Casa Vino

I was very sad when I realized this place had closed. It was cute, the wine selection was fantastic, and the owner was super nice. I came here on a memorable first date with a very foxy lady, who I thought was way out of my league. We talked over several glasses of wine, and I found myself utterly charmed by her. The owner had to shoo us out (kindly), we were so into our conversation. I can never forget that night because it was the first of many; she was probably out of my league, but that date turned into an amazing long-​term relationship, so it’s extra sad to me that the scene of our lovely date didn’t make it.

4 stars for a great evening but a big bummer being that it was their last night. The result was limited selections but nothing to be unhappy with. Wine was good. Oatmeal stout was good. Goat cheese tart amazing! For that and the wine alone I have one question — why are you in the wrong neighborhood? Lasagne great! I really liked the red bell pepper slices in the middle!
I very sad that I finally made it there on the last day but glad that I made it before they closed.

Apologies. We were off an hour crazy. My times are exact because I kept checking the phone every 10 min. We arrived at 6:45 to meet our friend by 7 and when we got in the car it was 8:30 approx. Even by your timeline if we waited on our own time for 30 min before ordering (making it 7:15) and then it only took 30 min more for food to come (which is still ridiculous btw for a burger and a bowl of pasta) it would only be 7:45. So what the hell would take until 8:26 as you say? I was in the car at 8:30 and thats because food took forever to come out, way longer than half an hour. In addition people that ordered after us got their food before, so you can tell that tale of semi-​speedy service if you like but, like your «casual dining», no one is buying sir. And youve never had 6 tables order in your life!
To other diners as well, I wouldnt appreciate anyone who so blatantly disrespects and argues with «coupon holders», particularly in this economy. You chose to open a restaurant during one of the most devastating financial crises in our nation’s history and you have the audacity to begrudge those who are still trying to enjoy fine dining on a budget? You who has a 300% markup on a can, A CAN of coke! FACT: a can of coke costs 75 cents and you sell it for $ 2.50! Are you insane? That’s just the beverages people! I did not have a groupon. I paid with my own hard earned money but I greatly regret it and after reading other reviews I know I am not crazy. I can only surmise that you are as small as your restaurant and like your service, equally slow. FIN!

While they made an attempt at ambiance, they somehow forgot the customers can hear when they make borderline rude comments about their own clientele within earshot. The food was passable, however the pasta was undercooked and the meat was overcooked… The wine options are great and the gentleman obviously wanted to be informative about it which was helpful. Was an experience for sure, might try it again since it’s so close, but didn’t seem very promising. Astonished that it was rated so highly by so many people.

I came across this place on Unilocal one Friday night while the hubs and I were looking to try a new place nearby to try. This joint seemed to be in an out of the way spot but I’ve always seen it come up in my Unilocal searches so we decided to take a visit.
Upon entering we were greeted by the friendly guy behind the bar who seated us promptly with menus. We waited a while for him to come back around to take our order, but he did acknowledge us during our wait and apologized as he was busy serving other customers. When it came time for him to take our order, we asked about having a flight of wine and he made some good recommendations. We aren’t really wine experts, but he explained what he chose for the flight we ordered well. I decided to order a special dish they were preparing that night that consisted of sausage, artichokes and shrimp on a bed of polenta topped with green beans. The hubs went for the lasagna. Both dishes were well made, nicely portioned and were made with fresh ingredients. They paired nicely with our wine choices. Their wine selection is broad and consissted of a good variety of choices, so I suspect wine buffs looking for a nice wine selection to choose from while eating dinner would really benefit from trying this place out. The staff here really seems to know their wines based on the conversations we heard they had going on with other tables.
Although the dishes we had were good and the server friendly, we felt the service was rather slow. It’s not that the server we had was rude, by any means… he just seemed to get caught up in conversing a lot with the other tables who might have been regulars. It could have just been an off night but we felt kind of forgotten about throughout the course of our experience there.
If you are a wine enthusiast, this little spot is worth a try to taste some flights and to talk to the staff about wine. Just make sure you’re not in a hurry as your dining experience can take a while if you’re actually ordering a meal.

