In case you needed another excuse to break dry January, Bacco wine bar is now open in the Roads. The artisanal wine shop, formerly known as Wine Date, reopened its doors January 2 after being closed for several months of renovations and an overhauled kitchen. In addition to its new name, Bacco — short for Bacchus, Roman god of wine — guests can expect an extended food menu to pair with the extensive wine selection.
According to owners Pablo and Linda Gamboa, the transition from wine bar to restaurant was natural. “Locals and patrons would often ask where in the area was best to grab a meal after purchasing or a winetasting, so we figured it only made sense to create [an in-house menu] that best complemented our offerings.” Helmed by executive chef Jose Arias, the kitchen prepares a menu that embodies rustic Mediterranean fare with a modern touch.
Items include Gorgonzola-stuffed dates blanketed in prosciutto ($10.50) and spaghetti
"At Bacco, we have not only added more seating with several communal tables and comfortable bar seating, redesigned our wine bar, outside seating, and restaurant decoration, but also have increased our wine bottle inventory with a better selection and unbeatable prices," Pablo says.
Wine savants and amateurs alike will appreciate Bacco's extensive wine shelves that greet patrons at the entrance. Customers can purchase a bottle and enjoy it on the patio or inside for a corkage fee of $10 or take the wine and meal to go and avoid the fee.
The restaurant’s weekly programming includes happy hour Tuesday through Friday from 5 to 8 p.m., featuring two-for-one wine deals and small plates such as Bacco croquettes with manchego and porcini mushroom sprinkled with white truffle ($6.50), a Spanish crab cake served with greens and a specialty sauce ($10.50), and grilled octopus ($11.50). Sunday brunch will be added to the roster in the coming weeks.
Bacco. 2700 SW Third Ave., Miami; 305-364-5658; baccomiami.com.
