Aroma WineBar

Caesar salad; calamari salad; endive with beets & gorgonzola; polenta cakes with tomato sauce and mozzarella
not shown: tuna salad with capers and onions

During a recent birthday dinner for a friend, I discovered this very cute winebar, Aroma.  It has private seating downstairs for parties and an extensive wine list.  Unfortunately, the entrees left something to be desired (no pictures; I was completely off duty that night), though the appetizers suggested that perhaps going here for a glass of wine at the bar wouldn’t be a bad idea, with some munchies. 

I was pleased, then, to discover that Aroma has a really cool aperitivo special- a “happy hour”, if you will- from 4-7 Mondays-Fridays (and until 8 on Fridays for now- extended summer hours!); a flight of three wines and unlimited antipasti for $15. 

Of course, we’re so there…

DD, Ana and I ventured forth on a Tuesday and were pleased to discover we’d arrived in time- just after 6 pm- to snag the last three seats at the bar (which, by the way, has hooks underneath for a lady to hang her handbag).  The bartender graciously pointed us towards the antipasti while pouring our wines; he started us off with a prosecco, slightly dry with a fruity finish.  Our next wine was a middle white, and we ended with a rose.  All of which was lovely (then we proceeded to order a bottle of moscato d’asti, the sweetest wine I know.  It literally tastes just like grape juice).

Calamari salad, front & center

As for the antipasti, though it was nothing amazing, it was a nice touch.  After all, $15 for three glasses of wine (the bartender was generous with his pours) isn’t expensive to begin with, so it was nice to have something to nosh on while we drank.  The tuna salad (not pictured) horrified DD, however, as the onions were very carefully hidden within (she despises onions).  I wasn’t pleased with it, either- not for the onions but rather the lack of oomph it had.  The calamari salad was lovely, and the endive had just the right amount of bitterness for me.  The Caesar salad and the polenta cakes were very ordinary however. 

The selections do change daily, as do the wines included in the aperitivo, but I would guess from the pictures on their website that they are comparable to the above.  We also opted to order a cheese platter and olives (not pictured)- the olives were absolutely fantastic, and I hate olives.  The olive oil they come with is super fruity and absolutely wonderful with the bread provided.  Yummy.

Yvo says:  Though a full meal/entrees seem to disappoint, I will definitely be back here for a glass of wine or five after work- with a deal like this, how do you go wrong?  The olives are absolutely scrumptious – seriously so, and as I mentioned, I don’t like olives normally.  You can even buy them by the jar now!  The bar is nicely appointed, a lot of wood and very cozy Italian farmhouse feeling.  I definitely recommend it for a glass of wine or more, and some munchies, but not for dinner.
recommended for wine, not for dinner