Downtown & Vine

Downtown & Vine Restaurant Review:

This refined wine bar is both upscale and rustic. The space is clean and airy, with polished wooden floors and white club chairs that beckon guests to relax and stay a while. The menu is designed to complement the wine, with fresh, seasonal ingredients playing the starring role. Dishes are meant to be shared, and include a pesto chicken flatbread, deviled eggs with pickled mustard seeds and the requisite cheese and charcuterie plate. For dessert, sample a selection of one-bite delicacies from the adjoining bakery, such as the cherry chocolate streusel bar or honey almond salted caramel. Dozens of California wines are available by the glass, bottle or taste, with many are from the surrounding foothills. Suggested flights are offered, or tasters can build their own. Friday nights feature selected winemaker pairings, and the retail shop allows diners to take home their favorites.