All in all, my favorite Annapolis pub restaurant. Great service and superb food. Most appropriate is the list of open wine from which to choose. Yum, yum. read more

I've been going to Grapes Wine Bar for years and always thought of it as a solid, reliable spot -- great wine, good atmosphere, and food you could count on. Unfortunately, my most recent visit was a pretty big disappointment. From what I understand, they recently let go of their head chef and are currently running things with sous chefs, and based on this experience... it shows. On Saturday, I ordered the oyster BLT. I was told ahead of time it came with four oysters, which is fine -- if those oysters actually feel like the main event. On a sourdough sandwich, you expect something substantial -- big, meaty oysters that can hold their own. Instead, what showed up were four tiny oysters that were basically lost in the sandwich. I'm not exaggerating when I say you had to go searching for them. And for $28? That's where it really lost me. I have no problem paying Annapolis prices when the food backs it up, but this felt completely out of sync. The portion, the quality, the overall execution -- none of it justified the price. It honestly felt like something that should have been half the cost... at best. Beyond that, the sandwich just felt underwhelming overall. Nothing about it stood out, nothing felt intentional, and it definitely didn't live up to what this place used to deliver. It's frustrating because this used to be a spot I'd recommend without hesitation. Right now, though, it feels like they're charging premium prices while the kitchen is still trying to figure itself out. I really hope they get things back on track, because Annapolis needs places like this to be good. But as it stands, I'd think twice before ordering anything from their specials. read more

TAKEOUT Decided to get takeout to treat ourselves to a great meal without the wait ... no issues! Same great food and solid service. For starters, the Tuna Tatar is nothing short of spectacular .. cubed and served with a delicious teriyaki sauce and crispy chips (for scooping). From the mains, really enjoyed the Bistro Filet with truffle oil .. delicious and cooked rare, so we could heat up at home. Served w a side of fries for maximum indulgence. Bon Apetite. read more

The dish I ordered was not well explained. I ordered Chicken coq au vin. Well it was like a chicken stew in a crock full of bones and shredded meat. I was under the impression it would be a plated meal needless to say it was hard to have a satisfying bite due to the fear of swallowing a bone. In addition, three meals came at the same time, but the fourth meal was somewhat delayed, which was a little irksome. The chocolate mousse dessert was about the size of a child's ice cream cup serving. The waiter and the host were very attentive and everyone is very friendly. We have been there many times before. The pot pie was excellent. we do really enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant. read more

What happened. We have visited the restaurant quite a few times over the years. Always enjoyed. Service was very slow and menu items we used to enjoy have been drastically downsized. The wagu sliders ( there used to be three now downsized to two burgers each smaller than a Swedish meatball) and flatbreads - can't even describe. Not enough dough to even put toppings on. Peach cobbler. -No crisp on top just some sort of mushy cake below bland peaches. One bright spot was the fig and whipped goat cheese appetizer. read more

I've been here over the years and pretty surprised I've never reviewed it. We decided to go early - 4pm opening and the first customers. We wandered over from the wine store. We sat at the bar and dug in. We sampled the wines featured on the chalk board. Great service by the bar server. Very attentive. We had a few charcuterie boards (I mean they're $5 a piece) to warm up. We later had some dinner - the sliders and a cone (literally) of fries. They used to have happy hour prices (maybe during covid), but now not so much. It's fine as the prices are still pretty good. Very highly recommended. read more

Grapes Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

This place is right down the street from me, and I had never been there until today. I like Wine Cellars of Annapolis, but I have gone there during daytime hours when the wine bar was not open. Today, on a stormy afternoon, I met a young friend there for happy hour. I arrived first so I ordered a glass of one of their featured wines, a pinot noir. They have many charcuterie options, so I ordered a saucisson and a brie cheese. When my friend arrived, she ordered a Tuscan blend wine. The server was great about making wine recommendations. We also ordered their goat cheese and fig appetizer, which was amazing. Both plates came with baguettes. It was a lovely way to wait out the storm. read more

Grapes Wine Bar - I enjoyed their fantastic Garden Vegetable Gnocchi tonight, with a nice AXR Sauvignon Blanc. - Wine Bars Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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Not a great night. We arrived just before 6, but were told the two empty tables inside were reserved and of the 5 tables outside only the small 2-person table at the end near the opening (it was raining) was available - all others were also reserved. So by 7:15 when we left the two inside tables were still empty, 2 of the four outside tables were empty and the other two (seating for 4) were given to walk in couples. What!?! My husband had the Blackened Snapper which he really liked. I had the lobster fritter special. You can see from the photos that you can't see any lobster in the fritters, nor could you taste any. In any event if you like fried mush, it was tasty. As I said at the start not a great night for us at such a highly rated restaurant. read more

