DeVine has long been hailed for its totally overwhelming encyclopedia of bloody brilliant wine. It’s just around the corner from the QVB bus stops and the crowd is thick with office workers. But like a real-deal European tavern, DeVine is warm and full of life inside. Candlelight brightens up richly stained wooden tables and exposed brick walls as big groups go for reds and whites and bubbly with duck liver pâté, braised octopus salads, piles of juicy olives and other familiar tapas. As for the booze, let your waiter guide you. Not feeling up to a full bottle? They’ve scribbled together a list of more than two dozen international labels by the glass. Go for gewürztraminers and a couple of soft, citrusy chardonnays amid everything else you could possibly be thirsty for (their range of riesling, thanks to owner/sommelier Andreas Puhar is excellent). Still hungry? Skip the small bites and pick something off the pizza menu like the salami, roasted eggplant, artichoke and smoked chilli – it rocks. There are also some great cured meats up for grabs (it’s all about flesh tongs for these bad boys) and a completely separate restaurant menu so there’s no chance you’ll starve. You can get your sweet fix no matter what menu you’re ordering from. Pick the passionfruit pannacotta or go the mango three ways. It’s all good.
