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Divino Wine Bar
- Hours:
Tue-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Music:
- Background
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
15 reviews for Divino Wine Bar
15 reviews in English
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Review from Rachel G.
Coquitlam, BC
2/20/2012
I'm really surprised at the 2 and 3 stars that people are giving here. The quality of food and service here really deserves more than that. I came here on a Friday at around 6pm with my sister, and I found to food and service to be excellent. The focus is on quality, and for those who want big quantities, you obviously have no idea about the concept of fine dining and slow eating so savour the unique flavours of the dish.
When I first ordered my wine, the server informed me that they were just in the midst of making some changes, so instead of having me pore over the list and then be told they were out of something, he gave me a recommendation instead. Unfortunately, the wine was off, but he immediately whisked the glass away and apologized, and tried the wine himself. The whole case turned out to be off. Needless to say, he recommended a new wine, which was a Merlot, and was delicious.
My sister and I shared the mushroom bruschetta, which was absolutely delicious. I then had the Butternut squash soup (again, wonderful and nicely spiced), and the raw tuna with grapefruit. The tuna was so tasty. Admittedly, only a few bites here, but was delicious and refreshing.
I understand that the menu here is seasonal and I look forward to trying the spring and summer offerings. I had a wonderful meal last time with wine pairings in the summer, sitting on the patio.
The only thing I would improve is to perhaps offer more vegetarian options, and I was not sure if the meat was organic but this would also be a great feature to add if it isn't that way already.
Love DiVino, and will definitely be back. -
Review from Derek L.
Vancouver, BC
3/4/2012
Found this place somewhat by accident after trying to find a new restaurant that did a tasting menu. There were some mixed reviews - but we've learned to ignore those made during Dine Out Vancouver.
Found the place without a problem - easy parking on Commercial. The restaurant itself is nice - very much a wine bar/bistro type feel. We were sat immediately, after being given a choice of tables. There was the smell of bacon in the air - worked for us!
On the menu there was only a 4 course tasting menu, plus regular items. I thought I had seen references to a 5 course, so when the host/waiter/owner (??) came over we asked if it was possible to expand on what was in the menu. Not only was it not a problem, but he seemed to be pretty enthusiastic about doing it! We elected to also do wine pairing with each course.
First up was a very nice Tuna Crudo served with grapefruit and cress. Was a very nice way to begin - the fish was fresh and the flavours went well with each other and the wine. Second course was something the chef brought out that he said they were looking to put on the regular menu - a very nice lamb tartar. Served with shaved mushrooms, radish and onion. Was expecting it to be quite 'lamby' for lack of a better word, but it was really quite delicate. The meat was perhaps ground a little too fine, but overall fantastic. Was paired with a beer that actually worked!
The two 'main' dishes were spectacular. First was a beautiful rabbit dish ... served creatively with garden vegetable - charred lettuce, carrot, beets and a turnip (?) purée. The rabbit was outstanding and cooked perfectly. I think it was paired with a Gruner that went well with the dish. Had a couple of clams with it that were good but probably unnecessary. The other was dry aged beef, cooked about a medium rare, served with a black trumpet mushroom risotto. The beef was good, but I think I dreamt about that risotto - I could have had a bowl full. Was paired with Note Bene cabernet which was perfect with the dish.
We weren't quite ready for dessert yet so asked for a cheese/charcuterie course with they happily accommodated. We were served about four types of cheese, some prosciutto and salami. Was thinking we might have started with this, but was actually a nice course before dessert. Had a little more Note Bene with the cheese with no complaints.
Dessert was another stand-out. A very rich hand made ice cream (either vanilla or almond) served with creamy chocolate chunks that had been frozen in liquid nitrogen. Wow. Somewhat of a fudgecicle effect and it was out of this world. Paired with a very nice 10 year tawny port.
Overall was really impressed - the food was fantastic, and the service was great too. Each course was perfectly timed - we weren't rushed, nor we're we ever sitting there wondering when the next plates were coming. Was also great to have the chef come out to describe the dishes and ask us for feedback. The only complaint from the table was it was maybe a little light on quantity - but honestly I thought it was perfect, if I'm having 5 or 6 courses I don't want a massive pile of food on the plate.
Value was pretty decent - ended up being a little over $100 pp before tip. Given that the meal ended up at 6 courses with wine I was happy. Will definitely return - this restaurant would be one I'd be happy to have a casual night out or a blow out meal. -
Review from Amanda L.
