The Wine Thief Opens Tuesday
As we were cruising by The Wine Thief yesterday we noticed that the lights were on for the first time. Then, we noticed that the tables were set with wine glasses. That could only mean one thing... after spending the day at The Yard at Rock Harbor, we crashed the soft opening of Buffalo's newest wine bar. After posting about the transformation from the former Solid Grounds, I couldn't wait to see exactly how it turned out.
Dave Cooper and Dave Simpson have done a brilliant job on the bar. Not only did they expand into the neighboring storefront, the attention to detail is remarkable. The floors alone... with all of the fine woodwork to ogle at, I was still completely taken with the stone (tile or slab?) flooring. The flow of the space is something that only the expansion could have pulled off. To see this corner go from a relaxed cafe to an upscale wine bar was very cool. It was only a couple years back when readers were saying that this part of Elmwood was crumbling. Now, we have Tabree KARL and The Wine Thief holding down the fort.
By the time we left last night the place was hopping. There were people hanging out on the sidewalk, lounging towards the back, sitting at the back and wandering around looking at all of the fun stuff that Dave and Dave introduced. They really outdid themselves on this project, which means that Buffalo will certainly have a hotspot on its hands this fall
The Wine Thief Bistro and Wine Bar will be opening Tuesday at the former Solid Grounds, located at 431 Elmwood Ave. (Bryant St.).
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Comment Options
RhodeIslandBoy
That's the first wine bar I've ever seen that has a TV in it. Bummer.
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kfitzgerald
tv in bar = bullshit bar.
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Darrell
Wow it took almost no time for the negative Nancy's to come out. This is why I try not to even read the comments, it just gets me sick. I forgot some people are just too "cool" to watch TV in a bar. Smug alert!
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georged
anything known as a wine bar=bullshit bar
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Darrell
Wow it took almost no time for the negative Nancy's to come out. This is why I try not to even read the comments, it just gets me sick. I forgot some people are just too "cool" to watch TV in a bar. Smug alert!
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gaustad
this is a very cool place and exactly what this block on Elmwood needs. They are going to do very well.
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GDF81
its a bar.. another bar.. I am convinced buffalo is just bars and churches. but I do think that this place is a welcomed improvement to that stretch of hodge podge mix of fast food - retail - I wish them good luck. Quick question, Is their going to be a food menu?
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gaustad
GDF, Buffalo's economy consists mainly of Bars and restaurants....if you like to eat and drink, Buffalo is your spot.
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Auburner
What sort of wine do you suppose is served with chicken wings?
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bydesigngm
kfitzgerald and georged - as a new participant in this online forum, I am curious - are your comments indicative of what I can expect to find here at BR online. What you add sounds defeatist and angry - all with a bias. I don't care for the outward appearance of this place - it lacks any measure of creativity or sophistication. However - it is progress. Someone got up from their computer chair, got out of the house and did something with themselves - and our city. As for the TV. How can you sit there and condemn a TV when you have no clue as to the intentions of the proprietors. Maybe they will be airing wine lifestyle-related content? Maybe I will be able to enjoy a glass of a some drink that doesn't require a sponsor's banner hanging from a patio railing. A simple way for you to deal with your displeasure is to A. choose to not patronize the business and B. beat them with a better idea.
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DrZacko
Buffalo can't afford to be so negative. I'm new to the city (and still live part-time in a VERY prosperous and exciting city on the West Coast) and I think this place looks great - been waiting for it to open, especially since it's close to my house. I'm also excited to try Tabree, and love Aroma, which is just down the street on Bryant. Bravo to all!
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bydesigngm
Auburner - I would suggest you go the the Wine Thief, when open, and ask of the owners. While the question sounds mildly sarcastic, maybe you really do want to master such a potentially wonderful food-wine pairing. Me - I would probably grab a nice, beefy California Zinfandel or a Shiraz or Petit Syrah. Sorry if I suspect bad form on your part, but that seems to be the norm in these Buffalo Rising threads. You know, now that I think about it more - I have had some Merlots in the past that have had a buttery feel to them. That might also complement an order of Buffalo's finest.
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Auburner
Lighten up there By Design... It seems very little humor is left and perhaps you are right. So that being said, what kind of wine does one serve with Beef on Weck???
