Great wine selection, excellent customer service, large pours, and beautiful setting. Â I would recommend this to anyone looking for great wine and a place to relax in the busy peninsula. Â Unfortunately we already had dinner reservations so we didn't get to try the food, but am looking forward to going back and trying it sometime soon!
Review Source:My Fav Vino Bar on the Peninsula.
The 3 owners, Emily,Jocelyn,Debra, run a fantastic cozy wine bar/restaurant in an old charming Victorian House just up from University.
They really know their vino, and have a broad selection of local boutique wines from Santa Cruz, Napa & Central Coast.
Chef Andrew changes the menu weekly so there is always something new & adventurous Fri & Sat.
Big Plus is the back patio with live music on weekends and during the week sometimes.
The bar inside is very casual & friendly.You will meet some new friends and local characters.
Greg is one such local who is there most nights and a great raconteur with a wry sense of humor.
A great neighborhood bistro. I live a few blocks away and love to come here. It's a fun place to gab with friends and family over a long dinner with wine.
Food: I'd call it healthy, organic comfort food. Hummus, cheese plates, olives, grown-up grilled cheese. Seriously, get the grilled cheese.
Wine: Extensive wine selection. They offer tastings, as well as "mystery tastings" where you try to guess the varietals (trickier than you think!).
Ambiance: The restaurant is in a refurbished house. It's comfortable, but not upscale or fancy. During the warmer months, the backyard patio is a lovely place to sit. I find it a welcome break from the super-polished, more commercial places on University.
Service: The service is slow, which has pros and cons. Con: not a good place if you're in a big rush. Pro: they won't rush you or kick you out of a table, you can have a nice leisurely meal. The waitresses are very friendly and will give good tips on food and wine selection if you are struggling with the menu.
So we just ate here... 4 people that spent 300 dollars and had a very blah meal. Most things were not seasoned, and one of the wines we had was actually quite bad.
I really wanted to love this place, since the owners and staff are very friendly and sweet. It's also the only decent place in Palo Alto to hear live music over dinner or drinks. Â But it just wasn't good enough, and definitely wasn't a good value for money!
Long story short, we won't be returning. And I'm sorry about that; I had really hoped we would love the place!
"Either give me more wine or leave me alone."
Rumi
"I pray you, do not fall in love with me, for I am falser than vows made in wine."
William Shakespeare, As You Like It
"I'm not afraid of death; I just don't want to be there when it happens."
Woody Allen
Sidney Does Palo Alto Part 2
In the 90's I once briefly fell for a woman who loved the philosophy of Rumi. Â But it was rather lost on her as she was a bit of a hot mess with a mean, mean temper. Â But being a hot mess, and a musician to boot, the sex was definitely an 11 on The Spinal Tap scale so I persisted in hanging out with her for a bit (As The Offspring sang I may be dumb, but I'm not a dweeb) until eventually the temper became too much and I moved on. Â Unfortunately I wasn't in to wine yet otherwise that relationship could have been tolerated just a bit longer :) Â
But I am into wine now and a place like Vino Locale is like mother's milk. Â Interesting wine selection (I particularly enjoyed the Failla Chardonnay and Muns Pinot) that you can create your own flight with combined with excellent food. Â We ordered the hummus plate, a superb rendition of bacon wrapped dates (mmmm, bacon), cheese plate, health nut salad, empanadas (Beef & chicken excellent, veggie one needed meat in it) and a Faux de Creme which was a perfect, not too heavy, sweet finish. Â
Service was a bit strained as there was one server apparently for all of the tables outside but we didn't mind as it was a lovely evening and we were engaged in an intense conversation of life & death as my friend recently had worked at a Hospice. Â So the slow European pace was tolerable except when the wine glasses got empty. Â Garcon, Garcon: you see this empty that's your signal to bring another ;) Â
Although I enjoyed this experience very much, and I usually do not review after just one time as I told my lovely S. Cal friend Hannah E. recently unless it is really bad or really good, I cannot give 5 stars because the quality of the food really screams for a bit more daring on the wine list outside the California comfort zone. Â Other than that though, I really am looking forward to my next visit at Vino Locale. Â The ambiance and food are that stellar and there is that N. Cal vibe that S. Cal wine bars just cannot compete with. Â There is live music on weekends and winemaker events periodically as well. Â
Highly recommended!
