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Rouge et Blanc
Categories: Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Food Coffee & Tea Wine Bars, Coffee & Tea [Edit]
334 Grant Ave(between Sutter St & Harlan Pl)
San Francisco, CA 94108
Neighborhood: Union Square
(415) 391-0207
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 8 am - 10 pm
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Wed, Thu
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
120 reviews for Rouge et Blanc
Review Highlights
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120 reviews in English
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Review from Lauren F.
This is a great little wine bar. Situated right below China Town, this place is a great solution for the 4pm glass of vino we all crave.
The selection is pretty great for a wine bar in the center of Union Square. The ambiance is really neat, too. There are a bunch of couches, chairs, and just general places where you can sit, relax and sip on a glass of red or white.
It's a stellar place to take clients, too. -
Review from Stacey T.
The cheese portions here are very generous but the water glass not so much! :) I had a small glass of water with my wine and it holds about 3 sips, give me more water please...
Its a really cute place and was a perfect place for me to stop for a glass of wine and a cheese dinner after shopping. They had a pretty nice selection on their wines and also cheeses. The bartender recommended some cheese's to me and the goat cheese that suggested was one of the tastiest ones I've had, I can't seem to find the name sorry about that, he mentioned it was one of the most popular ones they had.
I will definitely stop by again when I'm in the city! -
Review from Jung F.
Emeryville, CA
Heaven sent.
I was in the City today booked with a hectic schedule and I needed a relatively quiet place to make a phone call and grab a bite to eat in between appointments. I was running late and flustered and stopped in to ask if I could get a drink, food and an electric outlet to recharge my cell (talk about being blunt and a little stressed!). Cedric immediately sensed this, asked me if I wanted juice and told me to find a place to sit and then helped me move my stuff when I couldn't reach the electric outlet. He even plugged in my cell charger in a hard to reach outlet so I could get to business. Later when I asked about wifi, which they don't have, he called Kimpton to get their free wifi password!! I know what it's like to provide excellent customer service especially with harried strangers off the street--and try my hardest not to be that person when I go into businesses--so I'm especially grateful for his quick, courteous, calming, and responsive demeanor. Cedric went above and beyond the call of duty--a true professional.
Also, I ended up eating their Blue Fig and Pear Tart, which was delicious and their place, in the mid-afternoon, is a spacious, warm, comfy, casual, yet refined refuge from the busyness of the outside downtown environment. There is background music but not too loud. It was the perfect pit stop for me to get some work done and collect myself for my next appointment. I will drop in there again and be introducing friends!
Thank you! -
Review from Bryon R.
San Francisco, CA
I sort of came across this place by surprise.
I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of wine selection, and selection of food to go along with it. Rouge et Blanc does not push a wide food menu, but they don't need to. They have the perfect accompaniment to their wines.
As far as the wines go, they are definitely up to snuff. The seating and ambiance combines to create all the ingredients for an enchanting early evening. I highly recommend giving this place a visit! -
Review from Kelly K.
I have been here 2 times and can say that I am definitely a FAN! The wine list is fantastic and the cheeses are super tasty with very generous portions. The cheese plate also includes great honey and spiced nuts that are must tries.
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Review from andrew m.
San Francisco, CA
Best croissant I've found so far in San Fran. Has a Parisian head chef.
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Review from Michael S.
Dana Point, CA
Great little spot just outside of China Town entrance, had some good Sangria and cheese plate, I think I ate 2 baskets of bread also. The waiters are knowledgeable and friendly I think this is a coffee shop in the am and wine bar in afternoon /night time
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Review from Ron H.
Danville, CA
Nice...I/we like this place. I/we stumble upon it in a timely way. Decided to give it a try. Found a comfy chair in the back, immediately was provided service with a smile ( along with recommendations). I ended up drinking a couple of nice glasses of vino in comfort with a smile.
...I recommend it! -
Review from Christina D.