The new year's eve dinner here was poorly done. The steak was cold when it arrived to my plate. My wife had the fish but it came.out so early she was already eating before my food came out. The four slices of potatoes and cold broccoli really made me wonder why I was paying for this meal and leave rip. Count me out for returning. Also, please fix your bathrooms. I've seen auto service centers with better bathrooms. A disgrace. ​ read more

Grapes Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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I've been going to Grapes since 2017 so I am surprised I haven't done a review for them yet. Grapes is my go to place when I am in Annapolis. Pre-Covid, it was a place to meet friends at the bar before dinner to get a good glass of wine. The food has always been good. I really enjoy the truffle fries. The menu has changed some but my recent visit had the mussels which was delicious. The mussels had enough broth to dip your bread and was enjoyable on a cold day. I always enjoy the charcuterie board and the sourdough bread. The servers are attentive and very good with the wine recommendations and they always have your water glass filled. read more

Love this place! It's so comfy, staff is great, food is delicious!!! Wine selection is awesome and barkeep is very knowledgeable!

I'm a regular customer of Grapes, especially on chicken Mondays. Tonight's experience was less than stellar. Our savory food was good , as usual . What was a total miss was the service, outside music (multiple Led Zeppelin songs not exactly fitting with the vibe) and the pumpkin creme brulee. The latter was overpriced, very small and didn't taste or consistency like creme brulee. It was very pumpkin forward and unfortunately our server never came back to see how anything was. read more

Great place. Wonderful food and friendly service. This place is small and intimate...so book a reservation if you want a table.

The food never disappoints! We choose the oysters to start. Delicious! Crunchy with breadcrumbs and bacon! I choose the short ribs served with polenta and maple glazed carrots, to die for! My husband ordered the black grouper with riced cauliflower and spinach purée. Lovely! Both meals fantastic ! We still ordered dessert. Pumpkin crème brûlée. A truly wonderful finish to the night. Our service was impeccable it felt a bit bright so I asked if the lights could be turned down and quickly the staff obliged. Lovely atmosphere. One of my favorite places in Annapolis by far! read more

This small restaurant is nice, served good food, unfortunately there is nonexistent air conditioning as they leave the front door open letting all the hot air in. also there was too much smoke from open kitchen. it is clear they do not have the correct extractor. other patrons also complained and we had to eat our food quickly rather than savior it because we were so hot. so be prepared to be hot during summer. read more

Nothing like the last experiences. Gone are any happy hour wine discounts. Oysters on the 1/2 shell took about 30 minutes, they were out of a few on the menu and the shucker destroyed them. Oysters had a very sad oversized presentation most of the ice was melted, it was just sad in every respect. Spring pasta was everything but pasta, the bowl was filled with cream and ingredients. Not the quality to match the price. Wine offerings and bar service were the high light. read more

Great local place. It took us too long to try this wine bar in Annapolis. We went on a Friday night at 9 and they were friendly and accommodating. It is attached to the Wine store next door but the door is closed in the evening. The door is a huge barn type door - which we commented on. The "small plate" servings are nice - but don't let that discourage you. There is a lot of flavor packed into those meals! The staff is very friendly and intelligent. Where do they find these quality people? The last time I ate here we sat at the bar about three years ago. It was spontaneous because the other wine place in town had a 90 minute wait. I was a bit surprised back then how expensive it was for the location - but now the area is up and coming and I think it's great. There is outdoor seating in the summer! The place can get LOUD when there are a lot of people there. The ceiling, floor and walls are all hardwood or brick and reflects all the noise. We could barely hear each other talk...but that's the atmosphere I suppose. read more

Came to Grapes for a birthday dinner. They have wonderful wine and cheese! I recommend you make a reservation on the weekend to ensure you get a table. Main qualms were our waiter kept relentlessly upselling us, the entrées were not timed at the same time, and our dinner felt rushed. This really affected this rating and our overall experience. I was told I HAD to have the house sauce but it came with my entrée. My $14 wagyu sliders came with two small sliders and they were not medium rare as asked - they were well done. I'd go back to Grapes, but for happy hour or a wine and cheese dinner only. read more