This is a great place. It's very small so you get fairly personal service. You can sit at the bar or at one of the tables. They aren't shy about letting you try wines and you can chat them up about your favorites and what you like and dislike. They also have some great things on the menu that are unique. The spinach mint salad is amazing! All in all this is a great place to come get some appetizers and try some wines. Cute decor.
Tip: They can get busy if they have a party out back, but it seems rare. Call ahead and check if you feel like it.
Small, cozy "home" on a residential-ish street. Â A friend and I were here for a quick glass of wine before heading out to dinner. Â We were there at 5 pm and were the first customers. Â The owner and waitress were attentive. Â Nice to see a Happy Hour menu, but we didn't try their food this time.
They have a patio in the back and some small tables by the front entrance. Â Cute ambiance and will come back again to try their food and order more wine.
Vino Locale has become the regular setting for our girls-night-out group because it has the easy-going setting of a neighborhood joint - but with sophisticated food and wine!
Great dishes to share - the charcuterie plate is a particular favorite, as well as a nice and always changing variety of dishes to please all of our individual tastes. Â The wine drinkers among us seem to be particularly in heaven, and I as a non-drinker appreciate the food and ambiance thoroughly.
Went here last Friday with my date. This was a first for both of us so we were equally excited. Facebook was having a private party in the back so the front patio was completely full. The inside is a bit small but it wasn't an issue since the place felt "homey". (3 tables plus a full bar) At first, we were seated inside right by the fireplace. It was very cozy. I went to the ladies' room before our yummy cheese plate came & when I got back, we were seated out in the front! Even better, right in front of the guy performing & playing his guitar. (he was there to please Facebook for their party & still there until the restaurant closed)
As for the menu, their wine list is spectacular. We both enjoyed our Pinot & Cabernet. We ordered one of each on the menu. (chicken & grilled veggie skewers) Limited choices but I feel that it was good enough menu for the restaurant. You kinda have a sense of California sitting outside, enjoying tasty food & wine, with an incredible guitarist playing in the background. I will definitely come back to this place. Great for date nights. Also good for girls' night-out enjoying great wines.Two Thumbs Up!
Have stopped by here a few times and it was always closed! Finally, came here last weekend on a blisteringly hot day and spent a wonderful afternoon sharing a bottle of wine and enjoying the heat.
We ordered a relatively inexpensive bottle of wine that was nonetheless very tasty and the hummus plate. The hummus plate is very good and quite refreshing. Note that the kitchen is closed for several hours in the afternoon so be sure to call ahead if you plan to eat.
The owner and service was wonderful. I look forward to coming back!
This was my favorite place in palo alto.
I had planned a small birthday dinner for my 30th with my husband and another couple. When we arrived we were seated in the patio by a young man ...about 18...who seemed polite at first. We ordered some bottles of wine for the table, some hummus, salad and salmon. It took 1hr 45 min before our food was ready. We were so buzzed from drinking the 2 bottles of wine with no food. We had to walk to the kitchen staff ourselves and flag down another waiter to ask what was happening with the food. They had forgot to put in the order to the kitchen. Every other table around us had been seated, served and had left two times over.
The sommelier/bartender came by our table and mentioned he was sorry for the wait and offered some free wine. He then came by and dropped a tasting of brandy and a desert wine for just one of us. My friend said he liked the latter and the the sommelier offers to bring a bottle of it for the table. We were stoked! until we saw the bill and that we were charged for it!! At this point I just wanted to get out of there. I felt abused and insulted.
And what happened to the waiter? who knows. He never came by to apologize. Just wished me a happy 21st birthday (fyi..im 30) on the way out. The nerve.
Long story short. I was so embarrassed that I recommend this place to my friends. The cost vs service just doesn't add up. Â I wish i could wash that experience away..but I don't think Ill ever frequent this place again. :(
Jocelyn and her team made my fiance's birthday party a truly amazing experience. We had a big group of about 20 people so it was not the easiest to manage. But Jocelyn corresponded with me days before the birthday dinner on time, venue set up, seating and menu etc. and it was a breeze working with her.
