Vinology

5/26/2007

I knew to expect a pricey "high class" restaurant... but in my opinion they went over the top. I went with my sister and some friends, and she ordered the little "mini burgers" and I ordered the only semblance of tuna sushi. The food was very good.. I guess they just expect people to have very small appetites and stomachs as we didn't get enough food at all (all above $25). They do have a nice wine list also, which helps make the mood better :0)

2/10/2016

One of my favorite places to go to for happy hour.

Let me preface this review with the fact that I'm a huge wino. I mean, in another life, I would love to be a sommelier. While there aren't as many cabernet sauvignons as I would like (my favorite kind of wine), they have an extensive wine collection, and I haven't been disappointed. Their flatbreads are good, and since I'm a love for all things fig, I would definitely recommend the fig flatbread.

The staff is attentive and friendly, and most importantly, knowledgeable about the wine. They're also willing to give you a new wine choice if you aren't happy with your first choice.

Wonderful place to go to for happy hour, and I like to take friends from out-of-town there for a glass of wine on a Friday afternoon. Their happy hour is awesome, and I definitely want to try their brunch special at some point!

3/7/2016

Came here for brunch with a group of girlfriends. The table they had us at was a very large booth which was kind of strange for 8 people.

Coffee & food was just okay. Food took forever to come out. I had the lemon quinoa pancakes. I would have liked more fruit with them. No one hated their food, but no one loved their food. Don't think I'll be back here again soon.

2/15/2016

Made reservations for Valentine's Day three weeks ago through Open Table for 5 pm purposely so they would not be swamped busy. They called to confirm the reservation at 2pm which I did. Upon arrival they only asked for a last name and tried to tell us to come back at 7:30. Then seated us near the host stand/front door where the 7 degree wind whipped in every time diners came in. Service after the host was excellent: attentive without invasive. Water appeared as needed and finished plates disappeared with whoever saw it sitting from the greeters to the bus person to other waiters if they went by before our excellent waiter.

The bison was supposed to be medium and was over cooked to well done. The scallops were perfect but the kale had not been cleaned properly and was gritty with dirt. The brie appetizer was very nice but came with only four small slices of bread. Far from enough when you got a whole brie wheel.

We tried the Fruit Bloom and Big Red wine flights which were the saving grace of the evening. Definitely returning for wine but dinner we can find elsewhere. The rating is based solely on the food as this was our Valentine's Dinner. The wait staff and wine were superior. Too bad the food was inferior.

12/20/2015

I came here for an interview dinner with a group of about 20-25 people. We had the downstairs room all to ourselves. We started off with drinks and the bartenders were super attentive and great about refilling as soon as my glass was empty.

Our dinner was prix-fixe. The salad was pretty standard, but the entree and dessert were absolutely amazing. I choose the short rib which came with a sweet potato mash, crispy parsnip chips, a green veggie, and other tasty things that I've forgotten. The meat was wonderfully tender, and perfectly cooked. Every bite was awesome and perfectly balanced with a great variety of textures. Dessert was a wonderful chocolate lava cake that was so ooey and gooey on the inside. It came with a cookie crumb, and a delicious cream.

Everyone was super happy with the food, to the point that when the food came out, the atmosphere became quiet because everyone was so busy eating!

I've been on lots of interview dinners, and I think this was one of the best ones so far. I am super impressed with the quality of food, especially given our large party!

11/10/2015 Updated review

We came here again for a business dinner and it is usually a top-notch place that I love to go, but this visit left a lot to be desired. The staff was incredibly friendly and had good recommendations for beverages, I had a delicious pinot noir that did just the trick.

Mainly I was disappointed in the appetizer and entree. We had some sauteed calamari that lacked flavor and was incredibly overcooked, like chewing rubber. It was setting atop some what they called chorizo risotto but the chorizo flavor was totally absent and I remember thinking it actually tasted like sweet potatoes. I had the duck breast which was more a duck ballotine that was unevenly cooked. I ordered it medium and through the 8 or so chunks it was sliced and served, some were rare, some medium, some way overcooked. It came atop a sesame noodle mixture that had a tasty Asian flare but it was too oversauced and was like eating wet spaghetti noodles.

Overall it was OK, I'd give them a second chance but it no longer springs to the front of my mind when I think of going out downtown.