San Francisco, CA
I very rarely go downtown, and if I am there it would be for an errand or going to the Embarcadero Theater. A couple of Fridays ago a friend and I went and caught flick and found ourselves wandering the area aimless. We weren't quite ready to call it a night so we decided to grab a drink specifically at a place we've never been. So we stumbled upon Rouge et Blanc. Upon entering we were informed that their kitchen is closed but they continue to pour some vin.
Without rambling and yapping about unnecessary information I have to say I was impressed by this place. Here's why;
*Wine Display
*Extensive Wine Selection
*Knowledgeable and friendly Barkeeps
*Bar Keep with an amazing Tattoo
I ordered a glass of vin Rouge (Argentine) & my friend had vin Blanc (French), coincidence? Absolutely!!! Let me mention that it took us a while to make our choices, we asked a few questions and we were given excellent recommendation. They were very patient with us! But that's not all, we were generously given a bowl of nuts...this was not by any means the standard petri dish of disease. They were served individually and I believe they were Morrocan Spiced variety, but this place was the gift that keeps on giving they didn't stop there. They gave us a bowl of Olives and some more. To top it off we happen to be on the hunt for a bottle of Viognier & was led to perhaps the #2 best I've ever had! Not that I've had many :)
As good as this place was at the end of the day being located in the Financial District would make it untruthful for me to say I'd definitely be back. However if I do find myself in the neighborhood I would stop by! -
Review from Grace R.
Torrance, CA
A definite must stop for me anytime i'm in SF. Blue Cheese and Fig flatbread with a beautiful glass of Sancerre...absolutely satisfying! The server/somelier behind the bar (I didn't get her name. I know! BAD me!) def knows her stuff about wine. Fun and relaxing spot to unwind with a glass of quality vino.
I'm a fan. -
Review from Alicia K.
San Francisco, CA
Best. Winebar. Ever.
The waiters are total sweethearts. You can sit by the window and people watch to your heart's delight. It's open late and people head there with laptops (read: much better than your FiDi starbucks that closes at 6). Plus, lack of WiFi keeps me focused.
I've been working on grad school portfolios/applications, and have made this my second home.
There aren't many places I'll frequent 7 days a week. But this is one of them! -
Review from Mariam A.
San Francisco, CA
forget vino, get the croissants! seriously, only the euros know abt this place since it is in the super tourist'y part of town.
my preference is the almond croissant --tiny and packed with parisian deliciousness. supposedly they are baked fresh daily.
not as much of a fan of the coffee. the espresso is likely a better choice. -
Review from Amy C.
Love how quiet this place is on a weekend!
Drinks after work is a definite must!
Drink prices are reasonable considering the area and time of day.
I tried a sangria for the first time. Not a fan, but I still had a good time. The comfortable talking environment and easy listening music made it a great place to catch up with some friends. But on my next visit I think I'll pass on the sangria and ask for a nice glass of wine instead.
If you're looking for a nice place to relax in the evening or just a quiet place to hang out away from the crowds, try rouge & blanc you will not regret it! -
Review from Kenna t.
San Francisco, CA
i don't know why people say the service is rude here, i have been 3-4 times and they are always so nice.
they have a nice selection of wines and a very decent cheese menu. and it is a nice place to people watch! -
Review from Dana C.
Lodi, CA
Not worth the cost, the wine, or the snobby service.
Keep walking, It's a big city.
I am sure you can find better elsewhere. -
Review from Kimberly B.
San Francisco, CA
I can't belive I haven't written a review about this place since I've brought so many people here.
The wine and food is a little on the pricey side, but it's a comfortable place to spend a couple of hours having a glass of wine. There's tons of seating (a long bar, plenty of tables, and several comfortable sofas), which is nice. It's also a convenient if you're Downtown doing shopping (or visiting SFMOMA, which was what drew me here after going to the wine exhibit) and also an easy place to meet with friends.
They have their special wines of the day listed on a board, so if you're looking to save a few bucks, go with one of those. They're usually $7-$8 per glass vs. $12 & up. If you're inclined to drink a "cocktail," they have several specials in their menu. (Don't come here looking for a gin & tonic or a martini though. The cocktails they offer are strictly wine-based.) I had one made with vodka, lime, and basil and it was light and refreshing.
