Craig Parker

Review of Wine Works for Everyone

We always enjoy Wineworks. We love the short ribs...

We always enjoy Wineworks. We love the short ribs, the fish dishes, the lamb, the amazing brie fondue+pears, the bread pudding -- nothing has disappointed us yet. But what really makes a trip to Wineworks so nice is the people who work there--attentive, warm, smart about wine/food, funny with a genuine commitment to hospitality. I think it's worth pointing out the contrast between the exteriors and interiors of this restaurant and its sister restaurant, Dublin 4, next door. It's very easy to overlook these two when driving past the rather ordinary retail/office center where they reside. It's not bad, just kind of invisible. But inside, you're in for a pleasant surprise. The two restaurants have a very different feel from one another, with Wineworks (you guessed it) a modern wine bar + gourmet American-fare restaurant, and Dublin 4 a gastro pub, w/ dressed up versions of pub food but many more sophisticated dishes. Mission Viejo, a very family-focused 'burb, has few extraordinary restaurants just for adults. So Wineworks and Dublin 4 are rarities there .... perfect for happy hour, a date, & nights when Mom & Dad need to escape the kids.