Valentina Wine Bar is such a great spot. The owner absolutely hustles and always brings a positive,…read morewelcoming vibe -- you can tell how much care she puts into the place. It never feels forced, just genuinely good energy. The flatbreads are unreal (from Milan), and the wine selection is really well thought out. She's great at helping you pick something you'll like and has definitely helped me branch out and try new wines I wouldn't normally order. The vibe is super chill with great music. It works just as well for a date as it does for getting some work done or just relaxing with a glass of wine. Highly recommend.

Stopped here for a glass of wine with a friend on a weekday evening. The vibes are gorgeous- it is…read moresuch a cool space and is immediately captivating. They do have a good wine list, but the pricing is HIGH. Think $25-$45 PER GLASS. Some of the wines this made sense for, but they really should consider adding a wine or two below $25 per glass. I have my WSET 2 and know a decent amount about wines so could understand why some of them were priced like this, but the whole menu being this high was strange. $32 for a glass of pinot noir didn't sit right with me. We asked to do flights so we could try a few things, but they said they were only doing glass pours. We asked for a rec for an acidic, fruity red and felt like the gal just told us the most expensive non-tannic red on the menu. Fine. For $32 a glass, I would not order what I got again. We headed to a restaurant after and got $14 glass pours that we preferred. This is a great place to go to impress someone with the chic vibes, but good wine can be found elsewhere at a fraction of the price. I do see the appeal though. It was also pretty loud when we went, so we chose to finish our conversation elsewhere.

CJ and Billy were amazing! great wine and great food! Highly recommend getting a dessert on the way…read moreout.

Service was generally very bad. You had to explicitly ask for utensils, napkins, or sugar/sweetener…read morefor the coffee. Even when you asked, often nothing would happen. They forgot the dish of my wife, which added insult to injury. The cheese plate had barely any cheese. We asked for a warm baguette, and it was not warm, plus it was hard. They had only two out of main dishes available. Soup was salty. Salad had little dressing. Child seat was extremely low for the tall table. Quiche was too cold. Safe to say we are not coming again. Do not recommend.

Went here with a friend for a nice weeknight dinner, and it was great! She was on an elimination…read morediet and still wanted to go out, so Black Bottle was a great option for us. There's a menu section that filters all their items based on dietary restrictions, so it was pretty easy to find items that fit her dietary needs. The aguachile was fresh and bursting with flavor, the chilies were really well-seasoned, but the duck was the real standout. So well-seasoned, tender, and that cranberry sauce?! Did not expect to like it as much as I did. We also got some mocktails which were yummy and hit the spot! Docking off one star just because the price was pretty steep for the portion, but otherwise was a nice spot.

Happened upon this place because it was across the street from my hotel. Had a tasty dinner. I got…read morethe haloumi stir fry and lamb meatballs mezze. Both came out hot and fresh with great flavors! Meatballs a little bit on the dry side. Big portions, and I could have probably just had one and been full but it was a nice to have the variety and plenty for leftovers. Excellent service even though it was super busy when I went and seemed like there was just one server/bartender holding down the whole place. I sat at the bar and was checked on plenty. Nice stop for a chill solo meal!

Tried Sama during a Yelp experience and ended up bringing home their Grenache 2023 (Raga)…read more Loved that the tasting was done in test tubes--it made it easy to go back and forth and land on something I really loved. And this one stood out right away. Light to medium-bodied, led by bright cherry notes with a subtle hint of spice, and a smooth, easy finish that keeps you going back for another sip. Balanced, elegant, and just bold enough without feeling heavy. Definitely a bottle worth savoring.

My partner and I shared a free flight for a Yelp event then bought a bottle of one of the top…read moretastes. Elisa was a kind, informative host on Saturday, 12:30. We had the whole place to ourselves and sat near the large windows. Elisa gave us time to look through the menu then promptly brought our red flight and explained each wine to us. As a past chemist, I loved the test tube presentation and connection to the winemaker's bio! We also liked having all 5 wines at once to go at our own pace. My order of preference: CDR, Syrah, Grenache, cinsault, cabernet. My partners: Cabernet, Syrah,CDR, Grenache, cinsault. Other things to note.. the music was . I enjoyed reading about the many meanings of SAMA in the menu. The winemaker, Chaz, has a great bio in the menu as well. We had a lovely time. The bottle is their CDR blend which is a Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault blend. I hope they are around for a while!

Where everybody knows your name....Barrels Wine Bar is a special place. I came on this visit to…read morecontinue a tradition of having a New's Eve glass of vino. I used to live within a stones throw away and was excited to discover a great local wine bar. The former owners, Tina and Joe, created the kind of spot where you can enjoy a fantastic glass of wine and relax. Josh took over, increased the food menu and added a few different touches. There is now a privacy shield on the window if you sit in a lower seat so that car headlights don't shine in your face. There are games too if you are here with a friend or few friends. As a solo person I can sit and enjoy a wine and not be bothered. Which is lovely when I want to sit, read, write and or take notes for my Yelp reviews, lol. Josh always has excellent suggestions. I trust his taste implicitly. If I don't know what I want, I tell him what I like, and he will make a great suggestion. Barrels is a perfect spot to do it! It is also a great spot to pregame if you have plans in the city. Within walking distance to the park and ride.Do it! Drink good wine and live your best life. Support local businesses. Barrels is a perfect spot to do it! SYOY!

