Pure Wine Cafe
8210 Main St, Ellicott City, MD, 21043
Pure Wine Cafe Menu
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Chef's Selections- Starter Trios
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Tapas
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Charcuterie And Cheese
Healthy Meal suggestions for Pure Wine Cafe
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Chef's Selections- Starter Trios
-
Tapas
-
Charcuterie And Cheese
Visit below restaurant in Ellicott City for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Ellicott City for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
8210 Main St
Ellicott City, MD, 21043 - Phone (410) 480-5037
- Website https://www.purewinecafe.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dessert
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Eunice K.
Parking- street parking or there's a parking lot not too far away (I think on Hamilton St?) Very cute place but it is so small and tight. Mediterranean Plate: hummus, feta stuffed peppadews, sun dried tomato pesto, pickled vegetables, toast points very simple but very good. My friend loved the sun dried tomato pesto. The hummus seemed homemade. Truffle Fries: roasted potatoes, sea salt, fines herbs, truffled black pepper aioli the fries are NOT crispy but are more on the chewy side. It was different but good. Local Rockfish tacos: ancho aioli, savoy cabbage slaw, lime marinated onions, cilantro I think this might be my cousin's fav fish taco so far. It was good. I personally wish there was more of a tang to it but it was good and I honestly had low expectations Chicken Satays: free range organic chicken, peanut sauce, chilled thai noodle salad, cucumber sambal, cilantro oil, sriracha my least fav dish. I would stay away from this. The noodles were over cooked and I did like the peanut sauce but it was not memorable. Rack of Lamb: lamp lollipops, mint- arugula pesto, cucumber quinoa salad, raita, greek feta I think this was a good dish except the lamb did not seem too good. It came with three lamp lollipops. 2 were a bit thicker cut so the lamb was cooked well but one was a lot thinner and was overcooked and the quality of the meat did not seem the best. It wasn't gamey but something was off. I really liked the mint and the quinoa salad Cute art all around the store. Cool wine cellar near the bathroom... I'm assuming the building was built on top of those rocks and it's really cool how they kept the rock and used it for part of the building. I don't know if you can get rid of the rocks but I thought it was a cute touch and the details inside that area was cute because there was a Pure Wine Cafe sign inside :) would give it a 3.5 stars
(3)Shelley S.
Cutest little shop with LOADS of personality. HUGE selection of wonderful wines. Their fare was average, nothing particular to write home about but the presentation and professionalism was out of this world. Definitely a great energy good atmosphere type of setting!
(5)Marcia R.
Love this place. The staff is great, and I love the unique cocktails. I almost wish they had more cocktail options, and the food menu was a bit less expensive, but this is one of my favorite Ellicott City spots!
(5)Donna F.
Nice spot to have a glass or two maybe three with your girl friends or a cute date night. Stephanie was the nicest server and very knowledge, and very fun. Definitely coming back again.
(5)Whitney A.
Great location in the historic district of Ellicott City. I was recommended by locals to go to this place when normally I would go to Judge's Bench or the Phoenix Emporium. This establishment was certainly for a mature crowd, especially one that could appreciate a good glass/bottle of wine. The food was delicious, but with a lot of fine dining, the portions were a bit on the small side for their prices. The bartender was extremely knowledgable and helpful and the food was all delicious. I would recommend sitting at the bar for a fun time.
(4)John W.
In a word - Meh. Tiny portions, high prices, and mediocre service. The food runners were busting their butts the entire time, but our waitress couldn't bring herself to come to our corner table to check on drinks for the better part of an hour. She spent most of her time at the tables on either side of us, so we were eventually able to flag her down for refills. The food itself, was actually very tasty, but absolutely not a good value. The truffle fries were perfectly cooked and flavored, although only about a potato and a half worth. The steak tacos were incredibly tender and flavorful. The rockfish tacos were good, but didn't have a good balance of flavor; they would have benefitted from more slaw and sauce. Taco prices were nearly double what my favorite taco truck charges for four tacos though. The charcuterie plate was a nice treat, but had incredibly tiny portions of everything. One of the meats was, literally, four tiny slivers of sausage, maybe the width of your pinkie. Most of the cheese portions were tinier than a Baby Bel wedge. It was an interesting experience, but not one that we'll be repeating.
(2)Katie S.
My fiancé and I just had our 1 year anniversary dinner here and was truly lovely. The perfect choice, as the setting is both intimate and communal. Yes, it is a TIGHT squeeze and you are very close to your neighboring diners, but I really enjoy that atmosphere, so for us, it heightened the experience. The service was above and beyond - some of the best wait staff I've ever seen. And I'm talking not just our waiter, who was pleasant, funny, fast, and accommodating. But ALL the staff we encountered were wonderful. I also think the prices are great. It's truly fine dining, the menu is bright and vibrant. But our bill (including 1 app, 2 entrées, 2 desserts, and 2 glasses of wine) was $67! This was a nice chance from some of the similar restaurants in this area where we're order less and pay MORE! Portions were spot on! We enjoyed each course and felt fully satisfied without being weighed down at the end. Ok - now the good stuff - the food! We got the truffle fries, they were yummy. We both got tacos - I got rockfish, she got steak. WE LOVED OUR TACOS! Best fish taco I've ever had (that's saying A LOT cause I looove fish tacos!) she is already craving more of hers just a day later! Her dessert was strawberry bread pudding (a special for the evening) and was the winner of our table. Mine, the chocolate pot de Creme, is a regular menu item. It was nice, but way too think and rich for my taste. All in all - we WILL BE BACK! Thanks for making our special day so memorable!
(4)Angela R.
So terribly disappointed! My boyfriend and I dined here for an early dinner and had the absolute worst service. Our waiter was extremely inattentive and slow. We watched her wait on 3 other groups while completely ignoring us, several times. I had to actually get up to find her and ask for a refill of water...and the check. We could not wait to leave. My boyfriend does not ever want to return. Such a shame because the food was delicious.
(1)Philip R.
First time here and very nice. Taco Tuesday includes 2 tacos for $10 . Enjoyed crab bisque and asparagus! Happy hour includes $2 off small plates and glasses of wine (Bar only). HH also 25% off bottles of wine. Bartender and staff very pleasant.
(5)Adam K.
What a wonderful little place! Just a few 20 meters or so up past the Columbia Pike traffic light, lies this charming little Main Street wine bar. My friend and I needed a drink, but wanted a step up from beer and typical pub grub, and Pure Wine did not disappoint! The lady behind the bar was AWESOME. When I asked for her recommendations, she was ready with a list of her favorites, of which we tried two (next time I'll get the olives per her suggestion). She also knew the food and wine menus inside and out and was able to recommend a wine pairing for each item. They have a pretty respectable wine selection. I was super tickled at the exclamation point in their "Bubbles!" section... I opted for medium-bodied reds (Zin, then Tempranillo) as they're my favorite. Most importantly, our bar tender knew her stuff and recommended similar-bodied wines for our dishes. Food: pretty solid. We LOVED the mushroom charcuterie. It was a mélange of mushroom textures and styles. A cremini pâté was so rich and creamy, the maitake "steak" wasn't very steaky, but was succulent and rich in flavor nonetheless! And the shitake "bacon" was SO smoky and crunchy, I could almost see myself being vegetarian... almost. Mushroom lovers, GET THIS DISH. We also shared a cheese plate and loved every single offering. I particularly enjoyed the Sapori del Piave. I think many of these rotate throughout the year, so you're sure to have a good variety always. The roasted pumpkin was perplexing. It was good, but I honestly can't describe the flavors. Lebanese, perhaps? Worth a try, but I wasn't as "wowed" by it as the previously mentioned food. Truffle fries *sighs* SHOULD be good. Sound great in principle, right? Mine were terrible. Overcooked, dry, and unpleasantly crunchy. I'm hoping it was a fluke based on the other reviews, but they probably shouldn't have been served in that state. Oh well. The ambiance is classy / laid back. Low lighting without being dim. Lots of (what else?) wine bottles decorate the wall. Chilled out House music in the background offered nice way to help me kick back. Happy Hour brought down the price of the small plates and wine a bit, so I might be able to come here more than once a year, but it is not what I would call a cheap place. However, the wonderful staff, solid food, wonderful wine selection, and chilled-out vibe make it a place I WILL be visiting again.
(4)Leila T.
