Donna Da Vine

Warm and lovely, this neighborhood wine bar is a welcome addition to Boerum Hill. My husband and I have stopped by several times and each time is a pleasant experience. Their wine list is mostly small production boutique wines and many of them are made from unusual grape varietals, interesting blends or wine from up and coming wine regions. The tapas style menu is ever changing and executed quite well. With the owners on hand nearly every night the service here is always friendly and on point, and the owners are always willing to answer any wine questions you might have. I've seen a lot of complaints on citysearch about different wine bars / restaurants that use stemless glasses- which donna da vine does. If you wanted to evaluate a true treasure from your wine cellar than perhaps you wouldn't use a stemless glass, but let's not forget that ""wine tumblers "" are utilized in some of the best wine producing countries in europe... Italy being the first one that comes to mind... and riedel, a producer of premium crystal glasses have made an artform out of making sure these tumblers are designed to enhance the flavor of wine. I haven't written a review before because there is always that desire to keep a hidden gem...just that hidden , but this is a great establishment that deserves to thrive and grow in this neighborhood ....people need to know about it !!!!\r Cheers ! Pros: Interesting wines..... comfy atmosphere....delicious tapas more

I was so excited when this place opened up, supposedly low key ""Nieghbor hoody "" unpretentious\r the food is great! always smells delicious and tastes even better. Its not really expensive, but for me it isnt cheap. thats how come it was really dissapointing to get over charged on two different occasions- and one of those times it wasnt handled in exactly a low key layed back nieghborhoody fashion. I was embaressed for them as were my friends that I had brought to enjoy the garden.\r I hope they improve- for a place that has no decor- iffy service at best- and (from what my friends tell me) uses glasses that are actually not good for tasting the wine, temperature etc.\r I wont be back till I hear somethings changed- in the mean time- Check your check! Pros: excellently prepared tapas, location Cons: iffy service + no decor + over charged = poor value more

Great! I went with my parents last weekend, and they even had a few microbrews for my dad, who's not a huge wine drinker. It wasn't that crowded when I went, but I hear it can get pretty packed on the weekends. The decor is tasteful and minimal and they (surprisingly) played great music. We shared a large plate of tapas along with our drinks that was incredible--prosciutto, spiced pears, 2 cheeses, grilled radicchio, among other things. I got a flight of Reds--which included a port I liked so much I had two more glasses. We must have been there for over three hours. more

I was never much of a ""wine-bar"" person. I thought they were pretensious and full of Frasier-esque yuppies talking about tannins and bouquets with fake accents. Clearly, this place is different.\r \r I'm shocked that a previous user thought it appropriate to call Da Vine's winelist ""uninspired."" Since its opening last month, I've been back four times. The staff (I think there are only 4) are always helpful and genuinely interested in the customers--I've chatted with the owner and the waitress each time I've gone. In doing so, I've learned that the owner has spent time working on various vineyards in both Italy and Australia. Another time, wanting to try a new white, I asked my server for a recommendation. She brought me a glass of the Veltliner, promising me that I would love it or it was on her. It's an Austrian wine, she told me, which she had tasted for the first time during her recent studies in Vienna. Clearly, the winelist is anything BUT unispired! I've tried funky wines I'd never heard of--and there seems to be a story with each one. \r \r Still, though, the Red X (Cab and Syrah I think?) is my favorite, and they have beautiful cheese and olive plates. I've only had a few 'tastes' from the menu, but each time I am pleased with the care that has gone into my dishes. Everything, from the bread to the pickles, is made right there in the kitchen. \r \r I'm sorry (and indeed surprised) that a bad experience was had at Donna Da Vine--but then again, someone who makes unqualified class assumptions and character assessments in restaurant reviews is likely miserable anyway---meaning that he could be anywhere (even somewhere that meets his staunch stemware requirements) and still find something on which to blame his displeasure. But for the rest of you, Donna Da Vine is a fun spot and a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Pros: Relaxed and careful service. Great selections. more

