Vin Bistro

 

2

2

Jade Y.

Torrance, CA

50% off all bottles on Monday!  Try the corundum.  Amazing tastes.  After a long day of work, I thought we were going out for steaks and was disappointed when we ended up at a small little restaurant that only had one steak on the menu.  I had the sea bass.  AMAZING.  the other 10 people I was with seemed to enjoy their meals as well.  the service was good, and the waitress knew what she was talking about when it came to wine and food pairings.  A good time was had by all.  So good, in fact, that I think we were too loud for such a small place.

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Elite '08

47

247

Leigh M.

Austin, TX

Vin Bistro has a good vibe--upscale but unstuffy, sleek but warm, classic but modern. Jazz played softly, and the service was friendly. This would definitely be a good place for a fancy date. You could get dressed up or stay pretty casual. (Chris wore flip-flops.)

We stopped in last night for a late glass of wine and dessert, and I can't wait to go back for dinner. Some of the staff were sampling a few dishes at the bar next to us, and everything looked and smelled divine. The sea bass, pork shop, and chicken with mac and cheese had me drooling. Seriously, I contemplated asking for a bite or two. But that would have been rude, right?

All the menu items have suggested wine pairings, which is very cool. And on Saturday nights after 8 (in the bar only), all open reds are half off.  We hung out at the bar, but the patio looked really nice too.

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2

52

Hayley G.

Austin, TX

My husband and I recently celebrated our first anniversary at Vin Bistro. We had a great time. It has changed a little since the first time we were there - it seems to have gotten a little trendier, portion sizes smaller and more artisitically presented.

We sat at the bar and had Monday's great specials: 1/2 price appetizers (at the bar only) and 1/2 price bottles of wine (everywhere). Jay, the bartender, was very courteous. We got slathered with attention; my mother knew we were going here and called in to pay for our first bottle. The food was great and well-prepared, but I think I liked it better the first time we came, when you got a little more for your money. It was a leisurely night of luxury, with great wine, appetizers, dinner and dessert (Jay even threw in a glass of dessert wine on the house).

Even though we felt like royalty under his care, I think Jay may have layed it on a little too thick; while he was phenomenally attentive and courteous, we listened as he tried selling 3 separate parties near us the, "last  bottle of" whatever it was he was trying to sell. I'm sure he gets people to rack up the bar tab, and he makes you feel good about it, too. He is moving to 219 west where I'm sure he'll be flirting with all of your wallets. In contrast to Chad F's review,  he denied having ever built anyone a robot, and added that his regulars were older and more wealthy than most Yelpers (huh?).

I'll be back some Monday nights to enjoy the deals, but I don't know if I could make it as a regular here and still pay my rent. Enjoy!

__________________________________________________ ___
Here is a comment from Geoffrey K. about my review and my response to him (recieved 7/15/08). I'm still a fan of Vin and Jay.

Says Geoffrey K: obviously you don't know Jay..he is a very sincere person who was just trying to make a small talk at a struggling (Vin Bistro just lost their entire staff because the owners are not paying them) restaurant.  Don't criticize the guy for trying to make a living.  I am sure he didn't force you to spend any money you didn't want to spend.  You got 1/2 price appetizers, 1/2 price wine (that someone else purchased) and he gave you a free drink.    It is unfair for you to put him down in this public forum for trying to make money for his newborn and wife.  By the way,   did you even tip him on the full amount or on the 1/2 price amount?    Also if you enjoy Vin you better go while it is still open.

Says I: Geoffrey, No, of course I don't know Jay personally, he was my server one time. i'm glad to hear from a friend of his, though. As I said in my review, he was very nice with us, superior service. We did tip him (we always tip over 20% for good service) very nicely. He certainly didn't force me to spend money; it was my observations of him at tables around us that made me feel he was laying it on a little thick - and since this was the only information I have about Jay, that is why I wrote the review I did. That is exactly what this public forum is about - if you disagree, post your own review. Also, I am a staunch supporter of local businesses and will frequent Vin when I can - as I said in my review, its not a place we can afford to go to every week. -Hayley

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8

14

Chad F.

Austin, TX

JAY BEHIND THE VIN BAR IS YOUR NEW BICYCLE

Obama is neat and all, but...

Jay behind the Vin bar remembered your birthday

Jay behind the Vin bar built you a robot

Jay behind the Vin bar rescued you from drowning

Jay behind the Vin bar gave you a puppy

Jay behind the Vin bar came to see your play

In the convention where freedom is measured in gimlets, federalists decry merlot, and anti-federalists tout the Second Amendment as spectacularly tanic, Jay behind the Vin bar gets every one of my electoral votes.  Best. Bartender. Period.

