Verve Wine Bar

Recommends

DruKat

Joined 9 years ago

Hidden Gem in Columbia City. My husband and I met a group of friends at Verve for my birthday. The food was fabulous and there was a wine to please each of our guest’s unique taste. The owner, Kate, is extremely friendly, as is the rest of the staff. I highly recommend checking it out. Tastings are on Tuesdays.

Doesn't Recommend

seeseattle

Joined 6 years ago

Condescending Wait Staff. Went here with a couple of girlfriends and was really excited to try it. The menu was fantastic and we had a hard time choosing. The food was actually good--not amazing, but with the right service and atmosphere it would have been great. HOWEVER.

Our waiter was AWFUL. Rude, condescending and completely put-out by having to help us.

1. asked for extra anchovies for my salad, to which he responded "there are plenty in the dressing." i said "can i have a few more all teh same?" never brought them. 10-15 minutes later (half of which i was trying to flag him down and he was pretending not to see me) he finally came back to the table. everyone's salad was gone except mine, because i'm still waiting for anchovies. i ask again. He first chides me for flagging him down too vigorously (all you had to do was <imitates> and i would have come over. <eyeroll>) then goes to get them. When he finally comes back with them he can't just pleasantly put them on the table, but has to make me feel BAD for asking for them "The chef is REALLY busy back there, but...i MANAGED to get some." Gee. thanks.

2. Friend was considering if she wanted a strong bold wine or something lighter, because we'd ordered a bunch of share plates. She sort of said the two she was considering, knowing full well that they were vastly different and he was RUDE. "WELL, those are VASTLY different options, so why don't you just tell me what you are in the MOOD for and i will make a reco." It was just obnoxious. She knew that they were different, and even if she HADN"T, no need to be condescending.

3. just overall not good. slow service, messed up orders

4. when i left i realized i had a sore throat and buzzing ears because it was so freaking LOUD inside you had to yell to have a convo.

Too bad. Love the neighborhood vibe and the food has potential. Service just makes it not worth trying again.

Recommends

izzysmom

Joined 5 years ago

Gorgeous, gourmet food!. What a treat to discover a wine bar that is actually a gourmet restaurant! The flights here are lovely and affordably priced, and the ambiance is great for a date night or night out with friends, but the best thing about Verve is the food! The menu is inventive and unique, with thoughtful bistro-style dishes and delicious combinations like perfectly seared fresh tuna atop a bed of lentils and a pork belly so tender you don't even need to chew. I don't even eat beef, but I made an exception after tasting my friend's short ribs--they were so good, I actually ordered them next time! My favorite dessert is the chocolate torte with peanut butter caramel and a hint of sea salt, but there's always something new to try, like that awesome earl grey creme brulee. The menu changes weekly, taking advantage of the best seasonal offerings, so you never get bored (though I could never get bored with that fabulous bacon-leek flan...) This place has become my favorite, and is well worth the trek to Columbia City. I bring friends here all the time, and wasn't at all surprised when Seattle Metropolitan chose Verve as one of the best new restaurants of 2007. They just caught on to what we regulars knew all along!

Recommends

marcsch

Joined 7 years ago

Great Service, surpassed only by the Food. We've been to Verve quite a few times, and it is always a positive experience. Definitely a place to bring friends to just hang out, eat some great, affordable and interesting food along with new and unique wines. The staff is always happy to educate about the wines to the level the diner is interested, and the chef Garrett Brown is completely into this job, and his passion shines through to his food. Definitely come here if you want a fun, unpretentious wine and dine experience.

Recommends

trfg

Joined 5 years ago

Excellent food - nice atmosphere. Have been a number of times... and enjoyed everytime. The Chef is friendly and has come out to greet us to make sure everything is up to our liking. The food is unique and delicious.....different... but not so outrageous that you are scared to try it. (Did I mention it was delicious?) It is one of our favorite place for date nite.

Recommends

cumulous

Joined 6 years ago

Great Food, Friendly Service. I went back last night for Beatwalk not expecting much, but it was PACKED! My previous review was about the great food (which hasn't changed), and the bad service (no longer the case). Apparently the crappy, mean waitress we had is no longer there (so says the cute waiter I talked to), and the menu has been revamped with lower prices and a couple new items. Its great! Verve, whatever you did, kudos to you, its like a whole new place.

Recommends

gbrown5

Joined 11 years ago

Great new find!. I don't know where the previous "author" went, but it sure wasn't here. I've been several times, both in small groups and larger ones and its fantastic! The wine selection is just large enough not to be overwhelming, especially with one or two rotating special pours that aren't on the menu. The food, including the portion sizes, is great. Definately try the tasty Beef Carbonnade, and the gorgeous 5 cheese plate. (and those aren't craisins, you ninny, they're dried cherries. ) The lemon goat cheese tart with whipped cream candied citrus zest for dessert was AWESOME! As for the previous review, if you want big slabs of meat or hamburgers go next door to Jones or Geraldines. This is a WINE BAR people!; and I expect small plates, tastefully done, paired with great wine that I've not had before....all of which was provided at Verve.

Doesn't Recommend

catchatorie

Joined 6 years ago

Bad Service, Horrible Wine Selection and overpriced appetizers. Service & Food:

Wow,,, what a miss. I've lived in Columbia City for over three years and have experienced the opening of great restaurants and fun venues. Verve is a complete mess.... from the ill prepared wait staff - our water eventually was served after being offered 3 times (and accepted each) to the sad portions. Not only are the portions ridiculously small, they all appeared to be from a can, a jar or a bag (craisins.. anyone?).

Wine Selection:

You might be able to overlook the food if the wine menu is divine... it's not. At first glance I thought the menu was a joke, like maybe there was a second menu... the real one. Seriously - there were at most 15 offerings on the menu (no tasting size either) and the 15 listed included all varieties... not 15 of each. However, you can always buy a bottle not listed on the menu from the restaurant - with an additional $10 cork fee . Now I could see this if they actually had a wine menu worth a glance and you wanted to stray to something different - but come on... offering a choice of 15 wines and then charging more money if you want something different - it's absurd.

Suggestion - Go to La Medusa - they have great food and an excellent wine menu, plus the bonus of competent staff that can offer great suggestions for pairings.

Sorry Verve, you're overpriced and underwhelming.

Recommends

Anna Roth

Joined 8 years ago

Columbia City wine bar offers plenty of neighborhood cheer and affordable local and international wines by the glass.. In Short
A Danish modern sensibility pervades this functional neighborhood wine bar, seen in its blonde wood furniture, classy bamboo-embossed bar and funky/chic geometric hanging lamps. Locals sip wine sitting side-by-side along the long, curved, vinyl-padded bench and chat with friends sitting across the tables in Ikea-like chairs; opportunities for eavesdropping abound. There's a list of international and affordable choices by the glass and bottles can be purchased from the small retail section in front.