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Vinotecca
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Downtown Royal Oak
417 S Main St
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 544-6256
417 S Main St
Royal Oak, MI 48067
(248) 544-6256
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Best Nights:
- Wed, Thu, Fri
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
11 reviews for Vinotecca
Dustin and I really like our wine. I'm not ashamed to call myself a wino. We love tasting new and different wines. We have many aging bottles from our wine tasting trips through out California. But, we don't really do wine bars. Usually they are just so uptight with an older crowd - I mean I'm thinking Yuppie-ville Napa valley (a.k.a Yontville, CA)
Vinotecca was different. Due to its Royal Oak location, the crowd was not old and stuffy at all. On the contrary, the patrons seemed to be 20's/30's enjoying the wine and food. We sat at the bar, and the bar tenders were very attentive while manning a busy bar. I liked the wine menu for beginners, with the symbols next to the wine descriptions.
We were not very hungry so we just shared one of the larger appetizers. It was a very nice night of talking, sitting, enjoying the wine, and snacking - much like we would have done at home.
I am not a huge fan of most bars in Royal Oak, but I happen to really enjoy Vinotecca. I was surprised by dea a.'s review of the place, but I usually come here to catch up with some friends over wine and don't pay much attention to the rest of the crowd.
I have eaten here once and gotten some apps a handful of times. I think the food is ok, but prefer to come here just for wine. I love having the option of ordering a flight and that the waitstaff is actually knowledgeable about the wine. They have made excellent recommendations a number of times.
If you enjoy wine then I highly recommend attending one of their wine events. Some of them can be a tad pricey, but they are well done and a really good time. I recently attended their 4th anniversary party and had a fabulous evening. They had yummy food, a cooking demonstration, a smelling station (smelling different wine notes) and gave out generous tastes with some education.
My only gripes with Vinotecca are their hours (they close kinda early for a bar) and that the space is small so you usually have to wait for a table or even a space at the bar.
W-I-N-E. And no not the kind you're cranky 2-year-old loves to annoy you with. I'm talking delicious red, white, pink, and sparking forms of liquid goodness you enjoy with a side of Gouda fromage and pan. What I absolutely love about Vinotecca is the atmosphere. The bar has rows upon rows of bottles of wines. Small tables with bar stools adorn the majority of the space and in the back there are a few tables with chairs.
Besides luscious wines, Vinotecca also offers different beers and liquors and several cocktails. If wine is not your first choice, I would recommend the Bellini-it's one of my favorites. Oh and Vinotecca is connected to Bastone, so if you're into beer, it's no worries.
I'm a Merlot drinking kind of gal so any kind of red wine is a winner in my book. The Malbec and Chianti are one of m favorites. I've never tried any of the white wines but that's only because I prefer red over white.
Vinotecca also offers a complete dinner menu. The mussels and Belgian frites are pretty good as well as the Artisan cheese sampler.
I would recommend Vinotecca to anyone who is interested in having a quick drink or a long evening of wine tasting.
The Sister of Ann Arbor's Vinology. I love this place for wine. It's a cool atmosphere and the wine selection is fantastic and the staff is usually very cool.
I went here yesterday because I was wine-buzzed from a wine tasting I was at. I figured I may as well continue where I left off and get a couple of glasses.
I did. The good part about it is it was happy hour so All glasses of wine And Appatizers were half off - YAY!! I had the Mussles and Fritzes - they were really delicious and strangely they did go together.
Im a red-wine guy when I drink and I have always had good recommendations when I have been here. There is one BAD I must give it, though they countered it with a Good.
There is a no-try policy. I mean, there are so may wines in here it is hard to say what I will like or not. Yes, I could come to a wine tasting here and get a smidgen of knowledge, but If I want to try something new on the fly it makes it REALLY Difficult if I can't try a couple of sips before I say, "Filler up!"
I had a friendly chat with the manager about this - not to be like the complainy guy but just to find out what they were thinking. I mean, working at places with a variety of wine in the past, I would usually make educated guesses BUT then I would still give a little sip before pouring because of one All Important LAW - I can know Everything there is to know about wine - I can know what every wine behind my bar is like BUT I do NOT have the nose and I do not have the Palate of the person I am serving the wine to. It is impossible for me to really know what someone else will like - I can only know what I like. That's why we as bartenders offer sips.
This is what I explained to the manager when she suggested that they would like to think their Bartenders and Servers had enough wine knowledge where giving sips isn't necessary.
Well - agree to disagree but to their credit, though I'm not sure it made much sense they were willing to, if I did not like the wine I was given, exchange it for something completely different. I had to do this twice. I described what I was looking for and thought it could be summed up pretty closely in a Merlot.
They had 1 Merlot in house! Come On People! It was a stupid Movie and Not even a Good Stupid Movie! Let's all be good little Automotrons and assume that because it's in a movie it must be true. Meanwhile The first glass I picked after himming and hawing about the No-Try policy.
