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Vinoteca
Categories: Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Restaurants American (New) Wine Bars, American (New) [Edit]
1940 11th St NW(between N T St & N U St)
Washington, DC 20001
Neighborhood: U Street Corridor
(202) 332-9463
- Nearest Transit:
-
U Street Metro Station (Green, Yellow)
Shaw Metro Station (Green, Yellow)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 2 am
Fri 5 pm - 3 am
Sat 12 pm - 3 am
Sun 11 am - 2 am
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sun
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
303 reviews for Vinoteca
Review Highlights
"10.00 bottomless mimosas for Sunday brunch."
(in 22 reviews)
"Lovely place for a lunch/brunch with friends."
(in 67 reviews)
"I would love to try out their brunch and bocce court."
(in 11 reviews)
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303 reviews in English
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Review from Martha G.
2/6/2012
I think Vinoteca is a nice place that differs from the rest of U street offerings. A few comments: 1) happy hour seven days a week rocks 2) everyone comes for happy hour, so it gets quite crowded. 3) outdoor seating in the front is great in the summer 4) even if it's not happy hour, plenty of $8 wines on the menu keep it affordable. 5) crowded in the bar area, even when it's not happy hour. 6) only two bartenders at hte front bar, making it a bit hard to get service.
Have never eaten anything here.. maybe I should! -
Review from Angela G.
Updated - 1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
Vinoteca has got to be one of my favorite places in the DC area. Enjoyed their happy hours with great food and wine specials, their desserts aren't bad either. And now I can add the full dinner experience to the list. The accompanying wine flight for each course was the deciding factor to dine here during RW while my sister was in town. Service, presentation, food, and wine were just great. Take advantage of the wine flights with your courses when you dine...not offered everywhere...and server was not some sort of wine snob either....Scooter, our server, was great.
1st Course: Baby carrots appetizer...colorful, beautifully presented, and delicious flavor with apple cardamom sauce and cider vinaigrette. Not too cloyingly sweet like this dish can be at some places...paired with a Voignier from VA.
Roasted local Sweet Turnips appetizer...how often do you see that on a menu...in creme fraiche (yum), walnuts, and a mustard dressing...not a bad combo with the turnips...paired with a chenin blanc from France (which I loved).
Main course:
Grass-Fed Black Angus Sirloin...really loved this, more than I thought I would as I was wary about the rutabaga (again don't often see this on the menu), corona beans, and kale that came with it. I finished every bite...great combination of food and flavors, just delicious (also with chestnuts and a nice demi-glace brown sauce)..nicely filling...paired with a california cabernet sauvignon.
I was so busy enjoying this dish, I don't remember what my sister got for this course!?
Then...surprise...intermezze ...some small bites from the chef that seemed to include one or two of the crostinis from their happy hour menu...also came with a wine pairing of pinot noir.
Dessert: Tres Leches with guinness ice cream and dark chocolate...yummy and nice ending paired with a hidalgo-morenita cream sherry from spain.
Fruit Crisp (believe used alot of blackberries) with .crème fraîche ice cream & cinnamon...also good, but preferred my tres leches...paired with grenache reserva. from france.
Not a huge place, we were there on the early side of dinner so most were there for the happy hour, but further into the dinner hour it got pretty filled up.
Next up, must try the brunch everyone is raving about!!Listed in: The Places I Go Out
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/24/2011
My friend was on the money when she suggested meeting at Vinoteca for their Happy Hour on a perfect… Read more »
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Review from Victoria B.
Washington, DC
1/25/2012 23 Check-ins Here
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Vinoteca. In my opinion, it is one of the best places to go to for Brunch in DC. What's not to love about it?! Their number one selling point has to be there Bottomless Mimosa special during brunch. It's actually not just mimosas- it's Mimosas, Bellinis and Kir Royales for only $10. If you don't know what a Kir Royale is, I don't either; but I think it is made with some type of black current liqueur and sparkling wine.
You do not need to make a reservation to dine here for Brunch, but I would strongly recommend it. It tends to get really crowded in here around 11:30, so without a reservation, it may be harder to get a table- especially if you have a big group. Also note that the restaurant is on the small side, so don't expect some huge dining room. There is a lot of space at the bar though, both inside and outside (the outside being the preferred location during the warmer months).
