Corner Wine Bar

Last time I was here I was on a date and really enjoyed myself. For the best deal, I suggest getting a wine flight so that you can try several wines at once. One flight brings small samples, not full glasses, so you should be fine to drive after. The goat cheese appetizer with crostini was delicious! Great service and a good romantic place to go on a date or just gather there with your friends! Park across the canal if you’re looking to park for free…
This time around we went for Mother’s Day dinner. I was looking at the Penny Wise menu which is good from Sunday through Thursday and my future mother in law ordered off of it and then they said it wasn’t applicable because it was a holiday. Would have been nice to know that well in advance. Still the food was very good. I had the ravioli and the lobster bisque. The soup is thicker than most places but still very tasty. Sat inside this time since it was chilly out. A nice romantic, small, quiet, and intimate place to go either with friends, family, or on a date. Definitely do not recommend for large groups. It would be too tight and a large group would probably really disturb the other diners. Jose was our server and he provided great service with a smile and made sure to wish my MIL a happy mother’s day. Prices are fair at least for the food. I always have a hard time paying a lot for wine but that’s because I’m a cheap wine drinker and definitely not a connoisseur. Had my eye on dessert but decided to go to BRICS instead. Maybe be back for drinks and dessert sometime.

Overall, my experience was pretty good. Definitely enjoyable enough to return someday, but it’s not a go to destination for me. I’m a wine lover of all types, new world and old world. The restaurant markets itself as a wine bar but leans towards new world, California grown wines. Selections from France, Italy, and Germany were limited. Wines from Argentina and Spain were practically nonexistent and barely made the list. I understand most people are more comfortable with wines from California, but for the best wine bar in Indianapolis, I expected an extensive variety. Appealing to the market, I guess.
The food was just ok. I was impressed with the large selection of quality cheeses. But, when it came down to the steak and chicken that my friend and I ordered, they were nothing special. They were both meals that I feel very confident I could prepare at home to equal or more success. The sides were simple mashed potatoes and under steamed broccoli. Their menu states that they use locally sourced ingredients when possible, and it was apparent to me that none of these ingredients were local, seasonal, or completely fresh. The most egregious offender was the salad. Romaine lettuce with carrots, cucumber, and tomato. Tomatoes definitely are not in season during winter in Indiana, and the lettuce was the same quality as a grocery store bought bag. The chocolate cake was DIVINE. With all that said, for the food we ate, it was all very appropriately priced. So, at least they aren’t ripping customers off.
The service was enjoyable. Down to earth and not pretentious at all. The Corner Bar is most definitely very casual fine dining, and the service reflected as much. The environment and atmosphere is timeless! I will definitely return someday, but it’s just not a destination place for me.

Friday night my boyfriend and I were SUPPOSED to go to our dancing class (Rumba, Swing, Fox Trot, etc.) but were both HANGRY as hell and decided to reschedule at the last minute and get some eats in Broad Ripple (sorry dance instructor lady).
We had no idea what we wanted so we parked and the Corner Wine Bar was literally the first place we walked up to. Upstairs would’ve been a bit of a wait but they said they also had a casual seating downstairs and would later have live music. Hunger + not having to wait to sit for 30 min = Happy Ryan & Erin!
***Important Date Night Comment***
I do not recommend sitting downstairs if you are looking for a nice date. To me it was not the most romantic atmosphere (unless you dig being a bit cold and are a casual basement bar kinda person, then game on!). The menu is exactly the same but if you’re going to be paying the same price, I personally would take the ambiance/​service of upstairs over the basement and then head down there after for live music & booze.
I ordered the chicken pasta dish with mushrooms/​spinach (& no onions!). This was very hearty and I could not finish it all. Ryan always forks off my plate and for someone who despises thicker white pasta sauces he was very impressed! Sorry readers, I was way too much into what I ordered to even pretend I cared what Ryan had to provide feedback, so I guess that says something! Maybe I’ll ask him later and update the post…
Anywho… Service was also very casual down there… not bad… but no gold stars are granted. Frankly, I’m glad they weren’t really around as we were both crabby-​apple-​McNastys until we started eating.
Unfortunately we left well before the live music started but I would love to go back to that swanky little basement (and extensive wine list) to chill & listen someday soon!

Great, established neighborhood restaurant. Inviting outdoor dining but warm, cozy atmosphere on the inside. Solid food, just an overall pleasant experience, good for dinner with your partner.

We dined at this restaurant the day after Christmas, it was rainy so not too busy. Its very small, but overall we were very impressed. The ambiance is very good and we thought the menu was small, however the entrees that we chose were awesome. We definitely recommend this restaurant!

