The Local Vine

This place a pretty upscale modern atmosphere. We drifted in on a windy, blunder of Saturday afternoon and had a glass of wine. The wine selection was pretty diverse and widely rated. The Shiraz that was recommended was very good, but a little pricey. Good overall and I'll probably go back for more of a date night Not your comfortable, casual afternoon glass of wine type of place. Pros: Diverse wine selection, wine board games, modern atmosphere Cons: Pretty pricey more

After a disappointing visit to another wine bar down the street we happened onto Local Vine. It was a breath of fresh air. The staff encouraged us to taste a couple different wines before making our choices...which made me spend more money of course! The bar is really into trying less known, more upscale wines along with the more affordable glasses. It's great to have such a range. These people are wine lovers who opened a bar...not business people who saw an opportunity in wine. Pros: Very helpful staff more

First off let me say that this is some of the coolest decor in Belltown being both sophisticated and relaxing at the same time. Everything about this place makes wine extremely approachable for wine novices and those looking to learn more. Their wine list is sectioned by flavors from the wine which is nice if you want to learn but a major pain if you've already developed your palate. While the staff is very nice it is also VERY noticible who there actually knows about wine and whose been coached to bluff their way through questions - when what they should really say is ""I don't know about that one - let me get ""blank""."" The truffle popcorn is amazing but the rest of the food isn't quite there yet. But all in all if I wanted to explore some new wines - I'd go to Local Vine over Purple's overrated wine list any day. Pros: Best ""by the glass"" wine list in town Cons: Hit-or-Miss Food and Wine Knowledge more

This is a wonderful, warm wine bar. Great wine selection by the glass. Interesting and well executed appetizers. The staff is welcoming and very helpful. Comfortable chairs and great fireplace. We went hoping to get a late lunch. There menu was more appetizers than substantial fare, but it filled the bill. Try the truffle popcorn. Delicious! Pros: Warm, interesting menu, friendly, good wine selection and appetizers Cons: Light fare only, not a dinner or lunch place, per se. more

This place is so GREAT!!!! . We have been trying a bunch of wine bars in Seattle andI believe Local Vine is one ofthe best. Great selection of wne, Fabulous chese plate and the olives are my fav!!! more

I read about The Local Vine in the Bon Appetit - they were listed as one of the top 10 wine bars in the country. Citysearch says that they are #1 in Seattle. Obviously, I had to check it out - and am feeling really dumb that I haven't been there yet. So.....the wine list really is great. The range of options that you can try by the glass is truly outstanding. I ordered the truffled popcorn as an appetizer and the short ribs, which were outstanding and paired perfectly with the waiter's wine recommendations. My wife raved about the beet plate and prawns. All in all, a good experience and we'll be back Pros: wine selection, staff gives great recommendations Cons: parking in Belltown more

If you could only go to one wine bar in Seattle - go to this one. It has the best wine selection - both breadth and depth. With over 100 wines just by the glass - and another several hundred (300? 400?) by the bottle, there is tons to choose from. There is a focus on Pacific NW wines. So, if you are visiting, it's really a great opportunity to taste some of the local stuff. As a bonus - the outdoor seating is just wonderful for those summer days (and nights) in Seattle. Pros: wine selection, outdoor seating Cons: dont know more

When we visited, the food was absolutely fantastic. However, the wine list was lacking (which is disappointing for a place called the Local Vine) and the waiter was rude and lacked any personality whatsoever. His lack of interest in our needs and his inability to answer any of our questions about wines made him basically worthless throughout the evening. I have little intention of going back, except to get the Potato Gnocchi to go. Pros: Great Food, Good Location, Fun Atmoshpere Cons: Horrible Service, Small Servings, Bad Wine List more

I have been a regular customer since The Local Vine opened. I've always had a great experience with service - very friendly and very knowledgeable about wine. In fact, I've learned a lot since I started going there. The food is great - pairs great with wine. The wine selection is unbeatable in Seattle. They have hard to find wines here that are usually seen only in the most expensive restaurants. Very strong selection of local, NW wines. But also superb grouping of California and international wines. To top it off, customers can even drink these elite wines by the glass here - without even having to buy the whole bottle. I recommend this place wholeheartedly Pros: Wine selection and very knowledgebale staff more

I had previously posted this review as 1 star and titled ""Good Food, Terrible Service and Unresponsive Management"". Well the first two parts still hold true but the Unresponsive Management turns out to be entirely wrong. My original complaint to the management got held up in my e-mail server for six weeks. While I thought they were ignoring me, they were just unaware of our complaint. As soon as they did receive the complaint the owner was quick to respond with an apology, as well as the assurance that the service issue had been addressed. She also requested that we give them a second chance We are going to do just that. I'm hoping, that once we go back, I'll be able to post a completely positive review on this sight. Pros: Food, location Cons: Service, Management, Wine out of Stock more

I'm happy to see mostly positive reviews for what is definitely my absolute favorite wine bar in Seattle. It seems like some of the people giving negatives have unrealistic expectations, although I sympathize with the one poster who experienced bad service. The chairs are hip, like most of the design elements in this place. That means if you are a slouch, then yes you are likely to be uncomfortable without a cushioned back support.\r \r The wine list here is ever-changing, fairly priced, and extremely fun to peruse. I'm one of those people that cellar my best wines and it's very nice to find some of them on the list at TLV so that I can try them and see how they're fairing. Frequently hosted tastings are another great way to increase one's wine knowledge. The list is easily a better assortment than Purple and wins hands down over Twisted Cork. The poster who \r says Canlis' wine list is better kind of missed the point: it's not a 5 star black tie place. For a wine bar, the selection is deep (40-50?) and diverse (bubbly to super big reds). They even have 4 beer taps as a nice nod to that one friend we all have that is too retro-cool to drink wine (sorry people, no Bud Light or Coors on tap here, maybe in bottle).\r \r The food is great, and kept fresh in tune with seasonal availability. Start with truffled popcorn and make your way over to something more solid like the Beef Burgundy or the Tomato Pasta. Do not pass up the charcuterie board.\r \r Atmosphere is very nicely done with well-conceived music blending into the background, intimate lighting, and an open floor plan that encourages some level of community interaction.\r \r It's fair to say that there were a few rough spots when they first opened. They sold so much wine that they were frequently out of stock on several choices, and initially a bit understaffed and undertrained. That all seems to be better now.\r \r Finally Seattle gets something that's big-town cool instead of small-town cozy. Pros: Hip atmosphere, great wines, tasty food, good music Cons: Parking in Belltown :-( more