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bydesigngm
Auburner - glad you asked. From what I remember, salt tends to make wine taste milder. That being said I am thinking an old vine red - Zin, Cab etc. The older vines offer a more pronounced flavor. Another possibility would be a Rosé or Pinot Gris- to counter the salt with sweet. The former sounds more promising than the latter - though I remember having the Beef on Weck sushi at SeaBar while enjoying a bottle of Gruner Veitliner. Looks like you will have to get out and experiment.
As for humor - I'm all for it. In its proper place.
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Auburner
Have a Gennie and lighten up
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bydesigngm
Auburner - what!?
Dr. Zacko - please share a review with us all when you finally do go to WIne Thief. Tabree is wonderful. Go while you can still enjoy the patio. And regradless of what you choose for your meal, get some frites. they sprinkle truffle salt on them - superb!
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Bufago
Good luck and TV = porn op
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Auburner
Well By Design, Perhaps you would like some shaved truffle on your mac and cheese, they are getting $55 for that at the Waverly Inn from Grayden Carter. Please do not corrupt a great city built on grit with yuppy, pretentious aspirations. I recall when that place was called the Quaker Bonnet, I do not think they served cinemon wine, but they sure had a great cinemon ice cream with great chocolate float over it.
I am sure that it is a nice place and full of nice wines from all over the world.
Sadly, I am also hunching that it is full of humorless douche bags too... Just a hunch
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bydesigngm
O.K. - one more time Aubruner - then we let some other people have some room.
Considering you have no idea what this place has on the menu, your assumptions are unfortunate. You want humor - I think its funny that you think this place will corrupt the city. Suggesting that people, like myself (it's fair to assume you mean given the intensity of your tirade) are douchebags is even funnier. Bt then again - you feel safer and more of a tough guy throwing language like that around from the privacy of your pc. Look beyond there and you will see that the city is made better by a greater variety of business endeavors and the brave people behind them.
And as for grit. You really know very little.
I hope someday I meet you and can buy you a cold, mass-produced beer. You can then muster up the stones to call someone who has to save up pocket change to buy a glass of wine.
I'm done with this topic You can jump up and down and say you beat the douchebag. I was going to comment - constructively - on the EVANS Bank piece - but saw that Auburner the roadblock beat me to it.
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stephenjames716
looks great!, can't wait to check this place out.
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Brett
bydesigngm - don't be derailed by negative comments on here. They appear in just about every post and while they are frustrating, I find that for the most part they can be ignored. Like a screaming child throwing a temper tantrum, it is best to let them do their thing without paying attention to them. They soon become bored and move on to something else.
So welcome to BRO, and thanks for your comments on Wine Thief. I drove by on Friday Night and thought the place looked amazing. It is great to see a place that lights up the corner there. It was packed inside and out.
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onestarmartin
The place looks great and a welcome addition to the city, but really...what gives with the TV?
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sonyactivision
"What sort of wine do you suppose is served with chicken wings? "
Gewurztraminer.
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BloCity
Of course there is a T.V. in it, think of all the business they would lose during sabres games, especially playoffs... completely understandable
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ToughintheStreets
I'm always a little dissappointed when BRO posts articles about restaurants and shops and then ads for those same places magically pop up on the site. I hope its just some sort of odd coincidence.
Either way, very cool place. Hope it does well.
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rheumpa
This looks great and I can't wait to go!
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georged
It will go out of business within a year.
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Hoss
Looks fantastic from the outside. I'll definitely be stopping in for a few sips.
But yeah, lose the friggin' TV. Pull one out for the playoffs maybe, but when I'm throwing back some grape, I prefer to complement it with conversation. Interesting dialogue goes good with every wine.
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vgs
Please explain georged why this place will be closed within a year.
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gaustad
who cares if there is a tv in the bar - it is a nice wine bar and should have a tv.
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tommyBluez
Congrats to their new venture!!!!!
I will definitely wander a block down from Summer to check it out soon!!!
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bhorvath
I think many more people wouldn't go if there was no TV,
I think these guys really know wine and I think it will be dramatic how much more interesting their wines by the glass / bottle selection will be compared to the other places nearby (Aroma will compete with them on quality, but the other places in that neighborhood have 'distributor slanted' lists in my opinion)
Cant wait to check this place out sometime
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Assaroni
where are all the retards in Phil Housley Sabres jerseys and Joe Ferguson Bills jerseys and gold wigs gonna go if theres no tv here?
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