The food is good, too. My favorite is the tart (more of a flatbread than a tart) with blue cheese, fig, walnuts, and shaved pears. Yum!
The service is usually pretty efficient, but it can be a little slow if you're sitting on a sofa when it's busy. If you're alone or with one other person, you might want to try sitting at the bar. The bartender who always seems to be there when I'm there is really attentive and gives great suggestions.
All this being said, I don't think I'd travel out of may way to go here if I wasn't in the area. However, if I'm in the area and looking to have a glass of wine, I always keep this place in mind. -
Review from Feng Q.
LOVE LOVE LOVE there. Whenever I pass by I would grab one or two glasses with friend or not, doesn't matter. Not only because the wine collections are pretty decent, but also the service. Frank is one of the best bartenders I ever met. He always gives excellent suggestions and make the whole drinking time as pleasant as possible.
Here is the spot you can't miss if you are in downtown.
p.s. coffee is only available before 2pm. -
Review from Jae C.
San Francisco, CA
A friend and I came here for happy hour a few weeks ago. We wanted to try somewhere different than our usual go to happy hour joints.
This place is not cheap, so I wouldn't reccommend coming to booze the night away. I was however quite content sipping on a very very tasty tempranillo and cheese on a fresh baguette with honey.
I've never had cheese with honey but man is it good. This place is a nice place to go with a group of your girlfriends or even a first date. A nice change from the loud, crowded bars. -
Review from Jen B.
Pleasanton, CA
Terribly slow serivice for Friday happy hr. 1 waiter for the entire area :(
Nice selection of wine and the cocktails for 2 selection looked interesting. I think they need to add more things to nibble on in the menu. $5 for a bowl of warm nuts is pretty steep. -
Review from Megan H.
Lancaster, CA
I have never been so upset with an establishment in my life!! My friends and I decided to stop here for a quick drink and to get off our feet for a few minutes. The place was decorated super cute, and we found a nice comfortable table, and I saw Sangria on the menu. I asked the waiter how it was and the response was "It's amazing because I made it." That sounded cocky, but decided to try it anyways. It was watered down and the waiter was rude to us the rest of the time we were there. Won't ever be returning.
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Review from Cemile A.
San Francisco, CA
Came here sat. day time, not too crowded very cute decor- liked the paintings and the atmosphere. French waiter- Comfortable couch- i was hoping they would have some cute little French music or something...but they did not.
Had the Pinot from France =) Oui, bien sure! Now want to come here nighttime as well. I think it is a cute little date spot.
BUT when i was here on another day for coffee, i did not like it at all. Go figure.
Next time, more wine and will try their food as well. -
Review from Patrick S.
San Jose, CA
While spending the night in SF with the Missus, we stopped by here and got a couple drinks... from what I remember it was a good time!
Nice selection of Port too. The tasting notes on the menu and a server willing to share their opinion is always nice too.
I liked the seating, the wife liked the Chandeliers, overall a cozy atmosphere and a nice place to end a dinner date. -
Review from Cindy P.
This place is sooo cute! The ambiance of this place is very trendy modern with a touch of tradition. I really would have loved to just relax my day with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine here. Too bad we had our addiction to go this time around.
Wine Bar by night and Coffee Bar by day! Even by day, they were still serving wine at all hours! Awesome! I really wished that I had a chance to tried their wines (as the selections looked amazing) - However, being in this area at 11AM, I could not bring myself to drink that early in the morning!
With that in mind, we ordered from their Coffee Bar menu on the wall. My friend had their cafe latte and I had their espresso macchiato. mMmMm. Their coffee was nicely brewed and was a wonderful way to start our day! Thumbs up! -
Review from Liz D.
San Francisco, CA
Met a friend / business colleague for some vino, WHAT A MISTAKE! In a "food and wine" City like SF - you would think service and creating a great experience the owners would get it.
