Novella Wine Bar

This place it amazing! Love the food, wine and especially the owner! It feels like home she treats you with such kindness. Great place to meet up with friends or romantic enough for a date night! We are definitely gonna be regulars.

We tried out Novella Wine Bar over the weekend. I absolutely loved the atmosphere. Such a nice place to sit back and relax and have some drinks with your friends.

The BBQ chicken and Brussel sprout flatbread was delicious! I would come back just for that.

There seemed to be only one woman who was working both inside and outside but she was very pleasant. She made great recommendations on the wine and was attentive and made sure we liked what we ordered.

Another plus for me was that it was only 10 minutes from home! We will definitely be back again!

Novella is the perfect wine bar! They have been on my list to try for some time and so glad I finally made it here! Everything about this place is perfect, especially if you love wine! As soon as we walked in we were greeted by staff and given a menu. I was excited to try the chocolate cherry sangria and it was amazing! Not too sweet, but a nice balance of chocolate and cherry' and it worked so well with the red wine. We ordered the Balkan platter beef and polenta fries and both were delicious! There was plenty of meat and cheese and it was very filling. The polenta fries were different and delicious and paired with a spicy sauce. I had two glasses of red wine and both were nice, complex dry reds perfect for a cool night. The space is very cozy and inviting and I look forward to trying more of the unique wines from places like Bosnia, Macedonia, and Croatia. Another interesting aspect about several of the wines offered is that they were made with indigenous grapes from differing areas. So excited to go back and try more! They sell wines by the glass and have a large selection of bottles and a cocktail menu as well. There is also has a patio that seems like an excellent place to enjoy a glass of wine on a nice day. I am already looking forward to going back! Novella is a hidden gem!

Food:
Two things: Bacon Wrapped Dates!
Mulled wine!

Service: Swift!! I spoke to the owner before. Polite lady who runs the business side by side with her husband. They're a joy to be around.

Ambiance: Ambient lighting, your date can tag along, and it feels like you're in the comfort of your own home.

Overall: 5.00

The perfect date night or girls night! Another south city gem! This wine bar has been around for 11 years it's been on my list to try since it's down the street and I'm so glad I did. My guy and I went for an impromptu date night and sat on their lovely patio. The owner is such a doll and so sweet! They also sell her husbands local honey. The charcuterie. Was perfectly presented and yummy! I love the cheery chocolate sangria they had on special too. This will for sure be a date night staple for us! Try it out and support a local business!

My friends and I have gone twice now and it has exceeded our expectations. We were looking for a local wine bar to go to and loved the vibes of Novella. It is simple and the perfect place for a good drink and conversation. The drinks are amazing. My friend as gotten the mulled wine in the winter months and it reminds her of her time in Spain.

Diane is super friendly and impressive that as the owner she is so present when you visit. She remembered us and our orders from our last visit. Truly made us feel welcome!

Go. Here. Now.
Trust me. You will have an experience you didn't know you needed, and will count the days until you can go back for more.

My pals and I were just in the mood for a quiet hang with nibbles and tipsies, and since this was in our hood we met up for some much needed girl talk.

The atmosphere is sultry, muted and cozy. We slid into a booth-table hybrid in the far corner and got down to business.

The menu isn't large but it's very impactful. It had a nice selection of small bites and we started with the Savory Goodness Bread and Polenta Fries. The bread is an amalgam of olives, spices and heat that had a very savory bite to it. Unexpected but it hit the spot. The fries were hot and crumbly-crispy with a side of chipotle aioli dipping sauce. Next up was French Dipping bread w/avocado oil drizzle and stuffed dates, filled with tart and tasty Gorgonzola. We finished with a caprese salad, fresh and cool and just right.

The proprietor, Dijana Groth, was personable and gave us suggestions for both the apps and drinks. We opted for cocktails, and my Malbec Martini was delectable, infused with a splash of Creme Brûlée vodka and raspberry liquor.

Our intentions of getting down to girl talk were waylaid throughout the evening whenever any new vittle or vino were delivered and demolished. Talk turned from bad boy behavior to how amazing each dish and drink were.

We made small talk with a couple tables of new diners who were seeking suggestions, and the evening had a nice, communal feel to it through to the end.

Overall, it's a very special little spot that should be regaled, deserving of a waitlist and repeat patronage.

Very small venue but we really enjoyed our dinner and wine. We had the BBQ chicken flatbread. Homemade Malbec BBQ sauce drizzled on top was very enjoyable. Looking forward to warmer weather so we can enjoy the patio.

This place is perfect! The owner was very kind and warm. The bacon wrapped figs were amazing! Great selection of wine and the mixed drinks were perfectly balanced. Very welcoming location and cannot wait to go back.

This was a real treat! Our server was knowledgeable and patient, helping us out with pronunciation of menu items and explaining provenance and the like. We tried the cheese platter from the special menu, which included a delectable plum jam, marinated olives, and interesting cheeses. We then had the Balkan beef platter. This featured hickory smoked beef sirloin and beef sausage, plus more olives, crackers, and several cheeses not on the first plate. We loved all the food and wine and look forward to coming back for more.

The patio in the back is lovely. We walked through the restaurant and down the back stairs to get there, but also noticed a gate that can be accessed from the front, making the patio accessible for mobility-challenged folks.
I didn't see any dedicated parking lot, but there was plenty of street parking on Kingshighway. It looks like many customers walk here.

The only downside to our visit was that our server--apparently the only one on patio duty--got pulled into a conversation with a table of inconsiderate patrons. They were very loud and impossible to ignore, and they asked her about her country of origin, age, personal life... she chatted politely with them for over 15 minutes straight while we waited for our check and others waited for service. I hope this was a one-time occurrence, and the "regulars" will let staff do their job, and staff will excuse themselves from conversations that take them from their obligations to others. We're looking forward to going back and trying again soon--still need to try the flatbreads and desserts!