Now, I know you're probably wondering what the catch is and there is one, of course: the food. Of course you can't have $10 unlimited drinks AND cheap food because, you know, that would be like highway robbery. Now, the food isn't super expensive, but it's not McDonald's cheap either. Most Brunch items are around $10-12; now that wouldn't be bad at all if the portions weren't so small, so you end up ordering a few items from the menu (especially after being there for 2+ hours taking full advantage of the bottomless drinks). Also, I find it a little annoying that the only side that the breakfast sandwiches come with is salad and you cannot substitute for a different side (such as potatoes- which cost an additional $4 to an already $12 breakfast sandwich) Nevertheless, I still recommend for everyone to try this Brunch at some point... just to say that you did it. If you do go, keep in mind that I am always looking for another excuse to go back ;) -
Review from Shayna N.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2012
I have never been treated so poorly at a restaurant in my entire life. Our large group (on my friends wedding weekend) was totally ignored all night and then we were were getting ready to settle up told we still owed $600 because the $800 "minimum" required to sit on the patio had not been reached. Um WHAT?! No one told US that! And because our waitress was never around we had been ordering drinks at the bar all night which apparently never made it to our bill. So we were essentially being forced to pay FULL SERVICE for being ignored?!
What gets me is the waitress must have known about this minimum and was totally ignoring us knowing full well we'd have to pay no matter what she did. Now that's just wrong!
Then when we asked for an explanation, they gave us attitude!! I've worked many years in the service industry and the key word is SERVICE. After reading through some of the bad reviews I see I'm not the only one with complaints about the unprofessional management.
I have never been treated so poorly at a restaurant ever. I would never go here again, and I recommend you do the same. -
Review from Matthew S.
Bethesda, MD
1/16/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Vinoteca is a great wine bar. They always have good wines in stock and they usually have pretty good deals on flights of wine. Probably not the best place to go if you are looking to drink beer as their selection is very limited; however, they do have a full bar.
The indoor space they have is nice and the bar is large, but my favorite part is the outdoor space they have out back. Outside there is another large bar, bocce courts and plenty of standing room. They also have large propane heaters for when it starts to get cold.
Just recently Vinoteca was rated top wine bar in the DC area in the On Tap Magazine Readers' Choice Awards. I have not had much of the food, but What I have had is good. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. -
Review from Maria C.
Washington, DC
1/3/2012
This is a review for Vinoteca's New Year's prix-fixe dinner.
For $75, my mom and I got a four course meal, cute party favors, and a bottle of sparkling wine. Not too bad! The atmosphere was just right for the occasion.
We started with a complimentary tiny ginger drink with cranberry sorbet, delicious. I started with Boquerones, which I learned are white anchovies, on a brioche. This was fresh and delicious. Next up was a prosecco and apricot risotto with shrimp. This was probably the lowest point of the meal - the shrimp didn't seem to have basic seasoning and neither did the risotto. Where was the apricot? Not sure but missing in action were the prosecco and the salt and pepper, too. I didn't mind too much to tell you the truth because the service was outstanding. Our server was super kind and patient. She was really nice and just very attentive. The whole staff was very attentive and even though it's a prix-fixe, I felt like they truly cared about my dietary restrictions.
Next up was the swordfish. Not a huge fan of swordfish but it was not too bad - kind of like tuna. After that, I got a cheese plate and that was so good. I loved everything about this. The cheeses were very well-chosen. Next, I had a table of mini-desserts. The chocolate truffles were amazing!! I'm a huge fan.
The food was maybe not the best I've had but for the price, we got a really cool atmosphere, a nice four-course meal served with the utmost care (everything looked absolutely gourmet), a bottle of sparkling wine, a cheese plate, and AMAZING service.
I'm definitely looking forward to coming back here. -
Review from Amanda G.
Today was my first time there but certainly not my last. What I thought would be a sober girls day out, turned to a lively afternoon jam session. I had a great time there. Maybe it was the bottomless mimosas or I was just excited to see my girls, either way the ambiance was chill and I was really comfortable. I had the bagel #2, eggs, bacon w/ a salad. It was light but filling, pretty much all the food looked good, even the grits. I despise grits but I tasted my friends and they were surprisingly tasty. It kind of tasted like they added corn meal, reminded me of porridge. I'd def recommend that spot for a group outing.
Only thing I will precaution is, one can get drunk without realizing pretty fast. But everyone knows their limit or so I thought. One of my friends threw up in the bathroom *embarrassed* like come on guy its 2pm not am. SMH I could tell the manager was upset but he remained cool about it, which gained him some points. (The staff in general were really cool people.)
for the casual drinker, its nothing like a nice drink, with good food on a sunny day amongst friends. For the regular drinker, it's like a gold mine Saturday morning. Bottoms up! -
Review from Marco A.
Washington, DC
12/5/2011
Another of my favorite DC restaurants. There are a lot of ways to enjoy this place. Many reviews are mentioning their brunch (get the pan con tomate and eggs!) and the happy hour, which are both outstanding but don't overlook this place for dinner. Chef Lonnie Zoeller received traditional Mediterranean training in Spain and runs a top flight kitchen, he is the man
The dinner menu is sort of a small plate concept although there are always six or so "principal plates". Make sure to try a couple different things because everything is excellent. Chef Zoeller frequently updates his menu; there are usually daily and weekly specials, ask your server because you don't want to miss them. What pushes this place over the top is that you can pair a large selection of wines with your delicious food, making your dining experience special. Even if you don't know/appreciate wine the staff will help you pick something that pairs beautifully. Okay, I'm running out of superlatives so a few quick notes.
