Piri Piri Half Chicken was one of the best meals I've ever had. Savory and delicious with each…read morebite! The sauce was so delicious I ask for another side of it. The rice, sauce and chicken combo left me fully satisfied, which is typically hard to do. This dish delivers on its promise. I took an extra one home. Thanks to the chef!! The ambiance is nice and intimate with soft lighting and beautiful walls and wine and hard liquor. Great for an intimate date night. We came for a family birthday dinner and they delivered! Description: A Swahili pepper marinated half chicken. Served over our fragrant calypso rice and flavor packed Mojo Rojo sauce. Topped with seasoned fresh cilantro and shaved shallots.

Brunch review only: I was sad to have not enjoyed this place for brunch and did not want to leave a…read morereview. Needs flavor, not salt, just flavor. To sum up our visit, the food didn't have any wow factor at all. Chicken texture is nice and crispy but no seasoning penetrates the actual inside. Waffle, same thing -- fluffy perfection, missing a buttermilk, vanilla or important flavor component. We tried a wine flight -- so so. Most of them were very sweet. Reluctantly (and both excitedly) ordered a dozen oysters -- ate two of twelve. We paid for them but they weren't fresh and they were huge. We could both smell and taste them. House-made biscuits needed a buttermilk taste added and jelly tasted like your everyday Market's Best/Welch's strawberry jam. I would come back for dinner as the menu sounds AMAZING, but unfortunately brunch is overhyped. Maybe not if you have a few drinks first, but true experience of the food was below par.

I finally made my way to Triangle Wines and honestly... this place is such a low-key gem in the…read moreneighborhood. The space is small but thoughtfully curated -- part boutique wine shop, part cozy tasting room. You can tell they really put intention behind their selection, with wines from all over (and even some organic/vegan-friendly options if that's your thing). I love that you can grab a glass, do a flight, or just browse and take a bottle home. The rotating wine list keeps things interesting, so it doesn't feel like the same experience every time. The vibe is super relaxed and unpretentious -- definitely the kind of place where you can show up whether you know your wines or just want to sip something cute and call it a day. Bonus points for being able to bring in food from nearby spots since they keep it simple with snacks. Overall, it's giving neighborhood favorite energy. Perfect for a casual date, catch-up with friends, or a solo "I deserve a glass of wine" moment.

The parking lot is big so no issues with parking unless you prefer to be closer towards the door…read more There's two entrances; one in front of the store and the other is in the back where all of the parking is located. I went thru the back door. It's a small boutique wine shop. The restroom is clean and to your right as soon as you enter. A water station to your left. They have several tables and a bar to sit at. Pictures on the wall complimenting the vibe. Everything was clean. The shop is beautiful in its own way. The music wasn't loud, it was just right. It's definitely a welcoming atmosphere. I let the host know that I was there for the wine tasting and he immediately set me up with a menu and a table. I decided on the "shareable flights". I then chose 2 white and 2 red wines. Didn't have a preference so I went with his recommendations or suggestions and allowed him to choose lol. The individuals who were there last night were mostly locals. Had the pleasure of meeting an older couple (Erin and Conrad Stanley) in which I ended up giving my last flight to them while we had an awesome conversation lol. Everyone was friendly and real cool. Not making me feel out of place nor uncomfortable. I also met another couple after they left. I went to the restroom, came back and a couple was standing near my table. So into his conversation, dude sat down then apologized for sitting at my table and I told him it's all good haha. Next thing you know we're all laughing and conversing haha. I really enjoyed my 3 hrs here. I had a great experience. Took a cross word puzzle for my entertainment and ended up meeting some new wonderful people instead. I will definitely be back. No food but you can order from "Olive It" which is next door. I'm bringing my charcuterie board next time tho. They make you feel like you're at home. The service was hospitable. I also had the pleasure of seeing the owners and interacting with the wife as she cleaned the tables and made her rounds checking up on all of the guests. The husband was doing his part also, entertaining at the bar lol and providing whatever services needed. I love it... They do their best to provide professional and friendly service. I have no complaints whatsoever. I was even told they allow dogs. Big win !!! lol

Love everything about this local gem. Sara is lovely as well…read more The bar or a table... every spot is cozy! Nice service and looooove their specials and all the raviolis. Fave is the polenta w ragu.

A quick shout-out to my favorite Italian restaurant! Although I haven't visited in person lately,…read moreI still order delivery through Grubhub. My go-to dishes are the Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe and the Bruschetta Avocado. The Cacio e Pepe may literally mean "spaghetti with cheese and pepper," but it's so much more than that. The pasta is perfectly coated in a silky, savory sauce made from Pecorino Romano and freshly cracked black pepper--simple ingredients that come together into something incredibly rich, comforting, and flavorful. The Bruschetta Avocado is another favorite and pairs beautifully with the pasta. I highly recommend both. And I'm sure Sara, the owner and operator, is still as chill and wonderful as ever.

