VINIA Wine & Kitchen — Restaurant in Winter Park

VINIA is a new wine bar and kitchen found on West New England Ave in Winter Park, FL. It is owned and led by Fabio and Paula, a brilliant couple sharing their passions of fabulous food with our community. With a chef by their side, nothing can stop them from making their wine bar and kitchen a new community hangout.

Every time I'm there, I see so many community members sending time with their friends and family. Fabio and Paula make every person feel welcomed from the moment they walk through the door. To me, they're a true definition of community, especially when their guests surprise Fabio for his birthday with a cake and dressing up similar to him.

For their wines, they also have a wide variety and Fabio is more than happy to help you find your new favorite like he did with me. When speaking about food and wine with Fabio and Paula, you can see their passions glisten in their eyes as well as hear it in their voices.

One of my top wines to enjoy at VINIA include this Greek wine I discovered with the help of Fabio. If not, I'd have their Douro from Portugal or Bordeaux from France. The wines I do like are definitely on the side of bold, full-bodied and tastes of tannins.

Every time I'm here, I usually order the Romeu & Julieta. These are Authentic Brazilian cheese bread (pão de queijo) with guava sauce. They are made with tapioca, which gives them their chew. You will have trouble keeping your hands off of these and might fight others at the table for the last bite.

Empanada de Carne con Queso are beef and mixed cheeses empanadas that have a delicious crispy and dense exterior that balances out the smooth texture of the interior. The flavors are very mellow and a touch of the chimichurri and pepper oil both add a nice touch to each bite. It's definitely a lighter option than many other places with empanadas.

The Bacalhau ao Forno is pan roasted cod, honey roasted butternut squash flan lemon sage sage, and sauté spinach. This is one of my favorite dishes here because of how unique it is with the flan. There's such savory sweetness to it that makes it unique and impossible to find anywhere else in town, especially when it is as good as this one.

The Ravioli Fatti a Mano is the Chef's composition with artisan ravioli. Each day may have a different selection and flavor so make sure you ask Fabio and Paula what the Chef's composition is that day. When I went, it was cheese and mushroom stuffing, which was very nice and comforting. I'm all about the comfort feeling when I take a bite of pasta.

Rabo de Toro is composed of 15 hour braised ox tail, black eyed pea spaetzle, preserved tomato, mustard greens, and au jus. The flavorful ox tail melts in your mouth supported by the spaetzle and vegetables.

Porc en Croûte de Cacao Épicé is a dish revolving cocoa rubbed smoked pork tenderloin on a bed of polenta and tomato coffee sauce. The coffee flavors are very mellow in the tomato sauce and on the pork tenderloin. The pork tenderloin is cooked well and moist, especially when taking a bite with the smooth and delicious polenta. I've had polenta before, but I've never enjoyed it this much.

The Affogato is vanilla gelato dosed with caramel espresso. For me, I'd like this to be the large size... in a cup with ice and a straw.

Torta de Maçã is a thin Granny Smith apple pie topped with pastry cream and cinnamon sugar. I love how it's a thin bite, which gives it a crispy touch that I quite enjoy. You could dip this in the Affogato or next dessert like I did for a variety of flavors.

Last, but not least, I tried the Pot de Crème au Chocolat. It is a rich chocolate custard with crated dark chocolate and sea salt. I would absolutely order this in its full size all the time! I can't wait to come back for more food and more of this dessert.

I'm happy to say that I walked in as a hungry stranger and came out full of love and friendships in my heart as well as delicious food...

We try to go to four new restaurants every year during Magical Dining, and this year our best experience by far was here at Vinia. It was lovely to see a variety of dishes inspired by Italy, Brazil, the Caribbean, and more, and all tasting so delicious.

We arrived right around opening and asked if they had outdoor seating since we had our dog with us; Fabio, the owner, graciously accommodated us by setting up a table outside.

My wife had the Burrata Al Pesto Viola e Verde, and I had the Romeu & Julieta to start. The purple pesto on her appetizer was an unexpected touch on a classic burrata dish. Mine consisted of Brazilian cheese breads with guava sauce. When I tell you these were bite-sized pillowy clouds of joy that I will be dreaming about, I mean it. They absolutely bursted with cheese and melted on the tongue. I would drive here from Davenport any day for these alone. The guava sauce added the perfect amount of sweetness.

For entrees, my wife had the Pasta con Funghi Porcini et Erbe Aromatiche, and I chose the Rabo de Toro de Temporada (ox tail). The pasta consisted of Casarecce pasta, which was a shape that was new to us, with a delicious mushroom cream sauce and barely-there breadcrumbs. I’d never had oxtail before; it was perfectly braised, deliciously tender, and served over the creamiest polenta and sprinkled with basil that gave the red meat a little lift.

For dessert, the diner chooses two out of the three options. We both selected the Affogato with Caramel Espresso poured over; she chose the Tapioca con Coco and I chose the Pot du Creme au Chocolate. The caramel was a lovely sweet touch with the coffee and the gelato; the tapioca was light and subtle. I feel like it’s so easy to go overboard with a chocolate mousse and become too rich; this was the right amount of rich chocolate without being suffocating in the Florida heat, and topped with a smidge of cream and sea salt. Just amazing.

We also got the wine pairings with the meal, and each course was set to perfection with wonderful wines, including a port to go with the pot du creme.

The food, combined with Fabio’s charm and friendliness, had us excited to return; we’ve already booked the “Fabio’s Table” experience for the end of the month and can’t wait. Thank you for a shimmering end to a wonderful Magical...

I’ve said before, and I’ll say it again: Vinia is the best restaurant in Winter Park.

It’s not just the food - which is an inspired fusion of Italian, Brazilian, and other bohemian delights. And it’s not the fact that they have Alhambra and Cotes du Rhône on their beer and wine list.

No, what makes this place truly magical are the people. It’s like the heart of Hannibal Square, offering a quaint atmosphere with just a few tables and a cozy bar, Bossanova music wafting around you as passersby traverse the cobblestoned streets beyond. When Fabio greets you, it’s like you’re family - and the entire staff puts the same level of love and care into every bite of this sensory experience.

I would start with the signature marinated kalamata olives. It’s a small glass jar full, but each one will make your toes curl. The Brazilian cheese bread is to DIE for, and all the flatbreads are delectable. And the Burrata and pesto? You’ll pass out when each grain of sea salt crashes across your tongue.

I almost always opt for the pasta oxtail entree, but the pork tenderloins melt in your mouth. The platings are magnificent, showcasing the chef’s whimsical charm through mouthwatering presentation.

Save room for dessert! Fabio has some amazing treats, and the menu is often changing. One staple is the flight with wine pairings, which offers three unique bites.

Oh, and you can’t miss the afogato and pot de creme - you pour espresso over ice cream and set your world on fire. Divine.

Like I said, Vinia small, so I would recommend a reservation if you want a table. They also offer special seatings, so check the website.

But we often aim for the bar and order a bold Supertuscan with a charcuterie - and let this quiet little gem calm the tempest outside.

We’ve been patrons for years, and I wish I could keep this a secret. But it would be worse to not share Fabio’s talented hands and eyes with the world. Do yourself a favor and check it out. You’ll...