Wine Down Cafe (St. Louis) — Restaurant in St. Louis

It was a 3.3/5 for me. First thing to know is that the food is good. The burger and fries were good. I did find it a little overboard that they charge $1 dollar to add cajun seasoning to the fries and an extra $2 to swap out a regular bun for a pretzel bun. I didn't remove a star for that, though, since they were up front about it. I took off one star for the food because the menu does not match the name of the establishment. It's really good bar food, but definitely not what I would expect to find at a wine bar. So, if you're being spontaneous and checking this place out, the mismatch of the name and food could be disappointing. The one menu item that did give wine bar vibes was not available.

The service was good as far as being quick and attentive, but I took off one star for being a bit intrusive. I understand wanting to promote your establishment, but it was too much. I'm at a lunch date with people I don't get to see very often and while I'm trying to enjoy their company the server insisted on showing us the weekend brunch menu, which would have been fine if she would have set them down and left us to look for ourselves if we wanted to, but instead she hovered and talked all about the menu items while we were trying to eat and talk among ourselves. This is more a note to the restaurant, not a discouragement to potential patrons as I imagine this is likely not something that happens constantly.

The atmosphere is what really pulls this rating down. Most unfortunate was the terrible smell in the building, like stale poop. I'm shocked that no other reviews mention it. Maybe and hopefully it was a fluke that only occurred during our visit. In addition, the table settings are just not what you would expect at a wine bar. There were caddies with condiments and paper towel rolls. It felt more like a sports bar than a wine bar. The other disappointment was that we were seated right by the door with a crumpled up floor mat right behind my chair, which didn't allow for much adjustment or repositioning of my chair. I didn't actually take a star off for that since I could have asked to move since it was not crowded at all when we were there. I am bringing it up because I found it disappointing that the staff wouldn't be more thoughtful and intentional about trying to curate a better experience for their patrons, especially at a wine bar, not a dive bar.

Overall, there were some disappointments, but I think this place has potential and the burger and...

I was in St. Louis for a conference and wanted to find good food while supporting a Black-owned business—Wine Down Cafe checked both boxes perfectly. I stopped by on a pretty chill night with only a few other diners in the restaurant. There’s plenty of seating for dining, plus a full bar if you’re just in the mood for drinks.

The server was great - she was very personable and made sure I had everything I needed. I loved the local welcoming vibe and the service was great. I loved that the owner was in the back cooking and everyone made it a point to ensure I was happy with my meal.

The menu has a ton of delicious options, which made it hard to choose. I went with the mac and cheese lollipops and the burger with fries. The lollipops were delicious - fried to perfection and bursting with flavor. As for the burger? It was a pleasant surprise! I love testing burgers at different restaurants to see if they measure up to my favorites, and this one was definitely a contender. It was really good and I would definitely come back to have another along with the mac and cheese lollipops.

I capped off my meal with their rum punch, which got a big smile from my server when I ordered it. I asked her why, and she said, “Everyone loves the rum punch”—and she wasn’t wrong. It was strong, flavorful, and hit the spot. She also mentioned their weekend brunch, which now has me wanting to plan another visit to St. Louis just to try it.

Overall, the food was wonderful, and the service was great. I highly recommend checking this place out if you’re ever in St. Louis. I know I’ll be back to explore more of...

I am a HUGE fan of Wine Down in the Patch neighborhood. I have visited almost weekly since they opened in Apr-May 2022. This is my favorite neighborhood spot. First the food is always delicious and simple, with generous portions. I like that Kevin doesn't get overly fancy with presentation or trends. A restaurant's first priority should always be the quality of the meals and Wine Down is 1000% on that. Another big plus is the drink selection is broad enough for everyone to find something. Good red/white/rose's to go with all of Kevin's dishes...(I like having Bordeaux with his jerk wings when its cold out!), their rum punch is absolutely amazing (a warm weather favorite of mine) and they offer delicious basic and inventive cocktails. All of their drinks are affordable and targeted so that folks can enjoy the variety. Their absolute crowning achievement is their brunch. Amazing dishes and drinks, reservations are a must for Sunday and recommended for Saturday. Of course none of this would be possible without Kevin's vision and talent and the support of his wonderful family and staff. I believe he has made a positive impact on the neighborhood and given local folks a great place to go and get out. I am sure that Wine Down will remain a neighborhood destination for years to come.

02/15/2025 Update: Went to Valentine's Day with my love to try his special menu...The Shrimp Ceviche was out of this world! Here is hoping that becomes a permanent item on the menu!...