My Mecca is "Vinoteca"

C Says...

Vinoteca isn't your typical wine bar. It boasts a lively interior decor and plenty of outdoor seating for nice DC evenings. Located near U Street, it's within walking distance to bars and clubs following your dining experience -- if that's your kind of thing. They also feature a variety of live music from flamenco night to mambo bands. While this is a nice feature, it can make for a noisy inside, so probably not the kind of place to take someone you're just getting to know.

J and I waited at the bar for a table outside (seeing as it was one of those rare June nights in DC where you don't stick to your chair or sweat thinking about how hot it is). While deciding what to order from the extensive wine menu, we were happily met with "half-priced wines from South America and Spain" night. This clearly helped us hone in on a selection and we settled on a nice wine akin to a pinot grigio. But be warned fellow diners, this half-priced wine wonderment applies to INSIDE the restaurant only. Once outside, you're slapped with full-priced bottles. Of course we weren't informed of this until after we'd ordered bottle #2 from our table outside.

The menu features a wide variety of selection and includes many "petit plates" perfect for sharing before a larger meal. I ordered the white tie pasta, which is made with house made bow tie pasta in a truffle butter sauce with Parmigiano reggiano, fresh shaved truffles and micro greens. While this dish sounds a bit heavy for a summer night, it was perfect. The sauce wasn't overwhelming and the portion was small enough so you didn't feel like a beached whale after the fact.

Overall, I think Vinoteca offers one of DC's more fun dining experiences and not in the chain restaurant way. For those of you looking for great wine and good food, this just might be your place.
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J Says...

On a rare Sunday evening dinner (Happy Father's Day), C and I headed over to U-street to try out Vinoteca. As our place in line was usurped by a rather yuppy-dressed couple, we waited for our outdoor table to be ready by enjoying the half-off bottle of Spanish (or South American, who can remember) wine at the bar. As C alluded too, the discount only applies to wine purchased inside - so shady, in my opinion.

I started with the 3 sliders: Lamb with Feta and eggplant, Bison with Mozzarella and grilled tomato, and Grilled Portabella mushroom with miso/tahini sauce. They were quite delicious and I think C was actually jealous of my selection. For the main selection, I tried to order the chicken but was stuck with the salmon (and I choose the word "stuck" quite deliberately). From what I recall, it was good but nothing spectacular. The reality is, after such a great appetizer that the meal became a letdown for me, so I enjoyed the second bottle of wine.

In the end, the service was quite good, the food tasty and, more importantly, was accurately priced, and the evening was enjoyable. It will not be a quick return for me, but I'm not opposed to another meal on Vinoteca...however, I'm more likely to go inside to order my second bottle of wine.

Vinoteca - 11th & U Streets NW, 202.322.WINE, www.vinotecadc.com