We have been coming to this place for years and always have had good food and a pleasant experience. What the heck happened? I know how hard it is to recruit, train and retain staff..but from walking in the door it was obvious that the majority of staff were inexperienced, inattentive and blasé. We were offered lukewarm water and needed to request ice. It was 91 degrees out. Starters took quite a long time to arrive, and although the oysters on the half shell were tasty, the mignonette was served at room temperature. My wife's watermelon salad was soggy and disappointing. My entree, a special, Sweet Chili Pork Belly took an incredibly long time to arrive (my wife was nearly finished) and was totally inedible. It was literally...literally, entirely fat...not even a trace of meat. . It was almost comical. I sent it back. Something I have only done once or twice before over the course of my many decades on Earth. Our server dutifully offered to get me another but mumbled "it will take awhile." Check please! Needless to say, we will not be in a hurry to return. Which is a shame since it used to be such a high-quality, little place. read more

We really like Grapes. The service is great. The food is great. The choice of wines is quite good. The prices are a bit high. When we have a chance to meet with friends the charcuterie and some wine is high on our list of options in Annapolis. Just save us a table when you go. read more

Don't listen to the negative reviews apparently these folks have lost their sense of taste. Grapes is fantastic! I've never had a bad meal there and I come often as it's right next to my yoga studio. Their wine selection changes frequently and they will let you sample before committing, which is nice because they have some pricey vino. Don't go there expecting to have a cheap meal- it's a wine bar for heavens sake people. read more

Such a fun place. My first time. I had no idea they have been here for ten years! I can't wait to get back and work my way through the delicious menu! read more

It's finally open! I'll admit, I'm partial to this place because I can walk to it, and it is also in my favorite one-stop-shop food heaven, the Clock Tower Place. This is Wine Cellars of Annapolis' very own wine bar. You can expect the same quality of service at WCA at Grapes. Patrick (owner) will walk around and say HI. They did a phenomenal job in the decor and ambiance of the wine bar. It has a very homey feel to it with stone walls and beautiful wood work on the bar. It still has a "new" look to it, but given time it will feel like your local neighborhood wine bar. The staff and service was were excellent. They are very knowledgeable in the food and wine that they serve. Their recommendations are great, I highly recommend that you seek their advice when in doubt. They will not steer you wrong. They have a small plates menu with a lot to choose from. They have a variety of sea food, meats and salads. I don't think I have ever been to a wine bar with sea food plates.....but the seared Halibut with the Ginger-Mango Puree is a must try. The cheese board and the cured meats plate is also very good, and you have to get desserts! The French Apple Tart, YUM! They have wines by the glass and the bottle. The prices very from $5/glass to $12/glass. If you are a customer of WCA, you will know that even the cheap deal wines are very good. WCA has a knack for finding great wines at super great prices. I'll give them time, Grapes will earn the fifth star when I see a Groupon/Living Social/ or Group Deals or some sort of super awesome deal. read more

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Classy, cozy, intimate spot...in a strip mall? Yes! Grapes Wine Bar is pretty close to where I live, so when you want to go out for date night but don't want to go downtown because of the boat show, this is a great place to go. It was packed on a Friday night, but we eyed a table on the enclosed and heated patio... The waiter didn't even take us to the table. Thought that was a little strange... It seems like snobby white rich people often flock here. The way certain tables were acting about the wine they were drinking and how they were treating the waitstaff was appalling, yet good people watching. Maybe because we weren't obnoxiously affluent, pretentious, or ostentatious is why our waitress ignored us multiple times throughout the evening. I did hear they were short a staff member, but if you try 5 times to gesture to a waitress politely to come to you so you can order a glass of wine...well it makes me not want to give you my business. Notice: this menu is small plates. Do not let the prices deceive you into thinking they are entrée portions. Yes it's too much money for the amount of food and quality of food your receive. Maybe you're paying for the atmosphere. We started with the hummus. The presentation was lovely... The hummus was shaped as if it were whipped cream. Unfortunately the hummus was bland, thankfully there was a bit of olive tapenade on the side... Definitely not enough tapenade on the plate! The fire roasted pita pieces were satisfying. We both ordered the duck confit ravioli for our main course. It was heavy on the sage! Some might find the amount of sage used in the sauce offensive, but I enjoyed it. The mostly absent waitress was thoughtful enough to bring us some baguette slices, since the ravioli presentation made the dish look more like soup. We used every last baguette slice to sop up the sauce. :-) I asked for the menu to check out the desserts, but the waitress insisted she recite them. That irritated me a bit since I really wanted to read them... I hate when desserts are pronounced incorrectly (I speak French). Because the desserts are tiny like the rest of the menu items, we each ordered a dessert. The chocolate lava cake with cardamom was seriously delicious... A great way to cap off your meal! My husband had the mille feuille which was light and fresh. Oh yeah, this is a wine bar. We shared a glass of rosé and a glass of Prosecco. The rosé was the best I've ever had!. The Prosecco was a suggestion from the waitress after I said I like sweet and bubbly wines. The Prosecco was dry and definitely not on the side of sweet. Is Grapes worth going to? For date night absolutely. It's romantic. Is Grapes worth the inflated prices? Hmmm.... read more

