The Local Vine

I really want to like this place. It’s a great little wine bar, looks nice, very casual seating, and if you only want to drink the wine, then it’s great if not a bit expensive. But they desperately need a better menu. I wanted something to munch on while enjoying the wine — not a full meal. There was an expensive cheese platter that was around $ 20 with a few very tiny nibbles of cheese and a couple crackers, and nothing else looked good. The waitress said the truffle popcorn was the best so we went with that and it was just an extremely expensive cup of popcorn.
If you want to spend a lot of money without getting much, then you might like it here. If they had some great food, the price would barely OK, but that is not the case.

I am not a wine drinker but I still thought this was a very nice spot to hang out and chat with friends after a long day at work. The food was also impressively tasty. The only thing that bothered me was that the tables were child sized. So tiny that I had to bend all the way over to grab my food. I was uncomfortable. It was almost like sitting in a waiting room.
We got the truffle popcorn for an appetizer which was delicious. We also ordered the sausage, mozzarella and roasted pepper flat bread and the gnocchi. Both fairly tasty and satisfying. The big plus for me at the local vine was that the staff was all so very friendly. They were chatting it up with us and making sure that we were well fed and happy. Great experience.

Decided to go to Local Vine recently before they demolish the McGuire.
Food was decently tasty and varied and the staff was helpful. Ambiance was nice given the lighting and volume. However, I feel like the food quality has dropped a bit since they first opened. For example, I used to love their flatiron steaks, but when we got a steak this time (forget if it was flatiron or hangar, but a pic is linked below) it wasn’t extraordinary. The steak wasn’t particularly moist or juicy and even the truffled frites tasted pretty ordinary.
Nonetheless, Local Vine’s still a good experience. Now, if they only switch out their loungy tables /​seats for normal seating when they move buildings, I’d be a much bigger fan.
Pics from the dining experience:

Loved my visit here! The local vine has a very extensive wine menu. Better yet, it’s the most creative, informative menu I’ve ever seen! Whether you know a lot about wine, or almost nothing at all — you’ll get a glass you love using their menu. They include info on where the wine is from, what it’s flavors are like, and even if it’s made by women!
In addition to the great menus and great wine, the snacks and apps are lovely. Cheese plates with reasonable portions, salted marcona almonds, etc. So yummy and perfect for pairing with wine.
The atmosphere is great as well. Not too loud, spacious, and great for groups. Can’t wait to take my folks here when they visit.

The Local Vine might be just a single block away from one of my favorite places, Black Bottle, but it’s miles behind in terms of class. Bonnie and I wanted to give it a shot and try out their wine after we drove by it on our way to Black Bottle the week before. Upon walking in (and reading a sign that asked us to seat ourselves), we were immediately intercepted and told that if we were going to sit in the bar, we would have to be out of there by 6:30pm. I looked at my watch — 6pm.
Don’t even let us in, then. I understand that lounges and restaurants get reserved all the time. But the way we were handled just reeked of classlessness. Instead, we were left to stand and wait around until we were shown a table in the corner of the lounge that I believe had to be created with the purpose of winning least comfortable table ever. Bonnie sat on a smooth cement bench with no backing to lean against. The wine was alright, but at this point we just didn’t feel *right* there. We finished our glasses, got the check, and walked down the block to Black Bottle to have dinner instead.

After steeling nerves to tromp through the douchebaggery/​drug market that can be Belltown on a weekend eve (We live near the Hill! We have Poco! Why leave? Oh, that’s right — new adventures…), we arrived at nearby Black Bottle to find standing room only. No problem, since The Local Vine (or TLV, as they prefer to be named) was just a block up the street. White lights, a bright flickering fireplace, and ample available seats beckoned through the large windows…
I imagine TLV can get crowded and less intimate at busier times, but even on a Saturday around 8 it wasn’t bad. Natural space clusters of taller stools set at long tables or the bar, long benches facing low-​backed chairs, and a row of seats behind the fireplace do a decent job of sub-​dividing the real estate into manageable pieces. The crowd energy is never far yet you can hold a nice conversation without raising your voice, and if you sit near the windows you can enjoy the quiet darkness of Second Avenue, lit by the light strings edging the pane.
TLV is not local as in locavore, but local as in terroir. Their niche is smaller regional wineries that attempt to capture not a consumer palate but the essence of their soil (although they’re not all small — standards like Benziger and d’Arenberg are present), and it was refreshing to see new names from diverse wine regions around the world. (We three shared a lovely bottle of Hestia Merlot from our own Columbia Valley.)
A way in which TLV is not unique is in their wine marketing. Over the last few years I’ve noticed wine menus change organization from region or even varietal to the taste profile. It’s a good way to make a wine menu friendlier to those who don’t know as much about it, and I’m all for making wine accessible and friendly. But I do miss the days of being able to peruse the list of a region, as now I find I have to skip around the menu to find what I want (who decides whether a wine is cheerful or spicy anyway, and why are Syrahs in five different sections?!). I know wine descriptions are subjective, but I want it to be my subjectivity that guides me, damn it!
A final oddity about TLV’s menu I found highly entertaining was their symbol system. A cult wine (who decides?!) gets a little flame, a «wine we love» a heart, and so on… But Washington wines get a tree, which amuses me because the location of a vineyard is printed right there on the menu, so why I need a tree to inform me of a fact I can read an inch to the right is beyond me. I suppose it saves time when people are drunk late at night and reading comprehension has all but escaped.
Despite my chagrin at being treated by the menu like a wine idiot, I’d go back to TLV again; I like the atmosphere, the white lights, candles, and fireplace, and having a «safe place» in Belltown as I know that might come in handy one night. I believe there’s outdoor seating in the summer (the sidewalk space looks large enough), and you can reserve tables for larger groups as well. The service was oddly standoffish for Seattle (I think we have great servers, bartenders, and waitstaff in this town!), but I and my crowd don’t need much if we’re drinking a bottle of wine…