Great lil café that reminds me of one of the Parisian cafes. They have great wine and cheese selection. They also offer wine flights and weekday specials. It’s a great place specially during the summers sitting outside the café and doing some people watching. Service is awesome and the price is pretty affordable.

So on a Sunday night, when TWO other restaurants were understaffed – Bazbeux don’t bring our food at all – CWB really came through.
I have to wonder whether they brought the wrought iron furniture in here from the UK – the whole wooden and glass interior for that matter. If you fell asleep in here and opened your eyes you could easily believe that you’re in a pub in the UK. It even smells like a British pub (not a bad thing in this case).
The food is solid. I had a lamb burger that was well seasoned and a salad. I didn’t have wine, but the selection looked extensive. The chocolate mousse is a must have (mid 20^th c. Americana) and the service was top notch.
Will return.

I’m teetering between a three and four here, but I think that the three is going to win out, just based on our somewhat spotty and awkward service. Speaking of the food, everything I had was really tasty.
Our waiter was a nice, albeit a bit uninformed and sometimes missing. For a while, we were the only people in the restaurant, but we waited for longer than I would expect to order, receive our drinks, appetizer, main course and check. Ah well. I do not know what goes behind the scenes of a restaurant, so there could have been extenuating circumstances.
As far as the food goes, if you visit the Corner Wine Bar Sunday-​Thursday, you can take advantage of their Prix Fix menu, which is exactly what I did. I opted for the Corner Wine Bar salad (yum), strawberry balsamic chicken with potatoes (also yum) and key lime pie for dessert (yum again). Our party also split the goat cheese appetizer and a bottle of wine which were also tasty.
This place is probably the nicest restaurant in Broad Ripple, so it’s good to have around when parents and other fancy people come to visit. Not somewhere I’d frequent very often, but the food was good enough that I’d go back.

You wouldn’t expect a restaurant called Corner Wine Bar to have such an extensive, unique and delicious menu but it absolutely does.
I’m a college student so I wanted to try some place new and a little swanky-​er because my mom was in town and my usual frozen burrito or ham sandwich wasn’t going to cut it.
When we arrived, we were seated immediately which we were not expecting on a Thursday night. I loved the feel and vibe of the place, all the art on the walls made it feel really fancy but still local and very quaint. Even a little home-​y.
We ordered the baked goat cheese appetizer and finished it in minutes (an obsession with goat cheese runs in my family). My mom ordered the wild mushrooms and scallops and I had the champagne chicken after staring at my menu for 15 minutes choosing between the chicken and the goddess wedge salad. Both dishes were cooked to perfection and arrived in a very timely fashion.
We each got the chocolate mousse for dessert and it was the perfect size for the two of us after such a filling dinner and was very chocolatey but also had a light and airy texture.
Our server recommended some delicious Sauvignon Blanc for us to drink during our meal as well as the mousse for dessert and she was spot on! I will definitely be back again soon for that wedge salad…

