Nice stop in next to Borough Market. Service is prompt and friendly and the venue aesthetic is warm and clean. The wine list is diverse with selections from various regions; I had a glass of Malbec. I liked that the menu has a small bites section, from this I got a gnocchi dish. The gnocchi was decent, I liked all the complimentary components of the dish. I saw some of the other plates going around and visually the fare looks great. read more

Vinoteca - Small plate of gnocchi - Wine Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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We went there for a team outing. Food is average , the service was not great either . For the price, I am sure you can find a better place.

Cosy wine lovers corner I keep coming to Vinoteca because it is reliable for drinks, atmosphere and service. it used to be that you couldn't book a take but now you must if you want to eat dinner. This particular one is near Smithfield and is quite cosy upstairs, although sitting next to the glass doors can get you too close to the cold in winter, maybe double glazing is a good idea. At night the bar is well lit giving you a serene feel to enjoy your wine. The wine is generous and the nibbles not that expensive. I like it! read more

Vinoteca - Wine Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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Vinoteca has become my new favorite eat-in place for lunch. It is always packed but eat here just once and you will understand why. Simply put, Vinoteca serves great food in a buzzing upscale yet casual environment. Thomas A is right that at first glance Vinoteca looks to crowded---the table are squished tightly together and the wait staff seems to be frantically running around with the vino---however, you don't really notice that once you are seated. The acoustics magically work and make for an enjoyable meal. But the main reason you go to Vinoteca is for the delicious food and wine. I've had both the mixed green salad with confit of pork and the seared rare bavette of beef. Both are highly recommended. Excellent selection of wines---I need to be sure to come here for dinner so I can have a few glasses. Be sure to book ahead---even for lunch! read more

Vinoteca - Wine Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Honestly, it's because they were rude. First, they were full, we needed a reservation, which is understandable. The next day, they didn't believe we had a reservation and as I was looking it up, he was delighted to tell me 'no email confirmation, you don't actually have a reservation'. 'Delighted'? Am I sure? As sure as the smug smile on his face with the delivery. Mediocre food for this level of stand-offish behavior. Perhaps spend the energy perfecting meals and wine choices instead of attempting to repulse anyone not already sitting down? I've seen similar reviews, they are not welcoming to strangers. It's an exclusive club they want to provide, however, unfortunately for them clearly, it's a public restaurant. read more

Vinoteca is a lovely little wine bar in Clerkenwell East London, which offers an excellent wine list, and what's so great is that it is also a shop, so you can buy yourself a bottle or two to take home. The wine bar on the upstairs is quite cramped. We went on a weekday for lunch and it was packed with people, and we all sat like sardines squashed into a tin. But the atmosphere was lively and thoroughly enjoyable. When the weather is nice, the windows open out and the street and interior blend together. Its design is simple, the furnishing is all made out of oak creating an entirely relaxed atmosphere. You can choose from a list of 25 wines by the glass (prices start at £3.25), which are changed weekly. And you can choose from a list of 275 wines from the bottle. Their choice of wines is unique, and with each dish you order a recommended wine is listed. So great wine: check. Great atmosphere: check. Friendly staff: check. Did I also mention that aside from stocking great wine, they serve up hearty dishes from 12pm to 2.45pm and then from 6.30pm to 10.00pm. You can only book at lunchtimes. I enjoyed a large plate of chargrilled steak with a garlic and oregano butter, served with chunky chips. The wine they recommended was the 2006 Barossa Chook from Maverick (Australia). My friend had the sea bass, with sprouting purple broccoli, and the wine was a Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa. The only real criticism was that though service was very friendly, we did have to wait a while for our food and service. But to be fair, it was packed to the rim so I guess that's understandable! You can tell that the people who work at Vinoteca are passionate about their wine and food from and know what they're talking about. This is great as there is nothing worse than going to a restaurant and faced with people who don't seem to know a thing about what they're serving. read more

