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I’ve noticed the last few months there are quite a few new joints opening all up and down Ventura Blvd.  I’m officially excited. 

That’s the good news.  Here’s the bad news - or part of it:  you have to look really hard and keep that head on a swivel ’cause they open - then it seems they close the very next week.  Add to that, they are often next to some really obscure places, um, like We The People.  I won’t go into why I had to visit the venerable WTP several times over the last few months - but suffice it to say when I did I noticed a new joint - Vino Wine and Tapas Room.

Wine?  Small bites?  Hello! This is the kind of thing I can really get all worked up over.  Let’s just say I walked into this place wanting to love it.  They were going to have to work really hard to make me hate them.

I’ve been to Vino a few times since its soft opening and each time I’ve walked through the door I’ve thought - “almost.”   The mood is all dark woods, plush leather and candlelight and they always seem super happy to see you.  One time we sat at the bar towards the back, another at one of  their tables for two and last time we sunk into one of the comfy leather couches at the front.   

Each time we were given a wine and tapas menus immediately although once we waited close to ten minutes for our first wine order to be taken – what??  Really?  The server did apologize profusely and was extra attentive after that.   I’ll cut her some slack.

We started off with a glass of the J. Lohr Cabernet and the EOS zinfandel both decent glasses of wine but nothing to write home about.

For food we had the Roasted Almonds and Marinated Olives and the Calamari The almonds were nice and warm and the olive selection was pretty good.  The calamari was great – although you gotta really try hard to screw up something deep fried right?  It came with two dipping sauces – an aioli and a marinara sauce.  The sauces were respectable if not mind blowing but the plating was really lovely.

From there we tried the Chicken and Potato Croquette.  Why, why, why do people put these kind of dishes on the menu?  Why?  I don’t think I’ve ever had this kind of dish taste as good as it sounds and shocker of all shockers, this was no exception.  The chicken and the potato were dried out, the breading a bit thick and the cheese fell flat. 

To go with the croquette (or rather to wash it down) we had a couple glasses of white wine - an Albarino by Vionta – from Spain and a Frei Brothers Chardonnay.

Here is where my biggest disappointment with Vino Wine and Tapas Room rears it’s ugly head. Hey, I am by no means a wine “aficionado”  AT ALL! But I do like to try new wines and was excited by the prospect of having a local place that could introduce me to things I couldn’t get off the shelf at Bev Mo. 

I actually cut and paste every wine off their list onto the Bev Mo site (yes, I have too much time on my hands. I know.)   Guess what?  I’d say 95% were available there.  C’mon people!    I get that they have to have a stable of wines for their day to day menu – but how about a revolving list (on a chalkboard behind the bar perhaps?) that has little heard of wineries or vintages you can’t get every day.  If you are going to call yourself a “wine room” then be a wine room dammit. 

Okay….getting down from my soap box.  

Our next culinaryorder was the Filet Mignon.  This was seriously delicious.  The steak was cooked perfectly  (medium rare) and the baby vegetables were tender yet toothy (isn’t “toothy” just a fun word to say?) The sherry sauce was so yummy we wished we’d had a giant baguette to sop it all up.    We also tried the mini burgers. In a word - tasty.    Instead of French fries the chef sauteed thin slices of potato and served them as “chips.” Yummy. 

Over all, the multiple experiences at Vino were never 100%.  Potential?  Yes.  The mood was great, the service was warm and very well meaning – if a little disorganized - and the food was over all pretty good - showing lots of promise.  If they can get their act together concerning their wine list, I think Vino Wine and Tapas Room could be a place I’d go to often - and take my friends to.  Crossing my fingers….

Vino Wine and Tapas Room:  18046 Ventura Blvd.  Encino, CA 91316.  818.342.2525 

By Erinn (see more of her posts). You can find more of Erinn's writing at her own website Sunday Dish.