She did all sorts of wonderful things including creating a custom dinner menu just for us, cut and serve the birthday cake for free, decorating the space with balloons (I did not even request it), introduced the chef to the dinner party, and she did not ask us to commit to a prix-fix menu despite our party almost taking over her restaurant. We had the main dining room to ourselves so it felt like a private space, and for the price we paid that was a fabulous deal.
I do not hesitate a bit to recommend this place to anyone who's looking for a restaurant for a memorable group event.
Went there last night for a wine tasting event. They are in a cute little house across from Zibibbo and if not for this event I would never have thought there is a wine bar there. Â Once you walk inside the house, you see a small bar and a couple rooms with tables for dining. The back yard is nice for an intimate group function with lots of heating lamps. My only complaint is that the rough ground with little rocks is kind of hard to stand on with my stiletto heels. After standing there chatting for a while I had to sit down to rest my feet!
The cabernet I tried is from Santa Cruz Mountains and was very good.
I like that the place is not crowded at all and if I come with my friends we will be able to have a nice conversation without having to yell in order to hear each other.
I can not believe I have not written a review of this place! This is where I went on my first date with my boyfriend two years ago, and I still love going back.
Vino Locale has a fantastic bar to sit at, chat with friends, and have a light snack. They feature local wines, which can be a hit or miss, but interesting to try.
The people who work there are friendly, and make certain you are taken care of. They have a back yard for when it's warm outside, and if you go to the far back you can feel as if you have the place to yourself. Â
Last time I went there was a Spanish Guitarist playing, which lent to a certain ambiance that made me feel extremely spoiled to be there. A great place to go and relax on a weekday night.
Amy R: Â I'm hungry.
Renae H: Â I know a wine bar where we can get food.
Amy R: Â I'm sold.
Walking... Â Walking... Â Walking...
Renae H: Â We're here.
Amy R: Â It's a house.
Renae H: Â I know.
So...apparently it's one of the oldest houses in Palo Alto (according to Renae). Â They focus on local food and wine which is nice. Â The food menu was simple (I wouldn't go here if you're starving and looking for a big meal). Â The cinnamony pumpkin apple soup I had was hearty and great for a cold winter's night. Â I also had the red wine flight which was reasonably priced and good.
The company at the bar was great. Â The employees were friendly. Â I even had a chance to briefly meet the owner who was nice. Â All in all, I had a great time and will definitely be going back.
I basically live here. Chances are if you've been here, you've seen me or my son wandering around. What I love about this place is the laid back attitude, friendly staff, and focus on local wine and food.
You will not find any wine from Napa and Sonoma here. It's not because they don't like it, but it's because that's their niche. Nearly everything is from Santa Cruz or the greater San Jose area, but you'll find one or two from the Central Valley. A lot of the wineries are small mom and pop, and they are hard to find in stores and restaurants.
The wine is hit or miss, but if you take the time to explain what kind of wine you enjoy, the servers should be able to deduce something that you'll like, as they're all well versed in the wine that is carried and they've all tried it more than once. Having had everything this wine bar carries over the 5 years that I've been coming here (which always changes every month or so, and By The Glass changes every week), I can attest that varietals from the local area are not stereotypical ones (i.e. the merlot here doesn't taste like regular merlots), which provides for an interesting experience, although disappointing if you're not expecting it. It's because the wines are made by smaller wineries and the climate offers a different production than their Napa cousins.
The backyard is the highlight of the place, as it's perfect for parties, weddings, or other small gatherings. They have wine maker dinners about once a month that is often outside when the weather is warm.
If they're slow or not helping you, it's certainly not because of you but just because they are busy. It's also part of the laid back mentality everyone has. It's a small, fun, local joint. If you're looking for prompt, super attentive service, you might try across the street at Zibibbo, but you'll be paying for it too. Vino Locale is affordable.
Other notes:
 * Reservation not needed, but call ahead to check as it may get you a decent seat.
 * The hummus is really popular.
 * Mystery Flight on Thursday nights is really fun. If you guess all four varietals, you don't pay! (And it's tough. I try to do this every Thurs).
I love wine bars. I love restaurants with outdoor seating. I love good food. I love reasonably priced food. Therefore, I love that Vino Locale serves delicious food and wine in an amazing outdoor garden setting!
Four of us girls (a la Sex and the City) and one little dog (Ruggles) headed to Vino Locale for dinner and wine. Two of us ordered the white wine sampler of four yummy wine tastes for $11.25. Other girls ordered wine by the glass and they also offer sangria for $5!
