If you ever find yourself in Reston (as I did last Saturday) and you’re looking for a unique, chef-driven, alcohol-involved concept you’re in luck. Why you’d ever be in Reston looking for those things is largely beside the point. The point is, you can find all of those things at Vinifera.
Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro hosts “Vinifera’s World Tour” dinners, which feature “an eclectic mix of food, wine and music” from different regions of the world. We were there on Pacific Rim night, and were offered sake or wine flights with all kinds of delicious regional food pairings. The food and wine I got, the music, uh not so much. (Tangent: There was though, a memorable epic Titanic-type song that played over the speakers that made my partner-in-dining-crime Karl wonder if monumental things were about to happen, like dinosaurs roaming the patio, or a fireball heading straight for our table.)
Vinifera is located in the Westin Reston Heights, and is your basic chic set-up. High ceilings, a cute little patio, you know, the works. We brought down the median age, but isn’t that to be expected in the ‘burbs? Karl, a self-declared sake expert, found his sake to be quite lovely, and I was satisfied with my wine selection. We noshed on regional dishes like Australian Ningaloo Seafood Stew, and Indonesian Gulai Kambing (spiced lamb). My favorite were the scallops, but the lamb was great. OH- and lest I forget, some badass honey butter, and you know me and honey butter…. WIN!
“Vinifera’s World Tour” series includes regions such as Spain, South America, Central Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Africa, and Asia Pacific. Diners who attend the dinners will receive a Vinifera passport and a stamp for the specific country/region featured at the dinner – I have mine, and let me tell you it’s flippen cheesy and super awesome. Once patrons attend three of “Vinifera’s World Tour” dinners and collect the relevant stamps, they will be entered into a drawing for the chance to win an overnight stay at The Westin Reston Heights and breakfast for two at Vinifera. Which can’t be bad, right? Staycation.
September’s dinner “destination” is South America… mmm…
Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro is open for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Hours of operation are: 6:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (breakfast), 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (lunch), 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday – Thursday (dinner) and 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. Friday & Saturday (dinner). The restaurant is located in the Westin Reston Heights at 11750 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191.