Vinoteca - Wine Bars Near Me - London, XGL

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A very good wine and food place in the heart of smithfield ad land. Extensive wine list and a daily food menu served by efficient friendly staff. Recommended. read more

Vinoteca - Wine Bars Near Me - London, XGL

A lucky find after an evening at the Barbican. While most of the more affordable eateries were packing up for the night Vinoteca was still buzzing and the kitchen still open - mind you, we opeted for a nice selection of cold meats and cheese to go with our wine, rounding off the evening very nicely. read more

Vinoteca - Wine Bars Near Me - London, XGL

For full ramblings, go to http://thehappinessprojectlondon.wordpress.com I've been meaning to go to Vinoteca for aaaages, having been told by a couple of friends-in-the-know how wonderful it is. When you find a restaurant that people go back to time and time again, you've definitely found a winner. And I have to say that having been, it has sailed to the top of my (as yet unwritten) best restaurants in London list. So why did it take me so long to go? My problem was the no-booking policy. I get that this makes it more of a local restaurant, but dinners at Wahaca and Polpo failed because we didn't want to wait 2 hours for a table (Polpo on a Thursday night) or we had to wait until everyone had arrived before we could put our names on the waiting list (Wahaca). Both me and my friends are guilty of rocking up to dinner late depending on our workloads so we've always gone for places we could book. But the good news is that the wait at Vinoteca was fine. I went with Escobar and we rocked up around 7pm on a Friday evening, got a nice seat at the side bar (some people after us didn't though) and nattered our way through half a bottle of delicious French white wine (see photo below you can also see from Escobar's lovely hand gestures how he felt about my taking blog photos during our meal). We were seated within around 30-40 minutes and it didn't bother me one jot, I quite liked the pre-dinner drink aspect. First, I loved the laid-back wood floor long-conversation vibe of the place. You weren't rushed, service was lovely, it felt like a comfy French bistro inside. It was relaxed and homely my perfect resto. Then, the wine. It makes SUCH a difference to have a delicious well-priced bottle of wine served at the perfect temperature. At first the huge wine list was a bit scary, but we took a punt on a lovely bottle of white (2009 Coteaux de Languedoc from Domaine La Croix Gratiot although I was also thinking about an Aussie Verdelho) which was brilliantly priced at £19. When emptied, we had the recommended glass of wine per main course, again really reasonably priced and absolutely perfect with the meal (a deep red with the bavette and a light fruity riesling with the mullet). I was also massively impressed at the food right up there with the best I've had in London. To start, we shared toast with chorizo with quail's egg and some amazing sauce that I can't remember which was incredible sooo tasty and warm and delicious. You know when food's so good you make impromptu appreciative noises and scrunch up your face in appreciation? Just like that. We almost licked the plate clean. And then Escobar had the char-grilled bavette (med-rare), chorizo butter, chips and smoked ketchup washed down with the recommended red wine . I managed to grab a bite and the meat was perfectly tender and juicy, delicious. I had the red mullet with samphire (sadly ran out but instead it was a herby thing) with a sort of bulghur wheat, washed down with the delicioso riesling. It was a fantastic mix of tastes and textures and absolutely delicous. I admit sometimes I find fish dishes a little dull but this was interesting and rich. The amazing thing about all this? For a 3 hour or so meal, with two wonderful courses, a bottle of wine shared and two large glasses with the main, it came to a brilliant £40 each. So not an everyday meal but a nice meal out with friends, or your mum, or a date. And it is truly a local neighbourhood place - somewhere you could rock up for an impromptu bite to eat after work and have a chat, drink wine and eat superb food. I have never found a restaurant I wanted to return to regularly and could actually afford to do so, but this is it. I'm so pleased I found it! read more

