THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Grape Escape

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED The Grape Escape Restaurant Review:

At last, a wine bar that understands the art of wine-tasting, seamlessly pairing well-coordinated flights, half-glasses and bottles with noshes and small plates. The Grape Escape’s squash-colored walls add dimension to the comfy space that overflows onto a street-side cafe, and a stark black autographed cello carries out the theme of the neighboring Bass Performance Hall. Waiters and bar attendants enthusiastically introduce patrons to new tastes, with equal respect for the oenophile and the novice; samplings are presented on a numbered placemat, following the order on the menu, lest you mix up the logo stemware---which could be upgraded in quality. Take off with Champagne and sparklings, and then cruise the Chardonnays, Pinots, Cabs and Meritages before landing among the late harvests and ports. If flights aren’t your fancy, select a bottle from the 80 on the list of nicely priced and balanced offerings. Traditional cheese and pâté plates hold their place with delicately prepared contemporaries such as ratatouille Provençal, salmon bruschetta or antipasto Mediterraneo. Munch a heap of authenic pomme frites---the owners carry French passports---sprinkled with herbes de Provence. The food is top notch, but it’s the wine that is the pilot here.