The chef's 5-course tasting menu with paired wines is held every Saturday.  The menu selections and wine flights change every week.  Here are the details for this week.

Please join us (21 and up only, please!) anytime from 5:00 on for a chef's 5-course tasting menu.  Cost is a mere thirty bucks for all five courses.  We've also put together a wine flight that pairs each course with a different wine.  Cost for the flight is only twenty bucks for five wines, or if you'd prefer not to do the flight, we'll also have wines available by the glass or bottle, as well as beer and cocktails.

Cheese platters, oysters on the half shell and chocolate truffles are also usually available.  The bar will be open until at least 11:00 and the kitchen will be open until at least 10:00.  Here's the line-up.  Wine notes and bottle prices are at the end of this announcement if you're interested.

CHEF'S 5-COURSE TASTING MENU ~ $30

Peterson Farms Baby Green Salad | Pomegranate | Fennel | Goat Cheese Fritters

Housemade Tagliarini | Sugar Pie Pumpkin Puree | 45-Minute Poached Egg | Pepitas | Five Spice Froth

Pulpo a la Plancha | Escarole | Garlic Confit Purée | Chiles | White Bean + Preserved Lemon Crostini

Braised Boneless Beef Short Ribs | Caramelized Onion Chutney | Mini Taleggio Grilled Cheese Sandwich | Harissa Mayo | Wild Arugula

Carrot Cake Bread Pudding | Maple Caramel | Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

WINE PAIRING FLIGHT ~ $20

2007 Bastianich Friulano

2007 Testarossa "Sleepy Hollow" Pinot Noir

2006 Kaiken "Ultra" Malbec

2005 Tablas Creek Syrah

Cuarenta y Tres "Licor 43" Spanish Liquor

LOCATION & PHONE

Wine Vault & Bistro is located in the heart of San Diego between Little Italy and Old Town at 3731-A India Street on the upstairs terrace.  Follow the black handrail up the stairs from the sidewalk to our front door.  Our phone number is (619) 295-3939.

PARKING ~ FREE & PAID

On-street parking is usually available within a 3-block radius.  Remember that it’s OK to park in yellow commercial zones after 6:00 and that meters are also free after 6:00.  You can also park in the lot behind Shakespeare Pub two doors down, but do not park in El Indio's lot unless you want your car towed!  If you can’t find parking next to the restaurant, there’s always LOTS OF PARKING on San Diego Avenue and the adjacent side streets just past the Chevron station across Washington Street.  There's also a huge pay parking lot ($1 per hour) at the Mission Brewery Building two blocks south at the corner of Washington & Hancock.  (You'll have to take San Diego Avenue to Noell to Hancock to get there due to the one-way streets.)  So please don't drive yourself crazy endlessly going around in circles waiting to pounce on that perfect spot when there's TONS OF PARKING less than three blocks away!

WINE NOTES & BOTTLE PRICES

2007 Bastianich Friulano ~ $14

(Friuli, Italy) Winemaker's Notes: 100% Tocai Friulano. Medium bodied, with ripe, luscious pear and almond flavors carried by a refreshing mineral flavor and zesty mouth watering acidity that mix together to create a perfect food wine.

2007 Testarossa "Sleepy Hollow" Pinot Noir ~ $45

(Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey) Winemaker's Notes: Nose of strawberries, cloves, anise and black olive becoming more abundant in the palate where they are also paired with flavors of cherry and custard.  Crisp acidity and lush tannins make for a richly styled Pinot.  Drink now through 2014.  625 cases produced.

2006 Kaiken "Ultra" Malbec ~ $19

(Mendoza, Argentina) Winemaker's Notes: Nose of blueberries and cassis accompanied by elegant violet and mocha aromas.  Intense, powerful palate showing sweet, gentle tannins.

2005 Tablas Creek Syrah ~ $29