Great local restaurant with fabulous fresh food, best by the glass wine list in the East Bay that I have found yet, friendliest staff, a place to eat, drink, be merry alone and with friends. I give it 2 thumbs up!!!

I was delighted in so many ways by this cute and quirky little place, and think it’s got a lot of potential, if only (as even the owner says) the neighborhood residents would support it more. The food is spectacular, and the chef/​owner really seems to love what he does & excels at his creations. They also know a lot about wine & have some excellent selections. The outside ambiance is great for a casual and memorable experience, with a cluster of couches, as well as good sized bistro tables and heat lamps. All they need is a fireplace out there & it couldn’t be more inviting!
Since it’s nestled away on a not-​so-​busy corner, it seems to be mainly frequented by ‘those in the know’, who appear to drive distances to come to this friendly little place. Unfortunately, it gives the owner & {single} server ample time to stand around & gab with the patrons, which, while nice, conveys the message that the restaurant isn’t doing as well as it could or should be… which I think is true! But, when one of the main topics of conversation is blaming the community for their failures, it might make a person not want to return… being a part of the community and all…
Last note on service ~ friendly, fun, fairly knowledgeable, but extremely slow, especially considering how not-​busy the place was on a Thursday night. Having been in the service industry, I understand how service can be slower when there’s more time to gab (with either the customer or fellow workers). That said, it doesn’t enhance the experience very much & could cost you a newbie.
All in all, I thought it was an outstanding restaurant with exceptional selections, a fun staff & very interesting possibilities ~ my advice to the owner would be 1) make it more visible from the street, 2) have local events to increase clientele, and 3) start acting like the amazing and successful neighborhood you know you can be!

For a Saturday night, this place was dead. I mean, we went around 8ish, there was one table finishing up and one guy at the bar eating. But we still decided to give it a try just because I was on this vino kick lately.
Food: I had their pasta special with prosciutto, cheese, and veggies. Nothing spectacular. It was fine, a little heavy on the sauce though. My friend had the crab cakes and the mac n cheese. Wasn’t anything to rave about, but he enjoyed it.
Wine: A good selection. The bartender seems to know what he’s talking about. No complaints there.
Bottom line: It’s worth another try if there was a bit more of an atmosphere.

I tried Casa Vino for the first time on my birthday, August 4^th which was a Saturday this year. I had researched a lot of different wine bars and restaurants in the area and picked this restaurant and wine bar because their website said they have happy hour on Saturday. THIS IS FALSE! I was very disappointed to learn at the end of our meal that happy hour does not include weekends and kind of felt like an idiot for making that mistake, especially since I told all of my guest about the happy hour too. That night when I got home, I checked their website again and low and behold, IT DOES SAY happy hour Saturday! But apparently if you check another tab on the website (one I wasn’t interested in, I guess) it says Only through Friday.
All of this being said, we drank a lot of wine. And did not receive $ 2 off per glass.: (
When we arrived, I also inquired about their special wine tasting that occurs only on Saturday. The owner did not have anything prepared, nor would he put anything together short notice. We were told that we needed to call ahead. The problem is that the website as before mentioned (sucks) and is misleading, making it seem like there is always a taste on Saturdays. I would have called ahead if I had known it was by request only. Very disappointing for my whole group of wine lovers.
Poor misleading website did not ruin my birthday, but it did hit my wallet hard, I probably would have chosen a different place, and so 3 stars. We won’t be returning.
On a positive note, our server was very nice and the atmosphere is quiet and the wine was good. Only one other table with 2 people were there while my party of 5 ate and drank. The food is also good. Get the bruschetta.

