Weekday Therapy: Gervais & Vine

Recently, the Gardener Guides team again crossed the Congaree River into the Vista in search of some Weekday Therapy. With clocks turned backward and dusk rapidly approaching, we were eager to find someplace warm and cozy to unwind. Found it: Gervais and Vine Mediterranean Wine and Tapas Bar!

We parked in the spacious back lot and headed in. The setting was exactly what we needed: a warm, intimate-yet-open dining room with soft lighting, The Beatles (and solo John) in the background, with savory smells of a faraway place emanating from the already busy open kitchen.

We were warmly greeted by the owner, Roberta Prioleau, and shown to our seats. Roberta is the kind of hands-on owner who gives you the feeling that she genuinely wants you to sit in her dining room and try all of the food she has to offer, and wants you to love it! The waitstaff has a similarly friendly and positive countenance, checking on us often and assisting us with our drink selection. G&V is known for its wine list, but they also have a variety of micro brews, specialty cocktails and classic martinis that are also worth trying. If you are a wine enthusiast however, expect to find a very nice collection of bottles to choose from.

The menu is made up of Ensalada & Sopa (Salads and Soups), Tapas Calientes (Hot Tapas), Tapas Frias (Cold Tapas), Spreads, Pizzas and Otros Acompanantes (Other Sides). The selection seemed daunting, but the great thing about the smaller tapas portions is that you can order twice (or even three times) as much food as you normally would. With that in mind, we ordered several items from each category: the Combo Platter with Three Spreads including Costa Brava (Blend of Smoked Gouda, Shrimp and Bacon), She Crab (Crab, Garlic and Sherry with Cream Cheese and Parmesan), and Warm Almond Brie, the Eggplant Fries with Honey Yogurt and Romesco Sauce, the Beef Paillards with Gorgonzola and Demi-Glace over Grilled Ciabatta, the Greek pizza with Spinach, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Mediterranean Olives and Feta with Herb Infused Olive Oil, and the Amantes de

la Carne pizza with Italian Sausage, Pepperoni, Ham, Bacon, Mozzarella and Marinara Sauce.

Gervais and Vine is the perfect place for a group to eat. Our large table, with its bounty of delicious foods and drink, looked like it could have just as easily been the remains of a festive evening on the Amalfi coast. Everyone was able to find a favorite dish; the Beef Paillards were a hit with everyone; about the eggplant fries Kathy assessed, “how to take a pretty tasteless veggie and turn it into something wonderful!” They were THAT good, and the Romesco sauce served alongside was just as delicious on the chewy, crusty leftover bread from our spreads

platter. About the spreads – though things started off civilly, with each in our group taking only a spoonful of the different dips to try, by the end of the meal it became haphazard and covetous, all of us all vying for the final bit of the spreads, especially the She Crab with its velvety texture and tang. Kudos to the waiters for keeping up with our bread and cracker needs. The two pizzas, one for the meat-lovers and one for the veggies in the group, were just enough for us to share as a sort of main course. G&V makes their pizzas in a 700° stone oven, with a plethora of premium toppings to choose from, the option to Create Your Own Pizza, and even a Pizza of the Day. Gervais and Vine may not specifically conjure “pizza” when you think about it, but it is just as good as the other tapas, and Sarah said they paired really well with the wine.

 As the night wore on, even as the dining room began to fill, we stayed. At this point it was totally dark outside but still felt pretty early inside. The mellow vibe, the well-placed lights and tables – you are among others, but can still hear your party – all lent themselves to this evening of simple pleasures and complex tastes.

 

Address: 620 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29201

Hours: 

Monday – Thursday: Open until 10pm
Friday & Saturday: Open until 11pm
Bar opens at 4pm, kitchen opens at 5pm
*Closed on Sundays

Phone Number: 803.799.8463

Check out their Facebook Page

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Wanna join us on our next one? Every other Tuesday our office gets together to try out a new or tried & true restaurant in Greater Columbia for adult beverages and appetizers….it’s a great way to relax and enjoy each other outside the office. Join us! Send us your email address…we’d love to meet you and get your take on the dishes & drinks you choose to order. Send your email address to kathy@gardenerguides.com