Nectar Wine Lounge
Categories: Wine Bars, American (New) [Edit]
Neighborhood: Marina/Cow Hollow3330 Steiner Street
(between Chestnut St & Lombard St)
San Francisco, CA 94123 (415) 345-1377
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat 5:30 p.m.-12:00 a.m.
Sun 2:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: No
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Music: Juke Box
- Best Nights: Thu, Fri, Sun
- Happy Hour: Yes
- Alcohol: Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking: No
- Coat Check: No
199 Reviews for Nectar Wine Lounge
One of Nectar Wine Lounge's Favorite Reviews
I absolutely LOVE this wine bar! Not only does it have a hip ambiance with classy decor, and music that is audible but not too loud, but it also has fantastic seating! ah yes, this does indeed matter.
How often are we all cramped together, nearly sitting on one-another, looking for a reasonable place to place our clutch or hang our ginormous handbag, not to mention drape our jacket? Much less sit comfortably with our companion... Well, at Nectar, have no fear! No one gets the better seat (i.e. bench vs. chair), as the both of you get your very own huge, comfortable couch/chair! Nectar is one of the few places where I have thoroughly enjoyed my seating arrangement! (yes, I'm a nerd for actually having an opinion on seating arrangements...) :)
OK, back to the basics. The wine was fantastic! My friend and I ended up starting with a white flight to cool-off (since this was the Friday it was SOO hott in SF recently). Since Nectar changes their flights frequently, it's hard to recall the name of it, but it was something like "anything but chard" (though now, 5 days later, they ironically have an "everything chard" flight) cute. :) So ours had a green wine from Portugal (I believe), something with the taste of pineapple muddled in it, a fabulous wine reminiscent of a viognier, and a couple others.
Our second flight was all malbecs. To our surprise, we discovered we actually favored a non-Argentinian malbec! Of course now I don't recall it's origin, but how often do you find non-Argentinian malbecs anyway? Very peculiar, and a most delightful flight!
Most importantly - I love that Nectar actually pours you sufficient liquid to do a proper tasting with your flight. Unlike many places, Nectar's flights are substantial and very reasonably dispensed. Instead of giving you a meer few sips per wine, they actually give you nearly a glass per. We were both very appreciative that they actually wanted us to sample and enjoy the wines.
To accompany our malbecs, we ordered some beef carpaccio - delicious! And we sampled some crazy-yummy cheeses!
Ever the romantic ambiance, but also perfect for a girls' night out! I loved the wine, food, and ambiance, so definitely a 5-star venue!
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Nice atmosphere but underwhelming flights.
I had the bubbles flight and was not overly impressed by the three sparkling wines I had. My fiance's white wines flight was really disappointing, especially the wine he was recommended to have last. As our friend commented after tasting that third wine, the wine "died on the palate." Tasted very watered down.
The apple crepes were ok. Just ok.
3.5
The Malbec and Bubble flights are divine and an excellent value. The ambiance is chill and laid back, fun for a chill night with my bf. The cheese plate was good, although I felt that the accompaniments were seriously lacking. I felt that replacing the jellitens and random nut mixture with some caramelized pear and walnuts would have been better suited. My bf insisted on the Salumi plate as well, which was not really my thing. I found the meats to be too smoky--a flavor I'm not a fan of--and too dry.
I would definitely go back for the scene and the wine, but would want to try some different dishes next time.
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The manager was serving us and she seemed a little tipsy, forgetting to bring us our apps a couple of times. Im not the one to complain though. I 'll just write it on yelp.
The Marina incarnation of this wine bar doesn't have that je ne se quoi the Burlingame counterpart has. It has a similar menu. Mushroom pot pies, cheese plates, superfluous descriptions of never-miss wines, but it falls a few steps short of the magic available at Nectar Burlingame (see ROTD http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
The area and the weather are normally beautiful, as in Burlingame, but the main accoutrement they lack is the windows that open up the world outside, while still keeping you safely tucked away inside the wine bar. Nothing like people watching on a Sunday afternoon in Nectar Burlingame. Yet I digress.