For food, we started with the generous serving of hummus and pita (about $6) and then all ordered one of the nightly specials - a $6 chicken pita wrap with swiss cheese and grilled red peppers. For dessert we had two of the (very) mini cheesecakes ($2 each) which were on-the-house since they didn't have the flavors we ordered. They also carry XOX truffles!
The servers were SO nice. The setting was SO cute (it was dark enough that we had to use our cellphones to see the bill in order to pay it!). And the details were special - the huge wine bottle in the garden surrounded by corks and the tall bush shaped as a wine bottle. Vino Locale is INCREDIBLE!!
As the three stars indicate: A-OK. The staff is knowledgeable (although the service is a bit slow), and the food was eh. The dining room is nothing too impressive. Their garden is beautiful, but the night I went there their heat lamps were not working properly so I sat inside.
I would definitely go back if I was in the mood for wine and hors d'oeuvres. But I would not be sad not to return, either.
We came at 4 and it opens at 5 but the nice owner still let us in. He was extremely friendly and was very helpful with the selections.
A quaint little place that resembles a home with a very personal touch to the decor and service.
Come with some girlfriends or a date. However, the place is small so expect to be heard in an intimate setting.
I'm obviously not that classy and prefer tequila and vodka over wine, just like how I'd rather toss salad with Adam Sandler than Prince William. However, not long after I sat down at Vino Locale, I declared, "I'm going to give this place five stars on Yelp!"
I liked everything about this place, including:
-Super friendly service. I've never received service this warm and welcoming elsewhere.
-When the servers realized the visiting Roudon Smith guy was giving us stingy pours, they would periodically walk by to add more to our glasses.
-Yummy herb de provence goat cheese!
-Good artesanal cheese platter with Mt. Tam, cumin gouda and bra tenero.
-Everything from the wine to food are locally produced.
-There's an outside patio with heat lamps. Too bad there was a private party during my visit. Next time I'll have to sit my ass out there for sure.
Tasting for two, one goat cheese, and a cheese platter for only $45. Steallllll!
Vino is one of my favorite spots to lounge and enjoy some good wine and snacks. Â I have read many of the bad reviews and it seems that the service is a continual issue...however, I think maybe people go there with different expectations than I have. Â It's a mellow place with an easy going, laid back vibe. Â Nothing is rushed there, and when they get busy things slow down a bit. Â It's a small business run out of an old house...they can only do so much. Â Plus, it speaks for their popularity.
Go there when you have time and can relax...just make sure it's not too late since they close relatively early (9 or 9:30, I think, but there are plenty of places dtpa to finish your night). Â On a warm night, sit on the patio, it reminds me of somewhere fairies would appear (if I believed in them...or drank enough pinot).
The staff is extremely knowledgeable and the owner, Randy is usually available to chat and make recommendations. Â They know their shiz and I always leave with a new favorite wine.
Friday night. Not especially busy.
We sat around for 10 minutes before our server even took our order. Received water five minutes after that.
Waited another 20 minutes while watching other servers clean up/deliver wine before we got pissed off and left.
Slow food movement doesn't equal shitty service. For fucks sakes, we ordered wine. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO POUR WINE?
July 26, 2009 - Palo Alto Bar Crawl details (on Twitter under #pabcrawl)
Stop 3 - <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitpic.com%2Fbrf8z&s=f020a543e5e51c71740f61a014c73c985fec20a5fa548e0b51ec4a7b6c74a7da" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://twitpic.com/brf8z</a> - Vino Locale (Big Basin Rose)
After a brief stop at a cigar store to purchase a stogie, we wandered over to Vino Locale which would be Stop #3 on the already awesome Palo Alto bar crawl. Â Both Mike and I were beginning to feel full from the beer so a wine was just what the doctor ordered.