Phenomenal. Went on a Friday night for a night cap and dessert. The woman working behind the bar was very knowledgeable and served us up some excellent suggested pairings. Let me back up - when we walked through the door we felt like regulars - the man hosting the tables and seats looked up at us, gave us a big welcome and gave us seats - he was just very humble and friendly. The wines were amazing. I had a chocolate mousse with a port and it was just all amazing. Just for the atmosphere alone I would come back, but the food also looked amazing and I would like to go back for dinner. P.S. we went on an Monday night and it was VERY BUSY. Parking is great though because it's in a strip mall. They also have a patio that I hope to try out over the summer. read more

Ive only been for a quick sampler so far. If you're having a lazy saturday, dropping into Grapes after a free cheese tasting and free wine tasting is a nice opportunity to rest your feet. While the place is small, the noise is comforting and energetic, giving the place a jovial atmosphere. The decor is highly European, no doubt owing to the owner, Patrick's French roots. I only tasted the lamb meatballs on the bartendresses suggestion. I was looking for something light, which they offer plenty of, but I also wanted to get a handle on the caliber of the kitchen so I felt I needed to try something that involved a bit more care from the kitchen. I was happy to see the portion size of 4 meatballs, which came on nice bamboo skewers. The best part was my surprise when I bit into them and found a juicy spiced prune center. There was plenty if meat for flavor but the prune center is an almost Asian dumplings inspired twist to a traditional meatball, which i loved. It was the perfect way to save the dish from being overly heavy. The description says the dish is served with a goat cheese foude. I thought the sauce was goat cheese yogurt sauce that was neither stringy nor heavy like normal fondue. The bartendress told me they aren't doing any special happy hour offers yet, but I'm hoping they will offer something cool in the future. Grapes is open for lunch and dinner on the weekend, and dinner during the week. I'll be sure to check back soon for another glimpse at what they can do. I wish then the best if luck in a difficult town. read more

Grapes Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

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Food is excellent and lovely wines. The fresh French bread with a delicious olive oil was a great start and the special pasta and ramps a great spring dish. read more

This place is GREAT!! Great place in a hidden location. Wonderful variety of wines--domestic and foreign. Had great small plates to accompany and wonderful desert. Did not try salads and other offerings on this visit, but plan to return. read more

Our waiter Ricardo was fantastic! The food was delicious and the wine was perfect. Can't wait to come again!!!

A hidden gem of Annapolis. I would say one of the best spots for dinner. Great wine and frat food. The chef never disappoints and the staff is beyond friendly. They embody a feeling that everyone is a regular and they are always welcoming. Outdoor setting is a plus and they have never disappoint! I recommend the seared ahi tuna to always start with. If you have the chance, eat your way through the menu. They serve food tapas style. read more

Our go-to wine bar in Annapolis. A good selection of wines, and the bartenders are great with wine recommendations, including pouring things that aren't on the list based on what you are looking for. The food is good, although the wine outshines the food (in my vegetarian opinion). Never a cheap night out, but totally worth it! read more

I ordered 2 steak price fix meals last week and it was terrible! The price fix included a bottle of wine, chicken or steak, pom frites, salad. I ordered a side of Brussels sprouts. The steak was less than 5 oz, pom frites were cold and chewy, clearly had been cooked earlier in the day. The Brussels sprouts were soaked in bacon fat cooked with grapes. The salad was a small plain to wine with a few croutons! A joke. The bottle of wine , a Pinot noir was so bad! Light and no taste. So disappointed. I hope the money I spent goes to the employees pay through the quarantine. read more

I'm feeling good about Grapes - not so good about their bartender. I think her adorable accent lets her get away with being an absolute tard but if I'm spending $15 on a glass of wine, I want you to give it to me in a glass without a fingerprint on the INSIDE of the glass. Ewwww. I also want you not to look like I have asked you to go spend a nice summer in Mogadishu when I ask for my check (because I've been sitting here with an empty glass for 10 minutes, and if you're not going to ask if I need anything else, I'm going to leave). Didn't eat, but the small plates looked amazing, I loved the ambiance...next time I'm in town, I will definitely be back. Sure hope she's gone though! read more

