Vinoteca, Marylebone

Whole roasted partridge with lentils & green sauce

I love the original, and now I love the new one. Vinoteca has opened a new branch in Marylebone.

It's just off Edgeware Road near where, incidentally, I recently discovered the gastronomic joy that is shopping at Lebanese grocer, Green Valley. Everything you could ever need to work your way through the Ottolenghi cookbook is right there or, like me, you could buy lots of things you don't need (like a large jar of preserved lemons for just over £1) just because they look pretty. There's also a busy bakery for sweet pastries and cakes. Anyhoo...

The concept at Vinoteca Marylebone is the same as at Farringdon. Part wine bar, part restaurant, there's a great selection of wines at reasonable prices, and - if you have to wait for a table - you can browse the floor to ceiling shelves laden with temptation to drink in or take home.

The food is rustic and simple, but with a hearty oomph. Each course is matched to one of the 25 wines available by the glass, or you can choose from one of over 280 bottles. We stopped by for a bottle of wine and a one course meal, so we bypassed the tempting sounding starters (like smoked eel with celeriac and apple remoulade and wheaten toast (£8)) and got stuck into a big spicy South African (the Cape Chamonix Rouge for £19.75), while soaking up the buzz.

My whole roasted partridge with a wintry lentil stew was meaty and heartwarming, although I found the generous splodge of garlicky, herby green sauce just a little too overpowering (other minds might differ on this).

Bavette steak

TPG almost went for the lamb pie - a billowing pastry case packed full with finely minced lamb and vegetables. However, in the end he wavered in favour of the bavette steak, pink and juicy at medium rare, with thick cut, crispy chips and salad - a favourite from our visits to the Farringdon branch. The accompanying bread sauce was also excellent.

Vinoteca Marylebone is already busy. We had a short wait (about 10 minutes) for a table, but the friendly waiting staff (who still seem excited to be there) looked after us well. We simply sat by the window (or you can sit at the bar) and made a head start on the wine.

Main courses generally cost between £11 - £15 and our meal for 2 including wine and service was good value at £56.

The menu changes daily, so you're likely to see something new every time you go. Oh, yes - you will go again.

Vinoteca, 15 Seymour Place, Marylebone, London W1H 5BD, Tel: 020 7724 7288



PS. I know it seems weird that we didn't have dessert, but we stopped by at Princi in Soho on the way home where they now have these gorgeous little "Italian kisses" - they're satisfyingly crisp on the outside, but lovely and chewy within. As usual for Princi's sweet stuff, they're a rip off at £1.20 for 3, but they're so good that we keep going back for them despite our principles.

Vinoteca, Farringdon - revisited

Vinoteca is one of my favourite restaurants - it made my top 10 list for 2010 and I have given it a brief review previously. So when the snow fell like a heavy blanket across London recently, Vinoteca was the place we looked to for a long lunch over some heart warming food and wines.

It's as much a wine bar as a restaurant, I suppose - although that suggestion may not do the fantastic food justice. The walls are decorated with vintage posters and shelves laden with wine bottles, the crowd is a mix of young and old, and it's about as far from a pretentious scene as you can get while quaffing in style. With its lively, casual atmosphere, it remains one of my favourite places for a great meal at reasonable prices that allow you to indulge all the more. If you haven't been, go.

Here's some more reasons why, from our most recent session there in December:

Seared scallops with broad bean puree and black pudding

Chunky ham hock terrine with fabulous home made piccalilli & crispy toast

Amazing, fleshy Dover sole with Moroccan cous cous
- from memory, a bargain at around £17

Crepe with wild, earthy mushrooms and oozey goats cheese

Shared sticky toffee pudding with warm caramel sauce - one to fight over

This meal just made me want to go back again. I'm looking forward to giving their new gaff, Vinoteca in Seymour Place, Marylebone a try.

Vinoteca, 7 St John Street, Smithfield/Farringdon, London EC1M 4AA (Tel: 020 7253 8786)

Vinoteca, London

It is customary after a few drinks to tell old friends how much you love them.

"Vinoteca, I looove you! You're my best friend...."

The Peanut Gallery's birthday week continued last night with a wine tasting spectacular at Vinoteca in Farringdon. The bargain sum of £10 bought us 20 tastings each, and doubled as a soothing massage for the soul after a long day at the office.

We tried 20 of Vinoteca's "Customer Favourites" from around the world, including the following hits: NV Prosecco dei Conegliano-Valdobbiadene from Bernardi Refrontolo, Veneto, Italy (almondy and delicious, £9.95), 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Vin de Pays du Val de Loire from Vignerons Valencay, Loire Valley, France (nettley flavours, £6.95), 1997 Muzealis Chardonnay from Hilltop Winery, Aszar-Neszmely, Hungary (honey, truffles, £9.95), 2006 Nine Popes from Charles Melton, Barossa Valley, South Australia (a big one, £25). All topped off with a Piemonte Moscato d'Asti and good old Pedro Ximenez El Candado from Spain.

And what better way to sober up on a rainy night than back in the main wine bar/restaurant over a heartwarming bowl of Vinoteca's muscle, clam and leek chowder with home baked wholemeal bread (for me) (£7) and the char-grilled bavette steak, mustard butter, fat chips and salad (for The Peanut Gallery) (£14.50).

Surrounded by the dark wooden furniture and wine laden shelves, Vinoteca always has a buzz and that Melbourne wine bar feel (for the sentimental expat).

The wine tastings are held regularly and there's a South African "Wine Makers" Dinner this Monday 12th October, featuring the wines of Quion Rock. At £70 for 5 courses and 7 wines, it is rumoured to be fabulous (there's a South African chef in the kitchen). Alas, the Greedy Diva will be in KL... If anyone else makes it, let me know how it goes.

Vinoteca, 7 St John Street, Smithfield, London, EC1M 4AA