Brunch:
The Brunch menu is delicious and has Mediterranean flare, very reasonably priced as well. Include the $10 bottomless Mimosas, Bellinis or Kir Royals and this becomes a top DC brunch spot.
Patio:
They open a beautiful back patio/bar area when the weather is nice and they run some food specials they don't have in the dining room. If you bring a date here you will score major points.
HH:
Great way to scope the place out, try some wine and order some happy hour food specials. Once you do a happy hour there is no way you won't want to come back for dinner.
Sunday:
Half priced Spanish and Latin American wine night! Like I said, there many ways to have a great experience here.Listed in: Drinky Drinky
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Review from Jen L.
12/18/2011 1 photo
This is a very dark and loud wine bar not far from the 10th street side of the U Street Metro stop. So it was dark in the evening when I got there and I must have walked past it several times because there is no illuminated sign for it. It looks like it's an extension of the tavern on the corner, but it is not.
So this place is definitely for the older crowd. It's a wine bar and they have a very extensive list to pick from. I started with the mulled wine (because I was freezing) and the Chef's special cheese and chauterie plate. It was very good, but nothing too special. The mulled wine was excellent! I've never had it out at a restaurant.
After that I went for the Guigal Cotes de Rhone (based on Yelp suggestions) and I thought it was ok. It was a bit oaky for me, but still good. I think I could warm up to it.
Don't expect large plates for your meal here. If you are hungry I suggest you go for the Prixe fixe menu where you get an appetizer, meal, and a dessert for $35. The truffle bean soup was good and I the swordfish was tasty as well. But my favorite has got to be the tres leche with Guiness ice cream. YUM! One of the reasons why I liked it so much was because it was not very sweet.
Service was OK. They weren't really prompt, and they seem a bit understaffed when the place started to get busy. Maybe they are not used to being this busy?
Coming here for a meal is probably not a good idea. But coming here to enjoy the wine and to nibble on a few things is probably a better idea. -
Review from Barry P.
Richmond, VA
12/27/2011
Found this place strictly through the use of yelp - Searching "Bottomless Mimosa Brunch" in Washington, D.C.
Though there were a few contenders, this place won out and we were so pleased with our choice. The food was amazing - had a caprese (Fresh Mozzarella, Basil and Tomato) egg sandwich on a bagel with a side of Pork Belly, and of course bottomless bellinis. The bottomless drinks were no joke: when my glass got to be a quarter full, the waitress appeared with a carafe to top it off. This happened at least 5 times. Service was casual but on point, we never wanted for anything. Spent the rest of the day wandering around DC in a blissful state.
We were there on a Sunday morning, arrived at Vinoteca around 11:15am. The place was jammed within a half hour. We were definitely glad we made reservations and would suggest the same.
Can't wait to get back to D.C., and more importantly, to Vinoteca! -
Review from Derek w.
San Francisco, CA
12/27/2011
The scene at the bar was bumping, especially for the early hour on a Thursday night. One more affirmation of the U Street renaissance. After wading through the deafening din around the bar, I was surprised to find the modestly-sized dining room nearly empty.
Plan some extra time to dissect and digest the menu, an infinite roster of mix-and-match opportunities involving cheese, charcuterie and wine. Extra credit for a super long wine list that allows for half-glasses, a perfect way to give the casual or indecisive increased flexibility.
The food was a revelation, both in terms of quality and value. We shared a prosciutto and several small wedge's of sheep's cheese( endearingly referred to as the "sheep flight"), nicely presented with crackers and apple jelly.
For dinner, I sampled both the homemade oregano and haloumi sausage and the smoked butternut squash risotto. The sausage was unique and flavorful and in ample portion to satisfy a large appetite. The risotto was a pleasant melange of different tastes that proved yet again my affinity for butternut squash in almost any form.
Vinoteca is a very solid choice in an area with many interesting options. What's more, I was able to snag an 11th hour table for five, not an easy feat in these parts. -
Review from David K.
Arlington, VA
2/3/2012
I am a very big fan of Vinoteca. We first went there for brunch back in May 2011, and have been going back regularly ever since. I'll admit, the main draw was the $10 bottomless mimosas special, which is always a welcome start to the weekend. The food is fantastic! The Eggs Benedict Vinoteca is absolutely amazing. There's no Canadian bacon on it, which was a surprise, but it was so good that it quickly became a favorite. Their cheese grits is also delicious, but then again so is everything on the menu. They have a patio area out front as well as a back area with a bar and a bocce ball court. Both are wonderful in the summer, and they set up heating lamps in the winter when it's not too cold. Everyone who works there has been super nice and friendly, and although they're always quite busy they make time to come by and say hello or chat. Although they ask us every single time we walk in if we have a reservation, we've never had an issue with getting a table. They have an amazing selection of wine and are very knowledgeable and helpful for those of us who know nothing about wine. In short, I really really like this place and highly recommend it to anyone who loves brunch in a fun atmosphere surrounded by great people.