Cheese plate, 3 types of cheese for 10$, Mediterranean plate (stuffed pepadews, hummus, pickled veggies, pita, tomato spread)- hummus was bland and a bit grainy texture. Truffle fries with rosemary aoili was delicious- served in a little fry basket. Summer mac & cheese was forgettable. Basil spatezle, bread crumbs. Came out room temperature and was quite bland unfortunately. Despite the mediocre food (maybe just an off night?), I really enjoyed the ambience and upstairs/downstairs/outdoor rooftop seating. The concept is very simple uncomplicated food with a nice candlelit ambience. Next time I'll try the mushroom charcuterie.
(3)Nick J.
Ambiance great. Service great. 2 stars for the late night desserts. The cheese cake and Smore' we're both awful. Will have to come back to try the other items on the menu.
(2)Suzanne S.
A wonderful place to go for a meal, drinks, or just a lite snack. The vibe here is cool and casual but the food and wine is upscale in the sense that it is fresh, local and beautifully presented. The staff is lovely, friendly, and knowledgeable about the food, wines, beers, and spirits.
(5)Nina U.
Pure Wine is my favorite eatery on Main St. I was happy when they opened because their food is fabulous. The only complaints I have are that the place is tiny (this is also why I love it) but the door is right next to the bar and the cold uncomfortable drafts float in every time the door opens especially during the winter time! They also ran out of mulled wine last time I was there and it take forever to make more of the good stuff :-) I like the small plates: - Butternut Squash Bisque - Truffle Fries! (a million times better than Victoria's Gastro Pub) - Seared Brussel Sprouts - Charcuterie and Cheese - Any of the Bruschetta specials- they had a mushroom risotto one and another one! Be sure to peak in their underground wine cellar on your way to the bathroom :-)
(5)Cammie M.
Pure Wine is my favorite restaurant in Ellicott City; I go there just about every week. The staff is always really friendly and the food is always good.
(5)David M.
This is one of the few places in downtown historic Ellicott City that I get excited about. You've got a great selection of New American foods that come well presented, a monster wine list and the ambiance that is both cool and romantic. Pure Wine manages to balance between being cozy and luxurious by having wandering stair cases, romantic lighting and multiple levels of seating. This has the immediate effect of making you feel like you're in a tiny place since you can't see most of the other diners. Then again - it really is a small place. My favorite part of this place is that there is a wine cellar you can peak in that is built into the back of the restaurant directly into living rock. Just take the stairs up from the main entrance. I've only been here twice - and haven't really explored the menu - but everything I've had has been quite good. Mostly though - its just really hard to beat the feel of this place.
(5)Peter L.
Great food, service, and atmosphere. The perfect date spot! Would highly recommend to anyone looking to try some new wines or high quality food. Prices aren't unreasonable for the quality.
(5)Chris S.
My wife and I enjoy the mood and atmosphere. Perfect for some drinks and a romantic evening, but the food options are limited.
(5)K S.
We loved this place! We went there when our daughter was still a baby (at nap time) and we enjoyed some adult company while decompressing! They were so welcoming and so nice about the baby being there. We were grateful!! We made sure to leave just before she awoke so as not to disturb other guests, but it was really nice that they were so good to us! :) The food was super yummy and we found a couple of wines that we absolutely loved too!
(5)Andrew M.
Me and the finomcee really really loved this place. On a beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon we considered our options: too late for breakfast, just past lunch, and slightly beyond the brunching window. Small plates and some nice summery cocktails seemed to be the ticket. The first thing that struck us as we entered Pure Wine Cafe was how beautiful the space was. First of all, the location can't be beat. Right where Old Columbia Pike meets Main Street, PWC is a short stroll from the free lot. The first level has a really hip bar and seating area. Going upstairs takes you to a verywell-lit, warm and friendly additional dining area. Beyond that perches you outside on rooftop-style cafe seating with a great vantage point of bustling Old Ellicott City below. Needless to say this was the perfect choice for our Sunday afternoon and a future perfect choice for a date night. We started out with the 3 dip trio, which features local bread from Atwater's, and a pick 5 charcuterie and cheese board. The dips were all excellent, especially paired with Atwater's quality bread, and the duck prosciutto and Point Reyes Bleu stood out among our choices. Now we're no strangers to meat and cheese boards but PWC's was particularly memorable based on how generous the portions were and how high quality everything was. Very impressive. After that, we enjoyed the meatball sliders with smoked prosciutto bacon (which is optional but really should be mandatory). Sadly we didn't have room for the Treuth and Sons Steak Tacos, but I thought it was awesome that they proudly sourced from down the street. The chocolate pot de creme finished us off, as we basked in its rich bliss under the afternoon sun. These guys clearly know what they're doing, especially with a butcher board, so props to that. Our cocktails (which I sadly cannot recall) were excellent as well. It's definitely worth mentioning the price to value ratio as well. Similar (and inferior) style small plate joints we've been to have easily cost much more than PWC while leaving something to be desired. Me and the Finomcee are both pretty thrilled that we have this place available to us and so close! Return visits are on tap.
(5)Ann K.
I watched Somm the documentary today and I Was bitten by wine bugs. The passion for wine that those sommeliers have are super contagious. I got to do some wine tasting. My wine buddy, aka husband, and I headed out to Pure Wine for the first time. The wine bar was not busy in the late afternoon. Good for us. The bartender is friendly and willing to accommodate us with a bigger size glass for the 2.5 oz serving. Still it was not quite the wine glass size we used to. They don't offer wine flight but rather have us picked the sampling size of wine as we pleased. That was nice but the wine sampling selection is not that exciting. So so table wine. If anyone knows of a good wine flight around here, please let me know. The Iron Bridge selection is slightly better with good size glass. I didn't mean the quantity. It is just more enjoyable to have the proper glass for tasting. I didn't care for the truffle fries as others raved about. Our fries were served hot but wilted. Try using rice oil with proper temperature. It is pretty cozy for easy wine drinking.
(3)Clifton E.
Enjoyed the experience. Food and service was amazing. My wife and I frequent here often.
(5)Sonya L.
My husband and I came here for a date night. We love wine and tapas and this place was perfect. The portions were enough for two people to share a few of them and not be stuffed. The ambiance is nice, music is upbeat, the staff was wonderful and very knowledgeable about wine. We really enjoyed our night out here. The charcuterie board was my favorite because everything was so flavorful. His favorite were the waygu sliders. Every dish we ordered had a lot of flavor. The dessert was excellent as well. I think it's great that they change their menu seasonally and make use of the flavors of the season. I highly recommend this place for a date night or a nice girls night out. The prices are also very reasonable. We will definitely be back.
(5)Elaine C.
A small and thoughtful menu prepared with fresh ingredients by people who appreciate good food. Sit on the rooftop patio. Start with beer or wine, or try a cafe mule ( vodka, ginger beer, lime). Try the jalapeno bread and make sure you have the meatball sliders, truffle fries, and a taco. Delicious! Finish with lemon blueberry parfait, and cap it off with coffee. Portions are not big but everything was excellent.
(5)Jean G.
Every time I go here I'm reminded why I love it :) Jasmine always greets me at the door with a smile, their selection of wine is fantastic, and their food is out of this world! My favorite are the fish tacos and the steak tacos, but I could pretty much recommend anything on the menu without hesitation. They used to have a rotating selection of desserts from a local chef. I'm not sure if they still do that or not, but it was always a fun surprise to see what the offerings were... I LOVE that Pure Wine has expanded and now has outdoor seating to offer! Sometimes it's a little bit of a wait for the outdoor seats, but it's worth it to sip your wine outside and watch the people stroll past on Main Street.
(5)Heidi F.
Loved this place for a nice girls night. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Helped pick out great glasses of white Spanish wine! Also had the taco Tuesday specal they were delish. Love the selection of cheeses. This place is fantastic and really unique. The dim lighting really relaxes you and the wine is fantastic!
(5)Jamie B.
Inconsistent service. During dinner was fine - waters never went below half way. Once check was dropped we were then forgotten. Not chiller for white wine No spoon for risotto (risotto was soupy and no complex flavors, needed salt none at table) Desserts took 30 minutes at least... Wanted to ask waitress for bag for wine as she recommend we could always cork it if we couldn't finish- she never came back to us. So we decided to stay and finish wine after we paid and couldn't even get the waitresses attention for an extra wine glass let alone water to be refilled. We watched her fill all the waters outside and ignored us. We did wave to her like 2 x but we ended up getting another guys attention ... We were invisible after she swiped our card. Funny huh!? So 140$ later........and a decent tip (because I've worked in the industry ) I Used the restroom and as I was walking back to patio I was stopped by a hostess / waitress as to where I was going or If I needed help! She seemed pretty conceded. I have No face tattoos I swear! I'm pretty sure she came to our table to drop off food about 3 times .... I'd come back but sit at the bar.
