date: 3/31/09
location: minneapolis
grade: b

tuesday, tuesday, tuesday.... not at the metrodome.... half priced wine night. bottles, yes, but glasses also. more common to have half-price wine nights as the economy gets worse, but still a good deal.

i am starting to think that it's good to have me around when you wish to order a bottle of wine, as it's getting to be so that the one that i want is frequently not in, so we get what seems to be one that's similar, but at a higher price point, for the lower price. in this case, we split a bottle of the rumball sparkling shiraz.... or maybe sparkling merlot.... out of australia (not a rum ball, which can be a tasty cookie... and rumball is apparently the winemaker's actual last name, in as far as my lazy self can google and check) for $11 (after the discount). most *retail* price points have it at $26. and a nice wine it is... you get the features of a red crossed with the best of the champagne method. nice.

it went well with the other person's selection (it was a small restaurant club), the somewhat salty bison blue burger that came with "sweet tomato" (which sounds like an old-fashion curse to me) and some truffle fries that were about a minute overdone ($10.50), so vincent once more has nothing to worry about. so yes, they do have more than starters here- they have sandwiches, entrees, pastas, etc. and desserts for meat eaters and vegetarians. so there?

the wine also went well with my selections. i had a bowl of the soup of the day ($6 for a smallish bowl), leek with cabrales. unlike the beet and blue cheese salad at strip club, the cheese was spot on here- flavorful without being overwhelming. and since i live for fried things, i also got the calamari with chipotle aioli ($4) off the tapas menu. it was a bit salty, but i like it that way. not the best, not the worse. the aioli went really well with the overdone fries.

and to end... we found out that there is something that makes humboldt fog goat’s milk cheese even better than it is normally. it is possible. the boozy cherries they served it with pushed it to new heights ($4). it was also on the tapas menu. loved it.

so hey, i went with just first courses.

service started slow (it took a while to get menus) but sped up to quite decent with refills and explaning why we couldn't get more bread nownownow (in the oven,). so the bread was tasty and warm, but sometimes overly done with blackened bits. between that and the fries and the salty, the kitchen stand a bit more focus when it comes to details. but if you'll notice carefully... my meal was better than the other persons. wicked strange, no?

the atmosphere is a bit on the low light side, with the darker woods, brown and orange sort of palate. the bathroom is interestingly shaped, and has many thoughtful details (except putting a trash can by the door).

it's a bit impressive that a such a tiny kitchen can turn out a variety of options. and i did enjoy the somewhat cheese-centric menu and the slight informality.

it's a place where we saw from what looked like dates, to families with small kids, to solo eating at the bar... it fits a need within the neighborhood with reasonable price points in a range from the $3-8 or so tapas to the mid-teens to mid-twenties entrees and pastas, plus the kids menu. it's above average, but could use a bit more consistency. and i would guess a better traffic flow, it's in a bit of an obscure spot.