Category Archives: $12 Corkage

VINO WINE & TAPAS ROOM… “Live Music, Delicious Tapas & Savory Wine: A Perfect Trio!”

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Vino Wine & Tapas Room is the sort of place where wine and tapas meet with a pleasant mix of savory and scrumptious. It is where local entertainment will thrill those with a love for live performance music and where one can find a calming, relaxed, and casual ambiance to get lost in. This restaurant preserves for its customers a place to get away for a while from the everyday anxieties of the world to just relax, center, and enjoy a delicious glass of vino and a combination of varied tapas items specifically crafted to please the palate. Only the best elements are hand-selected to prepare vibrant and palatable presentations of flavor. Most of the ingredients used here are from California’s local farms, allowing the restaurant to partake in fueling our local economy as well as providing local fresh fare to dining patrons.

The main entry to this establishment is highlighted by a red neon sign with the wine room’s logo high above the front door, while most evenings, a roaring fire atop a rolling pedestal sits in front of the eatery drawing attention to passers-by enticing them to stop and see what lies inside.

The wine selection here is immense. Several pours are from bottles that aren’t even available for public purchase! So try something new, enjoy a favorite you’ve had for years, or mix it up a little, because Vino Wine & Tapas Room is the ideal location to do just that. From rich reds, to crisp whites, to delightful house-made sangrias, you won’t leave craving anything other than another visit in the near future.

Al Pequino

We’ve experienced a variety of the tapas items here, and we have been pleased by them all. One of my favorites, I have to admit, is the Al Pequino ($5). Spanish white anchovies with a refreshing cucumber salsa atop a crunchy toasted sliced baguette base. The not-too-salty flavor of these anchovies combined with the light crunch of the cucumber and crunchy bread was a pleasant conglomeration, while the Cabernet I sipped on as I devoured this dish went very well with the contrasting flavors. A lovely light Chardonnay would have been my preference with this tapas selection, but I was delighted to see just how amazing a fine red wine complimented the array of tastes as well.

Albondigas

The Albondigas ($5) are Spanish meatballs in a rich tomato sauce, which is another tapas my husband and I delighted in during one of our visits to Vino Wine & Tapas Room. The term ‘albondigas’ is Spanish for ‘meatballs’. Typically served in Mexican soup, this version is served ‘tapas’-style plated with a delectable hearty sauce atop perfectly-shaped meatballs.

Eggplant Crujiente

If you enjoy eggplant, or like it to any degree, you simply must try the Eggplant Crujiente ($5) at Vino Wine & Tapas Room. Eight slices of visually-appealing eggplant are baked to a crunchy finish, then drizzled with sweet honey. ‘Crujiente’ in Spanish translates to ‘crisp’ in English, explaining these crisp discs of tender eggplant prepared so perfectly, then enhanced by a candied essence of syrupy sweetness.

Mon Berenjena

Our readers know that goat’s cheese is a favorite love of mine! So trying the above tapas item was something I couldn’t leave without sampling. The Mon Berenjena ($5) is a spoon of creamy tangy goat’s cheese with herbs delicately rolled in a slice of tender pan-seared eggplant. The flavor combination of this tapas is out of this world between the creamy goat’s cheese, the earthy touch of the eggplant and the garnish of micro greens.

