The buzz: The huge, glass-fronted restaurant on the ground floor of K.Village may technically only be one in a chain of wine stores, but the added twist of delicatessen and full-on bistro at this branch means you can enjoy your bottle then and there in stylish surroundings with lots of wine-friendly food.
The décor: Despite looking out onto a parking lot, Wine Connection’s glass front is impressive. Coupled with a towering exposed brick wall, stone floors and black leather sofas, the L-shaped restaurant has its own, non-franchise atmosphere. The open kitchen with a glass display of cheeses gives it a high-end New England seafood market/bistro feel. And of course, there’s an enormous wine store in the back if you like what you have with dinner and want lots more of it to take home with you.
The food: Pastas, pizzas and large, grilled entrees like sea bass fillet, pork chops and lamb cutlets. There’s also a checklist of wine-appropriate nibbles (pickles, cheeses, cold cuts) for you to design your own platter with. Cheese (Spanish manchego, Dutch gouda, Roquefort, etc.) and cold cut and meat (Toulouse, merguez, chorizo sausages, etc.) platters are available.
The drinks: In addition to wines by the bottle and several by the glass, red, white, rose and sparking house wines come regular and premium. Hard liquors aside, they also have some imported beers such as La Gauloise Ambree and St. Benoit Brune.
The crowd: Mostly folks from this affluent soi, there to enjoy the wine and the choice of cold cuts.
Corkage B300.