“And don't neglect the worldly wine list (check out Portugal), featuring more than 50 by-the-glass options and more than 450 labels. Though the kitchen doesn't close until 1:30 a.m., sidewalk seating is prime summer real estate for Boystown people watching, so calling ahead is a good idea. Also known as the "No Reservations, Shit Out of Luck" rule.” |
“Wine bars are sprouting up in Southern California like mushrooms after rain. In West Hollywood, BIN 8945 Wine Bar & Bistro, which may be the most serious of the bunch, has opened near the corner of Santa Monica and Robertson boulevards. Think of it as the little wine bar that could. It has just seven seats at the bar, 18 more inside and 20 on the sidewalk patio out front. But the wine list encompasses more than 400 selections, and it goes deep into various wine regions, even deeper into vintages.
For wine buffs, this is going to be a little bit of heaven, where you can find classy white Burgundies and sought-after wines from the Rhône, wines made from obscure indigenous Greek grapes, or Rieslings from top Austrian and German producers. Cult California wines are sprinkled onto the list too.
The see-and-be-seen crowd naturally commandeers the sidewalk tables, while inside the rockers cling to the barstools and couples on a date gravitate to the quieter corner tables. As soon as the wine aficionados discover this place, it's going to be hard to get a table. I can see it now: tables covered with bottle after bottle as enthusiasts do their best to drink their way through the eclectic cellar. Fun.” |