Yuck - not my gig. Then the second after much description I let the bartender pick; even worse!! The third - I put on my Jedi Blinders and Vibed like I do at the Wine Store - If I like the label I'll like the wine: 99% accurate.
Done deal. The third glass was Yummy. Good thing too, because I literally said I was starting to feel bad sending glasses back and that if the third one was no good I was done trying.
Anyway, it was still an overall pleasant experience. I like the atmosphere and the vibe. I like the people that come here. I like the staff and I always End Up liking the wine.
After all is said and done I do recommend this place to the wine enthusiast.
P.S. I am NOT a wine snob.
To counter Aaron K, I prefer Bastone more.
Vinotecca is the place to be if you are a skinny, snooty blond chick looking for some sap to buy you and your friends tons of drinks even though you don't plan on "repaying" the favor by sleeping with him. The women are dressed to impress, the men... what men? There were tons of pretty young girls there out with their girlfriends. It was a little too superficial for my tastes. A little too obnoxious.
I did not enjoy the prices of their wines. I laughed when I saw the wine flight they chose -- all Michigan wines -- all that I've had before -- and all for a "modest" price of 18 flipping dollars. You've got to be kidding me. 3-1 ounce pours of shitty Michigan wine for $18?! HA! I think I'll just order a beer from next door's Bastone instead. Don't get me wrong, I adore Black Star Farms, but almost no Midwest winery makes a good pinot noir (and if there is one, I have yet to have it!).
On the plus side, the rare plus side in Michigan, there was NO SMOKING. Why can't they do that in Bastone? Wtf?
I love this wine bar! I've ventured here several times & love it more with each visit. John the bartender recommends the perfect wine that satisifies your tastebuds. He's great company, so sit at the bar if there's room.
Each appetizer compliments the wine in every woody, fruity, or nutty sort of way. I recommend a cheese plate. Three different cheeses of your choice served with grapes, crackers, and a fresh baguette. Or maybe a goat cheese brushetta. The mussles & fritters are my favorite.
They have a reasonable happy hour. Half off wine & most apps between 4-6pm.
If you like wine & cheese & yummy appetizers as much as me, you'll love Vinotecca.
So glad that Royal Oak has a wine bar to counteract all the Woody's and Rocks on Thirds...and a good one to boot. The wine list is extensive, and several drinking options from glasses to carafes to full bottles allow one to sample or imbibe as varied a selection as one wishes.
It's a cozy space. We always seem to end up at the front booth area or the bar, which is fine. The decor is soothing and unobtrusive and service is excellent. Good selection of small plates and appetizers to enhance the drinking experience.
I would recommend this Wine Bar for anyone looking for a place to meet a particular person for the 1st time or maybe before or after dinner. This is also a great place to sit at the bar and maybe make a new friend or two. Being one who loves Wine Bars with a vast Selection and beauty of Wine bottles and rich dark woods I can appreciate Vinotecca. If anything the atmosphere is good and the tapas type menu is decent for appetizers if you want something small. I always recommend the Cheese and Fruit plates at Wine Bars and theirs didnt' dissapoint. This Wine Bar also serves up pizzas (i believe brick oven) I didnt' get to try one on this visit, but they looked very good passing from the kitchen. i was dissapointed that we were not allowed to sample the 2 wine choices we were trying to decide upon, especially with the intent of purchasing a full bottle. I find that irratating when bottles are marked up over 70%. However maybe this was a waiter issue, he placed on the establishment! The prices are pretty much as you would expect. 6.5 - 12 per glass.
Good place on a good night in Royal Oak...
I tend to rate places like this based on the economy so, if you must spend i would say this is 3 out of 5!
Beautiful wine bar located as part of Quad - restaurant Bastones. The wines are used to decorate one wall stacked high by variety. The staff can recommend and will even let you taste a sample of something new. The menu is different from Bastone's mostly tapas, the filet medallions are excellent and then of course the cheese/fruit plate really compliments and sets your tastebuds mood. Lots of Cherve, French, or hearty Blue Cheese and Swiss are offered then served with piles of fresh grapes strawberries and raspberries. One cheese is drizzled with a red wine reduction. So much fun to try. The morrocan plate came with Tabbouleh, Hummus, grilled lamb and different olives. Also found a not often seen African Semillion wine - so good. So read the menu carefully and try one of the wine flights to find a new favorite. Also craft beers are offered made next door.
I don't have much use for a wine bar as none of my friends really want to go out to a wine bar. But if we were to go to a wine bar, Vinotecca is where we'd go without hesitation. It is in a prime location in downtown Royal Oak. They have a vast variety of good wines to choose from, as well as options for how you may want it served to you. Inside, the atmosphere is intimate and interesting. And if you are looking for something to eat, they do offer (good) food as well.
Great wine list and wonderful recommendations. they offer casual wine flights if you are so inclined. Prices are about what you'd expect. Didn't have a chance to try the food unfortunately. I had a Granacha which left me thirsty for more. My partner had a moscato d'asti from Umbria which she loved, as she prefers sweet whites in the summer. If you like wine and are finding limited choices in the metro detroit area, please check it out.