(2)Elizabeth B.
The wine was very good, the food was ok, but the service was odd. Our waitress kept disappearing for long periods of time. We kept having to flag down other people to help us. Then at the end of our meal everyone completely disappeared. The other patrons were gone, and so were the servers for that room. We stood up for several minutes, ready to pay. Noone came around for about 15 minutes. Finally someone came up the stairs heading for the patio and we asked them if we could pay. As we left we saw no sign of our waitress, I guess she went home...without mentioning that we had a new server or anything. It was like she left and noone took over for her. Also it is a very cramped place. If we go back, we'll sit at the bar. The bartender seemed more attentive and the bar had more space. Or we'll sit on the patio. The ambience, the patio with the rock wall, and the wine cellar are all very cool. The service is too spotty and the space is too tight for me though.
(2)Jessica K.
There are few opportunities for outdoor dining in historic Ellicott City so it's a real treat to get good food and the opportunity to people watch. Service was very good and the Burrata dish was very nice.
(4)Katie R.
Went for my birthday with my girlfriends, great experience all around. Arrived early for our reservation but were seated right away. Waitress was attentive and helpful. Had the Mediterranean plate to start, rockfish tacos and s'mores and bread pudding for dessert. Everything was delicious. Great for special occasions or date night.
(5)Terrie P.
We ate there last night. Food is good. Wine was wonderful. There are NOT a lot of gluten free foods as one other poster said there were. Would have ordered a few more plates but we high tailed it out of there after we finished our initial order. Hostess set the poor tone of what was to come. She sat us upstairs in an empty dining room with one table between the only other couple. Hostess then comes up and puts another couple in between us cramming three couples together in an otherwise empty dining room. Our table was right near the waiters stand, where he stood 2 feet away and watched us eat. Then he emptied garbage can and swept the floor around us. Clearly not the relaxing environment we were looking for.
(3)Ann P.
This little restaurant is perfect for sipping sangrias and eating delicious munchies. I'm that girl who only drinks Riesling because it tastes like grape juice. So I love their sangria is sweet and fresh. I love drinking their sangria with their fish tacos and their truffle fries. Don't let me get started on their truffle fries. I am that girl who can eat fries everyday, it's one of my favorite things to eat. But these truffle fries are so much more delicious than the fries you would normally order. I like how they use small drops of the oil rather than being super heavy handed about it. The truffle does not overwhelm the fries. Their tacos are perfect. They offer a range of different tacos (fish to beef) and they even have taco specials! The taco shells are soft and tender. To make this place even better, you walk out into the cutest old city with the cutest antique stores around.
(5)Chris M.
This place made an incredible first impression on me and my wife. From the professional and accommodating hostesses to the knowledgeable wait staff to the amazing food and wine, this place is a real winner. Recommended: Roasted truffle fries, castelvetrano olives, summer mac n cheese. I'm sure other menu items are great too. For my fellow gluten-free eaters, this place has a decent selection of gluten-free options. Pure Wine Cafe is about an hour away from us, but we'll definitely be willing to make the trek again.
(5)Jennifer M.
I love this place. I love the ambiance, the wine selections, the cheese selections and most importantly, the truffle fries. You must try the truffle fries. Just straight goodness. The service is always great; they are always so attentive and polite. Ask as many questions as you want when it comes to the wines. They are knowledgeable and always able to offer great suggestions. It's not a large place which makes it hard to get in sometimes but it's so worth it. In the summer there is outdoor seating on the balcony/rooftop which is awesome. It's a great place for date night, as are many of the restaurants in Ellicott City. A few gift friends hanging too. I'm always satisfied when I leave. Not overly stuffed. Try it out sometime.
(5)Autumn N.
Amazing steak taco, pulled pork sandwich and truffle fries. Ended it with two desserts...the s'mores lava cake was the better of the two (other was lemon cheesecake parfait). Loved this place and will be back!!!
(5)Stefanie A.
So I talked my boyfriend into coming here because of the reviews and it's claim to be the go-to wine bar in Howard County. Just getting in and out of the place is an adventure. The steps are wide stone with no handle rail. Be careful if it's rainy, cold or both. The hostesses were nice enough to give us a table upstairs away from the bar noise. The ambiance was interesting to me. I think they are going for cozy but there were too many tables for the small size of the room. It wasn't comfortable. My boyfriend says it felt like we were in somebody's basement that they had redone themselves. For dinner he had the onion soup and he had to warm up to the taste of it. I had the mushroom charcuterie. While I thoroughly enjoyed the shitake bacon, the cremini pate was too light on flavor. Thank goodness the sliders were tasty. The wine selection is quite good but would have liked more choices by glass. Overall it was just ok.
(3)Div O.
Hands down one of our new regular spots for date night. They have an awesome inside seating area with a ton of great art on the walls, with a really cozy square shaped bar. We sat outside on the little stone patio, where they have heated lamps and umbrellas. You can even see their wine cellar on the way out. The food and the wine selection is phenomenal. We ordered the Mediterranean platter and the Charcuterie plate to start. Then had the fish tacos and their house white as our main course. The food was just perfectly light and fresh. You can tell they care about not only their wine, but the menu as well.
(5)Ben H.
This place never lets us down. Great, cozy atmosphere. Super-nice staff and excellent, tasty food.
(5)Debby S.
On a busy Saturday, it was difficult to find a restaurant on Main Street that had excellent service. My sister and I stopped in to a couple of them and sat and sat. I had read reviews on the Pure Wine Cafe and we thought we'd give it a try. We are so glad that we did! We were seated immediately on their outside patio. The service provided by Dan was terrific. It was a warm afternoon and our water glasses were never empty. The food was served quickly and was delicious. The selection of wine is quite extensive. The wine cellar is built around rock and quite interesting. We will definately be returning here and I highly recommend this establishment. You'll enjoy it immensely.
(4)Ella L.
Definitely a hidden gem in Old Ellicott City. If I had known about this place before, I would have dined here numerous times already. Today was my first night here with a friend and we both loved it. We got seated inside and it was dim/very cozy. The table was a bit cramped after our food came out..I will probably go out to the balcony next time for a different experience. We ordered the cheese plate and Mediterranean dish! The portion for the cheese plate wasn't as big as I expected but I was still satisfied. It was the perfect amount for snacking while sipping on wine. For the cheese plate, we ordered the 5 for 15 with Duck Prosciutto, Wild Boar Salami, Domestic Brie, Danish Fontina, and Grand Crue Gruyere. For the Mediterranean dish, I really liked the Sun Dried Tomato Pesto and Feta Stuffed Peppadews. The service here was alright..nothing special. Our waiter seemed friendly but he wasn't that attentive in the beginning...probably because he was too busy cleaning up the other tables. Overall, it was a great experience and I am already planning on coming back here next week! Pure Wine Cafe had an amazing atmosphere and I can't wait to try out their other dishes :)
(5)Elizabeth D.
My partner and I both really enjoyed this romantic yet modern spot in downtown Ellicott City. I'm not sure the plates would have been totally satisfying for big eaters, as can be common in 'small plates' restaurants, but it's great to try and lot and to share tastes. We had a nice little plate of charcuterie that came with meat, cheese, and some dips and bits, and were offered more bread to allow us to finish off the plate. My partner got the meatball sliders, which he loved, and I had the steak tacos, which were flavorful and tender. The truffle fries were also lovely, and we were both raving over the desserts we somehow found room for.
(4)In Y.
Visited here a few times since I moved to Ellicott city area couple of months ago. Wine selection is good. Knowledgeable staff. Most importantly food is delicious. It seems to me though that they change their menus frequently maybe seasonally and that is a great sign for any restaurant. Must try their meatball sliders, cheese platter, hm... yummy. They also give you mustard with cheese platter which is fantastic. Very cool atmosphere with high ceiling and they have this rock wine cooler near the stairs. They also have outdoor patio when weather permits. Downstairs could be pretty packed during weekend nights and loud. If you'd want to seat somewhere quieter, i'd recommend upstairs seating. This is my go-to spot for local main st for a glass of wine. Reservation wouldn't hurt.
(4)Lauren B.