8/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really don't think I understand fine dining and I feel occasionally I get dragged out of my comfort zone by the boyfriend to a fancier restaurant.
The manager seated us and offered us drinks, I was driving and the boy isn't much for wine so upon trying to order coffee we got given the option of Americano. This was alright (but very overpriced) and when the waitress brought it to us she told us it would be a few minutes for milk because the manager had to run across the street to the store and buy some?
They only had 1 vegetarian option which was a mushroom risotto with "seasonal" vegetables, i'm not crazy about mushrooms but I reluctantly ordered this and wasn't impressed. It was really heavy and seemed very creamy which uspset my stomach, I wasn't fond of the mushrooms and the vegetables were all green veggies of different textures which didn't really add any extra flavor to the mix.
My boyfriend got a pasta dish with bison, it was very plain, pretty much meat, oil and a couple tomatoes. He wasn't impressed and his portion was really small, fortunately I had far more then I could eat!
It seems like they are trying to let the ingredients of the meal speak for themselves but they aren't quite pulling it off. The quality certainly did not live up to the inflated prices. -
Review from Chris G.
Vancouver, BC
9/16/2011
We recently went to Divino to celebrate a special occasion and enjoyed our evening out. Our meals were great and the wait staff was attentive and helpful. And thanks to Divino, pork belly has become my new favourite food.
A couple things kept this place from getting a full five stars.
Reservations were made well in advance but when we arrived, all the tables were full save for seats at the bar and outside on the patio. We sat outside, which was fine as it was a nice evening. The patio heater was on and it had two settings, off and hot - and the heater/fan was pretty loud. Not a game changer, but maybe if you want a table inside make a request when you make your reservation.
We both got set menus. One 5-course and one 3-course. You get the same courses with the 3-course menu as you do the 5-course, but the 5-course items end up coming in smaller portions...why, I don't know.
We would definitely go back again. -
Review from Bernie H.
Vancouver, BC
10/14/2011
Ahh..Divino. This was my first visit and I have always wanted to hit this spot on the Drive. The menu is limited, but has very interesting choices, and I found the wine list a bit on the pricey side, and difficult to make choices. Our server was able to point out some selections. The room was pleasant, and not too noisy.
The service was great and the food was very nicely prepared, but jeez the portions were really quite small and I am honestly not a glutton. We had starters, and dessert. My guest had to find something to eat on the way home as he was still hungry.
Probably will not return again. -
Review from Jack S.
Vancouver, BC
8/3/2009
Had a really great time at DiVino but we were the only guests in there for most of our visit. This is odd because their other place, the gelateria next door was overflowing onto the sidewalk.
The wine selection was ample and the server offered us several tastes of whites to cool us down after a hot day. When we had finished those (the glass we ordered as well as all of the samples!) we moved on to a selection of reds. While the server seemed knowledgeable enough to bring samples to the table based on flavors I mentioned in the wines, he was not particularly talkative about the selections. The prices of $8-12 per glass were reasonable considering the samples, quality of wines, and the size of the carafe provided.
The food was delicious and well presented, served in typical wine bar fashion to be shared and at about $10-14 per plate. We ordered cold cut and cheese platters, eggplant and mozzarella bruschetta, beef carpaccio, and tiger prawns with garlic.
The only issues I would raise is that it wasn't exactly clear what some of the prices were for the food - particularly the meat and cheese platter and often items seemed to be listed as 'open food' on the check rather than by name which made sorting things out a bit difficult but it wasn't a big concern. The other issue was that the music playlist was rather short and seemed to be on random shuffle so in our visit we heard the same songs multiple times.
Overall I would definitely go again and recommend that folks take advantage of this place as they seem aimed to please! -
Review from Laetitia G.
Burnaby, BC
7/9/2011
Went to Divino Wine Bar last night, had a groupon and I must say I was blown away!
Had the 3 course tasting menu with wine pairing and everything was perfect. Had the duck special, it was amazing.
The service is also very good with a well trained sommelier and they are also very good with groupon people (not everyone is like that)
Will definitly be back soon -
Review from Don B.
Vancouver, BC
7/4/2011
If you like being talked down to by snobby staff this is the place for you. I tried to ask for help with my order, but all I got was his snobby French attitude.
No food is worth dealing with someone like that. -
Review from Roanna Z.
4/5/2009
Family owned and operated this establishment aspires to offer more than other Italian places on the Drive, in that their vision is to be a place where people know one another and feel "at home with family."
