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Poco Wine Room
Categories: Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Restaurants Canadian (New) Wine Bars, Canadian (New) [Edit]
1408 E Pine StSeattle, WA 98122
Neighbourhood: Capitol Hill
(206) 322-9463
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 4 pm - 2 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Late Night, Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
123 reviews for Poco Wine Room
Review Highlights
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"Good happy hour lasts until 6:30." In 18 reviews -
"Tried the truffled mac n cheese which as good." In 7 reviews -
"...warm, cozy as others have said, and the upstairs is awesome." In 37 reviews
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123 reviews in English
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Review from James B.
Denver, CO
4/27/2012
I am very judgmental and my decisions are quick. I hate any sort of bar/club scene, so am extra prickly upon entering. As I was walking into this little, tucked-away delight, I immediately made the following assessment: roll my eyes at the silliness, grab a drink and go. I came with a chip and left very much in admiration.
The foccaccia sandwiches and cheese platter were so divine...simply made, great-tasting ingredients...big impact on the taste buds. However what truly 'sold' this place were the Misters Matt, Joel, and Patrick. Somehow these gentlemen have managed the perfect balance between approachable, nice-guy to talk with and remain professional.
To summarize, I approve this message. This establishment is absolutely worth a visit...or 28. :) -
Review from Meri D.
3/28/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Poco Wine Room is such a neat little place to get some surprisingly delicious cocktails and tasty bites from the kitchen
Oh, and their wine is pretty good, too!
My BF and I discovered this place last summer, and we really liked the vibe. It feels like you're in a classy wine bar, but you're as comfortable there as you would be at a neighborhood dive bar. They have their wine on a rotating schedule, so every time I go in I get to try a big, beautiful zinfandel that I've never had before. They do a good job offering a selection of obscure(ish) wines that aren't available JUST ANYWHERE, so that alone would be enough to keep people coming back.
Recently they changed ownership, and the new owners improved the décor a little (it wasn't bad to start with) and added A LOT of really cool cocktails to their menu. Personally, I welcome the changes...they took a really good place and transformed it into a really great place. The cocktails I've tried include the "yellow jacket", "dark and stormy", and "champagne cocktail", all of which rival any cocktails I've had down the street at Tavern Law. I hear the truffled mac+cheese is phenomenal, and I can personally say that the winter risotto, salted caramel popcorn, cured meat plate, and chef's cheese plate are all top-notch. Oh yeah, and the chocolate lava cake....yes, please!
Anyways, I adore this place...the bartenders, the patrons, the owners. You should check it out and see for yourself! -
Review from Anton Z.
3/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
Not a bad place for an upscale pre-dinner beverage and date. We went when we were bar-shopping for a group event, and had heard great things. The cocktails were well balanced, and the wine list looked pretty well stocked. We didn't eat, but what other folks got looked good.
Space is pretty nice, with an upstairs area that would be great for a small gathering. The downstairs is lovely, and has a cool bar area. -
Review from Hannah L.
2/7/2012
The amazing tale of French prostitutes, valium, a work meeting, sparkling rosé, cannons, and a Bareback Champion belt buckle.
Fabulous, is.
And baby, we're not in Queen Anne anymore.... -
Review from Jonathan Y.
Irvine, CA
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
The last evening on our Seattle trip we were lucky enough to walk through lightly falling snow into a dim and warm jazzy interior. We walked upstairs and sat in a generous and well-crafted interior space, across from the wood panel lined wall I'm sure many a tourist takes pictures at.
Since most customers must have been home sleeping in warm beds, getting ready for work the next day we were lucky enough to have the entire space to ourselves.
The service was more than friendly, and at happy hour prices we ordered round after round of charcuterie and cheese plates. Not to mention round after round of wine. Poco is a well designed, cozy yet jazzy space with great prices and selections. I especially enjoyed the Filedelitas ( I butchered the spelling) and got a bottle to take home. -
Review from Jennifer T.
Edmonds, WA
4/5/2012
I like the decor and atmosphere is very pretty. It's good for mingling with friends and sip a nice glass of wine which they have various selections. The food is not much to be a full dinner meal and come out a bit slow. I guess it's for like a simple snack to go with the wine after dinner.
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Review from Brian N.