On a blustery night in the Marina with a group of wonderful ladies, I had a very nice time. There's something to be said about the clientele at Nectar that the group stayed only the lovely ladies. No unwanted additions to who have just found their way out of the primordial ooze and into the first bar they spooted (see Orson review http://www.yelp.com/bi...).
A place I can be classy and buzzed. I love it.
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After much deliberation about where to go out to dinner, the three of us ended up here on a Saturday night. We did not have a reservation, so it was our lucky night as there were exactly three spots open at the bar. Our waiter was knowledgeable and helpful in helping us select a bottle of wine in our price range. He let try the ones we were interested in first before we ordered a bottle. We shared small plates: beef carpaccio, ahi poke and duck summer roll. All were good while not spectacular. Nectar has a very hip and young ambiance. Seating is dispersed well, so that you do not feel cramped, considering the small size of the lounge. The music selection needs improvement. While we were there, top hits like Nelly Furtado and Justin Timberlake came on. Service was very good and attentive (while not intrusive).
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If a place calls itself a "Wine" bar or lounge, it better have two things: An extensive wine list, and people who know wine. Nectar passed with flying colors here. I am not a wine connoisseur either, I just like wine...a lot.
The staff is not pretentious or snobby. In fact they are very friendly and make wine tasting what it should be...fun.
I also had a small plate here and was very pleasantly surprised. The beef carpaccio is very good. I inhaled it, hoping it would last longer than it did.
As for the vibe...I need to go back and get a second look. I had a view of the place from the bar, which was fine. It is a small enough place that if you sit at the bar, you feel a little like you are up on stage. The chairs and tables look comfy, but the ambience seemed a little sterile. But hey, I was there when the sun was still up...I'll go back after dark.
A tiny, but very relaxing lounge- great for small groups. There were only a few tables that accommodated for a larger crowd. My friend made reservations for a table of six; otherwise, there are more two-seaters and the bar, which makes it a great date spot.
Great selection of wine...very extensive list, with the option of ordering by the glass or bottle. My friends ordered the cheesecake and chocolate truffle desserts, both of which were very rich.
Would definitely come back.
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I'll be honest and say I'm not a wine guy - by any stretch. I don't enjoy it much and I enjoy the culture even less sometimes. It's not for me. Still, I know that I can have fun at a wine bar. There are wine bars that work for me, and are comfortable, hip places. Hotel Biron I suppose is one. Jungle Vino in Reno is another.
Nectar is a most-despicable wine bar. It represents many of the things and people I despise in the Marina. Still, it could have been saved with the slightest ounce of creativity...and it wasn't.
One thing Nectar has going for it is their actual wine. They have a serious selection, and my wino friend and his sommelier roomate both confirmed this. In fact the sommelier roomate went there to blind taste and study for her level 2 sommelier exam. That says something to me and that's why Nectar gets 2 stars instead of one.
However, everything else was bizarre or out-of-place. The crowd was old for the Marina (30-50's). But the music was too young (early 20's, Kanye West?). The sommeliers knew their stuff cold, but had no passion/presence. They looked like disgruntled waiters. Lastly, the space, which is narrow and awkwardly set up, was totally unoriginal. The ambient light was very high. The art on the walls was actually nice, but again didn't fit the space. The whole design felt lazy. I'm not a fan. At least the Nectar in Burlingame looks the part.
Love this wine bar. It's in the marina w/o the typical marina crowd. Pretty classy bar, which I like. Went with a friend and we shared a flight of reds and an appetizer which was a bit pricey (I think $19 for 4 pieces) but great nonetheless. I love the vibe inside and the artwork. Yes, it's small but since the crowd was cool, I didn't really notice the size. I also saw a good number of couples here so it seems to be a popular dating spot.
