Before going home from a long day at work, the white-collar business class can choose to wine and dine at The Crazy Vine, conveniently located in downtown Raleigh, on Glenwood Avenue. The restaurant and winery was opened recently, and while it is more upscale than the typical college venue, do not let this hotsy-totsy environment fool you. Most of the tapas style entrees fall into the $7-$12 price range. Their wines also run from $16-$22 per glass and $18-$86 per bottle.
The atmosphere is inviting yet sophisticated with plush armchairs and icicle-shaped lights dangling from the ceiling. Colored lights also illuminate the room and every few seconds a different color flashes, which can be a little distracting while eating. Perhaps the Japanese anime-style lights that induce seizures would best be utilized at a dance club.
Toward the beginning of the dining experience at The Crazy Vine, the waiter was kind, polite and informative about the restaurant. While those were his strong points, intellect and waiter etiquette were not. The Crazy Vine’s waiter didn’t know the difference between mineral and regular water, and when inquiring about the restaurant’s selection of Jones sodas, it didn’t even have the sodas in stock.
After ordering hummus and polishing off the bread, the waiter offered to restore the bread stash. Seriously — who would say no to free bread, right? Well it was not free; he ended up charging $1.50 extra for it without prior warning.
Unlike the waiter, the meal was up to par. The food was an art form in itself. Each plate was accented with a Helenopolis Orchid — an edible flower. Also, instead of the food being plopped onto a plate, it was delicately placed to accentuate the presentation.
A wide variety of meal options are available, with a blend of Mediterranean and Hispanic influences. Diners have a choice of ensaladas, Paninis, tapas frias, tapas calientes and desserts.
The Grilled Portobello Panini was probably the highlight of the meal. It consisted of a portabella mushroom — grilled and covered with Serrano ham, melted manchego cheese, roasted red peppers and caramelized onions on a ciabatta roll.
However, if you are not a big mushroom fan, there are plenty of other options. Their black bean hummus is one of the signature dishes and complements the roasted garlic pita bread it comes with. The empanadas are a fairly safe choice and are a tastebud delight. The breading was done to perfection and while it had a little bit of a kick to it, water was not a necessity every few seconds.
For dessert, the Chocolate Truffle Torta is a must-have. It is composed of chocolate cake served with fresh fruit, spiced whipped cream and drizzled chocolate sauce. On the other hand, do not order the Strawberry Sorbetto unless you like your whipped cream to taste like sour cream.
If you are looking to get more food for your buck, dine elsewhere. While the portions are sufficient, some could consider the food pricey with regards to how much food you actually get.
If you do choose to dine at The Crazy Vine please know what you are ordering. Pronouncing item’s names on the menu is a challenging task, especially after reading the Spinach and Salmon description: “Semolina potato blini topped with sweet onions, caper and creme fraiche.” But by all means, if you know what that is — go right ahead and eat it.
