Vinoteca which means ‘wine bar’ in Spanish is mixing Pan-European smart brasserie cooking, an impressive wine list and friendly and unpretentious service which seems to be the recipe to the Spanish inspired characterful wine bar in Soho.
With five locations spread across London and one more city restaurant to open soon, Vinoteca is continuing to spoil Londoners with its fuss-free high-quality food and characterful wines.
Vinoteca Soho located on Beak Street is no exception with its warm and friendly atmosphere which can be picked up on from the street before even entering the ‘brasserie-style’ restaurant.
Pushing the heavy curtain at the door to one side we are greeted by the friendly Restaurant Manager who shows us to our table.
The lively restaurant, which plays upbeat jazz music in the background, manages to maintain intimacy across two floors whilst adding an airy feel. The tables are cleverly set up allowing just enough space for guests which is a nice surprise and makes the place unique.
The interior decor goes in warm colours with wooden tables and chairs giving it a rustic feel. The well-stocked bar gives it away as a wine-bar and adds to the cosiness of the place.
The wine list consists of over 200 wines (25 served by the glass) from 20 countries worldwide including Spain, Italy, New Zealand and South Africa to name a few. There is also a vegan wine flight from Australia.
The menu is based on the use of seasonal produce and changes daily. Starters and mains are reasonably priced ranging from 5-9 for starters and £12.50 – £17.50 for mains.
The signature starters are the buffalo mozzarella served with roasted San Marzano tomatoes and the hot smoked Barbary duck breast. The mozzarella is silky smooth and the red colour of the tomatoes are incredible which tastes fresh and sweet with the home-made pesto. The duck is, according to my dinner guest, cooked well and still has a bit of pink. Both serving sizes are generous.
The most popular main course is the grilled marinated Bavette served with hand-cut chips.
However, instead, we try the Hake fillet with steamed mussels and cherry tomatoes. The fish is flaky and cooked nicely and the mussels (which are a bit tricky to open) taste great once they’ve made it to the fork. We also try the pork belly served with carrot puree and beans which is a pleasant and surprisingly light dish.
We share a bottle of Toh! Friulano, Di Lenardo which is an Italian white wine made from Friulano grapes and is both crisp and rich in flavour.
For pudding, we try the chocolate cherry cake which doesn’t disappoint with its rich dark chocolate and sour cherries. For guests wanting something rather than the usual coffee after dinner, there is an iced coffee available from Hackney Coffee Company. Slightly sweet and served in a glass with ice this is a fun way to tank up on caffeine after a delicious dinner and clear the head after a few wines.
This is the perfect restaurant for a cheerful, affordable and fun evening for a group of friends of for a date-night.
53-55 Beak St
London W1F 9SH
For bookings: 020 3544 7411 soho@vinoteca.co.uk