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Review from Chontelle M.
Glenn Dale, MD
11/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love the feeling of this place. It has that grown-up, "I'm cultured," sexy vibe. When you walk in space is a little tight, but it almost feels natural. The dark lighting make the conditions great for drinking. The food was good too. Although it took me about 10 minutes to figure out what the menu was trying to tell me, I enjoyed everything I ordered.
The service was great and wine is truly the bomb!
This is not a place for a party tho. It has the yuppu/buppy thing going, so bringing 8 people to pre-game is going to be un-fun. A bridal party came in and unraveled right before my eyes. They all had the beads on and and eventually they started wrapping scarves around themselves and the bride substituted her crown with a hobo-chic hat. This place will do that to you. -
Review from Melissa T.
Washington, DC
12/12/2011 Seated via OpenTable
My boyfriend and I love the food here. We often used to stay for dinner after playing in our bocce league on Mondays and really grew to enjoy the food. We recently went there for my boyfriend's birthday (with a reservation) and I have to say I was a little disappointed with the ambiance.
We were given a weird corner table, which was difficult considering I'm 6' and he's 6'3". We really didn't have anywhere to put our legs. Across the restaurant from us was a rowdy and annoying surprise birthday party (surprise! surprise! we're incredibly loud and drunk!) and pretty much took over the place. It made it difficult to hear. Not what I expect from a place where I'm paying $100+ for a meal.
Great food, disappointing recent ambiance experience. I'd be willing to try again, but maybe not on a weekend (even with a reservation). -
Review from Elsa M.
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's easy to find a perfect Sunday brunch, but a perfect Saturday brunch? Not so much. Either it's not available or it's just not great, and it never comes with unlimited mimosas. And then there's Vinoteca which completely breaks the norm. Fabulous breakfast food, unlimited mimosas for just $10, and a coziness that adds to the ambiance.
I made a reservation at the last minute through my Yelp app after remembering a friend of mine brag about how great it was. When we got there though, it was full with a birthday party reservation, so we wound up sitting at the bar. Not their fault since I made the reservation within an hour of arriving, so I didn't mind much... plus the bar area was very large and we sat at a counter facing the dining room (our backs to the actual bar). It was a bit busy and the waitresses were a bit rushed, but they were polite and trying their hardest to keep up with all the customers. I ordered eggs, a side of bacon, and the french toast. A girlfriend of mine who was with me ordered the pancakes. We tried each other's dishes and there were no complaints whatsoever - DELICIOUS! I especially liked the hint of lemon... not too much, just a teeny little bit. FAB! The bacon, too, was impressive - smoked and cut a little thick, just like I liked it. With a brunch like this, why go anywhere else? Affordable. Delectable. And Bottomless Mimosas. No reason to stray! -
Review from Dina S.
Washington, DC
1/13/2012
Fantastic happy hour (some wine and food for $5). The wine was good, did not try the food though. The place was packed but had a nice ambiance... I bet it's great in the summer too cause they have a nice little seating area outside.
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Review from Lina B.
Columbia, MD
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love the outside bar in the back. They have bocce courts, but I have never seen them being used.
During happy hour 5-7pm: 5$ glasses of wine (they have about 20 or so wines on this list) and there are 5$ burgers and other appetizers to eat. The burgers are made right in front of you behind the bar and are sooooo delicious, but small, but what do you expect for 5$.
Happy hour is only valid in bar areas so make sure you get here early :) -
Review from Cathy H.
10/8/2011
Met a girlfriend here for brunch after hearing about their $10 bottomless mimosas/bellinis/kir royales deal. I had their egg sandwich, while my friend had their cheddar omelette. My sandwich was decent; it had eggs obviously, pulled pork, caramelized onions, and goat cheese -- all in a baguette. I found the sandwich to be a bit bland, so I added ketchup. Friend's omelette was very good; it came with home fries. I think next time, I will order their eggs benedict despite what Bourdain says about Sunday brunch (contaminated hollandaise sauce) because it looked awesome. 15 drinks between the two of us later, we realized we needed more food to prevent stumbling on the streets, so we ordered their french toast with berries -- delish! I'm giving this place 4 stars for the bottomless drinks deal and fantastic french toast.
After brunch, we went consignment store shopping while tipsy, but that's another story...
Go to Vinoteca with your girlfriends! -
Review from Danny F.