Kent, WA
3/11/2012
I have only been here twice, but won't be coming again. The first time was great however tonight was different. First off, the service was sooo slow... Well at least for us. People who had been there less than half the time we were there received their meals and wine before us. The person serving us was completely rude and disinterested .. we were ignored for the most part and when we were given the wrong meal and asked for our original choice, the waiter got pissed off stormed off. When we wanted to pay and leave we were given our check, but the waiter never came back to ring us out. My friend had to walk her card to them so we could leave. I don't know about you but when you're spending good money you expect good service.
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Review from Solaris D.
Seattle, WA
1/25/2012
Excellent service sat next to one of the owners and had a simple conversation. Was poured 5 tasters before i got my first glass of wine. Lighting and audio nice subtle mix. Good happy hr menu with yummy cheese plate.
I hear that with their new full bar they really start to hop late night. -
Review from Ashley G.
11/12/2011
Loved this place the first time I went two years ago, very different experience last week.
Food is extremely slow! Yes, our wine came quickly and the servers were very friendly and attentive. We were done eating our entrees and the bread had still not arrived. We canceled the bread and went for the dessert instead, which took another 20 minutes to receive. Don't get me wrong, the ambiance and the wine are so great, but next time I will probably only go for the wine and maybe a little something on the side. The mac & cheese with prosciutto tasted awesome, but the steak salad was kind of a dud. I heard this place is going to be switching management soon which is why it may not be that up to par, perhaps things will change with the new renovations and management coming up.
I'm still rooting for you Poco! -
Review from Debbie W.
Seattle, WA
12/3/2011
Been meaning to go here in forever...finally made it last night. Looked at the photos on Yelp and the reviews and we love good local wines so thought it could be great.
Arrived around 6.30 - wonderful space (love the wood wall), well designed, cosy, lovely server went upstairs and sat at the bar overlooking downstairs.
Server was super happy for us to taste until we found something perfect - we did, and ordered some yummy cheese, bread, and marcona almonds. Wine was perfect.
But the best thing was around 20 minutes after being there the other guy serving came upstairs to erase the surplus 'l' from columbia off the chalk board, I looked and realized it was my old friend Rick who I havent seen for about 9 years - he's running the place. Wow, what a wonderful, happy surprise. And since Rick is one of the nicest guys in the world with amazing eye to detail, I'm not surprised it's so great in there.
We'll be back. -
Review from Ninette C.
Seattle, WA
4/28/2011
This was a while back, but I remember the important things about this visit. I came with two friends for a little holidays hangout/catch-up. This place is kind of small. It was hard to get a seat.
We had some good baked brie, wine and other small plates.
The thing I remember most however, was the dessert situation. Our other friend had left so it was just the two of us. I don't even remember what the dessert was, but it wasn't very good. Nothing we could do about it now, right, so we continued to nibble and chat. The waiter came over and asked us how we liked our dessert. My friend and I were a little busy with our conversation, so we just said a hesitant "fine, good" to be polite. The waiter noticed our hesitance and asked us what we didn't like about it. One of the problems was that it wasn't baked consistently. He actively listened to everything we had to say. He apologized and told us the oven was having problems. We told him, no problem, not a big deal. It wasn't like it was inedible.
A few minutes later, he returned with the check (which was asked for) and told us he had taken the dessert off the bill and told the chefs our feedback. My friend and I were both really impressed. We were just giving the constructive feedback he asked for and in no way wanted to complain to get a free dessert. (We left him a good tip, don't worry!)
Considering all the other good plates, the professionalism and the fact that the restaurant went above and beyond to work on improving their customer's experience, I would definitely come back. -
Review from Nancy B.
Slickpoo, ID
11/18/2010
Oooh - the group email deal thing phenom....I fucking love it. I got some Living Twisty Groupop Dealy-o thingy for this place, I paid something like $20 for $50 in food and wine. I'm so thrifty, right?
Well - I suppose it could have been thrifty. Maybe. But I blew that Living Twisty Grou-Pop Dealy-O thingy on a bottle of Four Vines Zin that made me and the big brother I never (always) want to cry. You see, the two of us used to make a shit ton of money and now I only make a ton of money and he only makes shit. So there's been very few crazy spendy dinners between us - we have a lot of pho. At the fanciest pho place we can find, but its still god damn Vietman people peasant food at the end of the day, isn't it? And while that free tea is nice, it has NOTHING on a bottle of 2007 California Zin. Even at $48 bucks a bottle.