Walking in at 5:30ish pm -( FYI no happy hour. ) music is blaring techno for a nightclub....music doesn't match the place....HORRIBLE MUSIC...so loud I couldn't talk with my friend.
Seems like a one time place to go - Tourist Trap...Pity location is great - oh, the quiche was tasty until a GIANT FLY crashed into our food.
Stay away - too many fine options in The City! -
Review from Logan A.
Minneapolis, MN
This is a nice place to pop in for a glass or two. The overall experience is mediocre. It didn't feel cozy, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
I was visiting SF on Dec. 3, 2010, and joined a local friend here because it was close to my hotel at Union Square. At 3 p.m., there were few people in there. At that point I would have expected better service -- the server didn't bring water as requested -- and it was slow. She also mispronounced the name of a simple winery from Washington state. That didn't give me much confidence in her knowledge.
The place picked up after 5 obviously.
I wouldn't make this a centerpiece of an evening, but for a glass or two, it's fine. -
Review from Ksenia S.
San Francisco, CA
A rare combination of great wine selection and wonderful atmosphere; had a glass of zin there last Thursday that I cannot get out of my mind...going back? Yes, please:)
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Review from D.B. C.
San Francisco, CA
You hang up on customers who call you?
This place is always a source of frustration. Today's despicably rude service on the phone was no exception. It started when I went to the Web site to see the wine list. Instead, got a pretentious Flash presentation that takes 30 seconds to unveil (and offers no mute button for the irritating music), before you can ever see the word "Wine" to click on it. When you do click on it (the pointer DOES change to a finger to imply you CAN click on it), nothing happens. Rather frustrated by now, I decided to telephone the place (after re-opening the page and waiting 30 seconds for the page to draw itself so I could get the number at the bottom), My first question (albeit rather unorthodox) was about whether there's a complaint log for the Web site; my second was to be about the wine list.
Some chiquita answered and said there wasn't a complaint log; I said the page takes too long to unveil, like a windowshade being gradually drawn. She hung up.
When I called back, I was force-fed a fax tone and then an answering machine. This happened several times, much to the passive-aggressive delight of the employee, no doubt. Fifteen minutes later, the same female answered.
"Hello," I said. "We got disconnected. I was considering coming back to your wine bar for the third or fourth time, and was calling about your Web site and your wine list. Do you always slam the phone down on people who call about these things?"
"Oh, it's just really busy," she said, not denying what she had done.
Nah, this is low-rate service and I'm not going back. Oh, maybe I'm one of those customer-service-nightmare type o' guys, but only when you get rude (if you misinterpret me as rude, c'est la vie). Businesses can expect all kinds of customer to call on them, and they need to be prepared, genial and professional to all of them. This one wasn't.
The impression? They don't give a damn about you. Just your money. Especially if you're a tourist. And if you're on the phone mentioning something they're not interested in hearing, you must be some jackass prank caller, not a customer, so the hell with you.
I said this place has always been a source of frustration earlier; the reason is that six months ago, you couldn't even find it on google or in a phone listing. Lucky them. They didn't have to field a call from me. -
Review from Dave S.
Seattle, WA
Great alternative to Cafe Presse. You can get in anytime.
Great selection of wines and french snack type food in the evenings. Great espresso and small bites in the morning.
Nice atmosphere. Comfortable tables and big leather sofas. -
Review from Mimi T.
I typically don't hang out after hours in the Union Square area. We came here last night based on recommendation of out of town co-worker.
I was delighted to see they have a listing of wines from Muira-amazing Pinot.
The service was friendly..and they offered a nice menu of snacks pair with the delicious wine.
This is a great place to meet after work if you are in the Fidi..nice detour from the usual pubs/bars. -
Review from Eric B.
Gayle and I came here late afternoon yesterday for a nosh before walking onward to Kung Pao Kosher Comedy at the New Asia Restaurant in China Town.
We had a very nice time together here. We sat at one of the high tables, but we could have sat anywhere since it wasn't really all that crowded. Rouge et. Blanc throws off a very comfortable and relaxing vibe. In fact, the entire room was relatively quiet as folks were just kind of hanging out after a busy shopping or tourist day. Gayle and I also liked the wire chandeliers at the bar, soft music, and the interior decor that was heavy on black and other dark colours.
