5TH AND WHINE
Table Talk
Y’ever wonder what a wine bar would like if it looked like Postino? It would probably look like either A) a bad knockoff or B) a good knockoff. No matter how you cut it, though, it’s a knockoff. Now, we’re not going to call 5th and Wine a Postino wannabe, but it kinda is.
Check the formula: Five dollar wine ‘till 6pm. Servers singin’ the praises of the bruschetta. A little parsons table in the middle of the room. An open layout that’s an 80/20 split between dining tables and a cluster of sofas and lounge chairs. But it differs by trying to cram in a bunch of other stuff onto the menu—confusing the concept or adding to the edible amenities? You decide.
It’s located in the old Fine’s Cellar space in Old Town. Owned by the Humble Pie team of Rich Sullivan, Tom Kaufman, Patrick King, and Dave Dabruzz, they could’ve used the help of a designer to tie the room together. It feels schlocked, with bad paintings of dogs, cheap plasticky furniture, and almost no creativity when it comes to flow. We remember Mike Fine talking about how the room looked like the inside of a wine barrel. Yea, well, sorry Mike, these guys killed your idea.
Before you begin thinking we’re headed down the slammin’ road, we must tell you the burger was actually quite solid, the calamari was as good as it is over at Humble Pie, and the wings were definitely worth an order. The fries, however, were the single-most compelling reason for a return visit. Extra crispy with a touch of parmesan, parsley, and a garlic aioli to dip – spot on and addicting as all hell.
But let’s get to the main ingredient—the bruschetta’s available in various combos, and we’ll admit we love the idea of portioning it down, because at Postino, you have to fully carb commit or box it up for later. But at 5th, you can just add a couple pieces to an order. Problem is, those couple of small pieces come floating along on a white plate, poorly presented with no background jazz or accoutrement. You can choose two types for $3.95, four for $6.95, and so on. Choices include combos like prosciutto, fig, mascarpone, and tomato jam; apple, brie, fig jam, and honey/agave; and tomato, mozz, basil, and balsamic. The bruschetta certainly wasn’t as memorable as our server said it would be, but you’d have to go full order of 12 for the pieces, cut in 2 not 4, to make a mark.
Something we found kinda ridiculous: the beer list includes the brew’s origin. Okay, but do you need to know that Coors Light comes from Denver Colorodo and that Bud Light comes from St. Louis, Missouri? It’s not like you’re questioning whether you want a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand or from South Africa. A Coors is a Coors is a Coors.
As for wine, we definitely weren’t without good stuff to drink. But the funny thing is that, for a wine bar, it just felt more like a sit-down restaurant. But then again, maybe it’s both. You help decide.
Hours: 11am-11pm daily
$5 glasses of wine ’till -6pm
Happy hour 4-6pm
2 Responses to “5TH AND WHINE”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Sauvignon Blanc…
Your topic 5TH AND WHINE | EATERAZ was interesting….
Join Us For Organic Wine Tasting Friday, Jan. 28, 4PM – 6PM!
In keeping with our commitment to serving only the most natural food and drink available, we’re excited to announce our wine tasting event featuring the wines of Rutherford Ranch Winery.
Rutherford Ranch Winery and estate vineyards are 100% Certified Organic. They meet the most stringent state and government agricultural standards. The critically acclaimed wines have been characterized as one of Napa’s great values by noted wine writer Robert Parker. Rutherford Wine Company is family owned and managed with a portfolio of wines representing the rich diversity of California’s outstanding appellations.
Join us for a lovely evening on our patio as Rutherford Ranch Winery pours tastes featuring several of their labels and varietals.
As you’re deciding on your favorites, we invite you to pair them with some of our Happy Hour appetizers – Just $5 for small plates! (And if, by chance, you’re coming with someone who is not a wine lover, we’ll have Sangria and organic draft beer on Happy Hour special.)
Make a night of it! Start with wine tasting and appetizers, and stay for a delightful dinner!
Tryst Café patio
21050 N. Tatum Blvd. | #108
Phoenix, AZ 85050
Questions: 480-585-7978