Vinoteque on Melrose, a re-creation of the venue's former Culver City location, offers wine and international dining in a rustic atmosphere. It serves dinner and late-night fare, plus weekend lunch and brunch. The space is available for buyout, with room for about 80 outside plus 60 inside for seated events.
The design of the space incorporates sustainable and salvaged materials, and French doors overlook Melrose Avenue from the dining room. The cedar floor is an old farm fence, and the wine rack, planters, and railings are made from recycled and reclaimed wood.
The restaurant also offers dining on an outdoor patio, which has its own organic vegetable and herb garden. For a festive entertaining experience, dine in the private back cabana with room for about 14.
A communal wine table allows guests to open one of 350 wines for a pour, and then either finish the bottle or allow it to be moved to the communal table and displayed via an electronic screen, making it available to others. Executive chef and partner Joshua Smookler and sommelier Ryan Hess hand pick the wine selection.
Smookler oversees the European bistro fare. Menu offerings use organic ingredients from the garden, and include fried green tomatoes with herbed goat cheese and smoked tomato vinaigrette; salmon with sunchoke, spinach, and pickled cherries; and braised short ribs with parsley puree, carrots, and cippolini. Sweet and savory desserts include pineapple carpaccio with rosemary and house-made sorbets. Vinoteque also offers house-cured charcuterie and fresh market oysters.
