Week: Thur.
September 14th, 2006
I’ve been spending all my free time in brewhouses lately.
The new beers are robust, so unlike anything we were allowed
to consume in the state of Georgia before unless, of course,
you brewed it yourself.
With so much of my time well-spent sucking suds with the sloppy,
fat-bellied element of our society, Vino Libro is a nice change
of pace. The interior is sexy with lots of firm straight lines,
and two owners (Melanie and John) who look more like supermodels
than they do wine bistro and retail shop owners.
Vino Libro is located in edgy East Atlanta. The menu is composed
of a limited assortment of small plates that executive chef Alex
Rosado refers to as tasting plates. The brief menu starts with
a vessel of roasted garlic and herb hummus, and ends with 3 ordinary
dessert choices.
In between, seared blue fin tuna, described on the menu as “au
poivre” arrives in the form of spicy cubes, but with a tad
too much sear for my taste. Besides, this is a tired dish, though
prepared slightly differently here.
I prefer the meaty lamb chops spruced up with tarragon or juicy
beef tips served with pungent Gorgonzola fondue for dipping.
The sirloin and fresh goat cheese barrels, plated like sushi
rolls are too cold and a bit awkward, but the Mediterranean-y artichoke
and creamy Tomini cheese flatbread makes for a nice sip and taste.
A cheese plate showcases finer quality product, some of which
are Sweetgrass Dairy.
The wine selection is surprisingly above average, especially
when considering the neighborhood, which probably isn't ready
for such a chic concept that includes literature as part of its
appeal. Yes, I did say literature, they sell specialty books
in the wine shop — hence the libro part of its name.
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Curl up to Vino Libro with blue fin
tuna cubes, a glass of wine and a good book
Type of Cuisine: Wine
Bistro
Address/Tel: 933 Garrett St., East Atlanta
(Glenwood Park Community) Tel: 404-992-1877
Recommended Dishes: Beef tips, lamb chops,
hummus, cheese plate
Pricing: Most dishes below $10
Hours:
Mon - Sat: 11:30am - midnight
Sun: 12:30pm - midnight
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