Errmmmm, maybe not the doctor but you know what I mean ;p
Vino Locale is set in a cute house with a backyard that has tables and a grill. Â There's also seating inside the house. Â The bar is quite elegant, made out of wine barrels and covered with a cork covered tabletop covered with glass. Â Cheerful ambiance - cozy tables and decor. Â Would recommend this place for a date (and stop looking at me like that Mike - I'm not interested LOL)
The bartenders/waiters were friendly and offered up tastes of the wine we wanted to get and some more. Â They were also chatty and described the wine making process to a little girl in quite a fascinating manner :)
We both had a nice summery rosé from Big Basin vineyards.  Nice generous pour!  We sat outside under the fantastic California sun with not a cloud in the sky and enjoyed our wine.  By now, I guess our Twitter updates had started being noticed and we were joined by Palo Alto local and fellow Yelper Dennis O. and had already been informed that Tracy O. and Kevin N. would be arriving shortly.
Good wine, about $16 for two glasses. Â We left soon thereafter and met up with Tracy and her friend Andre just outside the house. Â Onward to our next destination!
~ 4 stars overall - I definitely want to try the food here - have to bring a pretty Yelper along next time (no offense Mike ;p)
# 116
If I was to combine the best of the European sense of community with Silicon Valley sensibilities, I would present healthy, well-prepared foods and fine locally-made wines in an atmosphere that promotes easy relaxation and stimulation of the senses, and have it all be very affordable. And to top that off, I'd want passion and education to be a part of the mix.
Thank goodness I don't have to do that now, because it's just what Randy Robinson has done with Vino Locale of Palo Alto, California.
On the surface, Vino Locale is what its Italian name implies - a purveyor of local wine. But it's so much more than just a cozy little nook off a major Palo Alto thoroughfare. What it's not is a typical wine bar, restaurant, or bottle shop. With artisanal cheeses, breads and meats, a fine selection of wines lining the shelves - all produced within a 100-mile radius - plus local artists' crafts on the walls and a Victorian house to show it all off in, Randy's got something worth waxing passionate about.
Because wine tastes better when you know you're supporting a local winery and when it's shared with friends in a charming Victorian-style house! Â
Our party had the bottle of Soquel 2006 Pinot Noir (very tasty, with a strong fruity crisp) and the Martella 2006 Syrah (also wonderful). Â I've come to appreciate the higher value of ordering a bottle versus a glass, especially if you are sharing among 2 or more people. Â The four of us finished roughly 2 glasses of each label, all at an affordable price.
All of the wines here come from wineries in Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Los Gatos, and even Santa Clara! Â You rarely see these labels in restaurants, which is reason enough for me to come back regularly to sample the rest. Â The food pairings, mainly appetizers more so than entrees, were all delicious - freshly made hummus, the charcuterie (sliced cured meats), cheese plate, and bratwurst panini. Â Surprisingly, we were pretty full by the end (even though we inhaled the apple tarte tatin dessert). Â
Reservations are recommended since the place is small and can fill up with larger table parties. Â A highly recommended, unpretentious wine bar that gets the local patronage and recognition it deserves.
I attended an engagement party here for two of the smartest and stunningly beautiful people I've ever known. Â
They are going to get married and have beautiful genius babies who are going to cure the world of every disease while making everyone jealous of their beauty.
Okay...totally not bitter. ;)
Randy was the manager who catered to our party and made everything beautiful. Â He easily made himself available and was quick to help and make everything go smoothly. Â
The wine they gave us to try was great. Â The house red was smooth and just the right boldness for a hot afternoon. Â Likewise, the chardonnay was light and airy and cooled us all down. Â I definitely would come here again for some wine in the backyard. Â It's too pretty a place to not grab a glass or bottle.
I love Randy, he's my bud. Â I don't get a chance to frequent as often since my job has moved to Sunnyvale from Palo Alto. Â But, Â this place is totally cool. Â All local wines from the Santa Cruz Mountain Regions. Â I'm totally feeling the Slow Food thing since I think we rush much too much through life.
The outdoor patio area is always lively.  If you're looking for  a great place to go and hangout, check this place out.
They have a nice assortment of wines, friendly people and light food fares. Â Great selection of cheese too. Â I only wish they were open past 9 PM. Â Don't miss Randy's bbq's!!! Â He also does some really cool stuff like Mystery Flights, participates in the SCMWA events, many local wineries pour their wines here which nice. Â You get to taste all their wines for $5 plus have whatever the tasting room has to offer. Â
I love the fact that the wines are available to purchase in abundance. Â Another cool thing about this place is their booking of parties. Â My team has had several team building exercises here and the food selections, quantity and wine choices were always top notch. Â It's really nice that you are assigned someone to work with you all night for the party. Â The food is adequate and plentiful. Â For a nice relaxing, unpretentious place to go, check this place out.