We were excited to try the Local Vine but by the end we made the choice not to return. The food was great but sadly the service was far from great. We ordered a flight of red wine which includes 3 glasses of wine. Our waitress several mintues after taking our drink order returned to mumble to us that one of the wines on the flight was out. She reluctantly offered another option and informed us another wine we had selected was out! When the food arrvied only 2 of us from our party of 4 received our meal. Several minutes, in fact almost 10 minutes later the other 2 received their meal with not a peep of appology for the delay from our waitress. During the rest of our stay she didn't once check back with us to offer another drink. It was a Wednesday and wasn't that busy. In the end we informed our waitress (if you can call her that) that the service was disapointing which was the cause of our small tip and her response was ""it's ok - I was really busy!"" No appology, nothing. We won't return to Local Vine because we can go many other places that offers a good wine selection AND good service. more

This place fills a void in Belltown and is almost perfect. Unfortunately, I can't recommend going there for more than a quick drink as the seating is extremely uncomfortable. I hope the owners read this site and do something about it because honestly, the plastic chairs in a fast food restaurant are more comfortable than the seating at this place. The staff was friendly, but it took a LONG time for them to come and ask for our order. Still, the wine selection can't be beat and I will definitely go back for quick drinks and maybe stay longer if they get better chairs. more

I am a 40-ish single mom who is newly on the dating scene. Most bars are awful, and full of 20 somethings. I dont want to commit to an entire dinner in restaurant on a first date. So...The Local Vine is perfect!! It has a mix of ages, is romantic (fireplace, etc.), and is cool/ trendy. Plus, it has great wine and small plates of food just in case I actually like the guy and want to hang out for a bit.. ;) Pros: fireplace, romantic, great spot for a date, love the small plates concept (can share, etc) Cons: dont know? more

I attended The Local Vine's on New Year's Even. In addition to the 100-ish wines by the glass, they also have a bottle list of an additional 400ish wines PLUS the longest list I've ever seen of champagnes and sparkling wines. I'm not sure if that was just for this bash. Nevertheless, it was impressive. The scene is made up of gorgeous people who enjoy good wine and fun. It's not the typical fleece wearing Seattle crowd. Lots and lots of beautiful women hang here (which makes eye candy for the typical Seattle guy crowd). Considering having an event here myself - these people really know how to throw a good, tasteful, fun party. Pros: wine list, attracts attractive and fun crowd, great place for an event or party Cons: dunno more

I admit it - I'm a wine fanatic. I typically bring my own wine when eating out since I am often disappointed by wine lists at Seattle restaurants and bars (even those claiming to have great wine lists or a wine focus). So, I was pleasantly surprised to discover The Local Vine. For once, I dont have to be prepared with my own bottle. The wine list is thoughtful, and the food pairing just right. Riedel glasses with a choice of stemmed or stemless (great idea). As an added bonus, prices are extremely reasonable - and less than you'd find at other places with exceptional wine like this. Pros: exceptional wine list, prices are extremely reasonable Cons: there is not one closer to my house! more

This place is the best thing to open in Belltown in a long time. It fills the need for a place where all people feel welcome, the service is fantastic, not to mention great food and amazing wines. Each and everytime I am in there I meet someone with passion for wine and good eats. It is an easy place to stop by after work, have a glass of wine and talk with great people or a late night spot for friends who are looking for the proper night cap. If you are not a wine connoisseur, no worries, the staff is well educated and easy to talk to. I feel like I know quite a bit about wines and i have learned little tidbits on my visits. I think I am headed back there tonight!!! Pros: Food, Wine, Service, People Cons: Seating a bit low more

Although I was very excited to see a new wine bar, the service here was uneducated, unattentive and plainly ignored the party of 4. It was not even a busy time of the Friday evening and we were one of a few on an early Friday evening that had headed out for a glass of wine. When my friend asked a specific question, the misffed waitress almost left an ice trail behind here. Yet, she was still unable to answer with any specific recommendations. The menu is difficult to read and does not list by the type of grape. For being a wine afficionado, this place definitely missed the mark. The chairs were also the least comfortable set-up one could imagine. more

I LOVE TLV (stands for The Local Vine!). I admit that I'm a regular. It is a perfect place for me to go after work, before or after a date - or even while actually on a date. The people are very friendly and I always feel welcome. I never feel strange walking in by myself - and it does not feel like a bar. As an added bonus, I've really been able to learn a bit about wine. I'm lucky that it is right in my neighborhood. Thank you, TLV! more

While visiting Seattle last week I was referred to this establishment. I was looking for a great place to have a nice glass of wine and relax for a couple of hours while before I had to head to the airport. What I found at the Local Vine blew me away! I had no idea Seattle had this type of establishment. The wine selection was world class, the food was fantastic, and the vibe was more LA or NY than Seattle. I will definately make sure I spend time at the Local Vine every time I am in town. Pros: wine selection, excellent food, and great ambience more