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Vinoteca had been on my 'to do' list for absolutely ages. When you walk past this restaurant on a hot summer's day you can't help but be distracted by all the beautiful people sitting outside knocking back gallons of plonk. The combination of my shallow and alcoholic tendencies made this an irresistible destination and I'm very, very pleased to say, it didn't disappoint! The Vinoteca menu works by pairing great food with perfect, if unusual wines. If you don't fancy this you can always opt for a bottle of one of the restaurant's other 250 wines but we thought we might as well go the whole hog. Beef carpaccio with a fruity rose might not sound like a great match but trust me, it was delicious! My main, bream with cockles and a tomato consomme so light it was almost non existent was phenomenal. I would go as far to say it was some of the best fish I've had since my move to London. My boyfriend also enjoyed his venison with a bone marrow jus although we both thought it was a little on the thin side. Still a light artichoke salad and once again, that vino more than made up for it. Yum squared. Vinoteca isn't cheap that's for sure, main courses are between £11 and £15 before wine, but I would definitely recommend this place for a posh date or special occasion. I definitely felt wined and dined by the end of my night although if I'm honest, a little drunk! read more

I've walked by here often and thought, wow, it's always busy, I'm not sure if that's annoying or a good sign. I couldn't imagine for how small it was that it would be a nice atmosphere to sit and drink wine with people around you shouting and carrying on, but once we actually gave it a go, we quickly realized that it wasn't too loud, and the people that were around you weren't rushing in and out, they were staying and enjoying the evening with a few bottles as well. That being the case, I'd recommend getting there before it gets too too late so you can make sure you get a table as the turnover seemed to be a little slow, as it should be though if you're enjoying yourself. The staff were very helpful, I don't consider myself to know epic amounts of information about wine but I do have preferences, so if you tell them what you're in the mood for, they'll happily guide you through the wine list and usually offer you a tasting (I'm sure this varies on if the wine is available by the glass) before you commit to a bottle. There's something in every price range, so don't think that you have to drop 30+ on a bottle. The area is nice (I'm partial, it's my neighborhood) and I've even spotted Heston Blumenthal here late at night. If you're in Clerkenwell and you are in the mood for wine, you must walk by here and see if there's a table open. You won't be disappointed. read more

I. Love. Vinoteca. I can't really say that I love that many restaurant-type establishments in London... but I really do love Vinoteca. 200+ types of wine. Friendly/helpful staff. Awesome food. At first glance it may seem a little pricey but if you really take into account the quality and the thought that goes into the food... it's all worth it. I've had their cheese and cold cut plates, the wood pigeon with chanterelle mushrooms and truffle oil, and everything was perfect. Not to mention that the choice for wine is so extensive. I've only been here after work, and it definitely does get very crowded. They don't take reservations and it's just first come first serve. But I've never had any issues... I typically get there around 5:30 - 6:00 and maybe have to wait a max of 20 min for a table (you can always just chill at the bar and start on the drinking). Atmosphere is warm, buzzy, and I always leave happy. read more

I'm sorry Vinoteca, I'm clearly too much of a philistine for you. I arrive expecting to get a table and not have one of my dear friends already been snubbed by your attitude. But you redeemed yourself with prompt, friendly service once we were seated. 200 wines.. Wow I usually blindly panic and pick a random one. Turns out you didn't have the one we wanted though... wah wah. But holy God was that goats cheese and aubergine fritter salad divine. Let's talk about your bread basket, why so small? When it's that good I need more! But oh dear I've let us down again, trying to shoehorn five friends into a table for four. We bickered, us arguing there was room, you maintaining there was not! You gave up in a huff and went away. We conceded by finishing our wine and leaving. Vinoteca is a great place if you are into wine and prepared to drop some cash. The service is a bit hit or miss, the waitresses were friendly but the management types were rude and supercilious. Deffo worth a visit in spite of our ups and downs. read more

I came here for a late saturday brunch with my mates and it was rather empty. We decided to have brunch here anyway since we've heard such great things about it. After several glasses of champage and wine, the place begain to fill up. I had a declious steak with chips. Melt in your mouth kind of steak. Chips so crisp you could... i don't know what you could do with chips so crisp, but the point is that they were good! This place will always be on must do list each time I visit London. read more

