ViNO BeaNO!

One stormy Saturday evening, around 11:00 p.m., my good friend and I decided to check out the new "happening" bar and cafe, VinoBeano. The bar is located in Midtown, a hip and up-and-coming area often frequented by college students and young professionals. The idea is to have a cafe and coffee shop by day and then transition to a wine bar in the evenings.

Overall our visit was a bit underwhelming, though the rain and wet roads may very well be why the "happening" bar was a little lackluster.

When we arrived, we noticed the brightly colored furnishings, hot pink and neon blue, a little loud but giving off funky yet posh vibes. We sat at the bar and took in the scene.

The music overhead was loudly playing Ed Sheeran's "Bad Habits." Crystal chandeliers were hanging above some tables, and there was a lounge area with a couch and a few chairs. A few groups of people occupied a couple of tables, but in all, it was relatively quiet.

With several people behind the bar and very few patrons, it was unfortunate that the bartenders didn't greet us as we walked up. But then, more than ten minutes passed before anyone checked on us.

At the time, they were not offering any bottled wines. So, we decided to give the "wine on tap" a go. My friend tried the pinot noir, and I went for the cab. Now, it never dawned on either of us that tap pours are generally chilled. So, when we received our $8 glass of tap red wine, it was cold. We both looked at each other, puzzled, but with a grin, we tried the wine.

We flagged the bartender down and requested a prosecco instead. A little while later, the prosecco arrived, and we were much happier. Now, I am not a wine connoisseur; however, I understand that most full-bodied and high-tannin wines are typically better, not chilled. However, some red wines, usually those with higher acid, are better served slightly chilled. That, unfortunately, was not the case here.

We asked the bartender if they received many complaints about the red wine on tap being served chilled. Then, with agitation, he responded, "We get flack all the time, usually by the older crowd."

Zing! That stung. I raised my eyebrows at him. We did just send our glasses back. It felt a little like he was talking about us.

I asked if they could adjust the tap's temperature for the reds. "Not that I know of," he said and turned on his heel.

Before walking away, the bartender threw in a quick snide aside, "everyone is a sommelier."

During this visit, I did not have the opportunity to try any food items from their menu. It was late in the evening, and they were no longer serving food. I do not know if I might ever have the opportunity to do so either.

It took me a little time to decide how to write my review of VinoBeano. As I am not partial to writing poor reviews, however, I do feel obligated to report what events transpired. The service was not particularly good, and the product was just fine, which you might expect for $8. That being said, it seems that VinoBeano might have their sights set on a particular crowd who might enjoy the spectacularly loud furnishings and cheap wine on tap, in college town.

VinoBeano

Address: 1309 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32303

Phone: (850) 329-2562

Hours of Operation:

Monday-Thursday	Friday-Saturday	Sunday
8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.	8:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.	8:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.