I checked Vino Rosina out for lunch yesterday. I work in the neighborhood and have had their sandwiches before from the other locations so I have been counting down the days till this place opened. Sadly, I was served a sandwich of disappointment with a side of over seasoned salad. I expected a lot more (or hoped for a lot more) from Jesse, but to be honest the selection and quality is better at Panera (and trust me - I hate chain accounts). They do have some unsual items, like the clam ceviche but at $8 for 4 ounces why would one get this for lunch? Wine list was impressive in that it offered three pouring sizes but unimpressive in that it seems to strive too hard to be different yet throws a Gallo Chardonnay on the list. On a positive note - kudos on the beer list. Great selections! I think they need to retitle the place and call it Cerveza Rosina.

What's a "chain account"? I've always called them "chain restaurants"...

Anyway, what sandwich did you get that was disappointing? Would be good to know what it was, and why it was disappointing.

Ditto on the salad

I laughed out loud at Jerz's description of being served "a sandwich of disappointment with a side of over seasoned salad." Beautiful description! I think I've had that several times before.

Honestly though, it doesn't surprise me when hearing that this new venture involves the Rosina Gourmet folks. Gawd knows downtown needs better lunch options, but Rosina has yet to get it right, serving up wayyyyyy overpriced sandwiches that they must lovingly assemble molecule-by-molecule given the 1)size of the sandwiches and 2)the speed (or lack thereof) that they're served. I mean comeon'...it's a sandwich. It shouldn't take an average of 10 minutes to deliver.

Maybe I've just had bad experiences. I honestly do like their food, I just want more of it and want it served faster. And i'm not talking about wanting one of those "deli counter on an airbun" "subs" that others churn out. Just something with a little more substance with the same tasty and fresh ingredients. Don't be a tease, Rosina!

If you showed up at lunch, it sounds like you didn't get Jesse's goodies according to their website. I'm glad to hear this place is finally open. Rosina's sandwiches are pretty good, but are probably $1.50 overpriced. If they tossed in a bag of chips for the $8 entry fee it would work.

In other news, I see that a NY style pizza place is going to open where Mondo Bondo was located. So many pizza places opening up these days. The business model appears to be recession-proof, but when this model floods the market...
Let's hope their prices are more reasonable than Bagby.

Let's hope their prices are more reasonable than Bagby.

And there's your business model. While they're at it make that $8 Rosina sandwich for $6.50. I'm like a freakin' business genius.

Seriously, why is this woman getting so much face here? From the disgusting leg photo to now. The downward path from chef at a reputable restaurant to humiliating defeat on a self-aggrandizing game show to making over-priced sandwiches has been glorified more than the Dalai Lama's colonoscopy. Enough already with the Deli Lama.

Isn't it obvious? She comps all my meals! LV

Good one LV!!!

I had dinner there the other night and it was fantastic. The GM mentioned they are still working out the kinks as any new restaurant does as what happens during the early time of any restaurant. I would give this place a good chance. Beer menu is amazing and the dirty martini is extremely strong!!!

I had dinner there the other night and it was fantastic. The GM mentioned they are still working out the kinks as any new restaurant does as what happens during the early time of any restaurant.

You're full of manure\. Real people say what they iike. Shame on you

I thought all martinis were almost pure gin. Perhaps Anonymous ordered one with extra strong gin?

All gin is 80 proof. Kind of a silly statement since the dirty martini will always be weaker than a real martini. Dirty martini equals martini diluted with the fetid chemical olive water sitting in the plastic tray since last week. Amateur stuff.

Correction Domestic gins are 80 proof. Some English gins are between 80 and 90 proof. Not enough difference that you would notice.

The dirty martini is organic vodka that has been marinating in mixed olives from around the world. Nothing is added, and when ordered the mix is simply shakedown with ice and served. A smokey version is available that has bacon mixed in the infusion also.

My girlfriend and I had dinner at Vino Rosina last evening. We were on our way to La Scala, and as we walked by Vino Rosina we decided to try something new. A decision I wish that we did not make. All I can say is the arrogance of Vino Rosina far exceeds its performance.
First let me state that I am a professional Chef for more than 25 years. Even though I am a food guy, I know what makes for a good dining experience. I expect not only good food done well, but service that is attentive. I will also state that maybe my issues with the service were because we ate sitting at the bar, but I would expect a similar level of service regardless.
I will state that my issues with my dining experience last evening were more with the service than the food. I found the food to be average, but good. I am fine with food that is cooked well.
To shorten my displeasures with the service I will just bullet point my comments
• I believe the bartender was intoxicated, that might help to explain her behavior.
• Took 15 minutes for the bartender to ask if I wanted a drink. She was busy talking to the people sitting next to me
• Ordered a drink and sat with an empty wine glass in front of me for 20 more minutes. We were packing up to leave at that point when the bartender came back and asked what was wrong. She commented, “You have an empty wine glass in front of you, what was I suppose to get you?”
• Bartender took our order, did not write it down, forgot what we ordered and came back and said, “I forgot what you ordered, I should have written it down.”
• My girlfriend’s salmon was under cooked. After trying to get the attention of one of the staff, my girlfriend had to walk her plate up to the kitchen and speak to the Chef herself. Amazingly, two bartenders, the owner a manager and all of the staff, no one even noticed that a customer was returning their meal.
• Not one person asked how our meal was. One bartender was talking golf with the guy next to me, the other entertaining friends. Manager? Owner? Never spoke to them. Even after my girlfriend had to take her meal back herself
• When leaving, it was clear by the looks on our face that we were less than pleased. We were half way out the door before any of the staff even acknowledged our departure. As we left, because we were displeased with the service, the bartender treated us as if we were the problem by making unnecessary rude comments as we walked out
We dine out in the city on an average of 3-4 times a week. I enjoy trying new restaurants and strongly believe in supporting independent operators. I also believe in customer service. Service staff who expect 20% gratuity because of where they work need to wake up. I know that the service staff relies on tips as a means of income. There is a good living to be made by bartending or waiting tables, but quality service never even made an appearance last evening.

So, based upon the Sun's star system, I would give it:
Food ***
Service **1/2
Atmosphere ***

Dissapointed, I highly doubt that you are the 25 year chef experienced chef that you claim to be, or if you are then vino rosina offers such a better product than you that it is killing your business. No self respecting chef would take an experience like you had (assuming it actually happened) and go to a blog that is months old to complain. Do you not think a letter to the owner/management would have been more appropriate?

Vino Rosina has had a lot of good press lately. Your story (once again I am assuming is fabricated) is clearly and isolated incident in a restaurant that is loved by most people.

That is well known that cash can make people free. But how to act if somebody has no cash? The only one way is to try to get the home loans or sba loan.