12/17/2015

Berry delicious pancakes made a hearty brunch in a serene space for intimate discussions.
($9)

Oh, they also serve chicken+waffles with truffle butter (I'm mature...)

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  berry hearty

  berry hearty

1/25/2016

Went out for restaurant week.
Beet and burrata salad was great, the combination melded well together. Lamb was good but the tomato sauce was a little too strong not much of the lamb taste could come out. Beet cake was too rich, cheesecake was great.

Service was ok. Ambiance is great downstairs. Would've been too loud if we were upstairs.
Overall maybe would give their regular menu a try. Not into paying for the wine. And would recommend for special occasions, but not the first recommendation.

10/19/2015

All I can say is: the duck, the duck, the duck. I had a double serving of duck, ordering both the crispy duck wings appetizer and the duck entree. The crispy duck wings were a crowd pleaser, perfectly marinated and crunchy. After sharing some with my table, everyone agreed that this dish was a winner.

I thought the duck entree was cool because it served the duck in two ways-- duck breast and duck leg ballotine. They were good, but the sesame noodle bed it was served on was quite disappointing. They tasted nothing like how authentic Asian-style noodles are supposed to taste. But aside from that, the duck was also served with a type of cherry jam, which made for interesting flavors.

Overall, the meal was enjoyable. Service was prompt and the environment was relaxing.

9/11/2015

SETTING:
Romantic and fancy, but still relaxed. Dim lighting and quiet music. Want to impress someone? Vinology's got your back.

FOOD:
I don't know about you, but when I go to a fancy (aka expensive) dinner, I'm a little on edge. It's hard to commit to food that costs $25/entree. What if it doesn't taste good? What if it's dry? Or worse...slimy? It's extremely hard to finish a plate of disappointing food, knowing I am forcing myself soley because I paid the price. *Shudder*. Fortunately, you can order HALF entrees here (as noted by less expensive price). For a party of two, I would recommend ordering 2 appetizers and 2 half entrees for a tapas style dinner.

Crispy duck wings were fantastic! I love chicken wings and duck. Combine the two, and you have won me over. It had a tangy kick with the apricot and tofu chili sauce. Calamari was good too. We opted for the non-battered, which has a slight rubbery texture, but it was soft and delicious with the accompanying sauce.

Calotte de Boeuf was perfect. Probably should have ordered the regular size! Steak was paired with mushrooms, fancy mashed potatoes, and foie gras creme.
Salmon entree was okay, and not too memorable. Other than a mix of sauces and hummus (when eaten separately was weird, but mixed together was way better) the salmon was not very exciting. Beef, salmon/calamari, duck. Land, water, and air. Trifecta completed.

SERVICE:
Shoutout to Damian, our server! Very knowledgeable and spot on with recommendations. Always ready to check on us at appropriate times when we are enjoying dinner. Thanks!

IMPRESSIONS:
If you're looking to splurge, Vinology is a great place to treat yourself. I love how they offer half entrees, so you can taste and share more of their offerings. Great location, atmosphere, and food. Would love to check out their Happy Hour soon!

4/27/2015 Updated review

My check-in numbers are racked up by lunch and happy hours visits.  Vinology has been my work-area respite for nice glass of wine and bite to eat. Unfortunately, lunch, during the week, is no longer, but after this weekend's visit - Change is good!

This review is for the new brunch and latest changes, since my last review (don't know where the 2014 review went)

As of April 17th, Vinology has stopped their weekday lunch service. They will be open for lunch/brunch Friday-Sunday.  This Sunday was day two of their 'soft opening' for customers to try out everything at 50% and give their feedback.  Downtown Ann Arbor is in much need of more brunch options and Vinology has NAILED it.

We started with coffee, Paloma (from the featured specialty drink menu) and a pastry basket ($14).  I started off strong with ordering a Paloma (strawberry infused tequila/soda/grapefruit bitters/sea salt). The pastry basket was a perfect starter - breads, mini croissants, bread pudding, jams and butter.  The basket was impressive and everything was very good.

My husband ordered the Eggs Your Way (over medium) with a fruit bowl side. This is a pedestrian dish for picky eaters, but Chef has the right idea. No twist, just very good food for this plate. Potatoes were exceptional. I don't know how Chef makes them but they were different.  The fruit bowl was full of a beautiful berry assortment. Hubs kept remarking that everything was really good but the best was his fresh-squeeze OJ.  Full of pulp, beautiful color and it tasted like the whole orange in a glass, minus the ick stuff.

