I spent Mother’s Day at The Winery Restaurant and Wine Bar. It’s a hip, sophisticated setting for a cutting-edge fine dining experience, where you don’t have to feel stiff because you’re at an upscale restaurant.
The Winery Restaurant and Wine Bar is an Orange County original that has expanded to two locations. Both are lovely and offer the same rich experience. If you choose to visit the Newport Beach location, you will enjoy scenic ocean views and in Tustin you practically stumble into wine country when you visit this award winning restaurant!
My Mother’s Day experience was at its flagship location at The District in Tustin. Upon arrival you will be greeted by the Valet service that will take you all the way to the entrance of the restaurant and open the door for you.
The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar pairs contemporary California regional cuisine, with a wine list which currently offers 650 selections, that changes weekly, offering diners a wide range of varietals from around the world. Guests can look into and even tour the restaurants’ climate-controlled cellars, which can hold up to 7,500 bottles! However, you can’t miss the state of the art wine cellar with three separate viewing windows spanning 8-feet by 12-feet each. This expansive 800-square-foot cellar is lined with mahogany racking, and features marble counters, rustic limestone flooring and elegant chandeliers hanging from a 17-foot ceiling.
The Food
Starters
We started with Crispy Almond Dusted Calamari that is served with Spicy Tomato and Saffron Aioli and Marinated Cucumber Salad. It was absolutely delicious and the cucumber salad was a wonderful nontraditional touch to the Calamari. We also had Colorado Buffalo Carpaccio, which melted in my mouth.
Main Course
I had the Filet Mignon, which is a Brandt Family Reserve. It is probably one of the most tender piece of steak I have had. I was quite impressed by The Winery Restaurant and Wine Bar’s curation of local California regional and sustainable food.
For sides we had Wild Mushroom Medley in Garlic Butter and Black Truffle Mashed Potatoes. Both were creamy and yummy. I must mention that my little one had sliders which I have never seen him gobble up as fast as he did. They are fairly kid friendly, at least for Mother’s Day, and put in effort to accommodate children as well as entertain them.
Dessert
We were so full that we opted to take desert home. The Chocolate Decadence was a trio of desserts made with Valhrona Chocolate. The Winery Seasonal Cheesecake is not to be missed with the Zinfandel Reduction and Mixed Berry Coulis.
Cigars & More
If you were to stay and continue your evening after the main course, you could select from their array of coffee as well as artisanal cheese platters. Then opt to relax in The Havana, a separate 300-square-foot humidor patio that offers a selection of premium cigars. Set on limestone flooring, The Havana patio features leather sofas, Havana fans, intricate specialty lighting, plasma screen television and retractable waterproof awnings that allows every cigar aficionado to relax in casual elegance. Their cigar selections range from very light flavors of almonds, heather and maple, to heavier, more robust flavors of leather, toasted bread and chocolate.
If you are ever up for an elegant wine and dine experience with a unique feel, then try The Winery and opt for a Sunday night when you can enjoy live Jazz which is a part of their Sunday Jazz feature.