And while goi cuon is a fresh treat we enjoy before our pho, it certainly isn't the shaved brussles sautéed with Granny Smiths and bacon we started with here. And while we love pho tai and even a bun bowl now and then, those things FUCKING SUCK compared to the salmon special with Chantrells and sunchoke purée the brother like thing had, or the fucking AMAZING and fungus free duck breast with spiced parsnips and date pilaf that I devoured. And while we love the servers at our regular pho stop, they have nothing on the adorable little Mary in the horn rimmed glasses and the cute little bow tie that served us our amazing meal.
ME: God damn he's adorable.
BROTHING: Get his number.
ME: What? "Oh hi super gay little boy! Hey, did you know I could be your mom were I trailer trash? Anyhoo - how 'bout those digits?"
BROTHING: He's not gay.
ME: Dude. How long have you lived on Capitol Hill. AS A SPRING DAY my friend. Seriously. All that Prada you bought your pretty little self when you had a fucking bank account must have distorted the signal on your gaydar.
BROTHING: Yeah, speaking of which where the fuck is my DKNY jacket.?
ME: Wow. Are you sure YOU don't want his number? And...that my jacket. Now.
BROTHING: Bitch.
ME: Yes. This bitch just stole your jacket. You should work on becoming a larger size than me if you insist on having taste like that.
We dropped $100. But it would have been $150 right? Also, the jacket would have been $500, so maybe I am getting thrifty skills of yore back. I'm definitely getting my grifty skills back. -
Review from Cindy T.
5/11/2011
From all the amazing reviews this place has gotten, I had to get myself a Groupon. One year later, I finally made the trek down to use it on the day it expired. ha.
My bf & I arrived around 930ish, and it was crowded. A group of 3 were ahead of us, and every since booth/table was taken. Fortunately two seats opened at the (small) bar, & we grabbed it. From other Yelpers reviews I read right before coming, I wanted to sit upstairs, but that was going to be another 30 minute wait. Nevermind. Although I did go up to check it out, & I thought it would be something amazing, but it didn't impress me much. Just a few tables, few chairs and stools overlooking the street. (Not much of a spectacular view). However, I did appreciate the coziness and elegance of the atmosphere. Made me feel 5x extra grown up. heh.
I checked out the menu online, and I liked how it was simple, and easy to read. I got the poco house white: pinot gris, and my bf tried the poco house red: table red. In terms of food choice, we opted to try the seasonal mushrooms with white truffle and Jerusalem artichoke puree & fresh baby artichoke risotto with basil and parmesan. Both dishes were delicious, and both of our favorite was the mushrooms. The puree made the dish. The downside was the amount given for the price. Note that price is a little steep, for the small food. But, if its quality over quantity that you are looking for, then go for it!
Service honestly wasn't that great. Waiters were polite, but service was a little slow in getting our food out. The girl sitting next to us reading her travel book announced that she waited for her small green salad for 45 minutes. A least the glass of wine helped.
Overall, Poco is a mature-feel, place with a different atmosphere than other bars or restaurants. Causal, yet elegant. I would come back next time...for HH only, perhaps. Don't expect to eat a "meal" here, unless you are willing to drop more than you wish for. The small place gets full, and if you are eating/drinking on a budget then be cautious. It's ideal for a date night, or even if you are coming alone! -
Review from Joshua B.
11/20/2010
I am a wino, so perhaps I am predisposed to like any place with "wine" in the name - but I am also an effete snob, so that tempers my built-in love of this particular place. On to the review - cut space that's larger on the inside than you'd expect owing to the upstairs. Cool decor, and usually quiet enough to hear your date/friend. The wine list is, natch, extensive and plenty of delicious reasonably priced west-coast and European wines for the offering.
This can be a great place to go if you're just looking for a wine + nosh, or while waiting for your table at one of the nearby "we're so cool we don't take reservations" places that have popped up recently. Parking's not bad in this section of Capitol Hill either.
In that regard, I've had good luck with the little noshes (e.g. cheese, bread + chartucerie plates) - but the service can be maddening. It's as if they just decide to go work in a different restaurant and then remember, oh yeah, we have customers, they show back up and are all over you, before disappearing again. So that's why I deduct one star.Listed in: My Neighborhood - Capitol…
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Review from Yvonne D.
11/20/2010
I love Poco Wine Room and you should too. I feel like Goldilocks when I come here because everything is not too big, not too small, but just right. It has a good combination of perfection which consists of the following:
-cozy yet elegant atmosphere
-non complicated wine selection
-decent prices
-knowledgeable staff
-wine friendly food
-nice big glasses that are swirl friendly
-no attitudes
-no bears - really no bears, only cute cubs ;)
See everything is just right, which means I'm a happy girl who doesn't need very much in life other than some Poco Wine Room.