Two words. Carrot Soufflé. I will have dreams of this delicious delight. Alas, it was not on my plate so I only got a generous taste but I assure you I will be back to try the champagne chicken that is accompanied by a veggie and the coveted carrot Soufflé.
My parents were in town and my mother had just returned from Wine Country so I believe she wanted to keep buzz going so suggested we have dinner at Corner Wine Bar. I personally don’t drink alcohol nor does my father so I figured she felt her selection assured her a designated driver. Well played mom, well played.
I love the ambiance of this place and the featured local art. The antique bar was a definite focal point. I had some concerns about being accessible (my boyfriend mother is in a wheelchair so I always scout out good, accessible restaurants we can go to with them) with the bathrooms and the coolest area (where the live music is performed) all down stairs. But that’s for another conversation.
We had dinner at 6pm on a Sunday and they had very light traffic. We ordered the baked goat cheese appetizer as well as the saltimbocco skewers, prosciutto wrapped chicken, to share between the four of us. The chicken skewers came with four pieces and the goat cheese had enough pieces of pesto covered bread for all of us to have about two slices. Both were excellent and I really liked the creaminess or the goat cheese in the tomato sauce.
I ordered the goddess wedge salad and absolutely loved it. The beats gave it a great sweetness that was wonderfully balanced by the bacon. Was more than enough to share too.
I ordered the gemelli pesto pasta that came with a generous scoop of ricotta cheese and chicken. I was torn between than and the ravioli but our server, who was excellent by the way, suggested the pesto pasta as it was spicy but not too overwhelming. I should have told her I can’t handle my spice well as I found the gemelli to be a bit too much heat for me. The ricotta cut it a bit but it still had me reaching for more water after each bite. I enjoyed the fresh basil garnish in the dish and the ricotta was excellent. The chicken was a bit dry but the thick, cream sauce masked that. It was worth trying but definitely not for me event though I am a purveyor of pesto.
My father got the wild mushroom and scallops which was excellent. Now as a former gourmet mushroom farmer and hobbyist mycologist, I do take issue with what they classify as ‘wild mushrooms’. It appeared to me to be a variety of portobello and therefore not wild. They possibly could have been porcini or another boletus which then if that were the case, I withdraw my cry for proper fungi classification. I meant to ask but hadn’t seen my parents in a few months and let’s be honest, no one likes to be that person who gets all ’ fungus amongus’ at the dinner table.
My mother got the Champagne Chicken and again, that carrot soufflé. She was very impressed with her meal as well as the white wine she ordered based on our servers recommendation. My significant other ordered the Pasta ‘Berto which was also excellent (as you can see I sample from my dinner companions plates, all in the name of research I assure your) and again the accompanying mushrooms were cooked just right.
We shared a slice of the key lime pie which I found to be very unique. It was lighter than your typical slice of key lime, not your neon green variety, and only had a hint of the key lime kick you get from this delectable desert. I’d call it ‘key lime light’ which I think may be more appropriate for the Midwestern palette. It was very tasty and I particularly liked the very light graham cracker crust.
We all left very satisfied*ans impressed with our overall meal and service. I was the only one who needed a box mostly because I couldn’t handle the heat of my dish and needed additional H2O reinforcements. We stuck around and chatted a while and our server was gracious and continued to check on us and fill water glasses which very rarely occurs once the bill is signed.
Will define be back for a meal of the goddess wedge and carrot soufflé and would love to try out more of their rotating, seasonal menu items. The ‘pennywise’ menus of three courses chosen from a smaller, pre selected menu for under $ 20, Sunday — Wednesday seemed like an excellent deal but let’s be honest, the parents were paying so we wanted to try out the full menu.

Service was good but food was poor poor quality– dry fish that was reminiscent of freezer burn, rice pilaf that would have been better out of a rice a roni box and carrot soufflé that was tasteless. All at an exorbitant price.

Really 3.5, but I’d rather round up than down for this place. I came here on a Monday and got the penny wise menu (Sunday-​Thursday) which offered the tilapia I wanted plus a salad and a choice of a glass of wine or a piece of chocolate cake for $ 19.95, just $ 2 more than the tilapia itself, which is a great deal. The tilapia portion was large and was very good. My sides were too oily. My friend got the lobster ravioli, which was too oily for her. We did a $ 20 bottle of wine, where you basically tell the server what you like and they find something in the $ 20 range for you. We requested a Sauvignon. It wasn’t available, but our server did a great job of picking a similar wine. Our service was friendly and I enjoyed the atmosphere. It’s quaint and personal — a great place for dates.

I had really high hopes for the corner wine bar, but it was an atrocious experience from start to finish.
My friends and I were able to sit outside, which was great – the weather was awesome. We got there around 5:30, and it was busy but by no stretch was it overwhelmingly packed. There were a few waiters/​waitresses working the patio area.
It took us a half hour to get our water from waiter – after asking several times. It took us 40 minutes to get our wine and appetizer. They graciously didn’t charge us for the appetizer because the hostess heard us complaining about how long it was taking to get our drinks.
The food was subpar. I had a brie and bacon sandwich. The bacon was nonexistent. 70% of the plate was potato chips. It was a $ 7 meal at best, but was $ 15.
Overall, the food was overpriced for what we got and the service was bad. There are definitely better patio/​outdoor seating options in Broad Ripple.

My husband and I have been here twice with mixed results. The atmosphere is great, perfect for a romantic night out and I’ve heard the patio is a great place to sit in the summer for happy hour. The food is average — appetizers are the best part in my opinion (try the cheese plate, we got 3 cheeses and had plenty for our 4 person group), our entrees were good but nothing to write home about. My favorite was definitely the linguine saltimbocca and least favorite was the tuna bruschetta, there was nothing «bruschetta» about it, just slices of tuna on bread with a little sauce.
The service has been very hit or miss — the first time we went we loved our waitress. She shared all sorts of interesting information about the restaurant, the wine, the food, their monthly events, etc. Super friendly and attentive without being all up in our business. The second time we went we basically had to hunt down our waitress any time we want anything. Took me 15mins to order a glass of wine — not ideal — and what felt like forever to get out checks.
I’ll likely be back for the appetizers (definitely best part of the menu, entrees have only been so so) and a big glass of wine when it’s warm enough to sit on the patio but I’ll head somewhere else for a full meal.