Wow! All the food here was so delicious. Nice presentation, flavors on point. Service was…read moreimmaculate. Really nice La-di-da atmosphere. I think I was most impressed by the little cheese and wine market. And the music playlist, the music was fire. Perfect for the 40+ crowd. There is valet parking and on street parking, which might be difficult.

What a beautiful visit to Wally's. it was my first time at this spot and I definitely don't think…read moreit'll be my last. One of the best parts about being a working professional is the occasional dinner out with your colleagues. My boss was in town and wanted to take a few of us out and chose Wally's for the occasion. This place is definitely so LA, when we walked in the doors were held for us and we were quickly greeted and seated by the lovely hostess. After talking shop and perusing the menu, we opted for a bottle of bordeaux. Super delicious and served in super classy, giant and thin wine glasses. To start, we had hummus, the endive salad, and the baked brie. Everything was delicious! My favorite being the endive salad and baked brie. The salad was tossed in a delicious vinaigrette with walnuts and cheese. The baked brie was great served in toasty bread and shaved truffle on it. The truffle made the brie super flavorful. For my main, I opted for the Steak Frites. Cooked perfectly medium rare (more rare than medium - my favorite way to ask) with yummy french fries and all of the bearnaise + ketchup. Totally great! Great meal at Wally's! It was great catching up in a beautiful setting with wonderful food and awesome staff. Looking forward to visiting again!

Wow what an incredible place. My best friend and I went for the first time on a Wednesday just to…read moreget a glass of wine after work and it was absolutely incredible! The bartenders were great! Everyone there is so friendly. The music was fire! Definitely a vibe and a great spot to go for a drink with friends or on a date. Also they have a hand painted mural on the wall that's stunning. Must go for sure!

Drink was not worth the money it was just ice and alcohol. Like the drink was gone in 3 sips…read morebecause it was all ice. It also did not taste like a peach cobbler, I was expecting more. I was thinking like vanilla rum with cinnamon nutmeg with some peach schnapps but no. $18 wasted. Vibes were there, music bomb, I had there chicken tenders as well they were good. But the cocktail was a no go for me. Nice ambience, parking was on the street but definitely accessible. Service was okay. The waitress was attentive.

great spot that slowly turns into a full-on club as the night picks up. Starts off chill, but give…read moreit some time and it gets packed... like barely-room-to-walk packed. Energy goes way up with it though. Music is consistently great and the crowd matches it. Mostly a younger, high-energy vibe. If you actually want to enjoy your drinks and maybe chat with the bartenders, show up early. Once it gets going, it's all motion and noise. It's never disappointed us. You kind of know what you're signing up for, and it delivers every time. Ambiance leans classy without feeling vintage. Dim lighting, a touch of rustic, and just enough polish to set the tone without overdoing it. They've got a patio too, which comes in clutch when you need a breather or want to actually hear the person next to you. We usually do street parking and it's not too bad if you're willing to walk a bit. Reservation needed: Not really, unless you've got a big group and want your own section Parking: 6/10 - Street Crowd: 8/10 Vibe: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Music: 9/10 Drinks: 8/10 Price: $$

I love it here! Ever since their remodel, this has been a go to spot for me. The ambience is…read moreamazing, low light but enough to still set the tone. I had a Miami Manny and boy was that thing smacking. That mezcal boy o boy.... Our bartender was super cool and helped navigate through the wide selection of drinks. I highly recommend going here!

This is a great place for after work happy hour in a casual ambiance. I came here for birthday…read moredrinks with my family before we headed to dinner nearby. The location has a spacious area filled with a variety of wine options. I picked a Bourgogne Chardonnay from France ($36). We came on a late Monday afternoon and, lucky for us, they have a bar special on Mondays: No corkage fee! They also have Happy Hour-- Monday to Friday from 3-6pm. The Chardonnay was divine! I would totally return and purchase another bottle. We also ordered a charcuterie board and took advantage of their happy hour special for $20 (pick two-- one cheese and one meat). We opted for the 'Humboldt Fog' Chèvre as our cheese option and the Bresaola for our meat option. Both were delicious, but the chèvre was truly exquisite. We shared one charcuterie board with five people and it was enough; however if you're on the hungry side, I suggest two charcuterie boards for five or six people. In addition to meat and cheese, it comes with crackers, some pickled veggies, onion jam, candied nuts, whole grain Dijon, and apple slices. On the left side of the venue you have your variety of wine options; on the right side, there's the bar and some tables, plus a small area with other snacks for purchase that pair nicely with wine or beer. They even sell the Torres truffle chips! My only complaint is the service, unfortunately. The lady at the cashier was super friendly, however the bar tender was not so welcoming. When he came over to our table to open our wine bottle, he didn't greet us, smile, or say anything. He took our bottle and opened it and then asked who was going to taste. Not sure if he thought we didn't speak English since we were speaking another language when he came to our table, but overall, we all noticed his attitude and thought it was rather unwelcoming. Because of this experience, I rate this place a 4/5, however, everything else was great!

