San Antonio's Best Wine List? (Kirby, Van: restaurants, prices, license)

[SsnTktHldr]

I looked at wine specator awards, but they can be way off sometimes. I have seen Kirby's, very impressive, Le Reve, almost as impressive, and Ounce, not so impressive. Any comments on those or other hot spots? I like American Cabs and Pinots and Bordeaux.

[Lauren0319]

Okay, don't quote me on this, but there is a Vietnamese restaurant called Van's on Broadway... I have heard the wine list is excellent. Many say the best in SA.
Wine List #1

I also really, really like Fredrick's (again... on Broadway.) Frederick's Restaurant in San Antonio

[dvlpr]

Van's is probably the best. They have lots of Bordeaux and CA not listed on the online site. Sandbar has a really interesting all-white list (but you can order off the Le Reve list, too).

Unfortunately, SA isn't a great town for wine. You'd be better off rolling to Bisto Vatel/Ciao Lavandaria/La Frite with your own bottle. Palm will let you BYO, as well.

An interesting anecdote to express the attitude towards wine here...I had lunch at one of the city's "finest" restaurants some time ago, and the guy who I ate with brought along a 2002 Screaming Eagle (!). The "wine director" at the restaurant didn't decant, and served it in those dinky little $1.99 wine glasses.........I almost fainted........but it wasn't my wine, and I didn't want to make a scene.......

[SsnTktHldr]

Wow... Gimme a hint so I don't go there. BTW, Screaming Eagle for lunch? Makes it hard to top at dinner...

[dvlpr]

Near the Quarry, but not in the Quarry........

I think I had Budweiser for dinner that night. I don't normally drink SE at lunch......except on Tuesdays.......and every other Wednesday.........

[SsnTktHldr]

Never had it, I saw it on a wine list here in town for like $3000. Guess I never will at those prices.

[TXRose]

Bin 555
Copa Wine Bar - not a restaurant, per se, but they serve appetizers/tapas.
Bohanan's

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by dvlpr

Van's is probably the best. They have lots of Bordeaux and CA not listed on the online site. Sandbar has a really interesting all-white list (but you can order off the Le Reve list, too).

Unfortunately, SA isn't a great town for wine. You'd be better off rolling to Bisto Vatel/Ciao Lavandaria/La Frite with your own bottle. Palm will let you BYO, as well.
.

You can BYOB at La Frite? Dang! All this time and I never realized (been going since they opened).

Interesting about Van's. We almost ate there once and when we walked in, it smelled really bad....and not fish sauce bad...I don't know how to describe it, it was overwhelming and we left. I'm going to have to check it out again. Is the food as good as the wine?

[Lauren0319]

I have never eaten there... but yes, their wine list is supposed to be the best in SA. Isn't that random?!?

I'm sure you can bring your own to La Frite... as you can any place, except I'm sure they (along with all the high end restaurants) will charge a stiff corkage fee.

[dvlpr]

Chaka:

Food at Van's is just "okay". I've never had a bad meal there, but I've also never had a great meal there. The wine selection is amazing, though. And all of Vatel's restaurants are very BYO friendly (they have proper glasses), though they've increased the corkage at Bistro to prevent cheapskates from bringing in $8 bottles from HEB.

Lauren0319:

You can't bring bottles in anywhere. TABC prevents BYO in restaurants that have a liquor license (though sometimes these restaurants will make exceptions, most won't).