The good: Some of the past wines were good - the Grenache, Sangiovese were really good. Also quite good is the very nice older lady who I sat with once who is very wine knowledgable. She can make a man's stomach growl with her talk of food & wine. Sunday used to be our favorite day to visit because the staff was very hospitable and service was on point. I also came in on a Saturday and found it a hidden secret for great swing stye jazz. The cheese and meat plate is a small but rich treat.
The bad: Kitchen/chef came out and interrupted a conversation I was having with staff. I also overheard her talking about being tired of 12 hour days and barking at staff about something or other making it awkwardly uncomfortable. Since when does kitchen step out into the customer space to vent or give orders? Since the new year I kept giving chances because of past enjoyment (I have co-wokers that like to socialize here) and each time it got progressively unimpressive. On one visit, I was given an old menu and had to revise my order a couple of times. They were out of wine lists and we had to share one (and that wine list was outdated and listing wine the didn't carry anymore. How do you run out of a wine list when you are a locally owned winery?) The outdated menu was stained with wine, (as was the bar top) my receipt was poorly itemized, and the pacing of the tasting and the food (at or table) could have been better handled. (Maybe coming on Friday night is not such a good idea) I would recommend bringing the white flight out together and then the red flight so we have our wine when we want it and as we taste it with food. We ended up tasting our cheese plate with only red wine. I was surprised by the tasting portion's offered for the price; they do make the wine here afterall. The Food portions also seem to have gotten smaller and it became more noticable with each visit. I have found that with the flavor, portion size, and price you can have a great meal at one of Sacramento's best rated restaurants. Two people could easily spend $70 after tasting, a glass of wine, small plates, + taxes/tips. You could go to Loungeon20 for $5 small plates & Wine tasting every Wednesday, 3 wines $10 (local or international) for triple the pour you get here. The novelty of Revolution Wines is wearing off with the unimpressive attention to detail (cleanliness, menu, staff shortage, and price v.s. quality/portion) Also, you wouldn't even know this place was a winery unless they tell you. The winemaker is no where to be found. In fact, I've never seen the winemaker.
Overall, I give the food 3 stars, the value 2 stars, 3 stars for wine selection, 1-4 stars for service( very spotty), and 1 star for the overall poor management. Also, the over-head music is often classical and that seems odd for an "urban winery" - a bit stuffy feeling for an atmosphere that should be about having fun and more of a celebration.
Pour the wine a little more genrously, give attention to detail, organize the pourings better table-side, hire more staff to cover the floor, and give customer's the feeling that their patronage is important and this business could be successful. Otherwise, when the novelty wears off, like it has with me, it's going to be tough to have a good reputation and stay in business.
Like another reviewer said. It's sad to write a review like this because you want this business to succeed. This is exactly what yelp is for - offer opinions and keep business on their toes. I would say instead of visiting, it's worth the drive to spend time in Amador, Auburn, Lodi, or Napa at a vineyard and bring a picnic lunch.. It's about the experience afterall. read more