We were lucky enough to get a seat at the bar. However, it felt like they tried to sneeze as many people possible into that area. I felt like I was sitting on top of the people next to me. And the bar chairs didn't scoot in or out very easily on the carpeted floor. After I had to wave down the bar tender/waiter, we ordered a very nice Zinfandel. Again, after flagging down the bar tender we order some small plates including the sliders, Brie, and Korean lettuce wraps. The food was delicious!! I was a little disappointed in the service. We were almost done with our meal and the bar tender took my wine glass, without asking, while we still had a half a bottle of wine left. Then we ordered dessert which took forever to get. I do have to say the food was very good, however I can't say the same for the service. Despite the service, I will be back to try more delicious food!
(3)Mistery M.
One of the best dining venues in the area. Great ambiance and a good place for a business or romantic meeting. Good bartenders. Good waitstaff. The wine selection is decently curated with a broad international selection. Not as varied as certain area steakhouses, but I'm not offended. Only thing I'd like to see is a few more california and french ublended varietals. Also some bolder wines by the glass. I don't eat the meat stuff but the veg options aren't bad. Fries are nice. Pumpkin seeds are nice. Pickles... well, i'm a pickle connoisseur and the pickles could be better. It's also OEC so I gotta say that this is one of the few OEC venues that isn't all douchebagged out and filled with trashy people.
(4)Judy R.
What a gem! We live a mile away and had never tried Pure Wine Cafe until we checked Yelp for someplace new to us. Went for my birthday dinner. The staff was wonderfully accommodating. Knowing we had hoped to sit outside on a gorgeous night, they moved us from inside after we'd received drinks and our first small plate! We loved the asparagus and roasted duck crostini. Also loved the steak tacos and a dish on the specials menu with heirloom tomatoes, shredded squash (looked like pasta) and soft, fresh mozzarella. The flavors of each dish were distinctive and wonderful.. The only disappointment was the spiced apple bread pudding, which was dry and not on par with everything else we ordered. So many other great sounding plates on the menu to try, so we will definitely be back!
(5)Megan L.
I've had a great experience every time I go to this place. The bartenders are my favorite! There is a guy who works there that I get always. He is very attentive and knowledgable of the food and wine. Everything is always delicious. Great date place!
(5)Margaret N.
Cute place in historic Ellicott City! A bit small inside, but definitely worth staying to eat and drink! Service is great too- everyone is friendly! Had their sangria, hummus, fish tacos, truffle fries and quinoa salad. Everything was fresh and delicious, and they are all served on small plates (tapas style) so you don't feel overly full and you can order a couple different things and share. Definitely plan on going back!
(4)Nichole Y.
This is by far my favorite place to get a drink on Main Street. I love how they're always trying to keep the place fresh by trying new menus, adding interesting local art, and NEW OUTDOOR SEATING! The patio overlooks Main St and its so cute. Some may think this spot is small but I prefer to call it intimate. This may sound contradictory but the size keeps it from being overcrowded. I really just like the vibe here and its a great place for a date.
(5)Amy P.
love love pure wine! food is always very good and service at the bar is great.
(5)Anja W.
Quaint. The white peach sangria was good; the 1 Malbec they sell by the glass is mediocre. The crab bisque was odd; it wasn't what I had imagined or like any other crab bisque I've tried. Quite a small portion for the price; I wouldn't get it again. The chicken tacos I'm told were good; I didn't try them. The charcuterie/cheese board I ordered was good, and they offered more toast points when I ran out. The Blue Paradise and Sapori Del Piave were both excellent; I wasn't as big a fan of the meats I selected (Smoked Prosciutto, Chorizo Rioja & Saucisson Sec) but they were still good. We were seated on the 2nd floor, and it became incredibly loud as the night went on because it's a quite small area. I believe they have outdoor seating on the 2nd floor as well, which I'm sure is nice. Overall, it was a good place to try but I do not think I'd return.
(2)Karen S.
It's very expensive for what you get. The truffle fries were skinny and tough. You can definitely make skinny fries crunchy with a bit of a soft center, and some of these were actually hard to bite through. It came with two sauces; one was an aioli and one was tomato-based, and the tomato-based one really didn't go with the truffle flavor. It didn't seem worth $6. But more egregious was the lobster mac and cheese. We paid $14 and got a cupcake-sized ramekin of mac and cheese. I will say that there was probably a claw's worth of lobster in there... but for $14? You couldn't throw some more noodles in there? It was very disappointing to get that. I also thought the breadcrumbs on top dried it out and could have been better done. The rockfish tacos, which were 2 for $12, were pretty decent. They came out warm, with a little cilantro and lime on the side. We also got the roasted veggie salad, which I think was $10, and that was reasonably sizeable. After spending $20+ on lunch, without even getting any wine, I just felt like it was a very tiny amount of food. Small plates are one thing, but this isn't D.C., so prices should make sense for the area.
(2)Pastor-GAvery W.
This was my first time visiting this establishment. The atmos5 is warm and inviting. I lobed it because it is intimate. It seats 25 on the main level. The food was absolutely fabulous and the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. I will be back!
(4)Nikki W.
We went here on a Friday evening and found room right at the bar. The vibe and atmosphere was nice, inviting, and cozy. We didn't have a full meal, but just a few small plates, glass of wine, and dessert. The food was pretty good. If you like cheese, try the cheese plate. Great choices in wine. The tacos were good but not the best. The meatball sliders were tasty. We had the dessert special which was dark chocolate mousse with espresso whipped cream; it was delicious!
(4)Wing P.
This is one of my favorite wine bars in the area.! This place is very intimate. Great place to get together with a small group of friends. Food is fresh and wine is amazing!
(5)Reezle W.
The food here is always clever, and modern. I always leave having tried something new. Notable dishes are the duck crostini which is very rich and bursting with flavor, the hummus platter, and extensive array of Mediterranean-themed appetizers, the cornbread muffins with butter, the truffle fries(a little oily in my mind), and clever specials like a mushroom charcuterie plate in which different mushrooms are transformed into pate and bacon. There are chocolate nutella waffles that are really good, but there isn't an extensive dessert selection which they could really capitalize on, especially for the late night crowds.Clearly, the wine and beer selection is great, but compared to other places on Main St., I never really feel myself going to Historic Ellicott city with the purpose of eating a meal there. Great for a snack and a quick drink rather than a full meal. The interior always has new art exhibits and is therefore always interesting, but the best place to sit is out on the patio.
(4)Nick M.
Really cool, upscale spot on Main Street in Ellicott City. The wine list itself is outstanding, laid out in a logical manner, and easy to follow. Also the bartenders are very knowledge about pairing and flavor/taste when it comes to the wine. They has also a realy nice, interesting cocktail menu. The food is more or less Tapas style, and very very good, and well as reasonably priced for such a nice place. The layout of the bar is interesting, albeit not very big, it has 3 levels so it can be deceptive. The outside deck is probably the best place to chill. A great spot to have a conversation. Only issue (like anywhere on Main St) is parking.
(4)Charles C.
My second time here. The food is excellent as it was last time. I enjoyed the meatball sliders. My GF and I shared the Charcuterie and Cheese. Small and nicely decorated! Staff is very attentive. Recommended! :)
(5)Sarah Rachael W.
Pure Wine is my lovely little spot on Main Street EC. If I'm on a romantic date, friend date, or date with myself it is the place for some QT time. Delectable small plates will hold your appetite at bay as you taste your way through the wine offerings. Be warned- Pure Wine is limited in its spirits, but you shouldn't be there for anything but the wine. I don't know enough to know if the selection is largebut the staff is knowledgeable and patient. I hear they've recently expanded so swing on by and check it out!
(4)Otis T.
I go to Ellicot City quite a bit and when I first stumbled upon this I was amped because there aren't many places that cater to the true to heart Wine-O's. Of course we had the cheese and meat combo and it was perfect especially paired with a good Red. All in all, it's a great spot to relax and have a nice glass of Vino
(5)Nisha G.