I ordered Pork Roulade Benedict with a side of bacon.  Bacon can never be a mistake to order but I really didn't need it with the savor pork roulade.  Seasoned pork sausage pinwheeled with bacon and sliced into disks.  Served next to two poached eggs on toasted house-made English muffins, topped with the best Hollandaise sauce I have ever had.  Rich and flavorful - nice balance of Lemon and Tarragon flavors that complimented the egg but held up to the spiced pork in the roulade.  My plate also had potatoes.  Each were large dishes and there was no hope that I would be able to finish.

Outstanding brunch all around.  I look forward to trying the other options.  The only improvement would be to offer bottomless mimosas or sparkling wine with brunch.

Latest changes - L. Mawby sparkling wine on rotation is always choice.  If you haven't tried the Macaron here, you must. Only 2.50 each and one is a perfect sweet bit after your meal or just a stop in for dessert.

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  St Roco Brie seasonal cheese.

  St Roco Brie seasonal cheese.
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  Party basket, Paloma, and freshest squeezed OJ we have ever had. Perfect brunch starter.

  Party basket, Paloma, and freshest squeezed OJ we have ever had. Perfect brunch starter.
• See all photos from Beth H. for Vinology

1/2/2016

We ended up here one Sunday morning for brunch when the Broken Egg down the street had over an hour wait, so we strolled around and found this place, and so glad we did! Super friendly waiters who are attentive but not annoying, and you're never hurting for a refill or an extra napkin - thanks Damian, you're the man!

The food is also great. I've been pretty boring and have only had the eggs and bacon, but I tried a few bites of my tables chicken and waffles and yummmmm, so mad I didn't get those haha. I was also super impressed that when I asked to swap my potatoes for fresh fruit that I got a huge bowl of raspberries, strawberries and blueberries that were incredibly fresh, not the usually sad looking melon you normally get at brunch. Woohoo!

Reasonably priced and the two of us had breakfast and coffee and were out the door for under $30. Highly recommend for brunch, this place was a real find!

12/26/2015

Had a wonderful dinner with family. The Riesling I had paired nicely with my main course. The Caesar salad was delicious. Classic favors and beautifully presented. Saag Paneer Gnocchi is delicious vegetarian dish. I had the half portion and I was the right amount of food. We finished the evening off with the Ube Tart. Previously living in Hawaii, it brought memories of the island with the wonderful tropical flavors. The Ube was delicious and not too sweet as I have had it in the past. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who would enjoy a wonderful meal. The servers are also very friendly and very knowledgable about the menu. Bravo to our server Richard! He made our visit very enjoyable.

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  Spring greens

  Spring greens
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  Caesar salad

  Caesar salad
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  Gnocchi

  Gnocchi
• See all photos from Megan W. for Vinology

1/17/2015

We arrived at an off hour on a weekday for a late lunch and were among only 3 diners in the whole restaurant.  We chose to dine in the bar area.  The setting is cool...a lot of exposed brick, tin ceiling, upscale for the Deuce to say the least.

We chose to share 3 diverse small plates to get a sampling of their lunch menu:  a Bleu and Pear Wedge, a plate of three daily inspired beef sliders and a pepperoni pizza.  The salad and the sliders were excellent while the pep-town was below average with no zest whatsoever.

We found the service was decent but uninspired at this off hour.  Tres Estrellas.

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  Gotta love the exposed brick.

  Gotta love the exposed brick.
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  Small plate sampling

  Small plate sampling

1/24/2016

Went there for restaurant week. BEET AND BURRATA didn't work together on my plate. The rest of dishes is Okey. No surprise nor disappointment.

4/18/2015

I wish I could give more than 5 Stars. We had our small wedding at Vinology and I was sooo happy and soo satisfied with everything!!!

We had 50 people and rented the entire downstairs for our wedding. We had the ceremony, dinner & dancing in the bubble room and it was absolutely beautiful! I have never been to a cooler wedding and had nothing but compliments for the space, the food, the drinks and the staff!

We had the pleasure of working with Mike with our event. He was attentive, responsive & incredibly helpful! We met once to see everything before we booked and again about a month before to finalize things. I can't say enough about him!