I thought this place was a perfect little nook for a wine bar. The dishes were small and perfect to share. I went with group of girlfriends and we shared some mushroom flatbread, a cheese plate, and many bottles of champagne. It was a very casual and relaxed atmosphere. The service was attentive and warm with their suggestions. It is a perfect place to start the evening for a ladies night out.
Maybe I went at the wrong time? Service was only so-so, music was bomb! (gotta love Jack Johnson!), wine was pretty good though the other people in my group didnt love their flight. And the food, eh. I have had better. Hard to pick off the menu b/c it was too simple, boring and predictable. Very dissappointed since it was a bday dinner. Dont think i will be going back or recommend this to anyone.
Fun hip place to hang out for a few glasses of wine - and the food is fabulous too if you want to have dinner or appetizers. Good selection of wines with detailed descriptions on the wine list to help you decide.
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Great variety of wines and cheeses. A great place to sit down with friends after strolling around in the city.
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Duh, how have I not reviewed this place after being there so often. The staff know their wines and I love that. I love bubbles so when I see a flight on the menu I'm thrilled. The food has never let me down and it's just a great spot.
I've been here a few times and it has been good, but not particularly memorable. Definitely a good wine bar, but with a new Wine-O hangout popping up every month in the Marina, I'm curious as to whether or not this one will make it in the long run. Differentiate or die!
Yum!
I went with two other mommies, so i'm not sure if it was the wine & food, or just the fact we had an evening away from our monkeys :)
We did the champagne tasting flight - all were great. Nice size pours too. The food was fantastic. The bartender/manager gave us a little popcorn to start - it was a little slice of heaven - truffle oil, chives - it was divine. Duck spring rolls - yum. Smoked Salmon -yum. Cheese tasting plate - yum.
Highly recommend!
I recently went to Nectar with my husband and we had a really good experience.
Initially I wasn't very happy because we had to drive around for a while to find parking and when we finally did, we had to fish for almost 4 dollars in change to put into the meter. (Who even carries that much change anymore?!)
I was expecting a full menu and wine parings but found they had "snacks" and "small plates" instead.
We started with the Truffle Popcorn and I thought it was a little salty but the overall flavor was good.
We also ordered the potato/leek soup which reminded my husband of KFC gravy and the creme fraiche was "drizzled" in a sloppy manner on top.
The salmon flatbread came out in a timely manner and it was really good! The presentation was a little sloppy but overall the flavor made up for it.
Lastly we had the braised short rib and this dish was DELICIOUS! The presentation was perfect and the flavor was amazing! (I will rant and rave about this dish at any chance I get!!!! It was SO good)
We had a total of 6 "taste" glasses of wine which were perfect in size! There was just enough for us to get an idea of what the wine was about without having the feeling of "having to finish" a whole glass.
The chocolate duo desert was alright but nothing comapred to the dessert wine that I had! If you happen to find yourself at Nectar and you are a fan of sweet wines, I STRONGLY suggest the '04 Hans Lang, Riesling Auslese from Germany.
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Found this place to be very good for wine.
Extensive list and tnhe right amount of appetizers. Try the Truffle Popcorn. Wow!
What a great place! Nectar has an upscale yet cozy atmosphere and a great wine selection. I had a bold Argentinian red and my date had the ros.
To be specific: 2006 Amancaya, Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec from
Mendoza, Argentina and the 2006 Le St. Andre, Ros from Provence, France
This is a great place to come after a nice dinner and talk with your date. The big plush chairs are big enough for two.
I can't wait to go back for their upcoming feature of wines from Spain.
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Surprisingly good for being in the Marina. If it was located elsewhere, I'd probably frequent it more often. The wine list is good, but nothing that I can't pick up at Coit Liquors. Food items are tasty. Gets a bit loud as the evening progresses, they pump up the Marina Top 40, and the crowd gets more drunk.
Yeah, there's no parking. Walk or take a taxi. Knocking off points for a lack of parking means that it's time for someone to lose the wheels and strolling in this very strollable city.