9/27/2011 2 Check-ins Here
After being caged up in tours of the Mall and Silver Springs, it was time to experience what the capital of the Free World had to offer. I wasn't sure exactly what U Street was all about, but after going into this place I didn't want to leave.
Although in my hometown of Miami, I pride myself in knowing all the hidden spots, it's always in the back of my mind that it's still possible that a band of douches will arrive and ruin the vibe and therefore, the night for most of the chill-pursuing patrons.
This was not the case here. The back patio of this joint is my ideal spot. The people who work here, who go here, and who drink here are all part of the same train of thought. Everyone was ordering humble drinks, and although this place has a vast majority of wine selections, there wasn't a 'that guy' who just had to buy Dom Perignon. The guys behind the bar were doing a great job, the playlist was killer, the outdoor grill with food service on the spot all made this place somewhere I wanted to keep going back to. -
Review from heather C.
New York, NY
10/5/2011 Seated via OpenTable
MMMM Brunch.
An egg, on top of thick toasty french bread, smothered in hollandaise .
Why didn't I think of this? Hollandaise should be covering everything that belongs on a brunch menu.
And then drown it all out in unlimited mimosas...
True story, the food was really good. I ordered the eggs with the toast and hollandaise and alfafa sprouts (random, but still really good), and my bf and I inhaled them like a hoover vacuum. The potatoes were as soggy as a my sisters pants after watching Twilight, but that was the only downfall.
There was no wait because we had made reservations, and the set up is really nice over there, we sat on a couch with a table, which made getting really drunk easier, and also unexpected.
Note: This place is not stingy with the alcohol. This is not a "wait around and maybe your waitress will come a refill your drink" open bar, this is a real open bar. The waitresses take their jobs SERIOUSLY, and if their job is to get you totally trashed by noon, then they do their jobs very well. They don't mess around when it comes to doling out the mimosas and bellinis. We got slizzard.
I will definitely come back here, but maybe at an off hour because it was really loud and it almost caused my ears to fall off of my head. But after 14 mimosas, it all really didn't matter. Good job Vinoteca. -
Review from Jeannie O.
Washington, DC
10/9/2011
Maybe it was just an off night, but my friend and I had an almost awful time at Vinoteca last evening. We surely will not be returning. I arrived at 6pm and asked the hostess about seating for dinner (not the pre-fix dinner, but just dinner). The conversation that was to ensue was a confusing one to say the least, I kept getting different answers to the same question. Eventually the hostess told me (rather, this is what I understood from her poor English) that the tables both inside & on the front patio were reserved for patrons ordering the pre-fix menu only. Say what?! I eat out all the time and this is a rule I had yet to hear of! She was adamant about this fact though.
So, I decided to sit at the bar (there was a strange smell lingering around, like cleaning fluid of some sort). Crowded with young hipsters, as expected. But I was hopeful as everyone looked happy & the small plates that I saw go by looked delicious. When my friend came to join me, I flagged down a waitress and asked, again, whether it was true that the tables in the dining room were reserved for those who were planning on ordering 3 courses only. She looked surprised & said no that we could definitely sit in the dining room-even for a couple of plates and drinks.
After this 15-20 minute charade, we sat in the near-empty dining room and ordered a few drinks, a salad and risotto. Well, the wine was good (as it should be), but the salad & risotto came out at the same time & the risotto was not hot. I was starving and we were on our way to a performance at Bohemian Caverns, so we didn't have time to wait around for things to be reheated. Well, the food was just ok. Not worth the fuss, the fiasco about the seating,nor the price. I was extremely disappointed in Vinoteca service-wise certainly, but also food-wise. It was just so mediocre. Maybe for a glass of wine on the back patio when it's not so crowded, but not for anything else. -
Review from Bryan W.
Washington, DC
11/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
Such a great place! This has become one of my favorite spots in the city for a nice glass of wine. Their happy hour is amazing! $5 glasses of wine, beer, and select cocktails, which even covers weekends. On sundays they have Flamenco dancing and half off Spanish and South American wines! I have not been, but this will for sure get me back.
Their outdoor seating area is cozy. They have a lot of heaters (although they could move them around to cover more of the area). There is even a little area for some bocci ball.
I came here for pre-dinner birthday drinks, but it would also be good for a date, celebration or just for fun. I recommend this to any wino in DC! -
Review from Rachel P.
12/9/2011
I had a lovely time at Vinoteca last weekend. The small plates and cured meats were delicious. The arancini and the duck pastrami were two of the most memorable. I'm also a huge fan of the cheeses they have. Nice selection! I enjoyed the low lighting and the cool vibe of the place. I especially liked the part of the night when they turned the music up and starting playing Lil Wayne. Not what I was expecting, but I liked that! I'll definitely go back to drink wine and have some tasty food.
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Review from dan f.