  • ESTABLISHMENT / DECOR: Warm tones abound with mellow lighting, soothing live entertainment, and a variety of flavorful tapas and wine options. The large wine bar is large and roomy, while cafe tables in the main area of the dining room allow for more intimate conversation.
  • FOOD / DRINK: Bursting with flavor, the tapas selections we have tried have all been wonderful, wine tastings have been enjoyable, and our food and beverage orders have always arrived in a timely manner.
  • LOCATION: Vino Wine & Taps Room is located at 18046 Ventura Boulevard in Encino, CA 91316.
  • HOURS: This establishment is available for service Monday through Thursday from 4 Pm – 12 Midnight, Fridays and Saturdays from 4 PM – 1:30 AM, and on Sundays from 11 AM – 12 Midnight. Wine Tastings are available every Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM – 4 PM for just $25/person.
  • SERVICE / STAFF: Friendly, knowledgeable, efficient and happy to offer suggestions about the wine, food, and establishment.
  • PRICE / VALUE: Not too bad for what is received for the price here. Delicious tapas selections, savory wines (some of which aren’t even available to the general public), and friendly servers in a relaxed atmosphere.
  • CORKAGE FEE: $12 per 750mL bottle.
  • PARKING: Metered parking spaces are available in front of the restaurant along Ventura Boulevard.
  • TOTAL BILL: We have never had a bill for the two of us over $60 (including tax) for wine and tapas creations from the kitchen for several tapas choices from the menu and a few glasses of sensational select vino from the bar. A terrific place for a reasonable outing with savory wines and fresh cuisine.

Vino Wine & Tapas Room on Urbanspoon

Vino Wine & Tapas Room Restaurant Reviews

* Menu and prices subject to change without notice.

SPAGHETTI HOUSE BY ORRIS… “Little Plates With Enormous Flavor!”

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UNFORTUNATELY, THIS RESTAURANT IS NOW CLOSED.

When my husband and I rave to others about the petite revamped Spaghetti House by Orris, they commonly inquire what the name means. After doing a bit of research, we found that the word “orris” is the root of the iris plant, which in age-old times it was combined with cinnamon and other spices to create love potions. Ironically, the name suits this establishment because when you dine at this eatery, you will feel, smell and taste love all around you. Don’t let the name on the building’s facade fool you, however. Just because it still says ‘Orris’, and because the menu says ‘Orris’ when it’s presented to you, and your check says ‘Orris Restaurant’ at the top, you ARE in deed at Spaghetti House by Orris!

Chef Hideo Yamashiro, known as Chef “Shiro” to most, closed down his original “Orris” restaurant at the quaint neighborhood location earlier this year in January. However, upon re-opening the same locale shortly thereafter, and renaming it Spaghetti House by Orris, it was transformed into a Japanese-essenced fusion pasta eatery. Chef Shiro also operates and owns Shiro restaurant in Pasadena, which we will HAVE to try on our next trek there. If the food at Spaghetti House by Orris is even the slightest indication of the experience of flavorsome cuisine we’ll find at Shiro, I know we’ll be happy to try it there as well.

Open for dinner only, and closed on Mondays, the open kitchen you will witness as you enter Spaghetti House by Orris is fun, bright and incredibly busy. At your first step through the front door, the savory aromas wafting throughout the restaurant will pull you inside and prove to your culinary intelligence that you have arrived at the right establishment for a meal not to soon be forgotten.

Above, Japanese glass bowls ornament the wall directly across from the open kitchen area, a glass of Cabernet before dinner, the chalk-written menu specials of the evening, a view of the kitchen staff in motion, the front of the menu, the posted sidewalk menu outside of the restaurant as you enter the establishment’s front patio, a view of one of the kitchen staff preparing a diner’s selection and a photo of the front patio dining space.

The menu is limited, but the selection will amaze your palate and visual senses. The dishes are pleasurable. Plain and simple. Chef Shiro is known for being “meticulously picky” about his fresh ingredients. The photos below are witness to that, and what we experienced at Spaghetti House by Orris recently…

Salmon Croquettes

Above and below, we started with Chef Shiro’s Salmon Croquettes. Quite a colorful and brilliant presentation. When cut into below, it just kept getting better. Delicious creamy salmon inside, a flavorful light crunch on the exterior texture and all around deliciousness! Other than my thinking about just a tiny spritz of lemon juice on these beautiful bites, they were sensational!