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DISCLAIMER: I am a Marina novice, and intend to stay that way. eh, call me closed minded.
Nectar was not our original destination but it seemed like a decent place to hang out while we waited for our table down the street. From the minute we walked in, I noticed that there was only one male in the entire place. One would have thought there was some Hillary Clinton fundraising event going on...turns out it was just a regular night at this place.
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Loved this place... The way they describe wines is so unique and refreshing... really gives you a feel for the experience of the wine rather than the usual staid three adjectives, plus they have an awesome selection of wines at great prices! What's not to love???
Then you get a great atmosphere with pleasant (if somewhat cool) service and delicious snacks.
My friend ordered the vegetarian pizza at which I turned up my nose then helped him to devour, it was so tasty. Onto our second bottle of wine... ahem, we had lots to catch up on... we ordered the charcuterie platter, which was incredibly generous with its serving, albeit we asked for a second pickled onion. Anybody tried splitting a cocktail onion in two?
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excellent, extensive wine list
don't remember what i ordered exactly but whatever the heck it was, it was AMAZING. i only ordered a half glass because i was so full from dinner, but that half glass was soooo beautiful, floral and fragrant. i couldn't get over it.
knowledgeable staff, but they could be a bit more attentive
yeah, i'm a comin back......
After dinner at Bistro Aix two doors down I strolled into Nectar Wine lounge.
I will admit that the fact that it wasn't too crowded appealed to me. It was a Wednesday night and while I was already beating myself about having dinner in the Marina, this place was a perfect choice.
It was very classy, dimly light and had plenty of seating. There were 5 or 6 other couple there, but they were far enough away where I felt comfortable having a conversation with my date.
I had a glass of the roset ($12) which was a B+.
Our tab was about $27 which was a bit more than I wanted to spend, but it was worth it to be comfortable and have a nice ambiance.
I would recommend this as a place for a weekday date.
See pics here: http://flickr.com/phot...
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This place is so chic, yet totally comfortable and sweet. I went there on a date, and I gave him an A+ for the location. He knew the owner, and she was so nice, and offered us all these goodies. The cheese plater was delish, and the wine selection was incredible. I'm not an expert on wine, so I let my date order. Overall it was a lovely place for a date.
I would definetly recommend trying it out.
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sure, the wine list looks great, the flights are creative and affordable....
but the hostess practically corked the wine with her nasty attitude. when we walked in, she totally gave my sister the once-over, that "checking you out in a bitchy way" stare, even though we were coming with a decent sized party (read: high bill) and the lounge was totally empty. In fact, she was so terrible that I was tempted to ask for the manager just to explain that we were so disappointed. it was like she was actively trying to be mean to us! She almost wouldn't seat us in the back, even though it was empty. Her question was, "well, are you sure that there are people coming? because i don't want to put you at a big table if they're not going to show. *sneer*" (our friends were politely waiting outside so as not to crowd the patrons sitting in the front of the restaurant). My mom was in from out of town, and we had guests visiting from abroad, and it was so embarrassing that she was so unwelcoming in a place that I had talked up. Nectar is supposed to be a classy place. Bad service, slow service, little errors, forgotten orders... that I can handle. It's a restaurant, people are busy and things are bound to get mixed up. But meanness?? Are you serious? Epic fail.
Needless to say, I would never go back here. And, if you are bringing someone with you, you might want to test the waters first alone. I would hate for others to have a similar experience; thankfully that block of Steiner Street has other place to go-- where the hosts are welcoming and, believe it or not, where people are still nice.
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I really love this place. It's never too crowded, staff is great, great cozy candlelit atmosphere and I've never had a bad glass of wine here. The flights are fun to try and the cheeses are delicious! A great place to sit with a friend and a bottle of wine...or two.
Wednesday night is a tough night to go out on. Entertaining some friends I figured the Marina would a be a nice place to hit up. Unfortunately the whole of Marina was dead. Hopping from bar to bar this was one of the stops. I really wish Kirti P's review of her experience here would have been the same night my friends were her.