Vinoteca my darling, I've been meaning to tell you something... well its just that I, er... well, I rather like you. How you charmed and seduced me with your prosecco on tap, at a decadent £3.95. The bubbles, oh how they tickle my nose. However last week was a little rocky,. You did something I wasn't pleased with. I know you didn't mean to hurt me but sadly your behaviour was not up to par. Anyway no point dwelling on the past, but in future darling, never ever run out of prosecco on tap again, and we will forever be on good terms. Love you much! read more

- Salt Cod Croquettes were good. Probably better at a proper Spanish place tho. 6/10 - Cold cut of Saucisson and gerkins was huge! Great nibble food while waiting. 9/10 - The Lamb Barnsley Chop was very tender. Good mint and Kale that went with it too. 8/10 - Excellent house wine. Notable that they have their own wine shop here and tastings etc. Was impressed by that part of this restaurant. read more

Good wine, fairly well priced for London. Busy and fun crowd and very nice staff. It's not the place for a quiet conversation, more a nice after work drink with your co-workers to have a moan about Sandra in accounting... read more

Awesome place, fantastic ambiance, this place does great steak and wine, the wine list is unreal and the steak is to match. Brought my mother in law here tonight for Mother's Day and was the perfect little place. Would recommend it to all, I have been to a lot of fine dining restaurants but this place is that great guaranteed restaurant that will never let you down. read more

So my friend and I had just gotten some grub from a lovely Vietnamese place down the road (Pho, thoroughly recommend!) and we decided to hunt down a place to indulge in a glass of wine, so when we saw this place we thought where better? Upon entering, we were greeted with a can I help you? Not in a joyful welcoming way, but more of a are you lost, what are you doing here? Kind of way. Which irritated me I must admit. Maybe we're younger than their usual customers. I was unceremoniously given a menu and a book of a wine list by a waiter who seemed to feel we were more of an inconvenience than someone bringing business. The wine by the glass menu was suprisingly short for a wine bar, and going by the glass we were recommended - the price didn't match the quality. I'm no consummate connoisseur but considering they are supposed to be specialists in the field, I felt rather disappointed and will opt to go to a pub over here. Maybe they're better at food. If you're older than me and my friend, I didn't exactly feel welcome there. Over priced and unwelcoming, go to a local pub or better wine bar. read more

Vinoteca - Half the store with the wine selection - Wine Bars Near Me - London, XGL

Ideal date venue for foodies - went with the mrs on saturday and the 20-minute wait did lead her to ask whether the food was worth it, thankfully no let downs here as all was splendid prosecco for festive seasonality washed down the excellent carpaccio and the smoked eel broad bean wasabi salad was incredibly well thought out (just one duck egg tough? come on now guys thats not enough...) the bavette for main was brilliantly cooked and seasoned to perfection and the wine was top notch - what r u waiting for? get involved! read more

Um, I reckon the best thing about Vinoteca is when I receive a compliment on how awesome a bottle of wine that I bought from there is. This happens at a much higher frequency than with wine from other shops I visit. Two things seem to increase the odds of be appreciated for having such good taste in vino: knowledgeable staff and a small but kick ass selection of quality wines from around the world. Not just a wine shop, Vinoteca is also a restaurant - a very good restaurant that I don't enjoy as much as I'd like to. There is a downside, if I'm popping in to shop for wine and the resto's packed, there's a chance I won't receive the best service or - if it's really packed - that I'll be able to browse all the wines because there'll be a table full of patrons in the way. Still, Vinoteca's one of the best wine shops I know of in London and is pretty much my default when I need to pick up a bottle or two. read more