Our waiter was knowledgeable and friendly. Gayle and I both chose the Argentinian Malbec and shared a cheese plate. The wine was excellent and the 5 kinds of artisan cheese, the almonds, honey, grapes, and toasted bread really hit the spot and complimented our conversation well. -
Review from Suzanne B.
San Francisco, CA
What is the name of that show that has the "Upgrade/Downgrade" segment? I couldn't help but think "Upgrade" after a recent visit to Rouge et Blanc. Everything, from the food to the wine list to the very nice service, was a serious upgrade to previous experiences there.
I don't know if it was a change in ownership or just a move in a new direction, but this comfortable and centrally located little wine bar is now definitely worth visiting if you're in the Square.Listed in: Vino Vino Vino!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/10/2007
You know that phrase 'damned with faint praise'? Well, apply it here.
My praise of Rouge et Blanc:
… Read more »
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5/10/2007
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Review from Nicole G.
San Francisco, CA
I went to Rouge et Blanc for a private event to hear Jimmy Wales talk about the future of Wikipedia. It was perfect for a casual salon gathering with wine and conversation free flowing. The bar has lots of low loungy seating, a big painting on one wall and some beautiful chandeliers hanging over the bar.
I could definitely see myself hanging out here after a long day of shopping in Union Square, enjoying a glass of wine and some small plates. Because of its upscale vibe, I speculate that it would be fairly easy to get a couple of seats here pretty much anytime... which is pretty appealing in my humble opinion.
Will I see a celeb there again? Probably not. Will I be back? Yes I will.Listed in: Wine in San Francisco
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Review from Lisa L.
Oakland, CA
Edit: No longer drunk, just have hangover now. I am downgrading my review from 5 to 3 stars now that reality has set in. The service was good at times, but I remember that we had to wait a lot, and at times the 3 people working there were off in a corner by themselves talking, laughing, dancing....which is great, I mean that they get along so well, but the place was full at the time, and people wanted to place their orders. Also, it was quite expensive. Another strange one is that it seems to be owned by Cafe de la Presse - the receipts say Cafe de la Presse at the top and Rouge et Blanc on the bottom. I'm kind of disappointed in Cafe de la Presse - I guess I thought they could do better.
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Drizunck. But really. I am officially writing this review when I am drunk as hell. I didn't think it was possible anymore but I guess that's what happens when all you have for dinner is 3 glasses of wine and a few olives. But really, what other kind of life is there???!?
5 stars for friendly, attentive service
5 stars for lots of extra bread...without asking
5 stars for the waitress not rolling her eyes at us when we asked her where she's from (ok, we were really drunk at that point, be nice. btw she's Polish)
5 stars for good wine
-1 star for expensive
-1 star for the rude guy who totally glared at me when I accidentally brushed him getting up. SORRY DUDE. YOU SUCK.
-1 star for small plates menu being only meat except for the olives and the cheese. Not everyone eats chicken livers.
5 stars overall because I'm so drunk that I can't focus properly and the Bravo show "Work Out" and Lay's baked ruffle chips with cheddar and a whole avocado were just the best meal + show I've had in weeks.
Yay wine! -
Review from Aaron V.
Could this place possibly be more lame? It's hard to imagine it being worse.
First, there's the laughably bad music. The 80s pop and gangsta rap didn't really set the tone for a wine tasting and it wasn't very relaxing either. I kept wanting to leave just to escape the music. Then, there's the inflated prices. I paid $16 for a glass of wine that would probably cost, at most, $30 a bottle at a retail store. At a decent wine bar you could get a full flight of wine for $16. The selection is pretty lousy too.
This is the kind of place that I wish would go out of business and be replaced by something else that sucks less but the steady stream of Union Square-goers will likely prevent that from happening anytime soon. -
Review from Mateo S.