I just went to Casa Vino recently for the first time and enjoyed my experience. I did not order any food so I cannot comment on that. The place was pretty empty and my friend and I sat out on the patio which could use a little prettying up but regardless, I still had a great night. The wine I had was wonderful! In fact I purchased a few bottles of it there before I left and the price was really great. I found the waitress to be very friendly and knowledgeable and the environment to be laid back and cozy. If I didnt live in Oakland, I would probably swing by this place often to relax and catch up with friends. Great little neighborhood wine bar!
PS. After reading some of the responses by Casa Vino to the negative reviews I would like to say that you should never get sarcastic when responding to a complaint by a customer. It only makes you and your establishment look bad. Even if you dont agree with the negative review, simply apologize to the customer and tell them that you would love the opportunity to have them back and make their experience a pleasant one. Customer Service 101. When I visited Casa Vino, my friend and I were the only ones there. You want to bring in business, not drive it away. It is not always easy to listen to complaints from the public however, as the manager, you need to know how to handle it better. Do I think the customer is always right?.. NO!.. however there is skill in making them think they are and getting them to come back to spend more …$$$$.

Great for food and wine.
Wine: we had a flight of the whites ($ 15) and totally fell in love with a white burgundy, of which we shared another glass.
Started with a cranberry-​candied walnut-​goat cheese salad that was dressed perfectly (minimally) and a goat cheese torte (the only item not outstanding, tho still quite good).
The pistachio-​encrusted mahi mahi was excellent, and the winner of the evening was the sausage and shrimp over polenta, which was totally outstanding — a perfect mélange of flavors. The sausage was cut into curls so there was just enough sausage in each bite without overpowering the other ingredients.
We will definitely be back. If this restaurant was in downtown Berkeley it would be full every night. On a Tuesday night there were plenty of extra tables.

I came here for a birthday dinner for my husband. I was actually surprised to see that on a weekend night, it was empty except for a few girls sitting at the bar… and a few other couples that later trickled in. This place is SO underrated.
AMBIANCE: I must say I was a little disappointed with the décor. Considering how much you pay for your meal (yes, our entire meal came to about $ 100 after tax and tip for 2 people), the décor seemed a little rustic or shabby. At least the food made up for it. Also, the plus side about it not being crowded (read: practically empty), is that the service was good and it felt very intimate… a far cry from a typical noisy restaurant.
VALUE: Considering the quality of food you are receiving, I would say the value is reasonable for the price you pay.
So here is what we ordered:
–Artisan cheese plate with fruit, walnuts, fig jam and crostini. So yummy.
–Steak with pan fried polenta and steamed kale. The steak was delicious (sadly no longer on the menu, I see), and surprisingly the steamed kale was super good too. But the clear winner of the night was the pan fried polenta which was firm and creamy! The chef clearly knows how to make a savory and delicious polenta — loved it! If you go here, order the polenta!!!
–Chocolate torte — super rich, but oh so good!
Would definitely come back here again!
BONUS: They have their own parking lot — no metered street parking –YAY!

Great little hidden gem tucked away in Berkeley. Great for an intimate group dinner or a romantic date. They used a very fresh and impressive array of local ingredients. Every dish on the menu could pair well with the extensive wine list. Service was great and not pompous at all given the atmosphere. I definitely will be back if I am in the area again. Good wine, good food, good times.

Thursday, 6:30PM.
Tailored setting, gem in Berkeley. Interesting decorations, like having candles stuck in bottles.
Quickie:
+ Awesome service
+ Delicious food
+ Generous portions
+ Sweet patio setup
+ Jazz (Big Band) in the background, YES!
And then???
This place is underrated. Yeah, we’ll be back!
**********
Stuffed my face in:
1. Chicken del Vino
+ Fresh veggies, fresh aroma
+ Wine reduction did not overpower the pasta
2. Lasagna
+ Thick layers full of flavor
+ Cheese was gooey enough but allowed veggies and meat to shine

I’m rating Casa Vino, after many gratifying visits, out of love for the experiences I’ve had there. Technically, it’s a restaurant with a wine bar, but the wine bar is the beating heart at the center of the experience. It’s local, casual, and it’s small — just the right size actually. It has a very nice and constantly changing selection of wines, all by the glass or the bottle, and an owner who is friendly, knowledgable, and passionate about what he’s pouring.
I recommend going on an off-​night in the middle of the week when it’s more relaxed. Sit at the bar, ask questions, make observations and requests, and chances are you’ll light up the owner and he’ll escort you through some of his most exciting discoveries from his regular expeditions to the wine country, and you’ll both have a good time together.