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Elite '08

314

432

Tara M.

Austin, TX

I used to eat here a lot to avoid traffic when I worked in the area.  They have great Happy Hour food specials: 1/2 price appetizers from 5-7PM in the bar area. I highly recommend the Crab-Shrimp Cake Napoleons or the Risotto Dolmas.  I can't count the times I have stopped in here on a Monday (1/2 price bottle of wine) or Wednesday (5.00 glass of wine) during Happy Hour for discounted excellent food and wine.

It was here that I got hooked on Latin Red wines.  I love the ripe blackberries and plum palate with a hint of licorice and leather (I know that sounds weird but I get a whiff of leather that reminds me of a new saddle when I swirl the wine around my tongue).  Latin Reds also happen to be a lot cheaper because they are less known, kind of like the generics of the Italians and French but just as good.  I have tried the 100.00 Italian Reds; but, my favorite is the La Posta Malbec 2006 from Argentina at only 34.00 or 17.00 on Mondays.

The outdoor patio is very nice if the weather is and the staff is very knowledgeable.  I always choose a fish dish that the menu recommends a white wine with. I DO NOT drink white wine.  If it were the only alcohol on earth I would not drink it - it makes me gag.  I like my wine red and the staff always suggests the perfect match.  If you like fish I highly recommend the Chilean Sea Bass and if you like mashed potatoes ask for it instead of what it comes with.  The mashed potatoes are lumpy, chunky and rich - no creamy runnies...

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14

47

Amber D.

Austin, TX

It's definitely worth trying: chic ambience, polite servers, and schmancy selections - but if you're vegan (or even vegetarian for the most part) you can forget eating anything.

Wednesday = $5/glass (a great deal as most hover between $6-$9) and the Tolosa Pinot Noir (2005, bottom of the Pinot list) slid down my throat like silk.  I tried their Mexican Martini, which as the server mentioned, tasted of cinnamon and oranges, which was a little twist on an old favorite that was pleasant (though not exactly "wow").  Being a #1 fan of Wink's wine bar, I'd say this could very well be my #2.

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5

17

emilie s.

Austin, TX

I have to admit that the food is amazing! The wine selection as well! But unfortunately, my hubby and I had a bad experience there. We're still fighting to get our money back, so to follow...

On 02/16/2008, we were at Vin Bistro, sitting at the bar with our friends. The restaurant was full and the waiting was about 1 hour+. Who cares! We had access to the food and the alcohol! So we were pleased and we were having fun! The waiter, Jay, Is very knowledgeable! Very nice to chit-chat with him! Also, an important detail to underline: the red wine, by glass, was half price! Mmm!!!

20 minutes later, our table is ready!! Wow! Of course we'll take it! We offered to pay the bar bill, but Jay was willing to transfer the bill. Easy! The waiter was very kind and professional, with a little touch of humor. The food was simply delicious, so was the wine! (I'm a big fan of Zaca Mesa, a buttery white Viognier)

When we were finished, my hubby decided to pay the bill - which included the bar drinks. Surprise!!!! A very bitter bill! Beurk! Why? Because the bar consumption never got transferred correctly! Everything was full price on the bill.... Unfortunately, the control-freak that I can be was "on vacation", I didn't pay attention, and my hubby either. We realized that when we got back home...

Now, we're fighting to get our money back (~$50). The manager is just not reachable! We called 4 times so far. I hope I'm wrong and that the manager will be a darling and refund us our money...

Like I said: TO FOLLOW!!

---
Today 02/26/08 (10 days later): We just talked to Adam, the manager. He is going to take care of the misunderstanding. Please learn from our experience: always read the details of a restaurant receipt and always confirm the happy hour special, especially when you are moving from a section to another...
This restaurant deserves a 4 stars instead of 3. Thank you Adam!

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10

6

Laura L.

Austin, TX

Monday=good day to visit Vin.

50% off bottles, you really can't beat it.  We went there tonight with a friend, had a $75 bottle for $38 split between three people and a couple of appetizers and got out of there for a little over $100.

And I even went in scrubs (gasp, no you did-n't!)

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7

16

Jenn D.

Austin, TX

First, I agree that Mondays are made for Vin - 50% off bottles!  We also had the Conn Valley Pinot Noir (quite wonderful), and a French chardonnay (also very good, and I normally stay away from most white wines).  When it's 50% off, we can afford to drink like kings!  Well, we can afford to drink like people who make twice as much as we do.  

