There is truly something for everyone on the drink list. The name of the restaurant made me think that all I was going to find was a good bottle of wine and something to eat, but what I found was much more.
The Euro Wine Bar is the brain child of wine enthusiast, Charley Hensley, who took his passion for wine to a whole new level when he opened the restaurant in February. He insists that the food he offers compliment the wine, and vice versa. His goal is to provide a place where people can connect over great wine and great food. In his desire to keep things fresh, he changes the menu every three months with the seasons to reflect new tastes and new wines. Some of the offerings include mini hot browns, fondue, baked dips, and various salads all for a reasonable price of $5 to $10.
On this particular evening, we wanted to try as much as we could. We took the suggestion from Jordan Painter, our server, on a wine to suit my wife's sweet tastes, and a Mojito for myself, complete with freshly crushed mint.
For our food we shared three of the tapas, or appetizers. Our first two tapas were a savory tart and pan fried sandwich. The tart was not as its name might sound, but rather was a puffed pastry filled with a creamy mixture of salmon, herbs, and cream cheese.
The flavor was surprisingly not overpowering, and was light both in texture and taste.
The pan-fried sandwiches are offered in two selections, mozzarella pesto and prosciutto pear. We chose the mozzarella pesto, which was presented in four quarters, topped with a slice of tomato, piece of spinach, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. The vinegar gave the sandwich a tartness to complement the sweetness of the cheese and tomato. We found both dishes to be small in size but large in taste.
The last tapa that we tried was the pan fried ravioli. It's amazing what a trained chef can do with ordinary cheese-filled ravioli. They topped it with a Marsala sauce, parmesan cheese, and pine nuts. The sauce had a smoky flavor, and when combined with the pine nuts, it gave it an earthy taste. The ravioli was a large portion and is the only menu item that could be considered a whole meal.
For dessert we had the crème Brule and dark chocolate bruschetta. The crème Brule is a vanilla bean crème topped with a caramelized Bourbon sugar crust. The vanilla and bourbon sauce is a great, but you will definitely taste the bourbon. The dark chocolate bruschetta is a sugared French bread which is broiled and topped with melted dark chocolate and sea salt. It was an interesting idea, but not our favorite. The salt was overpowering, and took away from the desired effect.
On Wednesday and Friday nights, they offer live piano music to set the mood. The hours are from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday, with the bar being closed Sunday through Tuesday. The Euro Bar is located downtown on Main Street cattycorner from the Jessamine County Courthouse. This is the type of place you go to relax and enjoy the company of your friends. It is more about the nuance of flavors than filling an empty stomach. Try it out and you might find a new local hang out or romantic getaway to get out of the rut of the ordinary. I give the Euro Bar 6.5 stars out of 7 for superior quality, selection, and atmosphere.
Editor's note: Isaiah Surbrook is a food critic for The Jessamine Journal. But his opinion does not reflect that of The Journal or its staff.
