I stepped inside The Blue Piano Music Lounge & Wine Bar trying to escape the long waits for drinks in the Design District during Art Basel. The cozy bar has an unpretentious vibe and serves an interesting selection of wine, about a dozen craft beers and small bites.
The menu is made up simply of "nibbles," cheeses -- including a delicious aged manchego -- and charcuterie. Nibbles are small tapas that range from marinated olives to thin slices of bresaola topped with greens and confited mushrooms.
Plump fava beans ($7) served with slender pieces of asparagus and slivers of manchego cheese were a great accompaniment to our drinks. So were the manchego and the goat brie we sampled. All cheeses and charcuterie are $8.Wine choices include 20 wines by the glass ($7-$12) and 60 or so by the bottle, most of which fall in the $30 to $45 range. Brews include your usual Blue Moon, Corona and Negra Modelo along with craft beers such as Rastafa Rye Ale, Ayinger, Banana Bread English Strong Ale and Oskar Blues Dale Pale Ale.
Add to that live jams by groups like Afrobeta and Ala Rosa, and you've got the makings of a trusty neighborhood hangout.
The Blue Piano is open Monday through Wednesday from 6 p.m. to midnight and Thursday through Saturday from 6 p.m. until 2 a.m.