XOXO - YListed in: Wine Junkie does Seattle
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Review from Peter L.
7/23/2010
Some friends wanted to meet here for wine tasting/dinner, so I checked out their website and was intrigued - the owner's inspiration was a wine bar in Manzanita, Vino Manzanita, and I was just there on Sunday and loved the place.
Anyway, when I arrived,I could see some similarities - it's a smaller space, with colorful local art, a patio, and an emphasis on local wines. But Poco also has a loft with additional seating as well as a more robust food menu. Tried the truffled mac n cheese which as good. The smoked salmon had an awesome presentation. As for the wines, there were mainly local choices, although I did have a very nice Bordeaux by the glass. There was also a wine tasting from Trust (Walla Walla) that night, which was a nice treat - 5 wines for $10. Staff was very knowledgeable and friendly. Poco's name is apt, as it is small, but it has a lot to offer. The beach may not be 4 blocks away like with Vino Manzanita, but the owners definitely captured some of the same feeling and charm and successfully transplanted it to an urban setting. -
Review from Joel R.
12/22/2010
Poco Wine Room is an attractive wine bar and restaurant somewhat hidden in a faceless new development off Pine in Capitol Hill. Despite its inconspicuous location, my wife and I were able to find this place on a recent Thursday, and so were a number of other people, given how busy the place was. Despite the crowd, we were noticed by the bartender as we entered and he offered us a warm welcome. We were also lucky enough to find seats upstairs.
Shortly after finding our seats, we were provided menus by our (first) waiter. Almost immediately thereafter, another waiter was ready to take our order. Put on the spot, we ordered two glasses of wine; I can't remember what they were. For food, we needed a little more time. After a little more time than we needed, our wine arrived. Before this waiter scurried off, we put in our food order. This caused some confusion, as we were visited by one waiter after another, like Christmas spirits. This amusing lack of organization was on display for much of the evening, and while it would be maddening under most circumstances, the graciousness of the waitstaff made up for it.
Our antipasto plate arrived first, with an impressive amount of pork on display. This was tasty and unexpectedly large; I worried that I might have ordered too much. Second came a plate of brussels sprouts, served shredded with bacon, which is a classic pairing. This generally failsafe dish was also quite good. Last came our main dish, featuring three large scallops and a small square of pork belly neatly arranged on a pile of shredded cabbage and cauliflower puree. The pork belly was delicious, as were two of the scallops (the third was undercooked). The vegetables were also pretty good, although the strong flavors (smoky and acidic) clashed a little bit. Our food was pretty good overall, although a bit more carnivorous than is typical for us.
All considered, my wife and I had a good experience despite the somewhat uneven service. I found that (politely) forcing the issue with the waitstaff made the meal flow a lot more smoothly. A fine place and recommended (with small reservations). -
Review from Veronica C.
Parker, CO
12/21/2010
Surprisingly good house wine, friendly bartender, love the handmade wood wall over the bar.
Happy hour wine is $6 p/glass and a bottle was $16.
Will be back. -
Review from Michelle B.
Seattle, WA
1/28/2008
OMG! It's in a condo!
OMG! There are yuppies!
OMG! Some other BS that has nothing to do with anything.
When you get right down to it - this place has it all. A small, but thoughtful selection of wines by the glass, a larger selection of wines by the bottle with a focus on local Washington and Oregon wines, a nice assortment of cheeses, Marcona almonds for a mere $3, and a few other more substantial snacks that I'm excited to go back and try.
The atmosphere in there is warm and inviting. Sure, it's a little snug, but that just adds to the coziness of it all. I'm in love with the heavy-duty-blown-glass-hanging-orb-pendent lights that somehow double as art and the wall full of cross cut wood that is just begging me to run my hand along it and come up with a hand full o' splinters.
And the service is impeccable. I have never felt so welcome in a spot that could have easily been snotty to the extreme. Our server was knowledgeable without a hint of pretension.
So, if you can handle the yuppies and get over the fact that it's in one of the new nauseating condos - I would suggest this as a perfect spot to linger over a glass of good wine...or ya know, polish off a full bottle. -
Review from katya l.