Oh what a find. Since reviews on yelp have never steered me wrong, myself and three others went to check this place out. Call ahead to make reservations because there will without a doubt be a long wait otherwise. Even with our reservation we had to wait a few min which was no problem as we headed over to the bar. We each ordered one drink each and perused the food options, by the time we all got out drinks our table was ready to go. As expected the place was quite small but very manageable in terms of the business they were bringing. The stairs are a little bit steep but as the place is built on a rock they have a cool little wine cellar built in between the rocks. Pretty cool stuff. They also have an outdoor seating area! We were seated and our waitress seemed to be new to the restaurant business. There were multiple instances where overall we were dissatisfied with her service whether it be to the attire she was wearing or reaching over us to get something (when she could've walked around to the side of the table instead). The dining area upstairs is really small and tight so I'm sure it is difficult to maneuver around with plates of food and drinks however manners should not run thin because of that. Every thing on their menu seems great but we went with an order of truffle fries, the meat and cheese plate and the meatball sliders and ofcourse a bottle of their red wine listed under the assertive section. I can't even say which one was my favorite because they were all so good but if I had to chose I would say the meatball sliders. The taste was just so rich and the spices blended well together leaving a savory after taste. As for dessert we ordered the chocolate mousse dish and it was beyond decadent. To top off everything we got espressos and although the first try wasn't anything to call home about (tasted more like watered down strongish coffee) the second round was a hit. (We told someone there that we were not pleased with our espressos and we were offered two other ones). Overall, this place is great. I think the people that work here are really nice genuine people that want to please their customers. I would've expected this place to hire more experienced waitresses given that it is a more upscale and trendy place, however maybe our waitress was just having an off day. Let me put it out there she was very nice but just didn't seem knowledgable. This place does deserve a full 5 but until the staff seems a little bit more experienced a 4 will have to do. I do have plans to make it back so hopefully I can have an update in no time!
(4)Julie P.
Was very surprised to find this little gem hidden between the rows of antique stores that line the streets of Ellicott City. Sat on the patio which was quaint and cute, but somewhat loud from the street traffic. It felt like we were on vacation in some tiny European town. The food was all delicious, though the portions on the cheese plate left something to be desired. I highly recommend the pork tacos and the truffle fries were delicious. Wine was crisp and yummy. Prices overall were fair considering the atmosphere. Very fun place.
(4)Samantha G.
I really enjoyed my time at Pure Wine. I know other reviewers have mentioned the size (or lack thereof) but I was shocked at the sheer smallness of it when I walked in the door. It is teensy-tiny-- especially when there is live music in the corner (one less table) but it's worth it. They get some of the best local musicians in town. It seems like music is on Thursdays and Sundays--I wish they would change it to, or include Friday and Saturday nights, too! That's when I want to stay out late listening to music. I came for the music, stayed for the food and wine. Speaking of teensy-tiny, you can order really small (I believe 2.5 or 3 oz) glasses of wine if you want to try a few things before settling on a bottle. Or if you just don't like to drink a lot. Very vegetarian/vegan friendly. I couldn't believe how many choices I had on such a small menu--Quinoa Tabouleh Salad, Roasted Asparagus, a hummus platter, mushrooms, and more. A few friends had the fish tacos and loved them. Service was off and on. We had two people waiting on us throughout the night- the guy was "off" and the girl was very "on." Definitely give this little spot a try-- it would make a great romantic first date spot.
(4)Jamie L.
Perfect outdoor patio, great wine selection including wines by the half glass. Food and cheese board was spot on. Enticing decor..artwork is for sale. The service was good only slightly impaired by the fact that we weren't sure who our server was. Food wait was fair (if slightly long)... All in all a cozy gem with wonderful food.
(4)Barbara F.
Beautiful fall day, & icing on the cake to Ellicott city outing w/lunch at Pure wine cafe on the outside deck. Delicious cheese & charcuterie plate, a glass of fizzy cava for me/Cabernet for hubby, then crusty bread w/a bit of fragrant olive oil & wonderful plate, delicious jam, Italian & local cheeses, salami from Bklyn., where I was born? What could be better. Almost as good as what we enjoyed so often in Florence & Tuscany, & made sure to tell the most gracious owner. Wait staff was solicitous & helpful, too! We will be back!
(5)Anna B.
The best secret little find so far in this area for me. Such a tiny place but it's romantic and cozy... nice view of some step mts that I didn't know existed here. Feels like I was in Park City, UT minus the snow. I posted pics of what we ordered. It seems to be a seasonal menu but all that we had was awesome. Bone marrow on Guinness infused cheddar atop crostini...pork belly on cheddar jalepeno waffles... meat/cheese board...awesomeness! The ladies that work there know their wine. Get here early on the weekend to get a seat... maybe 6 tables and bar area seating.
(4)Emily K.
Great environment! Just added upstairs patio. Loved the tapas selection and huge wine list. Will go back;)
(5)HowChow B.
The Pure Wine Cafe is one of many places that we enjoyed, but rarely found ourself revisiting. Now is the time to eat there again -- especially if you can try their new patio in the fleeting nights of the year when we can eat outside. Pure Wine started as a tiny place on Main Street in Ellicott City. Small plates. Good wines. But such a tiny space that they didn't take reservations, and it often took second place to restaurants where we knew that we could get parking and a seat. Now, they've blown through a wall and spread upstairs into a second dining room and a stone patio overlooking Main Street. It's beautiful space and -- like the new patio at Portalli's -- a real reason to explore downtown Ellicott City. Pure Wine has always had a fun kitchen. A small, seasonal menu. On Sunday nights, some dishes even sell out because they only buy what they expect to use. It's also a fun joint. We arrived on one of those Sunday nights when all the outdoor seats were filled. The hostess set us up on two chairs a few steps above the patio. We drank wine and a cider from Millstone Cellars in Monkton, then slid into a table once one opened. We missed some sliders that looked terrific, but we ate well. A salad with spinach, peaches and goat cheese. Some fish tacos. And a terrific charcuterie plate headlined by salami and an amazing blue cheese. The cheese was creamy with a blue flavor, but milder so that it went well with everything else on the plate. Sitting outside gives a new feel to Pure Wine. You overlook the Old Columbia Pike intersection. It's almost a city feel. The entire new space is modern. A sleek bathroom. A wine cellar built into the bedrock with glass walls so that you can see inside as you walk upstairs. A new second-floor dining room where 10 people were watching a pair of guitar players perform while we ate. With original bar on the first floor, you now have three really different options -- and they take reservations. When we were there, the Pure Wine folks were talking about heaters to extend the season. It's all new. They're figuring it out.
(4)Jeremy L.
Took my wife here for an afternoon date. Incredible experience. Get the braised pork belly plate, with jalapeno cheddar waffle and fried egg. Good lawd.
(5)Tiffany S.
Very quaint yet upscale feeling place. It is small but if you are able to grab a seat the size makes it feel exclusive. Great for a nice girls night or date night. Service was great.
(4)Victoria W.
The patio is fabulous. It's really open and nice and when the wind blows you smell the lavender from the lavender trees.... Can I move in? Seriously? Can I enjoy my morning coffee and every glass of wine I will drink for the rest of my life on this patio.... Please? The charcuterie and cheese plates are a fabulous deal.... 5 for 15 with good accompaniments like bread, house made jelly, fig jam, and some berries. The manchego and fontina were really fabulous and the duck prosciutto was excellent. Definitely get the duck! Yum! And there's four slices for 3 bucks. People complaining about prices I just don't get it. Their wine selection is good although maybe more wines by the glass would be nice! That's my only complaint!
(4)Hollis B.
I'm a local and I've been to Pure Wine Cafe quite a few times. The Good: The space - it's such a cool space to hang out. The service - almost always impeccable. The Needs Improvement In My Opinion Because it is Totally Subjective: Some of the wine offerings. I love being introduced to new wines and I like a good variety of wines. But some of what I've had there just aren't tasty. I don't want to go to a wine bar and be thinking about a half dozen wines I'd prefer to see on the list. Also, the portion sizes of their tapas are a little on the light side, in some cases. The Would be Nice: It would be really nice to see some more rotation in the cheese/charcuterie offerings. The Inexplicable: The bread. For a tapas place that serves bread with it's cheese plates, bread for dipping in olive oils, etc., the bread is inexplicably dull. The Bottom Line: Like the four stars say -- Yay! I'm a fan. I'll be back.
(4)Rick R.
Stopped in right at opening. Young lady bartending was very friendly and knowledgeable. Service was great. Just drinks, no food.
(4)Sarah W.
One of my favorite restaurants! The pork tacos are awesome. I got the lobster ravioli and my friend got the duck (both from the specials menu). We shared the arugula & strawberry salad and had white peach sangria. Everything was amazing.
(5)Nancy M.