Got here and missed the happy hour by 10 min. BOOoo
Impressed by ambiance and nice customer service.
I had ‘Riesling — Monchhof Robert Eymael Estate 2007′ and Truffled Popcorn. It was a little too oily for me but tasted like the yummy popcorn.
I’ll probably come back to try the happy hour next time. Cool!

So I came here on a Sunday for the Wine 101 class opposed to dropping in during a hoppin’ night in Belltown. Belltown on Sunday afternoon is pretty quiet, and The Local Vine is only open for class. Our educator, co-​owner Sarah Munson, was delightful… informative, funny, and down-​to-​earth. We were able to sample and discuss hearty pours of six different wines, and I felt I got great basic pointers on how to taste properly, the origins of some popular wines, and wine/​food pairings.
Full disclosure: I purchased my class for more than 50% off via
and I don’t think I would have sprung for the usual $ 65 price tag. If finances aren’t a big concern for you, go for the regular price… otherwise, keep an eye out for a deal!

We were in Belltown and for some reason in the mood for a glass of bubbly. I’d heard about the truffle popcorn at The Local Vine and since truffle is my current obsession, we decided to drop in for a drink.
The wine list is great and very varied in terms of wines and also in terms of price. I could have had a $ 5 glass or a $ 34 glass. (I went with the $ 6…never say I’m not a classy lady!)
We were there in time for late night HH (10-​close, there is also one 4 – 6) and scored a medium bowl of truffle popcorn off the late night menu for $ 3. It was amazing! I want to take a bath in that popcorn!
3 stars because I was the one dumb enough to test this place out on a Friday night. The typical Belltown crowd was there and someone was having a 25^th birthday and girls kept screaming as though they were being filmed for Girls Gone Wild… instant panic attack that not even the champagne could cure completely. I’ll be back, but on a quieter day.

What can I say about this place? Perfect for dates. Perfect for a get-​together. Reasonably priced wine and of course, a vast selection of rare varietals to your expected blends. I love The Local Vine.
I first came here on a weeknight and it was very quiet and low key. Perfect for my mood and the event I was attending because I didn’t want to deal with a lot of noise.
My only minor gripe is that there seemed to be one staff member on hand that night, so I had to go out of my way to grab the sweet girl’s attention a few times, but that won’t stop me from coming back. I’d recommend this gem to anyone who wants a hang out spot after dinner or a place to meet up before.

This place is probably my favorite wine bar in Seattle. Why? Simply put, they have a HUGE selection of by-​the-​glass wines that rotate with a lot of the selection in the $ 7 a glass range and below.
The food isn’t bad, but lets be blunt… I don’t go to a wine bar to eat lots of crazy food… I go to a wine bar to try a lot of different, yummy, interesting, cult wines that I would probably never buy a bottle of, but really want to try. That way, if I do like it I will go buy that bottle. Don’t review this place based on it’s food… review it based on it’s wines. The wine selection can’t be beat and I like that it’s never super busy so the service is always really prompt.

I’ll start with the best: Truffle oil popcorn w/​grey seasalt IN A BUCKET.
We stopped by here after the Bite to get away from the crowds and have some wine. The place was just opening for the day and they allowed us to chill in their outdoor seating area early.
Like their name suggests, they have LOTS of wine. It’s divided up by categories like earthy, rich, bold, bubbly, etc. This is nice because it’s less overwhelming (they have a huge binder if you want to read about all their wine) and we just went to what we felt like. I wanted Rose, so I go to the rose section. Nice! They have a few snacky things to eat (but no dessert), like cheese plate, bruscetta, etc. We decided to share the bucket of popcorn.
OMG, soooooooo good. I probably ate half the bucket myself! Now I want to buy truffle oil and use it on everything!
Price-​wise, wine by the glass was about $ 10 – 20, and the bucket of popcorn was $ 11. Our group of 4 (each with a glass of something), got out of there in under $ 70. It’s a nice place for a once-​in-​a-​while jaunt, but I wouldn’t come here every month or anything.
PS: Their restroom is labeled «WC» and that bugs me (the whole faux British thing). Just a personal quirk I have. And it was really DARK in there.