Oh, Â one more thing, they also participate in the P.A. Art walk, so one has the opportunity as an artist to display their work here and have people purchase it.
A friend introduced me Vino Locale after a day wandering around downtown Palo Alto.
It was an extremely hot day in the Bay Area and so I chose a flight of white wines, 4 2oz tastings of some very nice wine, including a sparkling wine. Â My friend ordered the flight of Rose wines and seemed to enjoy it. Â I also ordered the cheese plate which came with 3 kinds of cheese, baguette and crackers, and definitely enjoyed it, although it probably didn't help with my diet. Â A nice little perk was the mini cheesecakes the waitress brought around as we finish, definitely yummy!
The service was very casual and friendly. Â The only disappointment of the evening was that the porch was closed for a private party.
Watch out. When they say slow food they mean  S   L   O   W  food. The GF and i had dinner here a couple weeks ago.
We started with a flight of local syrahs. It should be noted that Napa ans Sonoma counties are too far away to be considered local, so you will find none of those wines here. While some might complain, i think thats a good thing, there's plenty of good stuff being made closer, mainly in the santa cruz mountains. I was amazed at the variety in the four wines we got (for the life of me i can't remember what they were). One tasted more like a cab, one was spicy, one was sweet, the other was just right.
We ordered a crostini sampler and a panini to go with our wine. Our food took at least an hour to appear from the kitchen after we ordered. Does it really take that long to make a sandwich and spread some stuff on crackers? It didn't bother me that much, luckily we didn't have any other plans for the night, but it was hard not to finish the wine while we were waiting on the food. I like my food WITH wine, not after.
The crostini sampler had 8 crostini, 2 each of apple and brie, some sort of pate, an edamame spread, and then something else that i can't remember (maybe a smoked salmon?). They were pretty good, though the edamame one was a little much for me.
The panini was mozzarella and prosciutto. It was delicious.
The service in addition to being really slow seemed rather disorganized and chaotic, but i guess when you are a wine bar in an old house you kind of get a pass for that.
The place was certainly cute, and i'll probably end up going back, but it might be a while. After spending $50 and 2 hours of my time i was a little disappointed. Expectations were pretty high and they under-delivered.
Unique little place that was totally not like I expected for trendy upscale Palo Alto.
Highlights:
- Super casual, comfortable--not a trace of uppity from the staff or the place itself
- It's a little bitty homey house across from the big fancy house in Zibbibo that you may expect to see in the middle of nowhere
- Lots of seating. Not just a bar area but room full of tables to hang out at
- A large amount of wine you can get by the tasting portion or glass
- Many flight options which I love, as variety is fun
- All local wines which is a nice idea
- Very, nice friendly staff
- They have a full menu for food unlike some wine-centered places where only snacks are available
- Sandwiches are good. I had the mango chicken sausage. Great crispy bread.
Lowlights (my flipside to highlights):
- Wines were just ok. Not bad wines at all, but usually when I go to a wine bar, I end up really liking at least one of the them and wanting to take a bottle home with me.
- A bit slow service. The place was pretty empty but it took some time to get our wines. But the people were so nice and my girlfriend and I were talking so that made up for it.
- Onion soup was ok. Super pureed and lacking a bit of flavor and cheese for my taste.
So as you see there are more positives than negative, but for me the overall feel I had of the place for some reason amounts to just ok. I'm not sure if I'll be back again but I may, as I'm stickler for any place with wine. :-)
Okay spot, nothing to rave about. Â They specialize in "local" wines, so the choices are somewhat limited. Â Nice enough people. Â Very into wine; they loved talkin' the talk. Â Felt some hippie vibes and sort of shuddered (michaelangela v. beware!). Â They do a mystery flight where, if you guess all four wines' varieties correctly, it's free. Â Trust me, even Robert Parker would have trouble getting all four. Â My buddy Mats, who knows wine, got two out of four. Â We both got the cab; had the Syrah and Zin backwards and mistook a Merlot for a Pinot Noir (that one was not fair!).
Can't really recommend Vino Locale, but I can't blast them either. Â I think The Wine Room, a few blocks away, is a little better.
