Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar is a testament to chefJamie Kennedy’s vision of local, fresh cuisine based on indredients that are grown as close to home as possible and prepared with his signature flair in the tapas tradition.

Try to sit up at the wine bar if you’re game. Although it may not be as romantic as the dimly lit, minimalistic tables that add to the crisp and slightly earthy decor, it is worth it for the show. The cooks in this open concept kitchen know their business and it’s excellent to watch it all happen: chopping, flames, the sizzle of the grill and the clanking pf plates as they hit thel line ready for service.

The servers attend meetings each day to be schooled on new foodstuffs that grace the menu. Suggestings for wine pairings are made swiftly yet without the intention of gauging your pocketbook. We wanted a port with our cheese plate, but may of them were out of our price range. One of the waiters was quick to suggest a fantastic spanish red that had many of the rich characteristics of port, without the steep pricetag of may of them on the wine list.

We went in mid May and appropriately, the menu was indicitave of the season, teeming with late spring favourites like asparagus and fiddleheads (which I always love with a sharp and grassy sauvignon blanc).
The fried oysters were deicate and left nary a hint of greasiness on the palate. Crispy Duck Confit was rich and satisfying and the platter of pates and meats was a lovely variation of lardo, local pates and pickled vegetables.

If you’re looking for a place to take someone who is in the know about their food and appreciates cuisine that is prpared with local freshness in mind, try Jamie Kennedy Wine Bar. You won’t be able to make a reservation, but it will be worth the wait!

Excellent tapas / small plates style food. Perfect place for a light but satisfying lunch.

Tapas style – lamb and couscous were really really good. Not too pricey and well worth what they charge.