I would normally give this place a four star rating. But I feel strongly that Seattle needs more places just like this, so I am going to give it a 5^th star.
This place is a blast to head into with a small group of friends or maybe a pair of couples. The wine list is fun and caters to those who are not experienced winos.
They have a vast selection and have great wines that you would normally never be able to try by the glass available in this manner. They present each class of wine differently and correctly.
The food isn’t really intended to be a meal, and I wouldn’t really plan on coming here for dinner unless I was in a «sharing many appetizers» type of mood. But, for what it is, its a lot of fun.
My favorite thing to do is to choose a brand new wine that I haven’t had before with 2 – 3 cheeses. The cheeses are always brought out on their own dish wish a fruit accompaniment, and awesome sweet crostini. Nothing is more satisfying than discovering an argentinian malbec that goes flawlessly with a california valley smoked gouga drizzled with stawberry purée that you never knew existed.
I swear, I’ve found a couple combinations of wine/​cheese/​fruit that taste like they were painstakingly genetically engineered to be paired with each other to induce multiple mouthgasms in a single bite.
Wierdest thing on the menu? Fried Goat Cheese Balls. They don’t have a fancy name, just «fried goat cheese balls»
The staff here is lots of fun and VERY knowledgeable. They make great recommendations and always make sure to do it in a personal way, asking you what you typically like and what their personal favorites are. I’ve let them choose for me more than a couple times and I always end up feeling satisfied and like I learned something.
Food for me is about new tastes, and experiences and there is plenty of both at TLV.
Viva le vino!

Local Vine is a great place for casual wine drinkers. There is a good selection of wines by the glass and by the bottle. The menu categorizes wine with adjectives such as «succulent,» «boisterous,» and «spicy,» which can be great for those trying to figure out what they enjoy. Different icons point out local wines, wines made by female winemakers, staff favorites, and other notable selections.
I love the interior — low seats, glowing flames, large windows. Outdoor seating is available as well in warmer weather. Even on Friday or Saturday nights, it doesn’t seem to get particularly crowded here (hope that’s not too bad for business!) Excellent for a date of a laidback night of hanging out with friends.
The staff are always friendly and willing to assist with wine selections.
I wouldn’t come here just to dine, but Local Vine has a selection of foods that go well with wine. I particularly liked the truffle popcorn (a bit pricey for popcorn, but if you’re lucky, you might get a complimentary bowl!!) and the steamed clams with fingerling potatoes.

Went here for Valentine’s day. The place was busy, but not quite crowded.
The décor is modern, and dark. The overall vibe is slightly pretentious, but still somewhat cozy. The wine is expensive, with small portions, if you’re buying by the glass. The food is served in ridiculously tiny portions, even for a wine spot. (Lobster Ravioli = 3 squares of ravioli spread across a plate.)
Most of the waitstaff was distant.
The seating area near the windows is a little uncomfortable, since their «sofas» do not have a back. They’re more of a wide, padded stool. (The bar is more comfortable…)
For that, on a slower night, I could see this place as being a pretty comfortable upscale place, but not quite my cup of tea…

First off, a caveat: I like wine, but I’m not a fan of wine bars. They tend to be pretentious and often have a limited selection of non-​wine. Plus, what passes for a cheese plate would make a Frenchman sneer. A couple slivers of cheese does not a plate make!
I think the Local Vine has a better selection of wine than most and a nice menu that organizes their wines into different categories (mellow, lush, bold, fruity, spicy). I went on a Monday night and it was pretty empty around 8pm. But after a while it picked up and the one server on staff was clearly overwhelmed and neglected my date and I for about 45 min.
My biggest issue though is that the seating is uncomfortable. They have a cute lounge area, but the chairs are hard and have low backs. One of their dining areas has concrete benches. Concrete! Come on people, at least put some pillows down. They have better seating at Safeco field!
If you’re in the neighborhood this might be a fun place to pop in after work for one drink, but unless you want to lose all sensation in your ass I wouldn’t stay long.