9/26/2011
Pretty good food and great wine selection. Exceptionally friendly service. While they do have a nice dining room, this place is 90% bar and sounds like one. Very loud. But everyone sticks to the program and gets a glass of wine. The glasses themselves are very pretty.
Only reason I don't give it 4 stars is for the price I have had much better food. They definitely try but it does not blow you away. The $30 prix fixe is a good deal if you want to try a bit of everything.
I would recommend treating it as a great wine bar and sticking with the wine and maybe a small plate. -
Review from Stormy J.
San Francisco, CA
9/21/2011
Great local spot!
Awesome patio
Perfectly prepared food
Suggested wine parings
Fun crowd
Sweet staff
And an outrageously awesome bartender ,which completed the night (Kudos to Jarell)
If I lived in DC, it would be at Vinoteca. -
Review from Lauren C.
San Francisco, CA
9/11/2011
Why such a low rating? The service is HORRENDOUS.
My friends and I came at the tail end of the $10 all-you-can-drink mimosa brunch. The $10 bottomless mimosas were the only positive aspect of our dining experience.
First of all, you have to have some type of waiter/waitress talent to flag them down and refill your class. And like I said, we came at the TAIL END. Therefore there weren't many customers.
The food...meh. Come to drink on your sunday, but then again, there's plenty of other places that offer the same deal. -
Review from Brian W.
Washington, DC
8/28/2011
I'm not much of a "yelper," but my terrible experience tonight convinced me to come home and vent in hopes that the management here will read this and take some action, since i do think this place has a lot of potential.
Went for dinner. Asked to be seated outside. Opened the menu and pointed to the happy hour sangria special. Our waitress and the menu neglected to mention that this was only available at the bar (which is absurd anyway), and our Sangria was served and we were only informed upon receiving the bill that its full price outside. We checked our phones, and the website which boast daily happy hour also said nothing about having to sit at the bar.
Additionally, we ordered the chef's choice cheese plate (which was mediocre). When it arrived, we called our waitress to ask her to explain what was on the plate she said "umm...i'm not really the one to answer that...maybe you could ask a busboy." What?? We did...the busboy had no idea and pointed to our waitress. I've a server and am usually patient....but c'mon.
When we (politely) asked to speak to the manager upon receiving our bill, he told us that it had "been their policy for 4 years not to serve happy hour outside." OK...then put it in the menu or have the server tell us? Also he said "i'm sorry but because of the weather we were really understaffed and unfortunately you got a new server who doesnt really know what she's doing yet." Really? You're a manager and you're giving us this bullsh*t excuse and blaming the waitress?
So, as a recommendation...if you do need to go here....just go for the $5 happy hour wine (which was good) and SIT INSIDE.
Really really clearly terrible management at this place which trickles down. -
Review from Millie M.
Arlington, VA
1/24/2012 Seated via OpenTable
This was my third time at Vinoteca. I have done the late night wine/apps then the pre-Studio show glass of wine, and now this last time was sit down dinner, reservations, i.e. the whole restaurant experience.
There were 4 of us, we made reservations for 9 pm on a Saturday. It was loud and crowded as expected but we were greeted right away by a hostess, who, even though on the phone with a customer asking really unnecessary and annoying questions at that time on a Saturday night, she acknowledged us, smiled, checked us in, took our coats and we were seated right away.
Our waitress was Scooter - an adorable sprightly girl who was engaging and attentive. Wine was great, food was really good overall - butternut squash risotto - yum! They also have a white bean soup with truffles - so good!
Why not the 5th star? Unless you are cutting my food and feeding it to me, or something close to that, I don't give 5 stars. If I am going to be critical, there was a long initial wait time to get our first wine bottle opened, I have had better food, and it is really loud in there.
It was solid, has been 3 times and I will continue to go back. -
Review from Maki P.
Washington, DC
10/17/2011
I had a pretty good dinner experience at Vinoteca recently. The charcuterie & cheese plate was quite good and more diverse than I expected, though with small portions. The arancini were good, though not great-- they came out a bit too late to be piping hot, and they weren't as flavorful as I would have liked. The meat dishes were tasty, but not phenomenal.
Generally speaking, I would have liked for the dishes, as small plates, to pack some more punch with bolder flavors. As it is, I had an enjoyable but not memorable meal. I think I'd like to try out some of the other wine bars in town before coming back for a repeat experience. -
Review from Marcus P.
Washington D.C., DC
8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ten years ago: "OMG! We should all do brunch tomorrow!!!" Really, girl...really? We've just spent the equivalent of half a work day together in a dark, loud, sweaty-ass club dodging fembots and twinktops, and you want to get together again tomorrow morning--or whenever the hell I wake up? Girl, boo; you're so gay. Beat it.
Last weekend: 10:00am on a Saturday, I'm folding clothes and watching Anthony Bourdain's irritating ass on the tube; a buddy asks if I wanna check out Vinoteca for brunch. I'm dressed before we hang up; I'm so gay.