Vinoteca. Vino Teca. It's all in the name really. Vino, wine, the glorious grape. Rightly known and talked about for it's fabulous choice of wines by the glass, this simple wooden floored winebar has a (albeit widely known) secret. The food here is pretty damn good too. These guys pay a lot of attention, not just to the food and the wine, but to how the two combine. Their daily changing menu has glasses of wine matched to each dish that you are free to select should you want. And the cooking, like a good wine, is full of clear, well balanced flavours. To start we had watermelon salad scattered with wibbly and light pink moscato jelly cubes, a gentle feta and shavings of black olive. This was super fresh and zingy, a real spritzer of a dish that got the meal off to a light start. The other starter was a complete contrast. A fried morcilla, poached egg and green bean dish that was strong, savoury and delightfully oily. The morcilla was tip-top quality and packed full of bloody flavours. Yum. My only complaint was that the egg had been poached solid, and I prefer mine to be ready to burst with runny yellow yolk. We then hit some meaty mains with relish. The guinea fowl above was moist and tasty not overwhelmed by salty prosciutto. The romesco sauce was really more of a puree made from ground walnuts and almonds and lashings of chilli. They could have used a little less chilli for my taste, but the nutty texture was delightful and quinoa gave it a little wheaty bite. Char grilled steak was cooked to medium rare perfection. The steak itself was fully flavoured and I think came from grass fed UK longhorn cattle which, given the intense taste and wonderfully (slightly) chewy texture sounds about right to me. My favourite type of beef. The chips were pretty fine too crispy skinned, soft centred salty wedges that just made you want to eat and eat and eat Nobody could keep their mits off. Now for the wines. We started with some provencial rose pale and elegant with a light and subtle fruity flavour and dry edge and a vermentino from Les Arches, France which was all peach flavours and lightly blossomy aromas. With the mains we went for a Chillian pinot with the guinea fowl and a petite sirah from the USA with the bavette. The former was fresh, fruity and gently complex with a long and tasty finish. More akin to a burgundy than a typical new world pinot. The sirah though, wow, it was a belter. Heady and deep, this was concentrated stuff. Alongside the almost over-ripe flavours there was an almost hypnotic aroma that drew my nose right down into the glass until I was virtually snorting the viscous liquid. Vinoteca has jumped up the list of favourite eateries. The experience is so chilled out and everything so tasty, it's just really good fun to visit. read more

Having tried the Marylebone branch previously I was hoping to have a really nice lunch at Vinoteca but unfortunately it didn't live up to my expectations. The place itself is nice and light with wooden furniture and the staff are very friendly and attentive. The letdown was the food. I'd happily come here and buy some wine to take away but it will be a while before I come back for food. It wasn't really bad, more like un-memorable and for the prices they charge I'd much rather go somewhere else. The starter of chargrilled razor clams was barely warm and quite bland. The main of bavette with chorizo butter was better with quite good quality meat but again a bit bland and under seasoned. I still can't see the point of the chorizo butter as it wasn't particularly nice and didn't add anything to the dish. read more

Walked in and they were nice enough to provide us with a table. This has to be one of the best meals in London so far! read more

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Used to be my local, have been two the other two locations as well. Honestly does not get better. Amazing off piste wine list that provides amazing value for money. Wine dinners in the basement where the chef creates a meal around a winemaker's slate of wines is the best i have seen anywhere. The bavette is an easy choice for best dish. read more

This is absolutely my favorite place in London to grab a couple glasses of wine and some nibbles with friends! Yes, it gets very busy because it's small, but if you plan on going at the right time (earlier in the day, not on Friday or Saturday night) it's quite easy to get a table quickly. The food is all delicious, and I've never been disappointed by the wine pairings. My favorite was a tasty tomato and squid stew, paired with a dry Riesling (one of my favorite wines of all time, actually). I also split a stellar rib-eye steak and chips with a friend one. Divine. So, in conclusion, you might not be seated right away, and you might have to awkwardly perch at a corner of the bar or by the wall for 20 minutes before you can sit down, but the food and wines are definitely worth it. read more