I love this place. It is small, intimate, yet alive. Have been coming here for several years and now they have added an upstairs and patio dining area. The food menu is very small, yet everything on it is perfect for the venue. Tonight we had a lovely red blend that was suggested by our server. Then we had the meat and cheese plate with bread. Next the Tuscan grilled asparagus...omg so delicious. Next came the seared scallops with light jicama salad. Honest this was to die for yummy. Oh but we tried one more dish, Smoked Duck Crostini. The perfect ending.
(5)Jason C.
3.5*. Pure wine cafe, which is located in the middle of historic Ellicott City, reminds one of a chic wine bar that we find in most major metropolitan areas. I was a bit surprised about the decor and ambience at night b/c it is very different from the "cafe" like feel that you get from the daytime pictures on yelp. This is in part due to the dim lighting and the reflection of light coming from the hundreds of bottles that are hung by the neck on wine racks behind the bar. The décor is quite noteworthy, but nothing extraordinary..... The few noteworthy things about this place. 1) You can purchase 1/2 glasses of wine. Many wines are available at 2.5oz sizes and the cost ranges from $2.5-$5. It's great to be able to sample from a large selection. 2) Bottles to go around 25% off. If you have a tasting of the wine, then you get 50% off. My feeling about this place is that it's a quick pit stop, rather than a place to lounge, relax, and chill while drinking in historic Ellicott City. I strongly encourage you to check it out b/c there is really nothing much to lose b/c you can spend less than $10 (after tip and tax) per person for two half glasses of wine.
(3)Dave M.
Excellent Wine and Food! I have referred many clients to Pure Wine Cafe due to my great experience in the past.
(5)Connie L.
i have a love-hate relationship with this place my friends and i love going to this place when we just wanna chill and grab drinks, but its so TINY! we always have to wait to get seated.. we always go hoping that there will be empty seats, but this seems to never happen i havent tried too much of the food because the kitchen is closed by the time we get there, but i did try one of the desserts and it was delicious! my friend got some sort of pork dish and enjoyed it too the wine is always good, the sangria is yummy, and i just love the cute atmosphere of this place. it is super cozy, warm, and my girlfriends and i love it! definitely want to try some more of their food after reading all these positive reviews
(4)Alyssa T.
Great service, good wine prices, and a cool little spot to enjoy a glass of wine on Sunday afternoon. We're not in the area very often but we'll definitely be back here when we are!
(5)Louis D.
Small Plates of Goodness!!! If you're starving and want to throw down a lot of food I would suggest you go to Old Country Buffet. However, if you want some really good small portions of goodness with a selection of some really good wines then the Wine Cafe is my suggestion. On my last visit, I had the cheese plate which has historically not been a dish I would choose. But paired with right wine and good company to share, this dish is becoming one I look I forward to having on every visit. I also had the sliders which were absolutely a treat. To top it all off and my favorite dish, the French Toast bread pudding is truly divine! The place is small and displays different local artwork which makes it even more appealing. It's worth the trip and I'm confident you will not be disappointed.
(4)John C.
Great food, service, and wine. Highly recommend it!
(5)Laura C.
In a word, Ah-mazing! These people know their wines (especially the owners) and how to perfectly pair with food. The place is small and fills up fast, but it's worth the trip. The menu is a selection of small plates that pack a flavor punch in every bite. Last time I had the sliders topped with prosciutto and it was heaven. The service is very attentive and you feel like you're the only one there even though the place is crowded. The local artwork on the walls changes a lot which is nice, and it's for sale. Ellicott City was in need of something like this!
(4)Jeremy S.
This place does everything right! The food, wine, atmosphere are all right on. They have recently expanded and now have a cozy dining room upstairs along with impressive local artwork on the walls. The chef really knows how to think outside of the box with plates like the blueberry duck breast or the wagyu beef meatball sliders. They also have a nice mix of vegetarian dishes like the wild mushroom risotto, my wife's favorite! The wine offerings are carefully picked to compliment their small plates and entrees alike. This place is a true gem! If passing through old ellicott city it is a must try!
(5)John S.
We enjoyed 4 tapas: Baked Oysters, Pork Belly Waffle, Truffle Fries, and Sliders. These titles sound pretty average, right? Rewind! Add the word "Gourmet" in front of these tapas and the most incredible dining atmosphere you can conjure with an easy going, earnestly engaging restaurant visionary checking up and helping you decide on the perfect wine for your sipping pleasure. Now, imagine your best fine dining experience. You've ordered your food and you start surveying the room for what you'd wished you'd ordered. You sigh, and say, I'll order that next time...no...that next time...so many next times. What Pure Wine Cafe offers you is next time, in about 5 minutes! Their gourmet tapas will make you salivate between bites and perfectly portioned plates of pure bliss. The foods are sweet, savory, and just spicy enough. Each tapas was substantial in flavor and portion size without taking up too much tummy space from the next Nirvanah on a plate. We loved this place and will be back soon.
(5)James U.
This place is a great stop-over for provisions during the long and arduous trek through old Ellicott City. There's a lot of wine by the glass (a lot more than I've seen at similar establishments), and the scotch selection is surprisingly good. We had the charcuterie and the daily special along with some wines recommended by the waitress, it was all very good. The only thing that really detracted from the experience was the waitress's baby in a carrier around the other side of the counter. Was it quiet? mostly. Did it distract her from her job? only slightly. But it's a *wine bar*, I would be upset to see customers bring their children in, let alone the staff.
(4)Phil G.
Our favorite spot in Ellicott City. Don't even open the menu......get the fish tacos and an order of truffle fries. All the food is good but they literally have the best fish tacos around. Not a huge wine drinker but they have a rotation of beers in bottles and a good liquor selection. Staff is awesome.
(4)Kacy P.
Teeeny-tiny! I mistook this spot for a closet. This closet-sized cafe can pack a wallop! The set up is geared for the wine enthusiastic, super-sipper in all of us. Unique art hangs on exposed brick walls and the tables (if you aren't lucky enough to grab a spot at the bar) are not large enough to hold two menus. There are a limited variety of tasty tapas available on the menu with the majority of the print space reserved to show off the grapes. I was fortunate enough to warrant attention from one of the 3 owners who walked me through the list and gave some great recommendations. The shrimp special and truffle fries are super yummy. The wine, though, that's where my tastes traveled (and will travel again and again... and again...). I can certainly recommend this as a first date spot. The noise is low and the staff is knowledgeable. Great treats can be had in the glass and on the plate. Yay! My one hope... tables that will actually accommodate all of the goodies that you order.
(4)Elyse V.
We've been here several times and have always had a good experience. The Riesling and house wines are the best if you like white wines! The staff is great and very attentive. We go for just a drink or dinner, either way MAKE A RESERVATION.
(4)Jessica A.
Beautiful interior in a historic building. (Check out the tin ceiling) Seating can be limited, but it's a lovely date-night kind of spot with an extensive menu of wines by the glass, half-glass & bottle. Wine-friendly munchies also available; like citrus marinated olives & cheese plates.
(3)LA A.
I've been here several times and I like what they have to offer. The wine selection is good an the tapas are tasty. This place is for the 40+ crowd. Avoid it on the nights with live music as the place is small and the music is so loud that you can't hear yourself think, let alone talk.
(4)Rob N.
Back again. Service is pretty uniform, even when busy. A louder crowd this time, and the space doesn't handle that well with its hard surfaces. When the tarted-up chick at the bar who's had one glass too much reaches that OMIGOD decibel level that cuts right through your head, you'll wish the quarters weren't so close. Food is still meh. There are a couple of winners here, but this is more of a place to get a good glass of vino and an acceptable nosh than a tapas cafe that you'd go to for a meal. Oh, and guys - it'd be nice if bathroom a) had a paper-towel holder instead of a damp roll resting on the counter, b) didn't have cleaning supplies stacked in the corner, and c) had a trashcan for your used handtowel that wasn't a tiny little number labeled "sanitary napkins." Really - get some class here.