We arrive by 11:00am and the place is empty--my buddy is gagging since the last time he was here it was jammed packed. Never one to look a gift-horse in the mouth (or up the ass, for that matter), we decide on indoor seating and allowed the pretty hostess with the horrible butt-length wig to seat us. The waiter (a cutie named Jonathan) was at our side almost instantaneously. I ordered the French toast w/strawberries; my buddy ordered pancakes w/ginger butter (Jonathan nearly creams himself just writing the words 'ginger butter' on his pad--"OMG, it's sooo good! You'll love it!" Alright, Johnny, alright now, let's save some of that for later, baby); we both order the bottomless bellinis.
Jonathan relentlessly kept our glasses full and by the time the food arrived, we were toasty and I was shameless ("You're the best, Jonathan! There aren't too many guys who can keep up with the both of us at the same time; you are truly the bottomless king.") The French toast was thick and satisfying, the berries sweet and sticky--the syrup should be served warm though. The ginger-butter wasn't the french-tickler Johnny promised, but to each his own. All in all, I was very satisfied. By 12:30 the place was jumping outside and in; if you're gonna check this joint out come early and get the bottomless bellinis ;o) -
Review from Kristin M.
Washington, DC
7/26/2011 6 photos
You know when you have a big plate of some snack, like for example olives and almonds (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), and you carefully, so carefully save one little nibble of your favorite thing for the very end because it's your favorite? Well, after studiously eating around a particularly delicious-looking almond for some 15 minutes, I found my plate--with just the one saved almond left--whisked away! A devastating blow. I knew I had little grounds for complaint (it was just one almond...) but I apologetically (read: drunkenly) explained the situation to the bartender in an effort to beg just a single extra almond from them, and lo and behold, as soon as he understood what I was saying, he rushed off and made me a BRAND NEW olives & almonds plate! I was fully impressed. That's just the kind of classy joint Vinoteca is.
It's not too classy though, thank goodness. It is a wine bar, and their back patio is well groomed (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and has bocce ball, one of those "sports" that conjures images of fellows in khakis and polos and young ladies in demure sundresses. (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) However, luckily the court's more likely to be filled with drunks and it features a fountain on one end just begging to be fallen into. There doesn't seem to be a danger of an overload of class happening here.
There's not much of a wait for the bocce ball court (there's only 1) earlier in the day, but it starts filling up as the sun goes down.
Happy hour drink prices are mediocre--wine or sangria for $5, so, tipsy for around $15--but I love their $5 burgers (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). They're not amazing burgers, but they ARE $5 and there's all sorts of variations, including getting a big slab of portobello instead of a beef patty (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), definitely classier than a veggie burger. Their $3 olive & almond plate is also generously sized and so delicious, and it remains $3 all night. Just keep an eye on that last favorite almond.
OH, and if you have the good fortune of having Horus as your bartender, order up a Horus Kiss. It's not on the menu, but it is delicious. And yes, it's a drink, a shot actually. Get your mind out of the gutter. -
Review from Alex O.
9/20/2011
I love brunch at Vinoteca!!!!
The wild mushroom omelet with homemade ricotta and truffle butter is the best omelet I have ever had. Seriously, every sunday brunch should begin with this thing. Oh, and an order of butifarra sausage, a pork sausage with a nice amount of fat that the kitchen cooks perfectly...just a hair shy of undercooked. And of course, bottomless mimosas for $10!!!! Honestly, I love a long brunch that ends with me walking out half-tight with a full belly and loaded with antioxidants!
Happy hour special is $5 glasses of wine and the bar offerings are quite good including the arancini and the lamb and feta sliders.
I've never had an issue with service. Last time I was there the brunch started off a bit slow, but was quickly back on its feet, both attentive and extremely pleasant. As has been mentioned, the one drawback to the place that I've found is that it can get really loud inside when packed. -
Review from Leon S.
Washington, DC
10/18/2011
One of my new favorite spots in the city. As a matter of fact, I almost didn't write a review, because I like having little "best kept secrets" like this! However, I'm sharing my affinity for this place with the masses. They have good happy hour specials and the food is very tasty. I dare you to stand on the back patio within smelling distance of the grill and not get hungry. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!
The customer service is just OK compared to other nearby U Street restaurants & lounges, but overall I like this place. -
Review from Samantha B.
Annandale, VA
8/27/2011
This is a great little place on U Street and close to the 10th st & U st metro exit. I am not a big wine person, but the happy hour selection of wines was pretty decent featuring wine from Spain and Italy. The bartender was more than helpful when helping me select a wine.