I think my friends would've liked Hilary supports and not for their politics. Ha! I'd come here again and maybe, just maybe it will turn out to be a great night for politics.
Went there for a pinot tasting with co-workers. two of the four wines were good, the others ok. The appetizers - duck rolls and cheese plate could have been better.
No parking. Nectar is located in one of the most difficult areas in the city to find parking. But everyone still goes out that way to wine and dine. Nectar was nice but nothing awesome. Wine selection was good. My friends and I each ordered glass and thought it was okay. The snacks were also just okay. I was very disappointed in the tuna tartare that was lacking something. Pizza was the best on the menu. Atmosphere was more like a restaurant than a bar. Not as lively as I had expected it would be.
Nectar Wine Lounge was kind enough to host a post-screening party for The Great Debaters last night.
The wine served definitely deserves 5 stars, but the food is bringing it right on down to 3. Cheese/nut/fruit plates were sloppily presented and underwhelming, and the cooked items served-pizza and egg rolls were bland. The spanakopita triangle thingies were good. The staff hadn't figured out a sensible way to distribute the food in the narrow, packed room. (let alone napkins)
I thought about cutting them some slack because it was a special event, but if a venue agrees to host a party they should know how to do it. Sure, it was a room full of scrappy actors and other industry people trying to eke out a living in this godforsaken backwater of a town, but then you've also got people like me who hire caterers, rent venues and throw parties...so it's worth always putting your best foot forward if you can.
Back to the wine...excellent selection served up by knowledgeable, patient folks. I'd stop in if I was in the hood for a glass. For a destination wine bar, my heart belongs to Cav, where the food is stellar.
Oh, the dirty old lady in me has to point out that the hottest juice at Nectar last night was Nate Parker, one of The Great Debaters stars. En fuego. And please go see this wonderful movie! http://www.thegreatdeb...
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I liked this place. I was a little concerned because it's in the Marina (for those of you who know So Cal, the Marina is Manhattan Beach north. Over it). But, the cheese plate was yummy and I love their flights. I had the sparkling flight and all were super good. The waiter was also informative and friendly...even on a Friday night. The crowd was a little pretentious, but I didn't feel uncomfortable wearing my jeans that night (They were 7's though...who knows if I would've been thrown out if they weren't). Really, though...if I'm looking for a wine bar, I'd rather stay in Russian Hill or venture out after work in SoMa.
Attended a friends surprise birthday party here and lucky for me it was a private affair with a dozen or so people. I had the fortunate experience of having the various wines already picked out to go with amazing dishes prepared especially for us. Yum, yum, yum, and yum!
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Super Swank!!! This place was so unexpected as my sis and I strolled in!! I just cannot get enough!! Their cheese platter was sooo perfect and perfectly paired to our libations!! The ambiance is so rad..dim, warm, soft colors and the stewards!! ohmigoodness, i believe one to be the owner and she was so incredibley helpful!!! Their wine list is as long as the hearts I have broken!! I am so in love with this place!! Great place to go with the girls or a date!!!
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Parking sucks. If you are into quite time and restaurant atmosphere, this is the place for you. As for me, I found it boring. The food wasn't great. The wine I ordered wasn't great (that's probably my fault). The service isnt' that great either. Our waitress seem like she would rather be some where else. Maybe District?? jk. We headed to District afterwards.
I'm into the whole wine bar revolution that has descended upon SF in the past few years. yes, i'm really into wine. i love wine. wine wine wine. i could give up drinking except for wine. seriously.
last night i checked out Nectar (love the name of this place...hot!) after a special movie screening of 'The Great Debaters' at Presidio theater. Nectar was privately opened to us after the film, so i can't speak much for a regular night there. they had a wonderful selection of 4 or so wines (me=pinot noir) and they served small bits of food that complimented the wine perfectly. cozy/sexy feel to the place and beautiful art to compliment the space...next time i find myself in the marina (which admittedly is not often) i would return for sure.