(3)Rebecca P.
this is for the night my brother and i dined-9/19/12 so for the longest time, my brother has been raving about this place and finally we went. at first i was kinda shocked as to how small the place was but after my experience...i dont want anything to change! the owner/chef has figured it out what works! we arrived close to 9:30 pm and we just barely make it for the last call for food...i did feel kinda bad cause i knew we were going to order alot...the host was verrrrry attentive and patient! We ordered: Truffle Fries- we could tell that they were just reheated since it prolly a dish that is popular among those at the bar...of course they would have it on hand and reheat it since the kitchen was about to close. My brother said that they have been better the times he has visited Pure Wine before. So I do trust him and leave this up to as our fault for coming in so late. Crab Bites- there was alot of flavors going on, but i could tell the chef wanted to take it in a latino flavored direction...i would have prefered that the crab bites be left a little more "plain" and let the salad that it was sitting on be showcased. I really liked the salad, the corn, and the dressing/sauce that was drizzled on alot and wish the flavors of the crab bites and the salad werent fighting for the spotlight on my tongue...meh personal preference lol Local Fish Tacos-BEST FISH TACOS IVE EVER HAD! right amount of tang and sweetness from the pickled red onions with amazing moistness in the fish...my brother was dripping sauce out of his tortilla haha. soo good! Bahn mi- I was actually very pleased with this variance of the banh mi...i had expected a butchered interpretation of the sandwich, but it turned out pretty good! the chef switched the sweetness from the pickled carrots and dicon to the chicken...the chicken was marinated in a sweet "asian sauce" (lol i dont know what to call it...the closest i would say it comes to tasting is like HOISIN sauce if you are familiar with asian cooking). there was also cilantro as well. the bread had the right crumb texture, light, airy, and crispy on the outside. it was also definitely a portion perfect for a single person to eat as a meal, if dining alone. we asked the host at the end of the meal to tell the chef that we were very happy with his take on the banh mi, explaining that we were vietnamese and that it had our approval. when the host came back turns out that the chef was very big on vietnamese food and recreating it and was super pleased to hear how happy we were! Shrimp and Chorizo- it was Shrimp in a tomato based sauce on top of fried poletnta and a slice of buffalo mozzarella. AMAZING. shrimp were perfectly cooked! the chorizo didnt over power the shrimp at all and the fried polenta was a choice to mop up the sauce with. the buffalo cheese also had melted and was yummy gooeyness. i need to get some buffalo mozzarella nowww....huge difference! The chef was also "impressed with the amount of food we ordered" and so placed an extra shrimp on the entree. YES! Charcuterie and Cheese- nice wedge of manchego, applewood duck breast OMGAD, smoked proscuitto just melted in your mouth...and then you can play around with the jam and the spicy mustard on the side. definitely could have used a caper berry...but thats just my love for briney pickled items. Bread pudding- it was an 8/10 with the potential to be 10/10. its hard to critque it with out sounding like a snob...it definitely used good bread but sorta seemed to lack the gooeyness of pudding...major props for putting the ice cream on the side!! of course the melted ice cream would take care of the gooeyness but i like having the option to take a scoop or a bite of whatever i want and combine if i want to. Rialto Moscato-i love sweet wines and love sweet and salty, so as i was going through the food, this was the sweet to my salt :D So as you can see...we were that obnoxious huge last order before the kitchen closed. we could tell what was made fresh an what wasnt, what was totalllly amazing and what was meh. I dont think his regulars order this much of food in a sitting and i guess would seem that there is alot of bouncing around in the style of cooking the food. and as for the crab bites, thats just my opinion...maybe the people of EC love it. take the criticism with a grain of salt, but know that the critique was thought out and not thrown out there with out a reason why. THE HOST- wasWONDERFUL AND AMAZING! we had sat in front of the window and unfortunately subjected to a weird vent of air continuosly flowing down on our table. at first we were scarfing down the food because we didnt want it to get cold and then i thought, maybe if i asked we could move to a different spot. So i asked about the air, where it was coming from and explaining that it was sorta making our food go cold. before i could ask where could we move he sugests that he could turn it off! I couldnt believe it and said YES! awesomest service ever!
(5)Katie S.
Great wines, great food, great owners. Young owners know what they're doing. Not pretentious at all--they'll help you decide what to drink! Drink specials are great too--especially in winter--MMM mulled wine!
(5)Lauren W.
We ate SOO much at this place it was ridiculous. But it was good. The Estrella Damm Inedit and peach sangria were perfect! The sangria wasn't too fruity. For dinner we had the: A special on the menu consisting of locally grown veggies Watermelon Feta Salad, the freshness of the watermelon in conjunction with the basil and mint? Delicious. Meatball sliders with Truffle fries: FYI, this was actually made with Wagyu beef. Was delicious. The selection of meats and cheeses were delicious. For meat: prosciutto and duck breast (this was particularly good) would be strong recommendations. cheeses: manchego, french cheddar and mahon (I believe) a few of the cheeses had spreads that were complimentary, and man were they good. I cannot wait to go back to this place in the fall and see how the menu changes from season to season.
(5)Amanda C.
So adorable. Great spot to relax and have a delicious glass of wine and a snack. I like that you can get 2.5 oz of wine. We had the cheese and meat combo and everything was perfect. I want to go back and actually try some more of the food. But, the small, warm space is the perfect setting for a chilly evening with your hubby or a friend! :)
(4)Sydney G.
Lovely place. Very quaint and with a great atmosphere. The food I had was great, and the wine that my server recommended went great with what I had. Only downside is seating is very limited. The menu seems slightly limited but considering its a wine cafe doesn't bother me too much. I will definitely be coming back!
(4)Rimas C.
Loved it, the quantities for price points seemed a little off but all in all a wonderful indulging dining experience - the mushroom dish they had was delicious, comes from a local grower. The decor and ambiance are delightful - even the kids loved it!
(5)Jennifer K.
Teeny wine bar in downtown Ellicott City but features a very extensive wine list at all price points. I enjoyed the house white wine! Good place to start for some wine & appetizers before heading elsewhere! Cute atmosphere. Unique.
(4)Kortnie S.
My husband and I are Ellicott City locals and we spend a lot of time on Main Street. Our last visit to Pure Wine was Sunday, 5/4, and we won't be going back any time soon. While the wine selection is very good, and the food is excellent, the portions (for both wine and food) are very small, especially considering how much money you're spending. This is not an inexpensive place to dine, and that wouldn't necessarily be a turn-off, IF the portions were larger. If you go here for dinner, be prepared to spend a lot of $$, because trust me, even 4 or 5 of their (exceedingly) small plates are not going to leave you feeling full - you'll be rooting through your fridge at home later that evening. We would have happily spent another couple of hours on their rooftop patio on Sunday, but we were already up to $25 for 2 drinks and an order of truffle fries. If you're looking for delicious food that's not as expensive and comes in larger portions, you're much better off heading to the Rumor Mill, located just a little further down on Main St.
(2)Abe Y.
This is a fantastic little restaurant with a cozy atmosphere in the heart of charming Ellicott City. Fresh art on the walls enhances the mood even more. The food is excellently prepared and always delicious. The wine selection is outstanding, which the friendly and knowledgeable staff can guide you through with ease.
(5)Lola S.
What a treat!!! I am in love. My hubby found this place and wanted us to try it out for date night. OMG....amazing!!! Its small, cozy, intimate but do not be fooled..its true that huge things come in small packages. I did not know what to expect but based on the yelp reviews, I was totally open and i must add not one bit disappointed. We started off with wine which was recommended by the host owner who greeted us at the door while we waited to be seated. We were seated within 10-15 mins ( not bad for a friday night with a full house). So lets talk about the food.....we had the baked oysters, truffle fries, sliders and pork bellies with waffles. The food was RIDICULOUS as ridiculously goooooddddd!!! Every bite was an explosion in my mouth ( okay minus the fries...I am not a lover of fries but I know they were yummy as my hubby inhaled them). I love, love, love, totally love this place. Its worth the wait and the $$$...lots of value and not to mention the great customer service. We cannot wait to go back to try more stuff on the menu. You should definately give this place a try...you will not be sorry!!!
(5)Cat C.
3.5 Staff is great! Very friendly and efficient. Limited space, limited seating, and first come first serve. But thankfully, the turnover in the space happens fairly quickly. Wine selection is fairly extensive-- 2.5 oz/5oz pours for select wines and all wines are available by the bottled. Menu is decent. Had the Truffle Fries, Fish Tacos, and Charcuterie & Cheese Platter. Truffle Fries were more like roasted skin-on Fries (more roasty less crispy) and served with truffle aioli. Fish Tacos were yummy but not out of this world. Charcuterie platter was par for course. Good Date Night or Girls Night Out venue.
(3)Veronica P.
A group of us ordered the truffle fries, mezze plate, fish tacos, and meatball sliders. The Fish tacos, mezze plate, and the fries were excellent. I thought the meatballs were just ok. We shared a dessert of the french toast bread pudding that comes with a side of vanilla icecream. We all loved it and nothing was left over. It had slow service for a Tuesday night, however, we were not in a rush so I only marked them down one star for that.
