Redondo Wine Bistro Impresses in the Riviera with Their Wine List and Food

By Bryan Tsunoda on June 25th, 2013

The Redondo Wine Bistro recently opened and replaced Grillish. The only time I frequented Grillish, I dined in the back of the restaurant. While it was cozy and somewhat private, I missed observing the layout of the restaurant. This time I sat in the front near the window. Being able to people watch and having the benefit of indirect sunlight was a pleasant experience.

My first visit was during Happy Hour. I was impressed that they had 7 different white and 7 different red wines on their happy hour menu. Even two sparkling wines were listed! The selection available is quite eclectic; there were wines from Portugal, Spain, Argentina, Chile and of course, California. They were out of the wine I selected and the server offered us a red wine from Italy: La Borgata Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. It was a very smooth red wine; I appreciated that it wasn’t loaded down with tannins.

Avocado Roll

Octopus a la Tortufo

Smoked salmon bruschette

The amount of food listed was equally impressive as there is something that would appeal to just about anyone. The bar tender was knowledgeable about their wines and provided attentive service. Something you rarely encounter is a bartender that offers you a glass of water.

Fried calamari

Diver Scallops topped with a saffron sauce and mashed potatoes

A few days later, I returned to Redondo for dinner with my family. We shared the calamari appetizer. I had the diver scallops and my wife and daughter split a rack of lamb. The calamari was tender and the breading was seasoned with Italian herbs. The lamb was perfectly cooked with a cabernet reduction sauce and served with a cheesy risotto. The scallops were delicious and I enjoyed the white asparagus on the side.

Quinoa salad

Rack of Lamb – split on 2 separate dishes

The seating in the restaurant is separated into three main areas. The front of the house is livelier as you can observe the action around the bar. The rear is a quaint area to dine and can be used for more intimate dining. Dining alfresco is available on their patio. Despite the restaurant being half full at the time we were there, the noise level was barely discernible.

Redondo Wine Bistro states that they offer more than 200 different wines. That’s a pretty amazing feat considering the size of their restaurant. The wines are separated into “Old World” and “New World. The New World wines are from newer wineries from Australia, New Zealand, Chile and North and South America. The Old World wines feature some of the classic wines from Europe.

If you decide to go during Happy Hour, you’ll be delighted to know that they have Happy Hour every day, even on the weekend! Redondo Wine Bistro is now open for lunch. In fact, the Steelhead Salmon item on their Facebook page looks rather appetizing!