Jonathan Nichols

Review of Wine Works for Everyone

The first impression of Wineworks could use some w...

The first impression of Wineworks could use some work - only because the parking lot is so minuscule that we had to park across the northbound off ramp in the Fairfield Inn parking lot. Once we made our way into the restaurant, we were pleasantly surprised.

The wine list was obviously extensive, although there were not as many Italian reds as I would have hoped for (I'm going through a phase). I think what surprised me most was the food. I had checked out the menu beforehand but was not fully prepared. We tried an assortment of the shared dishes - the brussel sprouts (5 stars), the beets & burrata (wish there was more burrata) and the short rib crostini (the bone marrow could use a little more imagination). We finished off with a couple of delicious cheeses and the charcuterie plate.

The service was pretty spot on for a wine bar. Our server seemed to know just the right amount of attention that we needed. My wife asked for a super tannic red and the server delivered one that did exactly what she asked for. Our neighboring table's server was much more hands-on and talkative, but he seemed to be dealing with a couple of regulars, so if you want your server to talk to you about his currentl living situation and vacation aspirations, they can do that too.

Overall, there is a good chance that we'll return to Wineworks sooner or later. The vibe of this place is exactly what my wife and I look for when we go out in the super-chain culinary wasteland that is Orange County. Happy drinking!