. Â A Rutherford bottle was priced at 45.00. Â Come on this is a cheap bottle that you can buy at the grocery store for about 15.00! Â
Went with the "by the glass" and still pricey but was fun to try some wines not readily available in our area. Â
While overall it was a nice change...don't think I would go back only because I think it is terribly  overpriced.  If you are stuck in the hotel without wheels it is a nice place the relax, but I just do not see how they will attract the local crowds.  3 stars because it was a nice change of pace, and the bar is stunning, but not a wine bar when you do not have qualified and or trained staff representing the rather impressive selections offered. Â
I think if they ever had a Sommelier then it would be a fun place to learn about the wines they offer and I am sure would lead to a larger crowd. Â I arrived at 6:30 on a Tuesday and the place was dead. Â Left at 9:00pm and I and another person was all that was left in the bar.
Great Sunday brunch - yummy food, service, comfortable furniture, and lovely surroundings!
I found this spot via <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2FOpenTable.com&s=c91bdbc3a0ec574526e58696cba3aeccf3c9f0bf51b27a302b229c80b40f42ac" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://OpenTable.com</a> while looking for a nice Sunday brunch location at the last minute. I wasn't familiar with the area and it turns out, if you aren't staying at the Westin, it's pretty challenging to find. On the plus side, the hotel wasn't very crowded so the restaurant was pretty empty!
The generous platter of breakfast breads for the table was fresh and fantastic. The coffee (as reported by my coffee-drinking companions) was surprisingly good. The tasty blueberry and honey shooter was in a martini sized V-bowl sitting on ice - unusual, sweet, and delish.
For the entrees, the Huevos Rancheros was spicy, yummy, and my eggs were cooked exactly as ordered. Jack Stack Pancakes turned out to be both crispy and moist with savory breakfast meats. The soft roll omelet was perfectly cooked, even though they didn't have all the listed ingredients available that morning.
Overall, the meal was lovely, unhurried, and delicious. We had time to linger after the meal and saw many of our favorite wines in the display cases. Although it's not very convenient to where I live, we will probably make the trip to try dinner since the menu looks interesting and I already know how much I like the place in general. Extra thumbs up!
New info 7/6/2010 - I returned for a second visit on a holiday (Monday 7/5) and found that the regular breakfast is NOTHING like the yummy Sunday brunch menu. The regular eggs and toast menu is run of the mill expensive unremarkable hotel food.
My fiancee and I discovered Vinifera as we were looking at the Westin to accommodate our wedding guests. We were pleasantly surprised to find a somewhat upscale, relaxed and inviting atmosphere so close to our home. The bartenders here are very friendly, and the waitstaff are quite helpful with answers and suggestions.
The wine selection is tremendous -- though we hope they'll offer more Italian reds by the glass. Above all, the food is wonderful -- we particularly enjoy: the cheese board (the fig jam is a nice, sweet touch); the Tapenade, Hummus, Avocado Mousse; and the Arancini Risotto Balls are nice and creamy. For main courses: the free range roasted chicken is tender and moist; and the pan roasted sea bass with wild mushroom risotto melts in your mouth.
In any event, we have become "regulars" at Vinifera because the food and drinks are excellent, and above all, the atmosphere is much more relaxed than the loud chaos at similar restaurants in the Reston Town Center. If you're looking for a nice, quiet romantic evening for two (particularly on weekends), or a good dinner with friends along with decent wine and good beer... Vinifera is definitely worth checking out. We think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
I flew in last night, arriving around 9 PM and wanted a drink, some bar food, and to watch the US Open on TV. Â Vinifera appears to be the (as in, the only) hotel bar at the Westin, so I popped in.
The decor is nice and very Westin (dark woods, low tables, chique, Euro). Â The bartender was nice enough. Â Overall, I'd have given it a four, except for a few problems.
(1) The bar food isn't bar food. Â It's all gourmet-y type stuff from the adjacent restaurant. Â Fancy crab cakes and mushroom bisque and lamb chops and such. Â No burgers, fish and chips, sandwiches, etc. Â Nothing resembling bar food. Â (2) The mushroom bisque was very good but it was kinda cold and the person who designed the chique tiny spoons they use has most certainly never attempted to eat a bowl of soup with one. Â (3) Â The bar closes at 11 PM. Â Wow. Â Am I in Hicksville or suburban Washington? Â (4) They don't actually understand wine which, for a wine bar, is bad. Â The $18/glass Chorey-Les-Beaune was listed under "pinot noir" (OK, it is) simply under the producer's name Michel Gay & Fils. Â Had I not seen the bottle, I'd never have known it was there. Â And it was good, if pricey.
I had high expectations for Vinifera Wine Bar.
I arrived about 30 minutes before my reservation and sat at the bar. The overall decor of the place is modern, but cold. After a glass of red wine my date (my wife) arrived and we were seated. For a Thursday night, you definitely don't need a reservation.