Stanley's Wet Goods is a great wine bar where locals can peruse the aisles of their extraordinarily…read morelarge selection of wine, check out beer options in the fridge, purchase some niche cheeses, chocolates, crackers and other items for your charcuteries. High bar shared seating inside but tables outside. They also have a riddle of the day posted above the bar which is fun to solve when you're a little buzzed. Everyone is nice, knowledgeable and non pretentious. The staff has encouraged me to try so many different wines I wouldn't normally do for fear of looking like a noob. I've enjoyed a wide range of wines from an orange one day, a pinot next, a buttery Chardonnay or a spicy Syrah. Every time I'm there it's a fun experiment. :) If you're a lightweight like me, I'd suggest eating a meal beforehand because the menu is pretty light. Street parking or structure in downtown culver is available. You can try the local neighborhoods for free parking, just don't park by my place! lol

My fiancée and I had an amazing experience at the blending lab…read more It was clear to us that the owners are truly passionate about their business. I had reached out via email to inquire about their late policy due to our work schedules (I wanted to try to schedule the Valentine's Day booking but felt like it would be too late). Magdalena, one of the owners, had got back to me and responded that they were flexible and recommended the booking for the day after if it would better accommodate our schedules and that the Valentine's Day snack would be available to purchase, which was very reassuring for me. Upon our arrival, not only did they remember me from our one email communication, they had already set aside the Valentine's Day snacks for us. Very thoughtful! The wine selections were either for red or white for blending and cause my fiancée and I wanted to try the best of both worlds (we both had selected white initially), they were able to accommodate the change with no hesitation. Our instructor, Dave, was amazing and the guided class was full of fun information and neat anecdotes. The guided class was very helpful in identifying things to look for in wine which can contribute to certain attributes, like taste, sweetness and such. Very light-hearted and, again, an amazing experience. Highly recommend for a date night or those who just want to learn more about wine. Oh and they also let you cork your own bottle!

My friend is a member of their Wine Club and always speaks so highly of it. When visiting LA…read morerecently I had the opportunity to come visit with her. We were treated so nicely and it was great to taste their wines and learn about their business. The location is very accessible and it was a great setup to enjoy wine with friends. I loved the passion Chris has when he speaks about the wines. I can't wait to go back and try more when I am in the area.

Happy hour from 5-7! Paid metered parking in the area ends at 6pm…read more Sardine plate was good, but could use more bread/crackers to go with it. Skin contact wine was also nice. Outdoor and indoor seating, but both are pretty limited. There are outlets at the bar seating -- some people had laptops setup and were working.

Such a nice small little wine bar in Santa Monica. It's such a convenient location for me and I…read morenever struggle to find street parking. I love going here during the happy hour (5-7 I believe) and trying their natural wines. I always try a chilled red or an orange wine. Workers here are super friendly and you can just order at the bar. Menu isn't super large and there are some bites you can order, but I'm just here for the natty wine. There's indoor and outdoor seating, so it's really nice sitting outside when it's warm. Definitely recommend this spot for a chill hang out!

We absolutely love Stoa Wine Bar. We've been several times now since it is our local restaurant and…read morehave never been disappointed. The wine director is phenomenal -- every single recommendation has been spot-on. He really listens to what you like and somehow always introduces you to something even better. The pizzas are fantastic (perfect crust, great flavor balance), and the Tomato Goddess salad is so good it's non-negotiable at this point -- fresh, vibrant, and completely addictive. Great wine, great food, and someone who truly knows how to guide you through both. We'll keep coming back.

We made a dinner reservation well in advance for my husband and me. When we arrived, we were seated…read moreat a low coffee table with a low "bench" instead of a proper dining table. We asked if we could be moved to an actual table so we could comfortably enjoy our meal, but the request was declined. As a result, we sat awkwardly with our plates on our laps, shared one small mediocre pizza, and left shortly after. To top it off, the server seemed condescending and dismissive when we asked for different seating, which made the experience even more uncomfortable. Overall, the experience did not match the expectations set by having a reservation, and we left disappointed.