Vinhos Wine Lounge & Tapas Bar — Restaurant in Merced

My husband and I visited Vinhos this past Friday to support a local artist performing that evening. This was not our first time at the establishment—our first visit wasn’t bad, which is why we decided to give it another try. Unfortunately, this second visit left such a sour taste that we won’t be returning or spending another dime here.

The evening itself seemed fine at first. While there, I overheard a couple of customers at the bar complaining about customer service, but I dismissed it since I hadn’t personally encountered any issues—yet. We ordered a total of 1 beer, 1 prosecco, 1 rosé, 1 spritzer, and 4 appetizers. We left around 9:30 p.m., and my husband paid our bill, which totaled $116 and change.

Later that night, we were shocked to find out through a friend (who was still at the venue) that the female owner was accusing us of leaving without paying our bill and claimed we owed $125. When my friend asked to see the receipt to clarify, the owner kept repeating the amount owed but couldn’t produce any proof—because they had “misplaced” the receipt due to being “disorganized” that night.

Eventually, the male owner found our paid receipt for $116 and confirmed that it was, in fact, taken care of. At that point, our waitress chimed in, claiming we had an unpaid beer—something we never received. Instead of apologizing for the mistake and false accusation on our character, the female owner took no accountability. My friend, feeling uncomfortable and pressured, paid the $9 discrepancy herself. This was completely unacceptable and unfair.

We are deeply offended. Not only were we falsely accused of dining and dashing, but there was also zero accountability or professionalism shown by the ownership. We even tipped over 20% on our original bill, which makes this whole ordeal feel even more insulting. If they have video footage, I would love to see proof of this mysterious second beer that was supposedly brought to our table.

Yes, the venue was crowded—but if they can’t manage a full house without confusing orders and targeting paying customers, perhaps they shouldn’t be hosting such events. Let’s be real: the crowd was there for the performers, not the venue.

From now on, we’ll stick to Hi-Fi Wine on Main Street, where the service is friendly, professional, and far more refined. We only came to Vinhos to support the artist—but that will be our last time.

If you do choose to visit this establishment, make sure you are double checking your receipts and you are actually paying for the items...

Highly recommend this fantastic establishment. Immediately greeted with bright smiles and welcoming staff. Vinhos has a amazing vibe, with low lights & swanky music… a great under lit bar with beautiful full back blue velvet stools for maximum comfort. The main seating area is a perfect sea of more blue velvet to enjoy the live entertainment in an intimate, friendly setting. Absolutely loved the beautiful grand mural of Chef Micha’s homeland of The Portuguese island of Pico. Vinhos has an amazing menu of tapas, full of delicious flavors and fantastic suggested wine pairings to compliment your palate. In conclusion…Vinhos has a phenomenal, world class wine list that will make any self proclaimed “Wine Connoisseur” or otherwise feel like you’ve hit the jack pot! For those who would like a “cold one”, they also have a great in-house light lager to enjoy as well. Needless to say, will definitely be returning and inviting more friends to enjoy...

My recent dining experience at Vihnos was nothing short of a nightmare, and I’m still reeling from the audacity of their staff. I spent $116 and left a $30 tip on what was supposed to be a special evening, only to be humiliated by baseless accusations towards a friend who they ended up charging for a second beer i didn't even order and subpar service that made the hefty bill feel like a slap in the face.

Vihnos doesn’t just fail at delivering decent service by turning away guests due to their lack of being able to handle the number of guests that came for a show; it fails at basic respect and competence. Save your money and dignity—there are countless restaurants that won’t treat you like a thief for daring to dine with them. Never...