The space is so beautiful, it really doesn't need decoration. That being said my mom had some pretty intricate centerpieces, chair bows, etc and they made everything look amazing. We were able to drop everything off and have a rehearsal the day before and it made our wedding day so much simpler. Everything was taken care of. The transitions between the ceremony, the dinner & dancing were flawless and quick.

The food was exceptional! We had the tuna, spring rolls & yukon potato appetizers and I don't know which was better. The drinks were great, everyone was able to have what they wanted and the bartenders were so friendly and remembered what everyone was having. The food options were amazing, I don't think anyone didn't love it!

We did our own music and it was super easy. We came with a laptop and a friend to monitor things and it was as easy as plugging into the usb in the wall. We danced and had the full "wedding experience". Our friends were able to dance, hang out in the bubble room or on the other side in the wine cellar/vine room. It was obvious that the staff at Vinology know how to run an event, they had so many tips on what would work best - but all of our requests were met beyond our expectations regardless.

Afterwards the staff packed everything and we were able to pick it up the next day. The price was honestly a value for the flawless transition, amazing food and superb drinks. You could spend a lot if you wanted to, but I never felt like I was being sold or pressured to buy or upgrade anything. That was soo nice!

We had a classy, beautiful, easy and FUN wedding in downtown AA. We had 50 guests and I wouldn't recommend many more than that. It was truly perfect and everything was taken care of for us. It was something I didn't think I would be able to have at the price I paid.

I cannot recommend Vinology more!

1/11/2016

Fantastic food, great atmosphere, best server I think we've ever encountered (Derrion - sp?) and best bubbles in downtown Ann Arbor!  We highly, highly recommend.  Check this gem out!

1/4/2016 Updated review

My husband and I returned to Vinology as the restaurant wanted us to give it a second chance.  We were glad we did.  While we chose to do a bunch of small plates this time, instead of entrees, we enjoyed everything we tried.  Our server was very helpful, friendly, and professional.  The hostess was very friendly as well.  Overall, our experience this time was a marked improvement and we would return again in the future.

9/21/2015

Great place.  I have been going to this restaurant few times a month with family.  They have been very consistent with their food and service.  
I love their wine selections.  And they have very good servers who are very knowledgeable food and wine.  Also, I love way they offer full or half size dish.  I normally do not need very big size of meal and their half size of dish are very filling and amazing.  Be sure to check them out.  You will love this place.

10/30/2015

In a word: Disappointed.  I had been excited for about a month to visit Vinology.
With a name like Vinology you would expect your waitress to effervesce about the perfect wine for your evening.  However, after we told our waitress that we would need some coaching because we weren't master sommelier's we were pretty much ignored for the rest of the night.
Not a SINGLE wine recommendation from our waitress....unreal.

My wife and I took a client there for the evening, ordered two appetizers: "Charcuterie" and "Spicy Sausage Flatbread".  They were both good, but not amazing.  I have had equally good appetizers at cocktail hour at a wedding reception.

We had to ask our waitress for water and refills.

I wanted to love Vinology.  However, I will not be in a hurry to return.

2/14/2016

Okay, I feel terrible about giving this place a three, but we've had a lot of bad luck with dinner entrees. I should say that we have liked their brunch, appetizers, and wine flights. On the two occasions my husband and I have ordered entrees, we found the description to be a real mismatch with what we ordered. After being burned once by their entrees and enjoying the other things, we thought we'd give them another go. So tonight we ordered one dish that described itself as a saag paneer gnocchi with sweet potato biryani and another that describes itself as a risotto with broccoli rabe. The first dish was not a saag (the creamy spinach curry) and not a biryani (a spiced rice dish). The dish had no rice and the curry wasn't a creamed spinach --- it was a creamy red curry with carrots and there were a few spinach leaves as garnish. It was an underwhelming dish at $17 for the small portion. The second dish was not a risotto (a creamy rice dish) and did not have broccoli rabe (the bitter broccoli cousin). Instead, it was a dry rice, actually crunchy, with broccolini (which is more mild than rabe). The dish also had a lot of burned garlic mixed in there. Also, really not very good and again $17 for a half order. If the food had not been what we had ordered and tasted good, it would have been one thing. But it didn't taste good. Last time with the entrees we had a similar experience. My husband had ordered what described itself as a filet minon but ended up being a sort of stew. This is a pattern of wonky entree descriptions. I'd recommend avoiding them altogether or asking a lot of questions beforehand.