12/10/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Stopped by for a glass of wine and possibly a bite to eat last night after reading on their website that late-night happy hour started at 10pm Sundays through Thursdays. (this is relevant) The prices on the glasses were a bit steep, but we figured it was happy hour and what the hell. We did end up passing on the food though because it was a bit more expensive and we didn't see any mentions of happy hour food specials, so we passed. Once we get the bill - surprise! - no happy hour. Even though their website claimed it, we paid full price.
The disappointing thing is that I had a Living Social deal that wasn't applicable to happy hour, so I decided to save it for another time. If I'd known that the website lied and it wasn't actually happy hour, I would've used it to get some freaking food.
I'm just bitter because I was hungry and I'm poor and happy hour is a big deal OKAY!? Actually I really liked the place - nice decor, romantic lighting, nice big glasses for generous pours, a good selection of wine. I'm just butthurt about the Great Happy Hour Lie of 2010. -
Review from Katie S.
San Francisco, CA
7/21/2008
Great Space, a Fab Menu, and a bathroom with serious 'WOW' factor!
Yeah.. Sounds weird (I know), but I'm not kidding..
Come to Poco and get a glass or four, have a snack, enjoy the ambiance of upscale without the snootiness, and check out their 'Jane'!
I had the Vinho Verde, which was pretty good. Crisp, clean, and $8 a glass, which is comparable with any other upscale Seattle wine bar. My tasting companions had the Cab Sav, a Syrah, and a Rose. Pleased with each of our selections we decided to indulge further and shared a cheese plate. For $12, it was somewhat disappointing. Three tiny pieces of cheese (which were delicious) and 4 tiny pieces of bread? *sigh*
On the other hand, their dessert menu looked pretty fab. They've got a Molten Chocolate Cake, which is proving hard to find in Seattle these days.. I will be back for that..
and for the wine..
and for another 'swank' bathroom run.Listed in: Drinks on the hill, Swanky on Capital Hill!
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Review from Alisa B.
6/14/2010
YES YES YES!!!! Yes I do love this place! Its interior is stunning! The slatted wood walls, the comfy living room style upstairs, the beautiful bar and the subtle art... not to mention the super sweet friendly bartender/owner.
My friend had a pino gris (nothing exciting but with a nice flinty taste) and I had the bordeaux (very nice, fruity and heavy). The food was excellent! The duck was perfect and had a quite nice spice to it overall. Arugula was prevalent on all dishes as it should be this time of year. But the premier dish of the night was the lamb carpaccio! OMFG that was amazing! Perfectly raw, with a slight singe to the outside just for flavour with big beautiful pieces of sea salt to accent it.
Probably one of the best meals i've had so far this year. -
Review from Julie B.
Updated - 8/8/2009
I'm so glad I went back to Poco Wine Room - they have a new chef! I went in for a glass of wine and noticed that in addition to a cute little patio, there are new items on the menu. Poco has a new chef, Vanessa, who has done away with the "small plates" approach. She is bringing fresh and reasonably-sized plates to the tables at Poco.
I abandoned my wine-only intentions and decided to stay for some food, including:
- Champagne poached figs -- drizzles of honey over crispy panzanella lend just the right touch of sweetness to the drunk figgies, which rest in a rosemary-spiked ricotta. Tiny shreds of pancetta provide a hint of saltiness (and are worth a mention on the menu for those who have dietary preferences).
- Vanessa's chilled corn soup is a cool menu addition for warm afternoons. The soup is drizzled with chili oil, which gives a lovely kick to the mellow and mild corn soup.
- Ceviche two ways: one side of the plate has scallops arranged with lemon zest and grapefruit sections. The other side has the scallops resting gently on kiwi, with the added zip of lime and cilantro. Both are equally lovely, and I really enjoy the citrus contrasts.
Of course, Vanessa's plates are in good company with the delicious wines at Poco. I tried the Big Fire Rosé, which combines Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Pinot Gris into a crisp, almost peppery start, with a lovely dry finish. It was the perfect accompaniment to the ceviche. I also tried the Beran Vineyards Pinot Noir 05, which has a beautiful light body, a full taste of ripe cherries and a pleasant spice finish.
Not only are the wines wonderful, but the food options are tempting as well, earning Poco another star.Listed in: Chill on the Hill, Sippin' in Style
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/18/2009
Cute, wood-paneled space with plenty of windows to let in natural light and allow for people… Read more »
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Review from Bob R.
Seattle, WA
10/7/2011
Been there a few times but it's been a while until tonight. Bartender was pleasant, ambiance is nice. Some loud queen at the bar (hey, I'm a queen too so I can say that) just would not shut up so that it made it feel not so comfortable.