Entrees range from $14-$32, with most items around $20-$28.  I ordered the tuna (our server suggested I get it rare, and I wouldn't have it any other way, so that was a good sign), and it was quite tasty.  Not the best tuna I've ever had, but it was certainly a high grade cut, and it was served rare as promised. It was very good.

My dining companions ordered a variety of other (meat-based) dishes, including red snapper, boar and the beef tenderloin.  All were cooked to order and seemed to satisfy (and there weren't any leftovers for me to sample, so another good sign).  My only food complaint relates to the quail appetizer.  I'm no quail connoisseur, but it was very gamey and had an odd and not so pleasant smell.  The rest of the food was delicious, however.

But, by far the best part of our experience was our waiter, Edward.  He was attentive without hovering, quite knowledgeable about both the wine and the food, and very friendly.  The service made this meal rate far above average, and I would recommend Edward to anyone.  This was possibly the best service we've had in Austin.  Vin is a very nice restaurant, but by no means a super duper high-class fine dining establishment, but Edward made us feel like we were eating in an incredibly fancy - and expensive - place.  He was terrific (and if his manager is reading this, he deserves a raise!).  

So, overall, we had a great time.  Go on Mondays when wine is cheap and try a few bottles.  Enjoy the deck as weather permits - it was quiet enough for a nice conversation, which is sometimes hard to find.

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2

19

carla c.

Austin, TX

I've eaten at Vin Bistro for both lunch and dinner.  I've never had a meal that wasn't exceptional.  The parking is great and very accessible if you have someone with special needs with you.  I've spent some time hanging out on the covered patio sipping wine from their nice wine list then ordering dessert.  The place is small enough not to get too loud, and the service is good too.  My only complaint, is that I reserved a special chef's tasting menu well in advance of Father's Day, as a treat for my dad, and when we arrived, the manager told us they were waaay to busy for that.  One point down for that alone.  I've been back, and will continue to go back however.

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Elite '08

45

119

Kerry G.

Austin, TX

Oprah has this feature in the back of her magazine called "What I Know For Sure."  It's usually about following her instinct or hearing the voice of god or finding the good in the bad.
Well, what I know for sure is that Mondays are for Vin Bistro.  Half price bottles of wine are a DEAL...for sure.
We had a great server who guided us to the best bottle for our buck (Conn Valley Vineyards 2004 Pinot Noir) and helped us pair it with food.  This bottle was normally $124, but was on special for $100...then 50% off that!!! So we were able to have a very fine bottle of wine for only $50.  And for a girl who usually drinks a $12 bottle of wine, it sure was a treat!
We had a relaxing, delicious evening.  We're going back next Monday!  AND I'm getting a subscription to O Magazine while I'm at it!

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Elite '08

39

62

christina r.

Plano, TX

i like this place and would recommend for a date. i'm originally from dallas (where you feel pressure to always dress up and look presentable) and the vibe is that you can't go too casual here. the wait was a bit long, but food was enjoyable (especially the sea bass which trumps eddie v's) i believe there's at least 2 preparations and both were delicious.

friends liked the wine selection and were very complimentary in this department. i thought the desserts were just okay - nothing orgasmic.

overall - good for a night out with the girls (small group) or with that special someone. definitely leave the kiddos at home. everyone will appreciate it!

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Elite '08

43

149

laurie c.

Austin, TX

Before I begin, why is this place listed on 38th Street when it's clearly on Kerbey Lane? Funky...

I am giving it a 5 star based on their Happy Hour alone.  To be fair I feel I must share our first experience wasn't as great.  We went for dinner with a big group, but we found it to be overpriced and service was not good. I would not have gone back had my friend not suggested Vin.

Wed night is something I think they call "Wine Lovers Wednesdays" and I took a friend for Happy Hour (which is 5-7 every day) and we had a lovely time! We both really enjoyed our wines and although we popped in before they officially opened, they were gracious enough to seat us and the general manager was a gem! He took our wine taste preferences and brought us personalized pours! Then he gave us a sample of a drink they are thinking of putting on their menu. We shared a few apps--their cheese plate is top notch, specifically the accoutrements (can anyone say black pepper honey & yummy crackers?) I would give this place a 5 *** for a Wine Happy Hour. Their crabcakes have no breadcrumbs either and I'm still not sure how that works. Maybe I don't want to know what is holding them together?

Anyway, GO GO GO! I think the Monday night deal sounds great too!

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Elite '08

380

402

Kevin N.