(4)Courtney C.
This tiny little place is a cute stop for a good glass of wine. It is located at the light where main street and old columbia pike intersect. If you cant find street parking, park in the lot behind La Palapas. Its a short walk. They have a good wine list. As recommended, I had the peach sangria. It was very strong and refreshing on a warmer day. The staff is fantastic. We didn't try any of the food, but the tapas list is very small. Don't' plan on coming here with a group because it is tiny. There was a DJ on a random Thursday night. The music was loud and unnecessary. I would come back if I was in the area and there was room at a table, but I won't be making any special trips here. This is a place for the 30-50 crowd. Maybe a good place to grab a glass of wine and a quick appetizer before dinner at one of the other restaurants in the area.
(3)Ken K.
Ok first off to anyone reading this review, I am pretty awesome and most purveyors take heed to my suggestions. The above statement may not be true. This place ordered some bottles of awesome cab based on my recommendation. AWESOME The bar manager and sommelier Mark was pretty much on the ball with everything I was asking for. Except for one instance and I have to explain this as I do not want my manhood to come into question. Sometimes, infrequently I like to buy a bottle or two of champagne, one to drink and the other to pour on myself and attractive women as sort of a hedonistic celebration of life. Mark suggested a particular champagne to try. I obliged as he has yet to steer me wrong. It was pink. It smelled like strawberries. It was delicious but having a glass of pink champagne is like a testosterone vacuum. Needless to say there was no attractive women attracted to me to share in the champagne shower. I left alone, wet, and smelling of strawberries. Anyways good spot to meet up before dinner and the staff is top notch.
(4)Katherine C.
Wonderful wine bar! The service was excellent. My friends and I did the Wine Flight and realy enjoyed the wines selected by the bartender. If we didn't live an hour away, we all agreed we would come back once a week. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Jenn B.
Been back several times and it's always exceptional. The cheese/meat plate cannot be outdone in the area and the truffle fries are a MUST....can't wait to go back (which happens on the regular)
(5)Ian R.
I went with my girl on Friday evening. We got there around 7:30/8 and it was packed! The place is small, but it more than made up with its charm. Even though it was a little loud, I could still have an audible conversation. We were greeted by friendly staff that told us that there would be a 10/15 minute wait but they would be happy to get us a drink while we read the menu. We were eventually seated at the cozy bar. The wine and various alcohols span 3 pages of the menu, while the food is kept to 1 plus whatever their nightly specials are. The selection (food & drink) is very diverse and hard to choose from. We ended up ordering their charcuterie and cheese plate. Our waitress helped us pick out some wines to go along with it. The plate was absolutely delightful and came with a good helping of bread. We ordered more bread but it never came (only hiccup of the night). We also got their oyster cornbread special of the evening. It was amazing! We ended up having 3 1/2 glasses of wine each. Our bill came out to $57. To add to the atmosphere, there is local art on the walls and it's all for sale. We left with a pair of matching pieces that were $25 each. I had an extraordinary time here! I plan on going back soon.
(4)Edward S.
A wonderful little place on the main street in old Ellicott City. The selection of tapas and cheeses makes this place stand out. There is a vast assortment of wines for you to enjoy and if you have a hankering for a few of them you may want to try tasting the wine flight. The service is another advantage to this place. They are friendly and are willing to help you choose a wine or recommend some of their favorites. We went on a Saturday afternoon and the place was relatively busy but they were still very attentive. Try it out, I think you will enjoy it.
(4)Maligaya R.
Wine and tapas I'm there and Pure Wine Café in Ellicott City brings out the best of both worlds. Perfect Pour is a lovely, cozy café with lots of big name wine brands and tapas to dinner or happy hour quite enjoyable. Lively crowd, great customer service and live jazz music playing on the background makes you want to stay and linger more. Why not they got all my favorite wine brands and flavors from dry to crisp, fruity and some bold classics. If you are indecisive have a few glasses that are recommended highly by your waiter to go along with your meal until you find a favorite. Wines galore from California, Italy, France, and even local favorites from vineyards all around Maryland and Virginia served in 2. OZ, 5. OZ or of course full bottles all for your enjoyment. Great ambiance for a dinner date, an afternoon of socializing while savoring tapas or small plates appetizers, accompanied with fine wine and champagne bubbles creates a perfect bistro visit each time for any occasion.
(4)Colleen W.
These guys know their wine- and they love it! The amazing gourmet lite fare menu is a special treat.
(5)Chris S.
The best sliders! Great wine selection. Just an awesome place.
(5)Kathy M.
Amazing place all the way around. This is a very small restaurant/wine bar in Old Ellicott City and it's one of the best places I have eaten in a long time. I was worried that it would be snobby and overrated but I was definitely pleasantly mistaken. We were greeted immediately by friendly staff and had to wait only 5 minutes for a free table. We were offered wine while we waited. Once seated, we asked a few questions about the menu and wines and the server was very knowledgeable about both. We both ordered wine flights with suggested wines from the server based on our interests. The wines he brought were great and the pours were generous. We ordered several small plates for our dinner, including truffle fries, fig salad and hummus plate. The truffle fries were nothing short of amazing, as was the fig salad. The hummus was average, but the olives, caper berries and cheese stuffed peppers were delicious. After this, we moved onto a cheese plate with manchego, chevre goat, and bleu. All three were wonderful and served with a fig compote and another tasty jam. These were accompanied by fresh warm crusty bread wedges. The atmosphere was great, we didn't feel rushed, but the service was attentive. Food and wine both fantastic, and the best part was getting out of there for $80 including tip. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone.
(5)G-Girl P.
Great wine. Food is good but wish they had more selections. But what would be even better is more seating. We definitely need more places like this in Ellicott City. Friendly staff.
(4)Fatima K.
I am by no means a wine snob. I actually don't care for wine much at all. I'm a martini / vodka girl for sure. Hell, on a given night I may even be a Guiness girl, but this place I liked. For the life of me I can't remember the wine I had other than it was a sweet dessert red wine (they only have one, as of me posting this, so it should be easy to find). I loved it. I didn't try any of the food so I can't comment on that, and the ambiance was okay. It's a small venue, but the staff are very friendly and knowledgeable. Warning, in true Baltimore form, parking on Saturday night is atrocious, despite free public parking lots, but seriously it was worth it. Not bad for a first date.
(4)Jerry S.
Pure Wine cafe is a little spot whose owner has some how managed to maximize the tiny (and i mean small!) space into something warm and inviting. The owner PJ has done a good job with the wine list and has incorporated a number of lesser known varietals into the line-up so its easy to get out of a merlot, cab and pinot routine and try something different. The bar features a revolving show of artists from the area so there is something new to check out every few weeks or so, as far as the food goes this place shines for the most part, the small plates are executed with flair and attention to detail and the cheese/charcuterie choices are of good quality (except the prosciutto which could use and upgrade). The bartenders are friendly and actually seem to enjoy their job and it helps the vibe of the place. I use it as a place to decompress after work its laid back and good for a quiet drink most times.
(5)Edward L.
Went here with the GF late one night for dinner. They had descent finger foods, but the focus was the wine. Good place to take a date....just make sure your not that hungry cause the food was ok.
(3)Sunmy B.
Having grown up in this area, it's about time a wine cafe opened up within a short driving distance away from home. The wine selection offered at Pure Wine Cafe is superb and quite extensive. They offer tapas style meals and also various cheese platters to accompany wine by the glass or bottle. It's a cute and quaint little venue that I will most likely head back to again. The only downside about this place is that wine by the glass is a bit steep than most places. Also, the music is a bit overpowering and your practically screaming at the top of your lungs to be heard. By the time I left Pure Wine Cafe, I sounded like I was losing my voice. Not so great. However, I am not going to complain considering that this is truly the first commendable wine cafe that has opened up in the area.
(4)Trey G.
My wife and I stopped in for pre-dinner drinks. It's on the smaller side but a great ambiance for chatting and sipping wine. We sat at the bar and the bar tender was exceptionally welcoming and provided excellent service. They have a decent wine list with many good quality, inexpensive wines. Although my wife and I did not order food, the customers around us did. Not sure how it tasted but it sure looked delicious. We shall return.
(5)Jennifer R.
Love Pure Wine Cafe! The employees/owners are great. Excellent selection of food and wine for all budgets. They also have a great Happy Hour.
(5)