I just want to convey the defining moment for me at The Local Vine. When I went, I had just flown in from Calgary. I was anxious to talk to my companion and we had much to discuss.
I was hungry and thirsty. Just the person you want to enter your restaurant — if you should be in the position of owning a restaurant.
So we walk in and find ourselves a seat outside. It’s a lovely Seattle Summer evening. About 74 degrees, sunny, fresh air coming in off the sound.
We sit down and after a time the perky server shows up and says, «We have a wine tasting tonight, it’s five dollars for two pours! And you get some raffle tickets for some giveaways!»
Well, that sounds nice so I ask for it. «Oh, you have to go to the bar in front.»
So … you are telling me that rather than enjoying the tasting in a comfortable seat outside in the beautiful weather, you want me to go to the entry of the winebar which is crammed full of people. You are telling me that rather than pleasantly experiencing the wine with my companion, I should stand around a bunch of people who looked wayyyyy too Dude-​ish and might ask me what my frat house affiliation was?
I ordered a glass of the Shiraz, I think.
I was hungry, so I ordered the prawns. They were excellent, but they came as a small plate (just the prawns) with a large plate price.
I did get plenty of quality time with my companion though, as service was not speedy.
So, if you are a Dude with only a modicum of hunger and anxious to discuss your days on fraternity row in the breezeway of a winebar while tasting wines for $ 5 with the possibility of winning a t-​shirt — this is the place!

As part of the growing wine bar scene in Seattle, Local Vine offers a nice selection is a sleek modern setting. The high ceiling and large windows gives a spacious feel to the loft. While the curving, wave-​like wood panels by the bar (reminiscent of Morimoto in Philadelphia) and tear-​drop shaped frosted glass lamps adds some warmth and organic shape to the room. A fireplace enclosed in a room divider was also a nice touch. Instead of the soft jazz that other reviewers heard, Saturday night had a decent mix of lounge and house music (note: minus the cheesy Bob Sinclair songs) from the Hotel Costes series.
As for the selection, prices were reasonable, with many selections priced below $ 10 per glass. Some selections we enjoyed included a Beresan Cabernet Franc and some local syrah. But, for those wit the cash and desire to splurge, Local Vine offers Screaming Eagle by the bottle ($ 2,700) or by the glass ($ 485). But there was a nice selection of bottles in the $ 28 to $ 40 range, so the price is right. There is a sizeable food menu, but we didn’t have a chance to sample any of the dishes, although we did get some choice olives for free. Local Vine also had 4 beers on tap for non-​wine drinkers, but no liquor.
Overall, Local Vine offers a hip and sophisticated venue for a wine bar in Seattle. Prices seem very reasonable for the neighborhood and atmosphere, and the frequently changing selection means that there will be something new to try the next time. Highly recommended!

Wonderful new wine bar featuring small plates and a few pastas, Wagyu beef, etc.
Chef Jason Wilson from Crush is here two to three nights a week. If you know anything about Crush this certainly is a clue as to what’s going on here.
My favorites so far include a very light Gnocchi suggested by a line cook (sitting next to me during his off night), parmesan puffs, Riccotta/​salome flatbread, wild mushroom and chevre bruschetta,
Coconut crusted almonds.
The plate size has to do with taste experience and not quantity. As prices are quite reasonable, it’s best to order a mix of selections for sharing.
A nice setting.

Meandering around this place they call «Belltown,» one might notice that most of the shops and restaurants in said neighborhood exist mostly on 1^st Ave. This restaurant is part of the attempt to expand Belltown beyond this; as well as a good showcase of popular wine and smaller, lesser known wineries.
I enjoyed the experience, overall. I’ve been there before for wine, which was fine– not a lot you can do wrong with that.
They do something odd with the boxes of wine– using the beaten up cardboard and wooden crates for décor in the front of the venue. I understand the attempt, but no. It’s not fitting with the rest of the interior (glass, fire, metal, upscale). It’s not done in an artistic manner. No. The other décor went well with the overall vibe of the place. The huge glass fireplace rocks, and will be excellent in the winter.
Food = Excellent. Potions = small.
At the start of our meal, we had just ok service.
–It took about 10 minutes for the waiter to get to our table.
–Ordered a bottle of champagne to start, and the service proceeded to improve a little. Wine and food recommendations were made, water was brought, etc.
–The above was apparently the peak in our experience. After the first item was brought, service started to get bad.
–They FORGOT an item, completely forgot it. Odd too, because it was the item one of our waiters raved about.
–Above, note the reference to «one» of our waiters. We very distinctly had two. They were similar, but they must have hated each other because they never seemed to talk to one another about their tables.
–At the end, we asked for our check, and waited a painful 45 minutes for it to come. They comped half our meal at the end and gave us free glasses of a good champagne to remedy the situation.
All in all, I think they have some growing up to do, some maturing, some developing into the awesome place they clearly hope to be. I hope that like fine wine, this place really will get better with age.
I’ll come back and keep hoping for the best.