The thing I dislike most about going to a restaurant or a bar is when you ask what wines they have by the glass and they tell you a merlot, a cab and a chardonnay- no vineyard, no vintage, no nothing. Well that problem was solved when I walked into donna da vine. They offer about 30 + wines by the glass, and not only do they tell you what the varietal and the vintage are, but they each have a witty description so even those afraid of an unusual grape like gruner veltliner will feel comfortable ordering it. The atmosphere is fun and relaxed and the decor is beautiful. Their selection is meant for any pocketbook as they have a great montelpuciano for $6 a glass and an amazing red from the languedoc that was about $8 a glass. And if you don't know what to drink the owner and staff are always willing to make a suggestion and help you negotiate through the list. We are so happy donna da vine has come to the neighborhood. Pros: Terrific wines, and interesting cheese selections Cons: This place gets packed on weekend nights so get there early more

I love this place. I have been there on several occassions since it opened and have sat at the bar where the bartender (almost all the times I've been there the bartender's the owner) delights me with her suggestions of wines from their fun and unique list. Their wines are not the typical fruit bombs you find at some wine bars, but instead are cleverly chosen for both their taste and value. All the wines are offered by the glass and range in price from $6-$14, and I have not been dissapointed with any I have tasted. My favorite is this wonderful south african claret that is heavy and complex. To complement their wine list there is a thoughtful selection of cheeses, including a talleggio that is just ripe and beautiful and some more fulfilling appetizers ( or as they call them shareable plates). The staff is always pleasant and I have been the last patron standing on two occassions and enjoyed just hanging around the bar talking about wine with them until I felt it was time to take myself home. I was never rushed and in fact they offered me tastes of a new wine they were about to put on their list. This place is comfortable , has good wine, good food and makes for great company. A nice addition to atlantic avenue. Pros: Intimate setting. Great place for a beautiful glass of wine more

My husband and I live in boerum hill...a neighborhood that was, until recently, lacking a place to have a nice relaxing evening and share a couple of glasses of wine with friends. Donna da vine has filled that void. With an interesting wine list, surprisingly great food, and friendly and knowledgeable staff, I have found my way there several times since it opened about a month ago and each time had a great experience. The staff remembers me, and every glass of wine I have had on the menu has been enjoyable- from the l de lyeth merlot to the heretiques from the languedoc ( my personal favorite). They also have these very clever flights which allow you to taste three different wines with names like ""Hail Me a Cab"" and "" ABC "" ( anything but chardonnay). Though the food is meant to be shared, they do have some more filling menu items - they have a trio of mac n cheese that was outstanding. Even though we have been there on weekends when they are quite packed we have never felt neglected by the staff...in fact quite the opposite...we have always been well taken care of. This is our new neighborhood favorite. \r \r Pros: Great atmosphere .... great wine more

This place won't last. Uninspired wine list consisting of overpriced new world fruit bombs. Not very assuring when they pour a customer's wine in a back room. No stem ware--just those awful trendy glasses are used so your fingerprints cover up the wine's color, your hand warms up your supposedly cellar temperature wine. This is the good part they close at 11, we got there at 10:15. We each order a flight of wine, which they served us pleasantly, if not knowledgably, enough. After the only other patrons left, the staff (who were the owners) left the dining room/bar to go hang-out in that back room! They didn't care about us at all-- in fact they acted like we were burdensome. As soon as the clock struck 11, they actually turned up the lights to encourage us to leave! If they wanted to get out of there so badly, they shouldn't have let us order two pricey flights-- yes, three glasses of wine will take more than 45 minutes to drink! For the owners of a brand new establishment to basically push customers out the door doesn't seem like a smart idea. The place feels more like a club house for the youngish trust-fund kids who opened it-- a place where they can blast crappy music and gossip about ""you-tube."" We partons shouldn't put up with this treatment anymore! If a place wants to take our money, they should be knowledgeable about the product, be hospitable, and make us feel welcome and appreciated! There are too many great places in this city to tolerate the many terrible ones! Avoid Dona da Vine! Pros: will probably go out of business soon Cons: everything more