1618 Wine Lounge

2 Reviews on “1618 Wine Lounge”

• FredB

  Crowded, Loud, Over-Priced, And Throw In Poor Service. Some restaurant reviews write themselves, others are a struggle – and usually the struggle is to reconcile what you felt and experienced with what you perceived others felt and experienced, either by the actions and reactions you observed, or by the written impressions they’ve provided. In the end, you’re the best judge of what YOU like, and tastes differ – differ very much !We liked, very much liked, much of the food here – and we grazed among five small plates – the flavors, the creativity, the freshness, and the presentations were pretty much exceptional – a bump here & there, but much to like. The value, the service, and the ambiance were different matters all together.We tried a Grilled Skirt Steak Taco and a Blackened Flounder Taco (the 2 for $16), which were pretty good – not as good as the fish tacos at its sister restaurant, but pretty good – and way over priced for what you get. The Chipotle Hot Sauce that came with it (meant for the steak taco) was quite nice – we did not get the Mango Coulis meant for the flounder taco – one of several serving oversights and missteps.The Pan Seared Scallops ($11) came with small peppers stuffed with couscous & paella and a Spanish chorizo lemon butter sauce. The peppers were outstanding, though the only stuffing we encountered was couscous, definitely no paella. There was a really nice flavor to the lemon butter, with a slice or two of chorizo in it. The scallops (there were only 2 – pricey for $11) were way over salted – when I mentioned it to the waiter, I was told it was because of the PROSCIUTTO – who knew!The Crispy Oysters ($11) were outstanding. It came with grilled heart of romaine (very little grilling noted here), red onions, sirracha coulis, and creamy Maytag (blue cheese) aioli – and there were six or seven perfectly fried oysters on this dish. The Duck Fat Pomme Frites ($7) were ok, but there was too much garlic.The service was poor and got worse as the place got busy – by 6:45 there were almost no seats available, even at the bar. The waiter was either new or unfocused – I ask several questions about the coulis, etc and he had to check on each question. His explanation on the saltiness of the scallops was pure BS. And we ordered a couple of glasses of Port, and a Chocolate Trifle dessert – and after 25 minutes, we were told he didn’t realize we wanted dessert, so nothing had been ordered. Simply bad service.This is not a place to enjoy a comfortable, relaxing meal – most of the tables are small (no, really small) and it requires a balancing act to handle 2 drinks, 2 water glasses, and a couple of plates. The tables are close together, and the place is noisy when busy – normal conversation is difficult. By the end I simply wanted it over, and I wanted out of there.Obviously this is a popular place, very much a meeting place, more so with the larger food menu, but it is not a place I would come back too – over priced, uncomfortable, poor service, and very noisy. I guess I’ll be in the minority here, but I like to enjoy my meals, and I certainly didn’t here.10 Jun, 2011Nice Setup, Nicely Done. This recently opened spot, brought to you by the folks that operate 1618 Seafood on West Friendly, is very attractively decorated in a modern, trendy style. There are a few tables, a number of 2 seat cubes with soft comfortable chairs, and stools at the bar. The ceiling is open to the top, much like the place on Friendly, the lighting is soft, the entire place cozy.They offer full bar service, highlighting quality beer and wine selections, with some daily specials. The wines by the glass can be a taste, 1/2 glass, or full glass, allowing for sampling at reasonable prices. Cocktail prices are reasonable, Ketel One on the rocks at $7, and a nice pour.The food is basically a Charcuterie Board setup with 6 plates featuring all cheeses on some, all seasoned meats on some, and some that are mixtures. You can purchase individual cheese or meat items as well. The plates are priced at $8 for single, $14 for double.Among the cheese offered are Asiago, aged Gruyere, Comte, Crucola, Danish Havarti, goat cheese, provolone, triple creme brie, and more. Meats include Chorizo, Salami, Serrano ham, prosciutto piccante, prosciutto di parma, and soppressata. This is a great place for a lite meal with a variety of wines, or a nice way to finish the evening with meats, cheese, and vino. They have no kitchen facilities here, and limited refrigeration, so cheese and seasoned meats, with some nice bread is the entire fare. The service is friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable as to the fare, the beverages, and even the background music. This is a nice, relaxing place, we’ll see if its limited menu, good beverage choices, and great service will be successful.

  November 1, 2014, 9:51 pm

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• Beth Cloer Welsh

  Awesome!. Great food,drinks and wine. half price bubbly on mondays!

  April 20, 2013, 3:45 pm

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