We shared a salad, which was probably the highlight of the food. My main course was okay, it was rather salty. For a $28 entree I expected more flavor other than salt.
The service wasn't that attentive. I sat a good 30 minutes without having my water filled. I looked for the waiter, but since the place was empty I didn't want to have to get out seat to track him down.
Overall it's a decent spot. Wine selection is lengthy and expensive. Food was plain and not really impressive. I'd be curious to see this place Friday night if they had a happy hour.
I don't plan on visiting Vinifera again any time soon. Stinks, I really did have high hopes.
Located within the Westin Hotel in Reston, Vinifera was easy to find.
The restaurant has a very chic decor. The lighting is soft and dim with a warm yet dark color scheme. We were seated toward the back of the restaurant, and I sat on the bench surrounded by pillows. This allowed a normally uncomfortable bench to be soft and cushioning my back.
Upon arrival, we were greeted promptly. We sat down, and ordered a tasting of white wine with our appetizer. Our appetizer came out before the white wine unfortunately. After mentioning this to the waitress, and canceling our white wine flight, the filght was brought out on the house, in tandem with the red wine flight we ordered to taste before our main course. Â Our appetizers were fantastic. I ordered the sea scallops and my dining companion ordered the crab cake. We were both impressed, the scallops were perfectly seared - and the taste was amazing. slightly sweet from the sear, and the accompanying parsnip puree was light and complimented the scallop. The taste I had of the crab cake was also well done, with large amounts of lump crab meat and light seasoning.
We were pleased with the white wines we tasted, and I did go on to pick a bottle of one of them up later. After trying the red wines, we allowed them to sit and tried them 20 minutes later. This proved a good decision, as the Malbec opened up perfectly (and I'm sorry to say, I forgot the name!). After tasting the reds, I opened up the wine menu and started to peruse. The 2005 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon caught my eye, and I was given the go-ahead by my dining companion to order the wine. I had tasted Faust before, and I adore this Cabernet.
Within a minute of placing the order with our waitress, the General Manager of the restaurant (who is also the sommelier) visited our table to discuss our selection. He personally opened the bottle, and decanted the Cabernet for us. True to the wine, it was perfect. Â
I had ordered the free range chicken breast, and was astounded by how much flavor a simple dish could provide. I loved it, from the crispy chicken skin to the very juicy meat. The wine paired perfectly with the chicken, surprising me. The wine enhanced my dining partners NY Strip as well. Unfortunately for me, he ate all of it before I was able to arrange a bite-for-bite-swap!
I'd definitely recommend this wine bar, we were able to order a great bottle of wine (fantastic selection), we had a surprisingly good meal, and were able to catch up for two hours. What more could you want in a cozy-chic restaurant?
My wife and I stopped in there last night for some apps and wine. Â We were excited about trying this place mainly because we need a few good wine bars out here in the suburbs. Â What we experienced left us disappointed.
While the space was attractive - nice textures and colors, cool lounge area, really nice looking bar - it seemed a little cold and uninviting. Â There was no "cozy" feel to it our table or the other areas around. Â Frankly, my chair was pretty uncomfortable, the table was wobbly, and the banquette seemed to lack that welcoming feel. Â The lighting was too bright to the point that it was almost harsh.
Our server was nice enough, but not very polished. Â She didn't know the wine list very well, didn't know what the bar had and was pretty slow. Â It took over 10 minutes to get our drinks, and there wasn't nearly a full house. Â It could have been the bartenders fault, but there really was no good reason for it.
We ordered two apps - a trio of spreads (hummus, tapenade, and an avocado mousse) and some risotto balls supposedly stuffed with goat cheese. Â Bleh! Â The hummus was very salty but had a nice nutty taste and texture. Â I usually like hummus smoother and creamier, but I liked this texture (not so much the salt). Â The tapenade was okay, again overly salted for an already salty food. Â The avocado mousse was awesome - hands down the best. Â What was a real bummer was the assortment of bread and pita we got; the pita was stale and the crostini was completely over-toasted. Â Both really took away from the tastes we were supposed to be enjoying. Â The risotto balls were very bland. The beet-balsamic reduction did nothing for them and even dried up after a few minutes. Â What a shame! Â The idea was good...
Our drinks were better. Â My wife had a flight of "old world" reds. Â I didn't know Australia was old world. Â The selections were good, but I'd like to see more flights that show some creativity. Â My martini had bruised olives but was otherwise well put together. Â We then each had two really good glasses of wine - one pinot noir and a nice cab. Â I really liked the bottle selection here, but I'd like to see a better by the glass list.
Bottom line: Â I'll try Vinifera again, maybe for HH, but I'd hesitate going back there to dine.