San Francisco, CA
Chic euro wine dive that has moderate prices and a cute vibe.
The two major negatives are:
A. The music so didn't fit the bar.
B. It was a little to hotel lobby for me.
It seemed like a lot of the people there were foreign so that was def. a + not sure if that's the norm or if there was a UN summit at the Hotel Triton. Either way it made for a very euro-trash evening that I was happy to be a part of. -
Review from Geoff K.
San Francisco, CA
I've never encountered a wine bar with a more limited wine list : 5-6 selections each of red and white wine. This is not acceptable at a wine bar. The selections are fairly pricey (glass of red averaging about $12-13, white $8-9) but you get what you pay for.
The decor is sort of Matrix Fillmore-esque, which is not a good thing.
The service was surly and pushy at the same time. There were three servers there. The first server asked us quite curly whether we were ready. When we were done with our glasses, she asked us whether we'd like another glass, and we declined. Then the second server came by to ask whether we'd like another glass, we declined, and asked for the check. You guessed it...Server No. 3 then came by to inquire as to whether we wanted another glass of wine. No, we didn't. We wanted to leave.
If you're in the Union Square area, it's definitely a better idea to take the short walk over to the Hidden Vine as opposed to this sterile environment. -
Review from Braden B.
San Francisco, CA
Sitting at the bar always has its benefits. I would have noticed all the other nit-picky things some other reviewers have noted below, but the bartender definitely made it worth my birthday evening to be sitting at the bar. I guess it really helps that I wasn't paying, because I KNOW it was overpriced...
The chandeliers are about $10k a piece. Unreal! They're dusty too- look at the photos- or check them out if you're ever here. It would be hard to dust those suckers! There's 1 restroom for the entire place. Hmmmm. There is a limited selection. The food takes forever, is plated at the server size of an elf, and costs more than a gallon of gas.
The bartender did get intimate with us though- we now know her stripper name and she did share some tastes of the red wine that was $100/bottle- bonus! -
Review from Brandy B.
San Francisco, CA
OMG! I LOVE THIS PLACE! Best happy hour wine selections, Jason knows his wines for sure, and the blonde waitress is a total sweetheart! If u know nothing of wine, no matter, just tell them what type of wine you like, and they will help u find ur heart's desire! You'll even prob see me there after work sipping pink champagne!
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Review from Gloria H.
We were tired after shopping in Union Square with mobs and crowds everywhere. All these talks about bad economy and recession...we were overwhelmed with the amount of people. It got too stuffy and we needed to take a break away from all the people. Remember this place and wonder if it was opened as it seem they are always closed when we pass by. We were happy to find it open but a bit hesitant when we thought it was crowded. It was pretty full but there were seats here and there. We walked in further and found the cozy lounge seating in the back open - this is the seating next to the dining table.
The seating was so soft and we sank right in resting our achy arms, legs and sore backs from a day of walking and shopping. The lighting was dim to give the right mood but not so dark that you can't see. The background music has a nice club like beat that was not too loud you have to talk over it but loud enough to get you in an upbeat mood. The wine list was pretty extensive with a good variety with an emphasis on imported wine. The food selection was impressive and we were able to enjoy some wonderful aroma from others' order.
I tried a glass of red from Spain and hubby had a glass of pinot noir from France. We ordered the cheese and meat combo - 3 types of cheese and meat. It came with toasted bread, mustard, honey and some mixed nuts.
We were so relaxed and really enjoyed ourselves. We will definitely be going back, it's the perfect place to chill and relax after a day of shopping. -
Review from Gayle V.
Pleasant Hill, CA
Yum ..... low-key mellow decor, soft music, impressive wine list (we had an Argentinian Malbec) and an array of artisan cheeses that ran the gamut from tart and sassy to melt-in-my-mouth heaven.
We were there at 6 p.m. on the Saturday after Christmas, and had no problem getting a table. Our waiter was the right amount of attentive, explained which cheese to start with (that sassy one, of course!) but didn't hover.
A perfect place to soothe away residual urban stress or kindle a glow for the evening ahead.