But here's the thing - I HATE a short pour. By my calculation, and the unsolicited observation of another sitting next to me, my wine pour was about 1/3 less than those around me, including those that were poured just before and just after mine. I wouldn't mind so much but for an average $10/glass, they'd better make damn sure they give you your just desserts.
Short pouring at such a hefty price just does NOT cut it. WIse up, Poco bartenders. Tough times are here, and if you expect to keep customers, you'd better at least treat them all equally. Next time I won't be so polite; I'll gladly risk the dirty looks and mention that I've been cheated. I left a decent tip anyway, but next time, I don't think so. If there is a next time. -
Review from Me H.
Seattle, WA
2/10/2008 4 photos
I had the distant honor of meeting none other than yelps own miss fancy pants herself Bernadette E here the other night. After having read Michelle's review I had to come check out Poco for myself and who better to join me than Bernie.
I walk in an am greeted by both miss fancy pants herself and Peter the owner ready to pour me a glass of some tasty vino. I said I wanted something jammy and he suggested the lirac, Peter knows his stuff because it was jammy alright and wonderful. The Tamarack syrah was great as well.
Like the name says its Poco wine room and so it's on the small side. It's a room with loft area upstairs that we did not check out, we were too comfy cozy at the bar to do that. There are two tables downstairs with five seats at the bar, Peter said 75% of their seating is upstairs, next time I might venture up there. With the place being so small the wine selection is small if you want 100 of wines to chose from go to a wine bar not a wine room. :)
We shared the wine lovers favorite plate (I think that's what it was called) a nice sample of cheeses, olives, fruits, almonds and garlic crostinis. The cheese samples were amazing, everyone was completely different but each went great with the wine.
Everyone who works there is friendly and knowledgeable, and love it when they hear you bussed it there. Plus they make sure to keep your water glass full and watch out for your wine glass when happy hour is ending.
Two other great things about Poco, the restrooms are both unisex, I like this because when their are just to restrooms and one is busy you can use the other one and not wait for the lady to finish her business. The other thing is it's right on the bus line for the 10 and 11, the bus stops right across the street from this place and picks you up right outside. Metro can be good for something every now and again.
If you're looking for a relaxing and cozy night to go enjoy some wine go check out Poco. -
Review from Josh B.
Seattle, WA
10/21/2009
I went here with some friends a while back. As a non-drinker, I sat in a position of unbiased observation. And what did I observe? The wine snobs were disappointed and the rest were intimidated. Poco is a strange place and none of us understood the appeal.
I don't think I'll be going back. -
Review from Nathan Z.
Seattle, WA
9/27/2011
My girlfriend and I wanted a romantic place to go have a few glasses of wine and some quality appetizers. Poco was right down the street from us, and neither of us had been before. They definitely didn't disapoint. The food was delicious, as was the wine. I'd recommend the prosciutto Mac & Cheese!
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Review from Aaron T.
San Francisco, CA
3/1/2011
Overall: WELL WORTH THE VISIT.
- Terrific spot with small downstairs bar & table space and loft-like upstairs area. Also a patio area with bistro tables outside when the weather is fair. Active & attentive staff (and knowledgable!), hip & fun crowd easy to strike up conversations with (yet room for intimate one-on-one dates too).
- Local Northwest wines get lots of play here - just what I was looking for; also a thoughtful selection of European and other New World wines, none of them your supermarket shelf variety either. Priced to attract.
- Delicious little eats. -
Review from Robert S.
Chicago, IL
9/26/2009 2 photos
What a great place to get a little food and drink with friends
we were hanging out on Broadway at Vivace and friend were going by when the spotted my Motorcycle, so they stopped to say hi and to see what we were up to, and if we wanted to grab a bite to eat with them
well the BF was saying Chinese or Pho and I wasn't feeling it, so i was like where are you thinking of going, and they said Poco Wine Room, and they asked if I knew where it was, and I was like hello we live a block away from it so it was decided we would join them
when we got there it wasn't too busy yet and we wanted to sit outside but, being that there was 4 of us we didn't see that happening, then the wait person said there was room upstairs, but before we could go back inside a couple guys at a bigger table, offered to switch table to the smaller one so we could sit outside, that was way cool of them
so we got seated and looked over the menu, one friend got some Wine and the rest of us ordered French Press of Coffee, they have very good Coffee I forgot to ask who's beans they are using but it was good
the sign out front says new Menu every Wednesday that's kinda cool, I ordered the Truffled Mac -N- Cheese with Coppa sausage, it was very tasty I could see being addicted to this stuff
I will be back for sure as it is within walking distance and they have other things I want to try off there menu, plus it is a nice setting with a warm and inviting atmosphere, with some great staff -
Review from Ian S.