Austin, TX

I've had some rather bizarre scenarios unfold at Vin Bistro, from the time I accidentally dined in conjunction with The Yellow Rose Christmas party (seriously:  the dining was on purpose, the company was not), to the various tales my brother used to bring home during his tenure waiting tables there (more on those another time).

From my personal experience, the Cast Iron Seared Sea Bass (served, appropriately, without the skillet) was notable, nicely complemented by a glass of Tangent Ecclestone.  It's a little spendy, but I've found Vin a welcome change of pace every now and again.

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1

15

Bobalu S.

Austin, TX

Because I like both wine and non-chain restaurants in Central Austin,I have tried to like every incarnation of this place.  

The last time I ventured over, however, I wandered into some special wine dinner.  Rather than simply close the restaurant to all but those who had ponied up the $ for the special dinner & pairings, they suggested that we could dine on the patio, and order off of a restricted menu.  How could one resist such a generous offer - spend a nice chunk of change to sit at the kids table and order something easy to make while the real party goes on inside!  If you aren't really set up for to hold such an event (as Mirabelle, with the separate room, is), either in the kitchen or on the floor, while maintaining a normal dinner service, don't try to do both at the same time!

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Elite '08

115

428

Larry M.

Austin, TX

The interior of this restaurant, with the flat screen tvs changing scenes is Ridiculous. My eyes have little headaches of their own after darting from a poorly pixilated photo of a beach to sports over the bar area.

Where does Vin and Bistro connote cheap and easy?

1/2 price wine on Mondays is a great idea and great deal, and it's a nice place for an affordable drink. Wednesdays are 1/2 price glasses. Food is expensive and unspectacular, so it balances out with the nice wine prices.

Large cover and heated outdoor area, but have never seen it mad-busy. Nice proximity to Hyde Park and UT.

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Elite '08

99

301

Isabelle K.

Austin, TX

If you know where is the original Kerby lane, you will find this restaurant. They are next to each other. Even on Friday night, we found a parking spot easily at the Jefferson Square next to it.

If you enjoy wine, that's a place to go definitely. They have so many wine choices. Unfortunately I don't drink, so I couldn't recommend any wine to you.
Their menu is very special. It's the first menu I saw each dish with a wine matched with it. Including dessert, each dessert has a dessert wine matched with it. Most people stay there at least 2 hours because they all drank wine and took their time.
The restaurant wasn't full. And the weather is great, so we decided to sit outside. But our waitress didn't show up for 10 minutes. I was so miserable sitting outside and fed up by mosquitoes. And after my appetizer, I had to ask my waitress to find a table inside. I couldn't handle the mosquitoes anymore. I was attacked by them.

The menu looks French to me. But they didn't define themselves what type of cuisine they serve. If you like French food, you should try their cheese plate and foie gras. I'm not a big fan of foie gras, so I chose breadless crab cake as appetizer. It's the best crab cake I've ever had. Most crab cake is full of flour, but Vin Bistro's crab cake is actually all crab meat. It tastes great with their lemon sauce.

All entrees look good to us. I was struggling to choose what I want. In the end I chose Peanut Crusted Tenderloin of Pork Coconut-Purple Sticky Rice Pudding, Bitter Melon-Cilantro Salad and Jackfruit Sambal. It looks Asian style, so I decided to try it. But I was disappointed with it. First, the pork is a little bit dry, I even thought the chef forgot to put the sauce on top of it. Second, I'm not a big fan of bitter melon. It didn't come any sweet sauce to cover the bitter flavor.
My boyfriend ordered their special trio menu (change once a month). Braised duck. It's so good. I kept on stealing his duck from his plate. The blackberry mole sauce made it wonderful. I even dip all my pork to his mole sauce. It came with tamale cake which tastes like corn bread to me.
So I will give pork 3 stars and duck 4 stars.
Our waitress highly recommended their black Angus Tenderloin. I will try that and lamb chops next time. The lamb chops picture looks so delicious online.

They also have chef special menu, fixed price $75 per person, or $105 per person including wine. You will let the chef Chris Lusk prepare the courses for you. One table ordered that, so later the chef came out of kitchen and brought the dishes and introduced his dished to them. For the price, they got some special treatment. I was a little bit jealous. Well, they paid for that. Chef Chris Lusk was from Commander's Palace in New Orleans. I've been to that restaurant. It's a very nice restaurant which is located in garden district.

They used candles, flowers and contemporary paintings to decorate inside. I like their LCD pictures. They used a TV to show different views of the world. Very pretty.
Overall if I drink, I probably will like Vin Bistro more.

