At 10pm on a Saturday, it’s standing-room only at Vintage 338, and though the clientele is slightly older than downtown’s young and restless, it’s loud as hell in here. There are two-tops lingering, but it’s the rowdy table of friends in the center room making all the noise. And what’s not to be excited about? Father-and-son team Tom and Chris Barkulis have developed a menu of casual European plates much heartier than your average finicky wine-bar small plates: There are big, chewy, meaty sandwiches; an attractive salad of blood oranges, olive relish and Marcona almonds; and a skillet of warm tetilla cheese beneath a layer of quince paste that’s altogether like a Spanish queso fundido—and very difficult to stop eating. Of course, this calls for more wine, an easy task thanks to a small, inviting and affordable wine list, where a mix of familiar and unusual wines—all from Spain, France and Italy—average $8–$10 a glass. If you want to have as good a time as most of this crowd, though, best to spring for some bottles.
Vintage 338 (CLOSED)
Time Out says
Details
- Address:
- 338 W Armitage Ave
- Chicago
- Cross street:
- between Clark St and Lincoln Ave
- Contact:
- View Website
- 773-525-0521
- Transport:
- El stop: Brown, Purple (rush hrs) to Sedgwick. Bus: 11, 22, 36, 73.
- Price:
- Average a glass: $8-$10
- Opening hours:
- Mon–Thu 5pm–midnight; Fri, Sat 5pm–1am (closed Sun)
- Do you own this business?
- Sign in & claim business
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