Yes, Corner Wine Bar is an original, but the food is all right… nothing too special or mind-​blowing. I would prefer to go downstairs and listen to the live music on a Saturday night… THAT is worth a trip in.

I visited Corner Wine Bar for the first time last week for my birthday dinner with my parents. (Please, I know I’m not the only twentysomething who still saves more expensive dinners for dinner with family.)
Our waitress was candid with recommendations, and the food had lovely presentation and good flavor. Considering my mild corn obsession, I had to try the sweet corn ravioli. It worked surprisingly well with pasta and a savory cream sauce.
Also, dessert. Four words: Free. Birthday. Chocolate. Mousse. With a generous flavor of rum and plenty of whipped cream. Yes, please.
One note: being in the heart of Broad Ripple, the patio gets a fair amount of street noise. If you want a quieter conversation, you might opt to sit indoors.

Service is always wonderful. But the food can be hit or miss. Last time I ordered the Diabolique Pasta, it was perfect! The third time, the shrimp were overcooked. And, the dish was a bit bland overall. Desserts aren’t disappointing — get the S’mores for two!
Drinks of the night (ands things to know):
1) ABC Flight — «Anything but Chardonnay» (* * *)
2) Francis Ford Coppola Sofia Mini Blanc de Blancs (* * *)
— crisp and bright
— it comes in can
— 70% Pinot Blanc, 20% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Muscat Cannelli
3) Mumm Napa Cuvee M (* * * *)
— great sparkling wine
— perfect match for a creamy, spicy pasta dish

The wife and I decided to try out the corner wine bar for a valentines day dinner.
Based on all the positive reviews, we decided to ask about the managers bin for a bottle of wine. My wife only likes sweet white wines. I told the waiter, and he said he had a moscato. Perfect. Her favorite. We are off to a good start.
We opted for the cheese fondue crock. AMAZING. A big sourdough bread bowl, filled with a cheddar cheese mixture made with beer and wine, arrived at our table with some apples, broccoli, and pecans. So. Good.
The wife had a tortellini with blue cheese cream sauce and I had the Mahi Mahi sandwich. Both were good, although my wife was in love with her cheese tortellini. My Mahi was good, but after seeing some burgers at a neighbor table I definitely had some envy.
The entrees came with some very thin breadsticks. Added a level of elegance to the meal.
Portions were very generous, and we couldn’t manage to fit in dessert. Another time.
I’m going to give a service shoutout to Sam. Great service enough though they were slammed for dinner service.
We will definitely be back, but we will do appetizers and dessert or entrees and dessert.

The name Corner Wine Bar is deceiving. Came here for drinks after work and was surprised to see signage for $ 3 pints. The beer menu was concise but eclectic, featuring Pumpkin Ale, Busted Knuckle Porter, Diesel Stout, and other beers I never heard of. They had a good wine list of course, but the drink specials negated the need to try the wine (I prefer beer anyways).
It was my first visit so I was a little lost when I walked it. Apparently, the main entrance leads to the dining area and side entrance leads to the bar. The server probably assumed I knew my way, so there wasn’t a lot of help in terms of directions but I found my way eventually. There is also a downstairs bar which was roomier than I expected.
I tried a couple of appetizers at the group event. The Flatbreads were square in size and had soft dough (not crispy thin crust like I expected). They were fulfilling but light on toppings. The Baked Goat Cheese were somewhat spicy, and came with really good fresh bread. The sauce would be perfect with some meatballs.
I was hoping to try the special 3-​course menu for $ 19.99, but didn’t get a chance to. It looked promising and sounded like a good deal. Maybe next time.

The apps are quite underwhelming — the cheddar cheese fondue in a white bread bowl fondue was very dry and uninteresting… the flat bread suffered the same fate.
As for the seafood app — I may be losing my mind but the crab cakes came with ketchup. Huh? Is this a mid-​west thing? The portion was fine but the cakes had too much breading/​panko (read: filler).
I had the tomato orange soup to start and not much happening there. Opted to skip the remaining prix fixe and get some wine and fresh air. Hopefully the place smells better if I come back.
Overall my particular experience with this establishment was underwhelming. It may have just been a timing thing but I would need to go back to confirm and as of now — no plans for that.