I had the pleasure of dining at Vinoteca which is a very wine orientated small little restaurant located in the Smithfields Market area. I had read and heard alot about it, and my other half and I thought that going there to celebrate the fact that I had just written a very difficult/boring exam would be a good way to celebrate. We had tried to eat there before but they don't take reservations which I find incredibly frustrating and we were told on a recent Saturday night it would be a two hour wait. We thought a Wednesday night might be more succesfull and it was, but the no reservation system inevitably leads to a lot of people standing around waiting for a table and in an already small restaurant this is both hectic and annoying. The menu appears to change daily and a good selection of British inspired dishes comes out of the tiny open kitchen. I noted that the head chef John Murray got his training in Canada and his bio includes Lee and Oliver and Bonacini Cafe Grill in Toronto (neither of which mean anything to me but may say something to those in Canada). Starters ran between GBP5.50 and 6.95 and mains between GBP11.95 and 14.50. I think this is excellent value for the food especially as portions are large. Each dish on the menu has a recommended wine and prices varied from a small glass of English wine for GBP3.45 to a large glass of French for GBP12.00. Bread and olive oil was provided and both were amazingly light. I started with a ham hock terrine with piccalilli and salad which was spot on. I almost always order fish in a restaurant, but realized that the deep red we got while we were waiting needed meat and I settled on the bavette which was absolutely amazing (meat is handily sourced from nearby Smithfields market). My partner had a jewel coloured beetroot soup which had an excellent deep flavour of roasted beetroot and for his main he had a duck lasagne which he described as 'average'. Overall the food was excellent (apart from the duck lasagne) but the Tayyabs like atmosphere leaves much to be desired. My partner spent half the night with a coat in his face, someone bumping his chair from behind, and we were sat practically on top of some stuffy German tax lawyers (sorry that's a bit stereotypical but well.. probably true). The no reservation thing (except at lunch apparently) is an issue, and would really turn me off trying to go again. However, it doesn't seem to be an issue for others as the punters queuing would attest to. Decor: Wood tables, open kitchen, small and cute. There is a section devoted to wine you can buy and take home. Price: Excellent for this quality and this area of town. Food: Excellent except for one off dish. Portions are large. Good For: Nipping out with your partner on a Monday night. Any other night and you run the peril of not getting in. http://www.roastedmontreal.blogspot.com read more

Oh, Vinoteca... I feel I want to love you. But part of me really doesn't like you. When I arrived and found you pretty packed and therefore a bit chaotic, I espied a table that had just been vacated. I glanced around, couldn't see any service people and assumed it was a first-come-first-served establishment, so I proceeded to move towards the table in order to claim it. I was wrong, yes, and one of your servers came over promptly and explained the situation to me and the other patrons waiting for that table. He was very warm and friendly. I didn't mind at all that I had been rebuffed and would then have to stand in the corner and wait for the next table. But I stood in the corner. And stood. And stood. And when my table was finally ready, your manager just came up to me, pointed towards the table as some other woman had just walked into your establishment and tried to steal, as I did before, the table before I got there. Fair enough. Tit for tat, right? But your manager DID NOT approach the potential-table-stealer for me to explain the situation warmly. No, he did not. He left me to go and rudely rebuff the woman myself. So I sat at the table by the door, suffering the draft every time someone entered your establishment. It was your only table, I understand. And I leafed through your epic wine list. I will admit; I was impressed. I picked out a bottle that sounded as if it was meant just for my palate to enjoy and pointed it out to the slightly disinterested server that you assigned to my table. She left. She came back. She told me that the bottle wasn't available. So, um, the wine list isn't as extensive as you seem to suggest, Vinoteca? Tricksy. I picked my second-choice bottle, and the server left and returned. She provided the wine service, albeit somewhat begrudgingly. I got the impression that she was just going through the motions and not at all interested in either her job or our patron. As soon as our other dining companions arrived and took their seats at our table, two more wine glasses appeared, and I was suitably impressed by the promptness of it all. But then when an extra guest arrived, one we hadn't actually got a chair for, well, this is where the cracks in your accommodating facade began to show. Your manager, Vinoteca, was not AT ALL interested in allowing the fifth person in our party to sit at the table. Even though two of us squeezed into the position that one person would occupy, you insisted that we were taking up too much room and creating a hazard for the servers in the walkway. But the two of us squeezed into one space was in the window! Not in the walkway. Only one person was seated in the position that you set up in the walkway. No, it was clear, Vinoteca, that you just didn't want to disrupt the very affectedly civilised appearance you were trying so hard to maintain. Five people at a four-top table?? In the WINDOW?!?! What audacity of us paying customers to request such a thing! So, yeah, I wasn't impressed by your management, Vinoteca. You're the kind of place that I would absolutely adore if I had visited with just one other wine-loving foodie friend. Because your food was really tasty. And your wine list was epic (despite the fact that I have my suspicions as to whether or not you actually stock all of the bottles listed). At least your wine-by-the-glass list was impressively vast. But when I came for some after-work drinks and nibbles with some friends, I got the distinct impression that you were mostly concerned with appearances, interested in only a certain demographic (which, I suspect, was just a bit older and with more dispensable income than my 26 years) and that you just, well, wanted me to leave. Bad form, Vinoteca. Bad form. That said, I will definitely return. But I promise to only bring one other person. And I won't make much noise, and you can hide me away in the corner, if you want. read more