2/13/2008
Small, but pretty cool. More like compact cozy swank.
Cool wine selection, concise menu, attentive and charming service. You would think that it would be easy to produce this kind of a wine bar, but it seems like almost no one bothers to do so.
If you don't like nice places, there are plenty of dumps for you to visit on the hill. Feel free to check them out and have a PBR with my best wishes. -
Review from Jami M.
Seattle, WA
12/12/2010
Holy shit. If you like wine and are unpretentious then GO HERE. I've been here twice and fortunately/unfortunately the wine menu had half changed between the 2 times (it's seasonal).
Both times myself and others got half-glasses of 5-8 different wines and I love, LOVE that you can get half-glasses so that you can taste more without paying as much AND you can drink more that way! I love tasting new wines, especially side by side - and it's so easy to do here.
Everyone that's served me so far has been insanely nice, fun and approachable.
And the food....oh, oh, oh. If nothing else, you MUST have the Mushrooms (i think they're seasonal so they may not be there for long), but they're on top of an artichoke puree and it's HEAVEN. seriously.
I love Poco and will continue to spread the love. -
Review from Megan O.
1/19/2009 1 Check-in Here
I always have a very satisfying experience whenever I visit Poco. Sure it's a small space, but it's very warm and cozy. The lights are low, but not so low that you can't read the menu and the music is always on, but not so loud that you can't have a conversation.
The interior is really well done, very classy. Be sure to check out the bathrooms, very nice!
They always have a great selection of wines. The list is not huge, which I appreciate because sometimes it can just get to be too much. When I went last week they had the wine list broken into red/white and Northwest/world (with some sparkling and dessert wines on the back). Each choice had a short description under it so it was very easy to pick out a nice glass.
After deciding on wine, we ordered the cured meat tray and the wine lovers cheese plate. I could eat like 3 plates of that cured meat, it's all from Da Pino so it's awesome. We were also very happy with the cheeses, there was a good variety.
The happy hour really is a good deal. You get $2 off glasses and $8 off bottles. Also, I'm pretty sure you can buy bottles there and bring them home. -
Review from Isabella O.
Seattle, WA
9/28/2009
Even though I have a friend who owns a condo in this building, I never would have known this place was there (as evidenced by the fact that I must have walked past it/stood outside of it dozens of times) if I hadn't met their lovely chef, Vanessa, at my job.
We had a lovely conversation about food, and when I got home that afternoon, and Alex asked me how my day was, I told him it was great because I'd met this really nice person who was a chef at Poco. He thought it sounded nice, so the next day we went for dinner.
Vanessa wasn't there, but our server told us that all the recipes are Vanessa's. The food was delicious! I especially loved the house marinated cheese in our appetizer, and the French Onion Soup (something I'm pretty particular about) was delicious!
I had some delicious salmon, and Alex's pesto was probably the best I've ever had.
Even though the portions aren't super huge, the food is rich and satisfying, and we found ourselves feeling nicely full at the end. Our wine was also very nice, and the service was great.
The place is tiny, but very cozy and relaxing.
Highly recommended! -
Review from Jennifer S.
Issaquah, WA
3/12/2011
Good: Great atmosphere, very friendly staff, interesting menu options, and the wine menu offers just the right amount of choice without becoming too much to choose from.
Not as good: The kitchen was excruciatingly slow. Our food took an hour after we ordered, and dessert (broken chocolate pieces and salt) took way too long as well for not being something that required cooking.
Tip: The place is very small, so get there early enough to ensure a table. Good happy hour lasts until 6:30. -
Review from Bill F.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 3/31/2009
The small plates menu has changed, and there are plenty of selections. I love Poco, but I now decidedly hate the small plates trend.
The Spanish Chorizo and Chocolate was a tiny plate (three slices for $3??). It all went down fine, but we were so disappointed with the "smallness" and "extra smallness" that was presented to us. The taste did make up for it, however. I will admit that I prefer a meal, so it's tough for me to make it a meal at the Poco.
We had a rocking waitress, though. She was calm and very thoughtful, not intrusive at all.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/29/2008
I am at Poco for the food, while my friends go for the very tasty regional wines. They have a small… Read more »
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Review from Diane T.
