The Hidden Vine Wine Bar Awards

The Hidden Vine Wine Bar Restaurant Review:

Starting at 4 p.m., a professional crowd flocks to this welcoming-yet-sophisticated hideaway concealed down an alley in the shade of the Transamerica Pyramid. The draws? Wines by the glass, flight or bottle, good small plates and, surprisingly, bocce ball. The darkened, brick-and-wood-beam interior manages to be both spacious and cozy, with high ceilings and lots of breathing room, coupled with low, comfortable lounge seating, two-tops, a fireplace --- all the trappings required for romance or simple conversation. At the front, a banquet-size communal table in a dedicated room provides ample seating for a large group or several small ones. An enclosed outdoor area (with said bocce court) culls lively crowds and competition. The food is worth sampling --- gourmet sliders, cheese and charcuterie plates as well as flatbreads. Seasonal salads, too, are nicely put together with ingredients from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market --- we tried one with golden beets and grilled local peaches. End on a sweet note with XOX Truffles. Wines are, of course, a focus, with different international regions highlighted monthly and more than 40 available by the glass.