Only popped in to this branch for a glass of wine - nice vibe, friendly staff, good buzz but only OK wine that isn't great value. Would like to go back to try a few other wines and sample some of their food. Not a bad spot for a drink and nice for a catch up with my friend. read more

I cannot rave enough about vinoteca. Strictly a wine bar but the food here is amazing. Simple European stuff but my fish served on fregola was amazing. The atmosphere is buzzy and it is always packed. The only sad thing is that in the evenings they don't take reservations so you have to try your luck. See my full review here http://www.gourmet-chick.blogspot.com read more

Lovely and unqiue wine list with great selection. The tapas are reasonably priced and delicious (mussels in particular!). It gets a bit loud in here because the restaurant is so small, and service can be spotty because they're so busy - but I think it's worth it. read more

They do an absolutely brilliant wine tasting downstairs in the cellar. Book ahead.

http://hungryinlondon.com/2010/11/vinoteca-clerkenwell/ for photos and more Once in a while you come across a place you don't really want to write up and Vinoteca is one of them. Why? Because it is a little gem and it's already difficult enough to get a table with their no booking policy. But I wouldn't have found it if it hadn't popped up in several 'my favourite London restaurants' lists of trusted food bloggers (Gourmet Chick, Londonelicious ) and I shall now also be a good and altruistic person for a change and share it with you too. Vinoteca, as the name promises, is a wine bar with an extensive and well-priced wine list. You can also buy wines to take with you for shop prices. If you want to eat there, be prepared to wait as there are only about 10 tables. But there are more unpleasant things than having a glass of wine and some olives and looking forward to the pleasures ahead of you. Because let me tell you, the food at Vinoteca is well worth the wait. I started with Scallop Ceviche with Pickled Radish and Samphire (6.50). The only criticism here was that I found the samphire slightly too overpowering for the mild taste of the delicious scallop, but this might have to do with the fact that I have not made up my mind quite yet if I actually like samphire or not. My dear friend Naomi always shares here food with me (bless her) so I got half or her Five Bird Terrine with Red Wine Prunes and Toast (6.95). I have no idea what bird species would be in a five bird terrine, seems an awful lot of birds. Having said that, it was an absolutely wonderful dish, perfectly fitted to the sudden arrival of the autumn/winter. The fresh bread still warm and crunchy, the prunes sweet and the delicate game taste of the terrine a pleasure, all together perfectly fitting with the red wine we were drinking. I don't eat red meat very often, but this evening I really felt l like a good steak. The waiter told me that the Char-grilled bavette, chorizo butter chips & smoked ketchup (14.50) is the only dish on the menu that they don't change, and after i have sampled it I am not surprised. It was pure bliss. The meat full of flavour and perfectly medium rare, the chorizo butter heavenly (and I don't even like chorizo), the potaotes crispy and light and the smoked ketchup! Who would have thought that ketchup could taste so delicious?! I was so immersed in my own main course that I have to rely on my friends' verdict regarding the other two entrees: Naomi loved the rare venison haunch, swede cake, butternut squash & game sauce (14.50). It was the first time that I saw her eating swede. Vinoteca seems to be a place to try things that you usually don't like, as they appear to taste good there! Myriam could not compliment the combination of Blackened Cod with mustard sauce and