We then tried the Grilled Japanese Eggplant with Burrata and Parmesan below…tender slow-cooked eggplant, Burrata and Parmesan cheeses on top and flavor that just would not stop…

Japanese Grilled Eggplant With Burrata & Parmesan

Below, the Albacore Cups really impressed me personally. Hitting a hight point with me, the arugula surrounding the endive filled with seared Albacore tuna was such a delightful treat…beneath all that arugula lies perfectly seared Albacore tuna resting in the fresh leaves of endive…

Albacore Cups

After tasting three different savory appetizers, we moved on to the entrees. Below, the Shrimp Mouse Ravioli in A Shiitake Mushroom Sauce…delicate ravioli casings filled with savory shrimp mousse heightened even more by the Shiitake mushroom sauce it was accompanied by. Perfection in a bowl…

Shrimp Mouse Ravioli In A Shiitake Mushroom Sauce

Next, we tasted the Seafood Marinara dish below. A popular choice among locals at the restaurant and recommended by the waitstaff at the eatery…tender, perfectly-cooked sizeable scallops, shrimp and calamari intertwined with delicious and flavorful unforgettable marinara sauce and spaghetti with fresh tomatoes and basil…

Seafood Marinara

Our next selection was the pasta with a braised meat sauce, which was phenomenal. My husband could not stop exclaiming his love of this dish as the evening progressed…

Spaghetti & Meat Sauce

Below, the Mushrooms and Takana Mustard Greens with White Wine and Garlic was astounding. I chose this specifically, and my husband ate most of it before I could get back to it. A hidden sweetness, seemingly from caramelized onions in the dish, presented a refreshing flavor. A hearty and well-balanced finish…

Mushrooms & Takana Mustard Greens With White Wine & Garlic

We succumed to our sweet tooth after dinner by sharing a scoop of the Fogleman’s Chocolate Ice Cream. (Can I use the term “heaven in a bowl” twice in this article?) I especially liked the presentation…simple and effortless, the ice cream was served in a frosted dish that both served to keep the dessert cool as well as provide a visually-stimulating display…

Folgleman’s Chocolate Ice Cream

The bottom line…we enjoyed our culinary endeavor when we dined at Spaghetti House by Orris. Would we go back? Yes, we would. The cuisine is delicious and meticulously presented, flavor abounds in everything and one can tell that careful planning and artistic flair went into each dish designed and created by Chef Shiro himself. We enjoyed our dinner and were happy to write this review about such a terrific little restaurant!

  • ESTABLISHMENT / DECOR: This eatery can get pretty packed, and reservations are not taken, so be prepared to wait a bit if you’re planning on dining here. There are tables on the covered front patio, but the waiters weren’t serving outside when we visited. The noise level inside was very loud, due to the acoustics of the small interior dining room. However, the colorful glass Japanese bowls hung on one wall, interior general feel of the place, business of the action in the open kitchen, aromas of the delicious dishes being prepared and finally, the flavor of the food ordered will force you to overlook the loudness of your neighbors dining around you.
  • FOOD / DRINK: Scrumptious cuisine, meticulous presentation, and well worth waiting if needed to get into this great little pasta house!
  • LOCATION: The restaurant is located at 2006 Sawtelle Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA 90025. It’s on the east side of Sawtelle Boulevard between Santa Monica and Olympic
  • HOURS: Spaghetti House by Orris is open only for dinner. Tuesday through Friday from 6 PM – 9:30 PM, Saturdays from 5:30 PM – 10:30 PM, Sundays from 5:30 PM – 9 PM, and the restaurant is closed on Mondays.
  • SERVICE / STAFF: Helpful, ready to answer questions and give suggestions is needed.
  • PRICE / VALUE: We feel the price is well worth the value of what you will get at this eatery.
  • CORKAGE FEE: $12 per bottle.
  • PARKING: Metered street parking is available. There is also parking behind the restaurant.
  • TOTAL BILL: Our total bill for everything came to over $65, but we would definitely recommending the splurge. A party of two could easily go to dinner for under $50 (including tax) by ordering two entrees for $11 or $12 a piece, sharing an appetizer and also a dessert.

Spaghetti House by Orris on Urbanspoon Orris Restaurant Reviews

* Menu and prices subject to change without notice.