VINE

She says:
Dining at Vine, a Virginia-Highlands eatery known for its extensive wine list, Downtown Boy and I once again found ourselves in a restaurant that fits the Atlanta mold we have come to dread … lured in by a trendy décor and tantalized by a surplus of creative appetizers, we are ultimately disappointed with mediocre and overpriced entrees. Maybe the one-word name should have tipped us off (see Saga, Vinocity, etc.).

Vine is an attractive restaurant. The interior is stylish without going overboard, with dark walls, warm tones, and abstract drip paintings, and the covered outdoor patio is a lovely place to unwind with a bottle of wine and enjoy the summer evening. I tried a glass of the Garnacha Rose, which was inconspicuous but refreshing.

He says:
We started off with the shrimp and crab wontons, a terrific starter that I would recommend to any patron of this establishment. The fried wontons give just the right amount of crunch while retaining the moistness of the Moroccan spiced crab and shrimp within. The wontons are good enough on their own, but they’re even better when paired with the bold and spicy notes of the accompanying lemon curry marmalade.

She says:
The wontons were delicious, and my hopes were high as the entrees arrived. But alas, the shrimp and tomato linguine was unremarkable, save for being too salty. The shrimp tasted and smelled extremely fishy (in an unappetizing way). I forced down about half, then filled up on the free bread and olive oil.

He says:
My vegetable risotto fared slightly better than Uptown Girl’s dish. The risotto was creamy even though it could have been cooked slightly longer, and the medley of asparagus, mushrooms, and Italian herbs was a solid combination. I’ve had better risotto elsewhere though, and Vine’s version wasn’t any more memorable than the smooth jazz piped in through the ceiling stereo.

We say:
Stick to the wine and appetizers and you might be happy at Vine.



Vine Restaurant
1190 N. Highland Avenue, Atlanta GA 30306
http://www.vinerestaurant.com/home.html