For a moment, albeit a brief one, you may feel like you’re in a Spanish tapas bar, enjoying a glass (or two) of wine while indulging in perhaps just one more small plate before exiting stage left and leaving the music behind. This was my experience at The Vine—the self-proclaimed “sassy sister” to Citizen Vine, a Historic Folsom favorite since 2016. 

Their motto, “pouring for the people,” means The Vine certainly follows suit with an unpretentious ethos that makes both places great to sip and sample from a simple yet diverse menu. They also boast live music on Friday and Saturday evenings. What more could you want on date night?

The wine list was expansive with international offerings from Chile, Argentina, France, and Italy, in addition to some local favorites. My plus-one and I deviated from our classic choice of Rombauer Zinfandel to try the Michael David Earthquake Zinfandel, a surprisingly tasty option out of Lodi. If you like full-bodied zins with flavors of dark plum, spicy clove, vanilla, and strawberry jam; a slight brown sugar nose; and a long finish, give it a try. Not a wine fan? Not a problem. The Vine also serves soju-based cocktails, beer, and mocktails, so everyone can enjoy a tasty sip.

For tapas, we went all over the globe, including choices inspired by Europe, Mexico, and Asia. Deciding was difficult, but we opted to begin with the baked brie in puff pastry. Accompanied by fig jam, cranberry, and spiced nuts, it was easy to put in and hard to put down. You would not be wrong in thinking this would pair better with a glass of white wine.

The caramelized onion and goat cheese flatbread was also enjoyable, with a drizzle of balsamic that pulled the flavors together. 

The ahi crisps were a highlight and far surpassed our expectations on flavor; the shoyu glaze, sriracha aioli, and sake avocado cream exploded in taste while the ahi melted away.  Rest assured—this will be repeated.

Finally, we tried the gambas al ajillo: large shrimp served in a cast-iron skillet with garlic, olive oil, and just a touch of spice. With warm crostini to dip, this was also a tasty choice.

While enjoying our food and wine, the sound of live acoustic favorites filled the restaurant (perhaps just a micro-decibel too much), setting the tone for a relaxed, romantic evening. While this made it slightly hard to hear my date, who doesn’t love a live musician?

Hours: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (Sunday), 3-8 p.m. (Monday-Thursday), 3-9 p.m. (Friday), 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (Saturday)
TRY THIS: Goat Cheese Beignets, Salmon BLT Sliders, Baked Brie in Puff Pastry, Ahi Crisps, Gambas al Ajillo, Baked Apple Empanadas, Sparkling Bathtub Cocktails
DRINKS: Beer, wine, soju cocktails, & mocktails
TAB: $$
HEADS-UP: Weekend brunch; live music Friday and Saturday nights; wine club perks include member-only reservations, discounts on food, wine, private parties, and event tickets; food menu changes quarterly; “Dinner at the Vine” on Wednesdays (includes a bottle of wine and three tapas for $49); gluten-free and vegetarian offerings; happy hour Monday-Friday from 3-6 p.m.