And more and more people will sit at outside patio, they should think about how to get rid of mosquitoes. So it won't become a popular place for mosquitoes to drink.

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Elite '08

80

237

matt S.

Austin, TX

Very nice place, especially if you drink wine.  We had the peanut crusted tenderloin of pork and the duck for entrees.  The duck was fabulous, not ordinarily on the menu.. special "trio" for the night (3 dishes that do with a featured wine).. The duck had a blackberry mole sauce that made the thick, juicy slices of duck heavenly.. I never had such a big, fat, tasty duck before.. must be some huge Texan duck, because the duck slices were bigger than any other restaurant I have been to.  The peanut crusted tenderloin was good, but just didn't have enough sauce for my liking.. Christ, if they would have poured some of the blackberry mole on the tenderloin I may have fainted in culinary pleasure.  The appetizer was good also, we had the bread-less crab cake.  The service was OK, our server was not that friendly, but competent. One word of warning, don't sit outside.. We were attacked by tiny mosquitoes of some kind and had to get a table inside.  Great place for dinner on a date!

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8

28

Shellie F.

Austin, TX

Who would have thought chocolate and blue cheese would be a good pair? I certainly wouldn't have thought so, but when two of our friends told us they'd had the best dessert of their lives at Vin Bistro, well, that was enough reason to go.

We dropped in after our annual 37th Street stroll and managed to snag one of the only tables for four. Reservations are a must, especially for the lovely outdoor seating. The staff is like none other in Austin.  Even though we were only there for dessert and wine, our server was very attentive and personable. My boyfriend and I split a frozen lemon tart that was delicious. I had the suggested wine pairing with it and it was just right. Our friends dared not split their chocolate, blue cheese, and balsamic strawberries concoction, but did share a bite. It was, indeed, amazing. After such a great experience at Vin Bistro, we're already looking forward to a complete meal in the future.

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Elite '08

54

69

Tiff T.

Austin, TX

Lovely place, this is. I've been to this place several times now, and it leaves very little else to be desired. I love how they suggest wine pairings with every dish on the menu, including the appetizers and desserts.

During my most recent trip, we ordered the risotto ($10) as a starter, and for the main courses we had the pheasant breast ($26) and the roasted duck ($28) with their suggested pairings, too. I savored the creaminess of the risotto with the Inama Soave ($10 / glass). I only wish that I had a camera with me to capture how well it was presented. The pheasant was a bit dry, and the duck was chewier than I would have expected it to be. Maybe I should go back to the lamb entree next time. However, one thing that redeemed the duck dish was the fragrant cranberry sauce that topped it. Another pro was the side of creamy mashed potatoes that came with it.

I did learn from our attentive waiter that they switched chefs recently, and the menu is in flux as they phase out old dish ingredients for new ones, so you might end up with new items than the ones I have mentioned.

The verdict: It's very dangerous to order all suggested pairings if you are at all worried about the state of affairs of your wallet. The service, presentation, and food is great, though. Go to Vin Bistro for your next special occasion.

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Elite '08

55

292

Cathy H.

San Francisco, CA

Formerly Zin Bistro & Bar, Vin Bistro has now taken over the establishment as suggested by the listed website. Every meal had a great wine pairing. No sommelier required.

(Although I can see the SF and NYC oenophiles jump start Austin's sommelier market. Heck, Salt Lick BBQ had an advertisement for a wine vineyard down the street. What kind of grapes survives 100+ degree weather for 4 consecutive months of the year? I'm sure the sommelier and wine consultants will give this Austin a wine marketing spin.)

That aside, on Wednesday night, I had a pleasant evening with half off $10+ 5oz wines and $5 wines on regularly priced $10 and under wines. My friend and I had the delectable crab cakes san bread. That was quite an action packed seafood extravaganza. Then our main entre consisted of Chilean Sea Bass with mashed potatoes and asparagus, which my fish-loving friend devoured. I had the butternut quash, so close to al dente. Maybe a minute and a half longer in the pasta cooker would have been perfecto!

Chef Sean Fulford revived Austin's American bistro scene with a flavorful seafood invasion. He definitely has a knack for seafood as the specials consisted of a pair of tuna tartare, blue fin and albacore. I have never had albacore tartare. I'm a bit sad that I passed up on this special after I found out he's tuna snob, and rightfully so as his credentials include being a fisherman since the age of 7. He's definitely a chef to follow.

Best yet, my friend and I enjoyed the sweet breeze on the balmy patio. I was at peace on this quiet and sophisticated night. Just simply at peace. Ever crave those nights? I do. All the time...

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