Although the dining room was rather cold and businesslike we were undetered. Â We wanted to try this restaurant in the newest hotel in Reston, barely 15 minutes from Dulles Airport. For people who enjoy socializing after work, it does have a substantial bar which looks like a good place with the potential to be a major gathering spot. Â
The restaurant gradually filled with a variety of hotel guests, but we did not have to wait at all, arriving just after noon. Â We tried the wild mushroom soup appetizer and rockfish entree, both of which were beautifully served and prepared. I would recommend both.
Now the sad news:  The colorful Mediterranean Salad arrived bathed in the oil/vinegar/wine dressing and tasted excessively salty. (Inexplicably, it was served with salted pita chips). I gave it a try, doubting my tastebuds could be accurate.  Eventually, there was enough salt to initiate a headache. I could not  finish it.  To the credit of the maitre d' I was offered a replacement, but did not want to start over. He removed it from our bill, appropriately.
My assessment is that this restaurant  has potential, but needs fine tuning. Their primary parking area, which is under the entrance to the restaurant and hotel could use some signage.  Obviously, this time the chef wasn't monitoring everything that came out of his kitchen. The lesson is, never hesitate to send something questionable back to the kitchen...
Still, I couldn't help wondering: Â What would Chef Ramsey say?
The husband and I stopped here on our way back from Dulles Airport one Friday night. Â He had been gone for work all week, so we wanted a place where we could talk, drink some wine, and eat some tasty food. Â We got two out of three, so I am calling this place A-OK. Â
The location is not bad and is easy to get to. Â Parking is not bad. Â
When we arrived around 9p, it was absolutely dead. Â There were maybe four other tables of people and it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Â Despite the lack of customers, it took our waitress almost twenty minutes to even ask us for a drink order. Â Since the husband and I had not seen each other in five days, we were more than happy to wait and just catch up. Â However, I can see how waiting twenty minutes for just a drink order could be annoying in other situations. Â
We ordered a bottle of rose wine on the recommendation of the waitress and it was a good choice. Â Price was reasonable. Â Waitress was friendly when she was able to make it to our table. Â We ordered dinner and I have to say that I was really disappointed. Â One of the sauces that came with my meal had zero taste and my crab cake was...weird. Â Not bad, not good. Â Just weird. Â
Husband ate all of his meal mostly because he was starving, but I do not think we would go back for food again. Â It was very pricy for Reston and the food was just not worth what we ended up paying for it. Â
However, I can recommend this place for a quiet place to talk and to have a good bottle of wine.
Did you know that every state in the U.S. produces wine?
Yup, all 50 of them.
Which probably means, all 50 states should also have at least one good wine bar.
When you're lucky enough to live, shop and drink in California like me, you tend to forget that wine is growing in popularity outside of the state that boasts Napa, Sonoma, Santa Ynez and Paso Robles.
So when I traveled to the D.C. area for Thanksgiving, I didn't have the highest expectations for one of the few authentic wine bars that I found. Â Especially one inside a Westin hotel, for that matter.
But I was impressed by the coziness, cuisine, and collection of Vinifera Wine Bar in Reston, Virginia. Â If you're there to people-watch, you may be disappointed, but if you're looking to have a very peaceful conversation with a bit of a scene, then this is the right place.
The place was so empty the night I took my date, it almost felt like we were sitting in the soft sofas of an upscale living room. Â We ordered the best gem-for-the-value that I spotted on the wine list...a Chateau Montalena Zinfandel (ahem...for you east coasters, that's a red wine here in California!). Â The late-night bar menu was much more gourmet and tasty than just the typical bar sampling of wings, sliders, and calamari. Â The service from start-to-finish was friendly and patient--in light of the fact that we were the last customers on a near-empty Black Friday of Thanksgiving weekend.
Being somewhat familiar with retail wine prices, I would recommend a bottle over wines-by-the-glass; best deals are in Syrahs, Zinfandels, and non-Chardonnay whites.
Yes, Virginia...there is a real wine bar to be found this holiday season.
(And if you have any other wine bars in the area to recommend, let me know so I can try them on my next visit to DC/MD/VA.
A nice upscale addition to the Reston dining scene. Vinefera is located across the toll road from town center in the new Westin hotel. They have a shuttle van that will run you back and forth from town center. One upside to the location is that you do not have the town center mob scene and the attendant high volume dining experience.
The architecture is very open and modern with huge glass walls and lots of medium dark wood complemented with nice lighting accents and comfortable chairs. One downside is that the view from the largest glass wall is the side of an adjacent condo tower.
The wine list is good with an unusually large number of by the glass offerings. Be sure to ask if anything is open besides what is listed. Our waitress was very knowledgeable about the wines being served and suggested some reasonably priced wines that I would not have tried otherwise. All of these ended up being quite good and paired well with the food. Thankfully the menu is short with only 5 or 6 appetizers and entrees to choose from. The portions are reasonably sized, well prepared and fairly expensive.
On Friday nights they have live music.
In  summary a nice relaxed place to have a glass of wine as well as a good place for an expensive meal.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,607 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,970 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,306 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,904 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,983 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