If you're looking for that perfect neighborhood wine bar where the pours are generous, the vibes…read moreare warm, and the people are unforgettable, look no further than Barrels on Mercer Island. From the moment Josh greets you, you know you're in good hands. He has a gift for recommending the right glass whether you want something bold, silky, funky, or a little adventurous. And then there's the staff--yes, Jim, I absolutely mean you. Quirky, hilarious, and genuinely passionate about wine, the Barrels crew turns a simple night out into something special every single time. The wine list is curated with care, the flights are always fun, and the small bites pair perfectly without trying too hard. It's the kind of place where you come for a drink and somehow end up staying for two more because the conversation is just that good. Barrels is more than a wine bar--it's a community living room. If you love great wine, good people, and a place that feels like home, this is it. Cheers to the Barrels team for creating a space Mercer Island didn't just need... but deserved.

A cute little place to hang out with friends. It was the middle of the day so I passed on the wine…read more I ordered the Cajun chicken flatbread. Very reminiscent of California Pizza Kitchen's BBQ chicken pizza but without the BBQ sauce, sweetness, or cilantro. I am a big foodie but I thought this flatbread was average and unmemorable. The service was great though. The waitress was very attentive and checked on us frequently. It would be tough though if the place were full. It's a great place for drinks and cocktails and a place to relax. I'm sure it will be popular. I'm glad I tried it but I'd like to try other places before going back there.

Amazing Kitchen In Issaquah Wa! Just opened in July 25!…read moreHospitality Amazing! Come check out this space! Vibes was really nice to experience! Food was Superb! 10/10

My friend and I came in from out of town and decided to try this spot, and it did not disappoint…read more ALL the staff were extremely nice and inviting. The decorations and design definitely make it stand out. Our server Kendal was phenomenal and gave us good recommendations. She was super fun and easy to talk to. She recommended the Wagyu Tacos and the Hamachi Ceviche that I was eyeing, which was definitely worth it. Hands down best ceviche I've ever had. We were very glad to make this spot our last stop before heading home. We couldn't have asked for anyone better than Kendal to serve us before heading back home!!

Every time I come here I find myself saying "omg I need to come here more often!" Truly a magical…read moreexperience. From the second you walk in, everything is luxury. The atmosphere is iconic, the service is top notch, and the food is spectacular. I LOVE that the whole menu (mostly) is gluten free. That's how it should be at a Mexican place! As always, I started with the margarita flight. My fantastic server helped me select 4 that fit my preferences, and I'm so glad I listened to her. Each more delicious than the next. So many edible flowers too! Iconic. The hamaci ceviche was so fresh and delicious. I had to stop myself from licking the plate. The truffle taquitos were also lovely. I got the branzino enchilada as my main and WOW! Phenomenal texture and flavor. It all just worked. On top of this, the plating is gorgeous and the tables are intimate and cozy. Start to finish, they have mastered the customer experience and are able to deliver not only a delicious meal, but the feeling that you are special and cared for. Truly an incredible experience and one I will pursue again soon.

I'd had this spot bookmarked on Yelp for a while. And on this recent trip to Seattle, I finally had…read morethe chance to stop in here. And so glad I did! It's small and really cute. It absolutely gives fancy, chill, and Barbie vibes - all in the best way. The menu has both proper champagne and sparkling wines, as well as some snack options. The wines and cheese plate we had were delicious. It was fun to try out some champagnes we had never even heard of before. The owner was absolutely lovely. Very kind and friendly. We talked for a while about all things Taylor Swift. Lovely experience here!

The service here exceeded all expectations. We were warmly welcomed, given the opportunity to…read moresample before purchasing, and the ambiance on this sunny day was simply perfect. As always, I found myself mid-bite when asked if everything was alright--but rest assured, everything was absolutely amazing. Thank you, and we'll definitely be back! -- B

Tonight, Veronica and her team went out of their way to help my sisters and I. Today is our Dad's…read more80th accordion anniversary. With his first lesson at 5 1/2, he's been playing ever since! To celebrate, we surprised him by paying for his dinner. Amongst a packed house, Veronica and her team figured out who he was (he didn't have a reservation). It made his night! This was above and beyond! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

Cool spot with a nice little bar area if you're trying to catch a game with dinner. Definitely an…read moreold school vibe in the bar area, not sure about the rest of the place. I went with some chicken Marsala which is always my go to at a new Italian spot. I get no mushrooms cause I'm not into the texture haha but the dish was splendid. I'll be back for more. Plenty of parking in the back of the place. I believe there's a brewery next door too if you needed a beer before dinner haha.

enjoy their cheesecake. so happy that they open in seattle so we don't have to go to otaru hokkaido…read moreif craving for their cheesecake. staffs are attentive and helpful . also like the store decor and ambience. definitely will go back when in bellevue. hoping they open soon in Bay Area

This store is impeccably clean and well maintained, which creates a great first impression when you…read morewalk in. I tried the Mango Hokkaido milk ice cream along with the fromage cheesecake, and both were definitely tasty. The flavors are authentic and the texture of the cheesecake is as smooth as expected. However, the overall experience felt subpar for a few reasons. The pricing is quite high, and while the food is good, it does not feel like the quality fully justifies the cost. Additionally, the staff members were a bit rude and did not provide a welcoming atmosphere. While the treats are enjoyable, the combination of high prices and lackluster service makes it hard to give a higher rating.