I really like coming here for casual lunches out back - though, now that my back yard is nicer, I don't really find myself at Vino Locale much. The staff and owner are always friendly and it's a chill setting for some quite conversation with a friend. That said, they are always understaffed, so the service is extremely slow. They specialize in local wines and "slow food" but with all the amazing local produce, I'm a little disappointed that they don't have a better / more exciting selection on the menu, or that they don't change it up more frequently.
Overall, I see a ton of potential here, but they still have a ways to go before I can bump up the star rating.
This is a quaint little house with tastings in the backyard. Walking up to the place i thought i would be tasting all alone but everyone was in back.
Fantastic place to go for an October summer evening of wine tasting.
This evening they had a special tasting for Fogarty winery for a very reasonable price.
Our group lingered about the tasting table and got our fill and later bottles of wine.
I would definitely go here again for some back yard tastings.
Ok I hate to be Debby Downer on a place that is the recipient of some solid reviews but such is life.
Let me also put out a MAJOR disclaimer at the beginning of this review (caveat emptor and all that good crap): I went here last night for my 30th birthday with my mom and my godparents. Â I had been told we were going to Evvia. Â I was PSYCHED about the prospect of EVVIA...didn't even care about having to leave work (in SF) early and brave 101-S traffic, such was my desire to try that place out. Â So when I was informed that plans had changed and we were going somewhere we could eat "al fresco" given what a nice night it was, my disappointment was palpable. Â But, now that I'm 30, and mature, I decided I need to (1) adjust my attitude immediately and (2) put on my big girl pants and make the best of the situation. Â And I tried to do so. Â I really did.
After walking through the kitchen (weird), we got outside to an adorable garden with tables strewn casually about and a gurgling fountain in the middle. Â Ok, not so bad...this really is rather charming.
Then the waitress came and deposited ONE dinner menu (for the 4 of us). Â Fine, we can share...this is all so laid back and lovely. Â I'm doing fine at this point, I swear.
Then I look at the menu. Â
To be sure, a comparison to the Evvia menu is horrendously unfair. Â But still...it was basically an assortment of random appetizers. Â I seriously almost asked for the "full menu" thinking this HAD to be some sort of primi piatti version of the menu. Â Wrong Auburn...so, so wrong.
We order a bottle of wine and some water--both of which take at least 20 minutes to appear. Â
Now I'm getting hungry and to the extent my big girl pants were on at some point in the evening, they are now decidedly OFF. Â And my whiny, high maintenance, it's my birthday pants are starting to look pretty damn enticing.
I decide we need to order most of what's on the menu (except for the goat cheese sampler since they were out of goat cheese...that really would have been a blow to the sampler I guess) and we end up with:
-The "health nut salad" (no nuts in the salad, as it turns out...but named because it's for people who are "nutty" about their health. Â Hilarious...really...I'm laughing out loud Vino Locale.)
-A grilled veggie salad.
-Hummus
-Various bruschetta (though they were out of pesto)
-Two different sausage "sandwiches". Â By sandwiches I mean sausage split down the middle and slapped on french bread. Â No sauce, no spreads, no toasting.
Ok so everything tasted just fine. Â And the prices were definitely reasonable (nothing was over $8). Â But the whole thing took HOURS and I remain unsure why--but for the heating up of sausages, nothing was even cooked. Â
Ok, perhaps I do know why. Â Our waitress could not have been less interested in, well, working. Â She kind of strolled around and did that whole "I'm boisterious and funny so I can pull off the shitty service" thing. Â It's so affected I want to scream. Â And this random bus boy kept coming out and saying "Can I take anything away?" Â Finally my mom (NOT one to mince words) was like "well, why don't you look at the table--does it SEEM like anything should be taken away? Â All of our plates have food on them so, probably not right now..." Â My mom, bless her heart, also tried several times to drop the whole "it's a special occasion" thing. Â Yeah, not so much.
The paying process was painful as well. Â Our waitress was about 6 feet away (behind a bush) smoking and talking to another worker (chef perhaps?) so we finally gave another waitress our credit card. Â She handed it to our waitress who continued to stand and finish her conversation...god forbid our dining needs get in the way (and they didn't).