4.5 rating for Grapes Wine Bar. Finally went here last night for a glass of wine and a couple small plates. Grapes has wine by the glass specials each night, so we ordered the $6 garnacha. Before ordering, our server let us try the two wines we were debating, which I think is great and practically unheard of at a bar/restaurant. We had the charcuterie board which was phenomenal- and it had delicious bread (French baguette) with it. Dare I say I haven't had a baguette that good since being in Europe........ We also had the flatbread du jour which was so yummy. Highly recommend both of those small plates, and they both deserve a 5 star rating. The small plates which get a 3 star were the summer pasta (a bit too acidic) and the lamb sliders (just not my personal taste). We ended the evening with espresso, which is the only coffee item on the menu. That is fine with me because I prefer to end my meals with a shot of espresso. The ambiance and staff were warm and friendly. Definitely rocking the neighborhood vibe they are going for. So Grapes gets a 4.5 for the overall experience. Grapes is a place you can go for a before dinner drink, full lunch or dinner (remember, small plates), or after dinner drink or dessert with espresso. read more

Great cozy place. food is tasty , excellent. we loved the ambiance. We went on a Thursday night at the bar,everybody was friendly and seems very happy. read more

Had dinner there this week. Ordered the Scallops. It was $21. for two scallops and a pile of potatoes. Very dear price for so little. Won't do that again. read more

Didn't have any food but the smells coming from the kitchen made us want to stay. Not a huge wine selection for a wine bar but plenty to choose from. Large number of California wines. I had a Pinot from wiliamette valley. The decor and ambience was great. read more

This place was really good about 2 years ago. They must have lost their chef since then. Last night, a Saturday, we were there around 8 PM and had one of the worst meals in years. This, at a supposedly nice, fairly upscale, restaurant. The Bouillabaisse I ordered was unrecognizable glop - a thick, yellow mess filled with potato chunks and overcooked chunks of shellfish, topped with slices of bread lathered with another disgusting type of unrecognizable glop. My wife's margarita flatbread was another mysterious mess that, while barely potable, was nowhere near palatable. Our waitress was pleasant, but too casual - more like a Pizza Hut server than I would expect in a place like this or for the 20% I gave her. She just underscored the fall this place has taken since my last visit. I will not be back until I hear good things from trusted friends or reputable reviewers the this place is under new management. read more

Now that their chef is no longer there, line cooks do their best to recreate the fabulous dishes. Unfortunately, they cannot compare to the talented Chef Vicki. I won't be going back. It is sad. They had a great thing going there for a while. read more

Grapes Wine Bar - This used to be a great place to gather. Now this place serves mediocre food that is overpriced. - Wine Bars Near Me - Annapolis, Maryland

The food is good and the drinks are good. And there is even a nice aesthetic appeal outside. However when my friend and I went a couple weeks ago, the service was nothing to write home about. Just to clear the air, yes it was a weekend but they were not busy by any means of measures. They had adequate even in pandemic standards. But in the moment we were seated it was clear that service was not a priority. The majority of customers there were African-American. And a good percentage of the white staff we're not. I don't want to say that that was an issue, but when our table and others were asking for some more things such as lowering the shades because of the sun being too hot the hostess or manager that was out front listening to our request, of course pacified them by saying she would see what she could do but never did anything. And all was required was to lower the shade. Our waitress who we thought we were going to have, turns out couldn't wait our table. We ended up with a nice older woman but her attention to detail was anything but up to the challenge of being a waitress. She forgot to take orders and put them into the system. We were consistently repeating ourselves about how we would like the food brought out. And then when she needed more clarity about bringing out everything at the same time, she told us that she didn't agree or she didn't understand multiple times. When we were missing food she try to blame it on us or point out that at least we got some of her food. And then when she looked back on her hand written note she realize that she was in the wrong and instead of admitting it said that there was a mixup in the kitchen but we clearly watched her go and add the order again and heard her say she forgot. I don't know how many times we asked for a check within a span of 30 minutes with 3 to 4 different people we asked. In the end the cost of two people going out to eat there didn't equal The hassle. I'm not sure if I'll go back here again or anytime soon. Maybe it was just a fluke that particular day. But if you are in the service industry you should be in the service industry. Tip fairly and according to experience given during our dining. Nobody lost their temper. There was no ill words exchanged. Just great disappointment. read more