The Wine Market. Verdict: Awesome.
I’ve been holding off posting on The Wine Market for some time because I hadn’t eaten dinner there. The retail wine shop is small and cozy with two aisles with a wide range of affordable stuff under $10 and some high end First Growths high at the top of the shelves. If you’re looking for a wine from a specific region, chances are they have a few in stock So, as a wine shop, The Wine Market does well and easily serves my purposes as my local shop that I can walk to.But, the universe that is great wine prices opens up when you dine there. As I scanned the wine list, I noticed the bottle prices were very good (for a restaurant). ’05 D’Arenberg Dead Arm was $72. High for a retail price of course but a downright bargain to have with dinner in a restaurant. The others on the list were very good too. Finally, the bartenderlet me know:
FOR DINNER, THEIR BOTTLE PRICE IS RETAIL PRICE PLUS $9 CORKAGE.
This is monumental.
The Wife didn’t quite understand my elation. I don’t mind when restaurants double the price of wine at dinner. That’s how the game is and I get it. After all, Bottles of Bass don’t cost $5 at the liquor store but that is the going rate for table service. Fine. Things really heat up though when restaurants triple (or more) their prices, even for the low end stuff. Serving $8.99 bottles of Chardonnay for $40 makes me order beer.
But here, at The Wine Market, the prices are beyond good. Over my plate of oysters and a glass of Riesling, I found out the next gem: That their retail store essentially serves as their wine list, and you can go just pluck a bottle off the shelves to order with dinner.
I mean, we’re talking awesome here.
Getting past the wine pricing, the food was great too. Nice olive oil dipping sauce for the fresh bread, oysters were good, flatbread pizza was great. I didn’t even know I like apple on my flatbreads, but apparently I do.
They have a solid happy hour: $3 select glasses of wine and discounted appetizers.
Come for the wine, stay for the food.
The Wine Market
921 E Fort Ave
Baltimore, MD 21230
(410) 244-6166
http://www.the-wine-market.com/