The food is amazing. I had the fingerling potatoes and my friend had the crab cake and beef sliders. The happy hour food menu ranges from 5 to 8 dollars and the food is served pretty quick considering how busy the place is. The bar area is rather tiny, but there is a patio in the back and in the front. The dining area is a little bigger but not by much. I did not look much at the full menu but I bet the food is delicious.
I like the atmosphere and it is a great place to grab drinks with friends or to have a nice dinner. Great location too! -
Review from Nicole C.
Alexandria, VA
7/19/2011
So, I love wine and over the years have gotten to be a bit of a pseudo-expert. So take it from me Vinoteca is great. I've been there 4 times and each time was good.
The food is really good. It's European style so if you love American fare, it might catch you off guard. But don't worry, it's REALLY good.
The wine selection is very diverse and changes each season, so each visit can be a new experience. Every bartender I've met has been not only knowledgeable about wine, but also very personable.
Location is perfect. Outdoor seating is available as well. Vinoteca is a little small, but I think that adds to the charm. Very romantic as well. It's a place I like to take guys I really like to show them something special and be close. -
Review from Geneva P.
Washington, DC
12/12/2011
Great food and nice selection of wine. We went there for dinner on a Saturday night. The restaurant was full, but service was excellent. Four of us shared the cheese and charcuterie board. It was good. I had the spaghetti squash and pork belly - yummy! I also had the flight of pinot noir from Oregon, Chile and NZ - all good, especially the one from Oregon.
The only negative about this place is the noise level can be high. -
Review from basar a.
Washington, DC
Updated - 1/15/2012
Always a headache to get a table, they will reserve a table for 2 but not 3 but will for 4, each time we call, rude person answers the phone, her bad attitude is given. Good food but people who greet you at the door or answer your call never disappoints to ruin your experience.
-
Review from Toya J.
6/13/2011
Lovely place for a lunch/brunch with friends. I have passed this street on several occasions and never really noticed this place. It sort of just blends in. I arrived at 2pm and it was LOUD, so if you have a big problem with noise, this is not the place.
Our server was sweet and very attentive. They have bottomless mimosas for $10 and $5 for 1. I ordered a single and they kept refilling my glass so I got the bottomless mimosas for the price of 1. I ordered a simple bagel with lox, which came with cream cheese, chipped purple onion, and capers and small side salad of mixed greens tossed with a light vinaigrette. Fish- fresh, bagel -soft toasty edges buttery, EXCELLENT!
We went to check out the back patio, which was nice (but it was hot, warning no shade) and for whatever reason, I guess it was the mimosas, we snuck upstairs to their private room they use for tastings just to snoop around and got caught. Well the manager was not alarmed at all, she welcomed us (1 star) and showed us the room decorated with Victorian style furniture. A totally different feel from downstairs, which is art deco kind of simple and modern.
The bathroom was very clean (1 Star). Surprisingly as they just have one single bathroom for women downstairs. The environment is so cheerful, we spent over 3 hours here. As they were switching shifts and we appeared to be the only ones left. The staff paid us no mind and continued to drown us with mimosas. These people are awesome! We plan to do a Sparkling White Wine Class here in the future. -
Review from Mai K.
8/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
When I lived in the Shaw/U Street Corridor, Vinoteca was a frequent place for after-work dinner and wine. The food is consistently good, and the wine selection has always been satisfying. Additionally, we have enjoyed live salsa and people-watching with the after-work/happy hour crowd.
I would give Vinoteca 4 stars had it not been for the delay in service recently. We waited for nearly 40 minutes for our appetizers and entrees to arrive, which allowed my friend and I to catch up, though we were a bit hungry. With respect to the food itself, the heirloom tomato salad was very refreshing and light, and would have been better had there been bread to accompany the salad, and the fried chick pea patties were yummy, refined falafel. I recommend the mushroom ravioli, which came with a buttery, winey, garlicy sauce and was a perfect portion. I am not sure if my friend was as satisfied with her sirloin, however.
In the future, I look forward to enjoying the Flamenco Sundays and brunch, and am hopeful for better service. -
Review from Dave C.
Washington, DC
6/26/2011
Have never eaten at Vinoteca before and was pleasantly surprised at the variety and quality of the food. Their cheese and charcuterie selection is excellent, notably included the delicious Jamón Ibérico.
They claim to do "small plates" style, but I found the dishes to actually be reasonably-sized portions for an appetizer and a main (i.e. slightly smaller sizes than you'd get at most places). Further, they bring them out in first course, second course style, which I actually quite prefer. Especially because...
...each dish has a suggested pairing. Unlike Cork, where they do NOT bring pairings and food together (please enjoy your Rosé with your braised lamb shanks! :), at Vinoteca, the dining experience is especially well-suited to enjoying the wine and food together, but without all the pomp and circumstance of a fancy restaurant.
The pairings themselves were quite excellent; the wine paired with the bison was almost undrinkable until you had it with the food, and then it and the dish both came alive.
