Ladder 4 Wine Bar

This place is absolutely fantastic. Vibes, service, food, wine, all excellent. Our server was so gracious and he let us try a few wines before we decided. We loved the wines he suggested. Since there were only 2 of us, we just ordered by the glass, but they have a great little wine room where you can just go peruse the bottles and grab whatever you like for dinner rather than just reading the menu. The lighting is very romantic - it would be a perfect place for date night. The food honestly blew me away. Their menu is small and always changing, which just makes me want to come more often to try new things. The scallop crudo with truffle was decadent, velvety, fresh & cold with delicious crispy bits and a yummy sauce. The sweet potato was huge and even better than I expected - made with fresh farmer's cheese that was seasoned perfectly and anything but bland. This awesome chili crisp type sauce was on top with lots of yummy seeds - tons of flavor and would make an excellent vegetarian entree. We also had their cabbage dish and the pork schnitzel, which went very well together. The cabbage has a smoky roast-y flavor with these awesome gems of golden raisin - sort of sweet and sour notes with white sesame seeds on top. Delicious flavor and texture. We also loved the schnitzel - well seasoned, perfectly fried and crispy with tender meat inside. Topped with a great fresh slaw and this yummy lightly sweet red wine transparent sauce on the bottom of the plate so the schnitzel stayed crispy. Honestly, perfect. We ended the meal with their cheesecake thanks to our server's suggestion and wow. It was so odd sounding but was one of the best, most unique cheesecakes I've ever had - it had this flavorful light caramel sauce and a burnt top that gave it the perfect flavor balance between sweet and almost savory with a perfect creamy texture. Yum! the perfect way to end the meal. If you're looking for a place to have a great dinner with friends or somewhere to dine solo at the bar or even just to have a couple glasses of wine after work, Ladder 4 is it. It has a neighborhood vibe that I love, and is upscale without being pretentious at all - it would be a perfect place to bring out-of-towners. It is a welcome departure from the downtown "scene," and I already can't wait to return. They have a perfect private room behind the bar as well that seats 12 - it would be a perfect place for a dinner party, whether it be for business or pleasure. A truly enjoyable experience.