5/10/2011
With an extensive wine list primarily focusing on northwest favorites, you really can't go wrong. It's a nice intimate place to grab a drink and some small bites, but it's pretty small and can get super crowded on the weekend. Definitely a great date spot.
Listed in: Date Night Spots
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Review from Krystin T.
Seattle, WA
3/2/2009
Yum. What's better than wine, cheese, and chocolate? Not much!
I really enjoyed the Asian pear white wine, and my second glass was the red from Horse Heaven Hills, which allegedly had "gobs of fruit" but tasted kind of spicy to me. It was okay, though. We shared a cheese plate which we topped off with a couple chocolate truffles. I loved the dark chocolate one, but the grand marnier was a little TOO alcohol-y for my tastes.
Cute little place, not the most comfortable chairs and a little drafty, but I enjoyed myself. It's definitely a place I'd hit up again when I need a glass of vino.Listed in: The Best of the Hill
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Review from J S.
Seattle, WA
11/15/2010
I would give Poco five stars if the service was better but judging by many of the other reviews, apparently this is the norm. They do get three stars solely based on the delish-ness of their food.
THE DOWN SIDE: They were sorely understaffed the evening my dear 66 year old friend and I went there. The bartender was also the server for the entire restaurant (and spent most of her time chatting with the Cheers-like regulars at the bar) and we were informed later that one of the cooks/servers was out sick---by what I assumed was the manager who spent most of the evening sitting at the bar slamming glasses of wine with his friends. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume it was his day off as he would sporadically jump in to help out the server.
Now my friend can be fairly verbal when restaurant service isn't up to her high standards (and she had just returned from an amazing trip to Rome) so needless to say she wasn't very pleased when we found ourselves waitng 40 minutes for our cheese plate and completely done with our first glasses of wine. She expressed her frustration to our server and I do agree it shouldn't take 40 minutes to put cheese on a plate. To be fair, when we did get our cheese plate it was delicious.
My friend also ordered a gin martini. Now, I personally thought that was a mistake. I mean we're in a wine bar so why in the world would you order a martini? But she had been craving a martini since her return from Rome so a martini it was.
The first strike was they only offer two types of gin---neither brand was familar. The gin used was very junipery and medicinal tasting. The second strike was the martini was served in a stemless glass. And the third strike was our server/bartender admitted she didn't have much experience making martinis and as a result my friend's martini was served with a layer of shaved ice and no twist. She immediately let our server know this and thankfully switched to wine.
THE UP SIDE: Fortunately, our server was extremely patient, pleasant, and professional although I'm sure she was at the end of her rope with my friend. Right around this time the other guy started to help us and was very apologetic about the slow service and chatted us up for awhile to ensure that we were still having an enjoyable experience. What really would have made my experience even more enjoyable would have been if they knocked a few bucks off our tab for the inconvenience. Just saying...
The space is warm and inviting, the music a perfect mix of chill downtempo at just the right volume, and the upstairs loft space is really cool but full to capacity when we arrived. I also loved the floor-to-ceiling wood wall.
Each glass of wine we had was delicious. I would love to spend more time here trying out all the wines on the menu. Although I must say that the pours are a bit on the chintzy side. They're borderline tasting pours.
And the food---once we received it----was really, really good. All of it. The standout was the shredded brussel sprouts with apple and bacon. SO GOOD!!!!!!! And the tuna carpaccio was to die with tons of fresh herbs.
I will definitely come back on a day when I have several hours to sit without speed of service being a concern. I probably won't bring my 66 year old friend back with me. -
Review from Katy H.
12/28/2008
Although the food portions are a little small for the price, I really enjoyed the Poco Wine room!
Their wine list is extensive, the wait staff is really helpful and the menu was simple and enjoyable.
I wish it were a bigger place because it can get crowded, but other than that it's a great spot!Listed in: The Places I Frequent in…
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Review from Heather H.
Seattle, WA
10/11/2009 1 Check-in Here
Great little intimate spot for some fine wine and dine fare. Staff proved they're worth in service and food n' wine pairings. If charm isn't enough then be prepare yourself for some fabulous food. Started off with the Oysters, Ah-mazing truffled Mac n' cheese, and then split a Cilantro lemon sorbet.
Take your date, get in with the mood or if the wine dosen't do it for you (how could it not with such a selection) then go for the food.Listed in: Nightlife: Capitol Hill Style
