This is the name we gave to our repeat visit program. The system itself, unfortunately, was not very "user friendly" and demanded a lot of attention. The system required your telephone number as an identifier. Simple enough. The problem is that many people forgot to include the number and the points could not be added! This translated into a lot of manual work to try to identify the name and match it to the correct telephone number - then manually add the points. But we missed many names and numbers!

Problem solved (we hope): We have switched to a plastic card system. The card has the information coded in a magnetic stripe and we have integrated it with our POS (point of sale) register system. So by swiping it we would record all of your transactions and none will be missed. Just remember to carry your card with you please! And for convenience we will also give you a smaller version (to carry in a key chain).

We have migrated all the data from the old system to the new one so you will not loose any points accumulated so far. If you are a member of our "Inner Circle" please ask your server to give you your card - we have one already coded for your use.

We are in the final stages of migration so please be patient with us. We will have a very useful link on our website (and on our Facebook page) coming up in the next few days.

We will have the visit of Betty Bennett of Chatom Vineyards on Tuesday for our Mini-Wine Tasting.

The vineyard of Chatom Vineyards is nestled in the breathtaking Esmeralda Valley of the Sierra Foothills in Calaveras County (in California's Central Valley). The valley was originally planted with low field crops, fruits and nut trees. When Gay Callan, owner and native San Franciscan, purchased the property in 1980, her vision was to plant a vineyard. Her first varietals were then planted in 1981, totaling 21 acres of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc.

 Today, the vineyard boasts 13 varietals planted on 65 acres, including Chardonnay, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Sangiovese and 5 Portuguese varietals.

On Tuesday we will have the opportunity to taste 4 of their fantastic wines: Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and their Cuvee. Betty will be with us from 5:00 to 7:00 PM (but we will be pouring wine and serving food until 9:00 PM) to talk about the wines. I hope you can join us for a fun night. As usual we will have great food to pair with the wines.

Cheers! 

Here we go again with our very popular "(Almost) Free Wine" program. We have selected two fantastic top Italian wines:

Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC Le Ragose '04

Bottle $62

92 Points Robert Parker - From the Veneto region, this wine is made of 65% Corvina, 25% Rondinella, 5% Molinara and 5% local grapes. Extraordinarily powerful, intense wine of 14-16% alcohol with a concentrated black cherry jam fruit flavor, yet the wine is dry. Dense and super ripe, while still polished and harmonious, this Amarone finishes rich and dry with firm tannins. Pair with braised and grilled meats, and red sauce pasta dishes, or after dinner with chocolate or cheeses, especially

Amarone della Valpolicella DOC Sartori '07

Bottle $56

Intense ruby-purple color; a deep, lavishly dimensioned bouquet that teems with notes of leather and violets, mulberries and dried cranberries, fruitcake, cloves and allspice, macerated blueberries and a tinge of graphite. The wine is dense and concentrated in the mouth, but it manages to be neither heavy or ponderous; it reveals, in fact, a graceful agile, fresh black and blue fruit aspect that does not get completely buried by immense, dusty, chewy tannins, though the wine gets more chewy, more mineral-drenched as the moments pass.

Our "(Almost) Free Wine" program attempts to bring world-class wines at very affordable prices. We only bring small quantities so we may run out of them fast.

SALSICCIA FRESCHE CON PEPPERONI - $7

Perfectly grilled Italian sausage is further cooked with red and yellow bell peppers, red onions, garlic, chopped fresh oregano, tomatoes and red wine.

GNOCCHI AI QUATRO FORMAGGI - $8

Delicate potato dumplings on our super-special four cheeses sauce (Taleggio, Gorgonzola Dolce, Grano Padana, and Mozzarella di Buffala). Accented with some cracked black peppercorns

TORTELLINI AI POMODORO - $8

Delicate ring shaped pasta filled with beef and served over our very light pomodoro (tomato) sauce. Great match to a big red wine.

LOMBATA DI VITELO - $31