This according to what the (slightly tipsy) owner was trying to convey to us. He was celebrating with family their daughter's first communion. Their lovely family were all seated at a long table in the front. Decorating the place :-)
The interior is sparse and brightly lit as it is an all glass corner wall. There is a side patio which to get to you must enter by the front door first. They were very sweet about us parking the dog close by and accommodated the 6 of us at a table for four. It's like an Italian tapas place. You order a little of this and a little of that thereby tasting unusual flavours and pairing them with wines. If you want a little more of a meal, you must ask in advance and they will work something out for you.
Prego!
Also part of the same address Dolce Amore! Gelato everyone lines up for in the warm weather. -
Review from Shannon S.
Burnaby, BC
7/17/2011
Very cute small restaurant right on the drive. staff were friendly and attentive. but checked on us so often it became annoying. my husband had this poached fish on orzo. i think it was inhaled in 1 minute. i had a mushroom risotto. flavors were good and so were the ingredients. took a bit for food to actually come. we were done very quickly and i am usually a slow eater. and we ended up going down the street for something else to eat. our bill was $48 for just the two small entrees. i dont think i would go back as i have a hard time justifying the cost. but something to try.
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Review from Doug F.
Vancouver, BC
11/21/2009
After a long Sunday-afternoon walk we were famished and the restaurant we wanted to go to wasn't open. We crossed the road to a little place with nobody but staff in it. This should have been a relevant clue given that every other joint on Commercial Drive was hopping busy. But we were hungry and wandered in.
The polite waiter was quick to deliver menus and take our drink order. Food followed not too long after.
No complaints about the quality of the food but, damn, those portions were small.
While we were eating the entire staff left the restaurant to help the neighbouring business move a new pop cooler. Finished with our food and drink, we sat and waited patiently. Briefly thought that it would have been a prime opportunity to dine and dash (not that we're into that sort of thing). Then laughed at the absurdity of the experience. -
Review from Tofuchhichi T.
Vancouver, BC
Awesome wine paring with 3 course meal - reminded me of the previous Parkside Restaurant - one of the top Taste venues in town
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Review from Marcus J.
New Westminster, BC
2/21/2011
I'm sure they are fantastic, but my valentine's day experience was anything but. Service was equivalent to that of a pub, note of food allergies was disregarded, took almost 2 hours to get our food, and the entree had to be sent back because it was undercooked. Total bill was over $150, and the best part was the McFlurry I bought my girlfriend after... An unfortunately bad experience overall.
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Review from teranika t.
Vancouver, BC
2/16/2011
Took my husband here for our anniversary a year ago and loved it for its superb food and genuine weirdness. First, I placed my reservation online, and was informed that the place was fully booked except for a slot at 5:15pm. Must have been an April Fool's joke (yes, we were married on April Fool's Day) because when we got there, the place was completely empty. (In fact, I don't remember ever seeing people there...which was all part of the intrigue in the first place.)
When we got there, our waiter presented us with a bottle of champagne and a dozen roses. We sat in the middle of the little glass fishbowl room, sipping bubbly from glasses with no feet (they had to be propped back into the stand), giggling, listening to Frank Sinatra interspersed with opera (must have been on shuffle), and watching Commercial Drivers go past.
The meal was absolutely superb. My husband had lamb, I think. (he remembers it as a "some kind of piece of meat" - helpful), and he was in heaven. It was cooked perfectly. Everything about the food was superb.
The waiter was central to the weirdness. Very pleasant. Very, well, bored. We sat for long moments being ignored by him. Which for us was wonderful because it was our anniversary and we wanted to be left alone. And, we've recently moved from a European country where the waitstaff are negligent and somewhat abusive on good days... We felt kind of at home.
As we were about to leave the waiter wrapped up the roses for us. It was a lovely touch. Yup, we'll be going back. -
Review from Victoria R.
BC
12/6/2008 1 photo
Divino Wine Bar is a smaller, corner Italian style salumi-tapas bar where a you can have wine and nibble on very casual, Italian deli meats, cheeses, olives, breads and salads. There are cute Italian,old guys sitting around, talking and gesturing about the days' events. You feel like you are in Italy. Each food selection is meant to be paired with a wine, so the olive oils and breads, cured meats are all simply prepared with lots of flavour. I really love the sausages, especially the spicy ones and buffalo bresaola. It's really about sharing your food with people you love.