This place is in an urban neighborhood with an ambiance and food geared toward non residents.
I eat at high end and low end establishments so I know good food and this was NOT good food. It was okay mediocre food.
I didn’t really like it. The service was good. The waitress was friendly and nice, but her recommendation of the fish and chips was a mistake.
To be this high end and pricey. I really expected better food. The fish and chips were clearly not prepared fresh and came from a frozen food section of the grocery store. DO BETTER!
This is my second time here and I will not be back.
The burger I had the first time had that pre-​cooked beef taste UGH!
And my friends pork ribs had that pre cooked pork taste. UGH again!
To the chef:
Whatever you are doing in the kitchen you need to do better.
Please take the time to buy fresh cod, prepare a beer batter, and fry. That is the least you can do for the price that was charged. I really like fish and chips and your version should be removed from your menu.
The watered down ranch dressing was a disappointment as well.
This meal was definitely NOT worth the money. :(

In Berkeley you’ll find many places with great food from local ingredients, you get that here as you’d expect. Less common is it to find a place that also has amazing wines, for reasonable prices, and someone that can steer you to new interesting wines based on your feedback.
I’ve been to Casa Vino multiple times and every time I have been impressed with the guidance of the wines. They taste every wine before adding it to the menu and can give great guidance based on the styles you like. They offer a great list of US wines as well as foreign wines. It’s great to see a place that doesn’t stick to one area (such as sonoma/​napa), even including livermore wines occasionally, simply to focus on good quality wines.
The food as I mentioned is typically local ingredients and a simple but great menu. All in all a great place to enjoy a good meal and glass of wine without worrying about being overcrowded or a long wait.

Came here for a friend’s birthday dinner.
Grass fed burger wasn’t exactly the greatest as I had expected much more from a 100% organic, grass fed burger. When I think of a burger, I think of hamburger buns overflowing with cheese, onions, with a thick piece of meat, not a sandwich buns with leafy vegetables and thin piece of meat. The fries were nothing out of the ordinary. For $ 12, you are only really paying for the piece of meat that doesn’t taste much different from your normal burger.
TLDR; The grass fed burger isn’t tasty enough to be worth the money.

i attended a bon voyage party of 40 people at casa vino and i must say they not only handled us with ease, but they were super friendly and accomodating. the space itself is very cozy with one wine bar that pours it all. there is a large outdoor seating area that is well maintained and all is kept clean. i also loved how there is a private parking lot right out front surrounded by cacti.
a flight of 3 wines (2 oz. pours each) is $ 15. you can mix and match white and red and the possibilities, while not endless, are plentiful. i went with a flight of whites with a riesling, a pinot gris, and a sauvignon blend. all the wines were to my liking and went really well with the cheese and meat plate. a variety of hard and soft cheeses accompanied with apples, walnuts, and dried cranberries.
we also ordered a plate of shrimp scampi tagliatelli which came with quite a number of jumbo prawns. the pasta was nice and light with a lot of fresh lemon juice. we were quite full after cleaning our plates. yet we were still tempted to order more appetizers because they looked great on the menu. some of the tempting choices were escargot, nachos, bruschetta, and personal size mini pizzas.
looking at other patrons, 6 oz. pours in large bowl stemware were the norm. next time i’m in the area, i’ll definitely be stopping by again.

After two evenings nuzzled by the sweet ambiance of Café Casa, it’s secured the prime spot as my neighborhood favorite. Its low key vibe is comfortable and welcoming, casual enough to drop by after a bike ride over, though the offerings make it destination-​worthy.
The passions of the proprietors are clear: wine, photography, jazz & blues. Their taste is discerning and inspired, and their recommendations, marvelous. I’ve already compiled a list of half a dozen wines to add to my personal collection! I’ve yet to see a wine list of this breadth and caliber at such reasonable price points (flights of 3 from $ 10-​$ 12). If you’re feeling a red, opt for the Carruth Cellar’s 2006 Barbera. For whites, our pick was a riesling by Rancho Sisquoc.
The eats though solid, are secondary. But you can put your money on many a cherished return, stemware in hand!