belle pepper compote (14.50) enough. We should have had enough food by then and we were pretty full indeed, but then we saw Ginger bread cheese cake and ginger ice cream (5.50) on the menu. I mean, no way one could resist a temptation like this! It was one of these desserts that stick in your memory. The mouth-watering cheesecake was Christmas packed in a dessert and would have probably been to sweet on its own, but together with the sharp and zesty ginger ice cream it was just perfect. I mean PERFECT. I paired it with the recommended sweet wine while Naomi and Myriam went for the heavy stuff in the form of cider brandy. This was a hugely successful meal and if you have an evening where you are easy going and don't mind waiting a bit, go to Vinoteca. The atmosphere is lovely and relaxed, you feel welcome, you get tap water with ice without even asking for it, it's great value for money and you will leave a couple of pounds heavier but happy. That's what good food is all about. read more

Deafeningly noisy on a Friday evening, this is a good night out for a group, but not if you're looking for a quiet or intimate date. It's really about the wine - a huge list full of interesting and obscure propositions. The food is somewhat disappointing: the descriptions are enticing but it's not much more than graceless finger-picking stuff. There really ought to be a proper cheese selection to match the ambitions of the wine list. One thing that's great: the freshly baked bread, sensational. read more

This little wine bar is tucked away in Farringdon and don't count on getting a table unless you arrive early, yes, even on a Monday or Tuesday! They have an almost intimidating selection of wines and the wine menu reads like a book. I once spent ages trawling through while waiting for a friend. The best thing is that they serve a great variety of wines by the glass and you can buy them to take home with you. My husband and I attended a summer wine tasting there year before last (if I remember correctly) and definitely left with lighter wallets at the end of it. The food is also fabulous, the menu changes regularly and makes suggestions for wine's that will go well with each dish. A friend has had the jammy idea of placing a wedding list there - really wish I'd thought of that! read more

A good place for wine and food in a convivial setting. Excellent wine list and they also do tastings.

Cute and cosy place. Best wine - Costes catalanes. Most expensive but SOOOO worth it! Dont serve food until 6 i think. Dont know how the food is but if it is as good as the wine, I am going back! 5 stars! read more

Always try and make it to this place when in the vicinity. Nice felxaing surroundings, with an excellent buzz, and staff friendly and ready to help. Excellent for beer or wine, definitely recommended read more

Small, cramped, and loud or petite, intimate, and buzzing . . . take your pick. Either way, Vinoteca never fails to deliver on good wine and good food. While this is not a place for the most finessed food, it does provide decent fare, well matched with good wines, at prices reasonable to the area (£16 for a plated entree of roasted duck breast for example). Not somewhere to go for conversation or on a first date, but definitely better than many of the nearby chains. read more

Based in Farringdon, Vinoteca opened in September 2005, and has since been recognised as one of the best wine bars in London. The award-winning Wine Bar serves over 25 wines by the glass, changing every week, and over 280 wines by the bottle from around the world at great value prices. The seasonal British & European menu changes daily. All of the wines are available to take home from there Wine Shop in the same building. The food has a wine to match on the ever changing menu. A true gem! read more