| rev:text
| - Chic and modern decor, with a worldly and dark vibe that is a perfect nook for some low profile gatherings for either couples or slightly larger parties. Sadly, though, this place strays from greatness with their rather limited wine selection and a minimal, safe food selection.
I stopped in last weekend with the wife and another couple friend for the specific purpose of having some good wine and conversation. We grabbed a nice corner of couches that was perfect for the purpose of the evening. The lighting was pretty dark, save for the lit candle centerpieces on the tables. Candles should make a serious comeback- perfect mood lighting that gets lost with larger scale dining rooms. Points to Wine Loft for this.
However, irony starts to set in when you go to look at the wine list offered by "Wine Loft." All the basics are covered here: chard, zin, cab, and sparkling, but the options are all safe plays- well-known brands find their way onto and all over the menu. Nothing exciting, nothing new and tempting. On top of that, I brought a couple bottles of my own wine and asked if they could open and pour with an appropriate corkage fee- common at most restaurants. No dice! The server said they flat out don't allow outside bottles into Wine Loft. I get it- they want to see you buy their stuff, but you can kiss the die-hard wine community buh-bye with this policy.
The other thing I questioned is their price by the glass vs. price by the bottle option. Basically, all their wines are served by the glass and if you want a bottle just multiply that price x4. That's the usual number of glasses one should get from a bottle, but that just reinforces the idea that all the wine choices here are safe bets- nothing special. Nothing rare or interesting enough you would only sell it by the bottle (and command the typical premium for this). This misses the mark in a wine bar that otherwise is designed for and has the execution to attract an upper end of the market.
We did have a couple artisan cheese plates, which were served with a decent portion of 3 different cheese and a number of crackers, fruit slices, and some almonds. No problem here, but again, the cheese selections were all safe and borderline "artisan." There was a gorgonzola, a brie, and two others that obviously didn't register enough with me. No options to craft your own mix of cheeses, no note of who actually made those cheeses or where they come from. Yep, nice and safe again.
There are a handful of other appetizer-type choices on the menu and a couple desserts. I can't speak to those other than to say that I'd not try to make dinner out of them. All starters or finishers, at best.
I'd go back just for the ambiance this place exudes, but I'd definitely plan to eat elsewhere and I'd not go here again with the idea to really drink some serious wine. Maybe this is a good place to meet up, have a first drink, and then head out elsewhere? That's the most you'll get from me when you stick to playing it safe.
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