Mendocino Grille and Wine Bar

Frommer's Review

As its name suggests, you should come here to enjoy West Coast wine, along with contemporary American cuisine and a California-casual ambience. Most of the 200-or-so bottles on the wine list are California vintages, and waiters are knowledgeable about the specifics of each, so don't hesitate to ask questions. California-casual doesn't mean cheap, though: Bottles range from $20 to $500, although most fall in the $50 to $60 range. The restaurant offers 35 wines by the glass, in different sizes, the better for tastings, and many of these run between $6 and $10 each.

Fresh ingredients predominate, whether it's an entree of crispy-skin branzino with cockles and chorizo, or baby Pennsylvania lamb with Northern Neck spinach, olives, and sunchokes.

Rough-textured slate walls alternate with painted patches of Big Sur sky to suggest a West Coast winery in California's wine-growing region. The wall sconces resemble rectangles of sea glass and the dangling light fixtures look like turned-over wineglasses. It's a very pleasant place, where Georgetown neighbors tend to congregate nightly down the length of the handcrafted cherrywood bar. Also read about Mendocino's sister restaurant, Sonoma.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Back to Top