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How could one not be intrigued by a place serving wines described as "a lithe, leather-clad greco-roman wrestler...and an afterthought of earthy tannin that lingers like coliseum dust" or "a midnight tryst with a well chiseled youth who daubs his adonis temples with raspberry &
white pepper cologne"?
We got a kick out of reading the wine list before we visited, which has enough metaphorical descriptions of fantasy erotica characters that you'd feel rather unadventurous ordering the "plush yet prim, velvety plums rolled in bitter cocoa and exotic spice" instead of the "dust enrobed gladiator bedaubed with sandalwood who proffers a regal repast of ripe melons, clove dotted pineapple and fennel-pollen coated guava on a platter of pine boughs"...
You can get wine flights (3 wines) for $14 or taste individual wines for $5. Each are about 1/2 a glass--great deal. Some of the wines were on the light side, but all were very aromatic. Two friends and I had the rose, five whites and a red, described in detail below. Generally, we found the wines to be aromatically complex and very exciting on the nose, but a few were too light on the palate.
The foie gras terrine was nicely plated with a tasty huckleberry compote, but actually it was the phyllo-wrapped mushroom duxelle which blew me away. They were just-out-of-the-oven, irresistible puff pastries on drizzles of tangy garlic aioli.
Wine reviews below:
Anything but Chard Flight
2006 Catelle, Fiano 'Alticelli', Salento, Italy
This smelled fantastic on the nose, like peach schnapps and lemon zest as described, but was disappointingly fleeting on the palate. We actually wondered if the tasting glass had been watered down.
2006 Ladairo, Godello, Monterrei, Spain
Nice and medium-bodied, yummy almond flavors on the nose with syrupy undertones. Less "manly" than described ("a muscular, dusty & austere spanish lad whose bitter almond breath recalls the fate of unrequited love"...maybe the sweeter implications of unrequited love escaped me when reading the menu)
2006 Chateau de Campuget, Viognier 'Cuve Prestige', Rhone, France
This one's a star! I thought I was smelling jasmine and fruit tea instead of wine. Intensely aromatic and deliciously fruity.
2006 Le St. Andre, Ros (Cabernet, Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault) Provence, France
My friend proclaimed this "all apple juice" and I agreed.
2005 Cliff Lede, Claret (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc) Stags Leap, California
Another star--props to the waitress who recommended this. Very full-bodied, intense berry flavors, smooth and velvety texture.
I'll definitely visit again!
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Organic ingredients!
Free parking was a biatch, but well worth the hunt once we sat down in the comfortable seats. The warm, soft and dark browns exude comfort and class. The tables are well spaced.
Our server, Tiffany was friendly and described the dishes well. She was attentive but not hovering.
The dish portions are typically what one would find in a lounge- tapas size. We ate two flat breads (pizza style less the tomato sauce), thin and crunchy crust: salmon and the other, mushroom. Very delicious and not soggy. The truffle popcorn was creative and tasty. The tuna tartar wasn't fishy and well presented in a slice of cucumber shaped as a ring. My wife and I shared it all.
We enjoyed a bottle of Bordeaux 2004 Chateau Bolaire Superieur a blend of Petite Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The bouquet was fabulous, the pallet was silky. It was fruity yet earthy. It didn't overpower our dinner or dessert.
The chocolate souffle was dreamy and sinful. The dark chocolate was rich and gooey, and the creme anglais was thick and creamy. My sweet tooth was satisfied.
We'll be back to try more of the wines, the flat breads and souffle.
Nectar is as lovely as its name describes. Warm lightning comfy chairs, sweet wine and tasty treats.
I had a glass (or two) of the Cold Heaven and it truly was just that, good thing that I went with someone who knows how to order wine, or might have been a little lost with the menu, there was a lot to choose from. We also ordered the tuna tar tar, cute presentation and was a nice snack.
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