I think the crowning glory, however, was when at about 9:50pm the lights outside suddenly and without any warning turned off and we were all plunged into darkness. Â The chef or manager or someone seemingly in charge came out and was like "ok, that's it, thanks for dining with us but you have to leave NOW" to the entire garden area. Â Um, WHAT? Â I get it--it's a residential area, some d-bag probably complained about the "noise". Â But there has GOT to be a better way of handling that (inevitable) situation. Â There just does.
So there it is. Â I don't hate you Vino Locale but I'm definitely not charmed in the way so many others appear to be. Â Oh and you don't serve coffee because (yes, we asked) "so many other places in the area do". Â Is that the new test for deciding whether to serve something? Â I suspect that won't serve you well...
My sweet mother is now promising we can go to Evvia this week. Â Stay tuned for THAT review.
A co-worker and I were on our way to Pluto's for lunch and passed this place along the way. The front door was wide open and we decided to have a look inside. To our delight, we found what looked like the makings of a restaurant or cafe and quickly abandoned our initial plans.
We were lead to a table in the garden where we shared a cheese plate from Cowgirl Creamery, a turkey panini and the grand finale, an XOX chocolate truffle plate where we sampled flavors such as Earl Grey, Kahlua, and my favorite, Hazelnut. Simple. Fresh. Local. Good.
It was a beautiful day to be eating outdoors. The staff was friendly, the food was good, we had the entire garden to ourselves, and the best part of this whole experience was that it felt like we walked into another world where one could just sit and enjoy just being. We were happy that we didn't make it to Pluto's. It's quite a treat when the stars align in ways you don't expect.
La dolce vita...can be found here. Â
Tucked away on a side street of downtown Palo Alto sits this charming abode, overflowing with laughter riddled conversation and tasty treats. Â I visited for the first time last weekend and immediately decided it would be the first of many trips. Â I was struck by how much fun every guest seemed to be having. Â So many smiles, so much excited conversation, and plenty of ooohs and ahhhs over wine, food, and art. Â It seems large quantities of fine wine have a rather euphoric affect on people...imagine that!
My dear friend and I settled down at a small, somewhat wobbly table and started chatting. Â Our waitress was quite attentive while still seeming very patient with our talkativeness which was interfering with our ordering. Â I ordered a Syrah flight, and we chose to share the hummus plate and crostini sampler. Â The hummus was quite flavorful and served with rather crisp pita, and the crostini were each a Delicious treat. Â My only complaint would be that the portions of the crostini are very small which was not so much a problem for little me, but I think my husband would have been left unsatisfied. Â
We finished off the meal with a sampler of XOX truffles, which if you have never had them are little heavenly morsels that will change the way you see chocolate. Â I also tried Randy's special which is a blend of champagne ans syrah and was a perfect compliment to the truffles. Â
I left Vino Locale with a big grin on my face, not just because I was loopy from the generous wine pours, but because I like to bring a little indulgence into my life from time to time and now I know an easy way to find it.
I went here for my birthday dinner. It was the perfect spot for it.
Very charming, with the little lights on in the patio area. I had a wine sampler and shared a great salad, hummus plate, and bruschetta with various toppings. Plus they had a vegan champagne sorbet that was tasty.
I really appreciate that they serve local food here, and they have various fliers in the front about the "Slow Food Movement."
I recommend them for a date, because it is a really cozy space, and the patio area is beautiful. Don't be afraid to go on a cool night, because they have those tall standing heaters.
One of THE coolest wine bar/cafes I have ever seen. They specialize in wines only grown in the Bay Area (i.e. Santa Clara County, San Mateo County -- no Napa or Sonoma wines). The business is situated in a restored Victorian house, it feels almost as if you are in someone's home rather than a wine bar or restaurant. Beautifully and tastefully decorated.
My boyfriend and I arrived late on a Saturday afternoon and sat at the counter. We tried several diferent glasses of wine, accompanied by a tasty fava bean salad, the cheese plate, charcuterie plate, some chocolate truffles, and plenty of crusty french bread. mmmmmmmm... Their food accompaniments usually change seasonally. Check out their online menu to get a sense.
The selections were wonderful (try to check out something from Bonny Doon) and make sure to chat Randy and Harry, the owners. They are incredibly knowledgeable, fun, and truly passionate about their business. The best thing is their committment to serving local and AFFORDABLE wines. I'll drink to that!!!!
Note - closed Mondays
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 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
