Hampden's new wine bar, 13.5%, is a hit
"Whoa."
I can't remember if I thought it or said it out loud when I first saw 13.5% (pictured). But that was my reaction.
If you walk along The Avenue, Baltimore's newest wine bar jumps right out at you. There's nothing else quite like it in Hampden. In fact, it feels almost out of place with the rest of the neighborhood -- in a good way.
13.5% is named, I'm told, after the ideal alcohol content in a bottle of wine. It's a mouthful of a name.
Inside, 13.5% is comfortably stylish and thankfully unpretentious. Call it '60s chic. I liked the hardwood floors, stone walls and low-hanging decorative metal lamps.
And based on the scene last Friday night, 13.5% already has a broad appeal. How many times do you see hipsters art, students, young professionals and well-to-do 40- and 50-somethings in the same place at the same time?
At 8 p.m., there was a wait for tables and the bar was almost full. Amie and I grabbed two of the funky, hard plastic barstools, and scanned through the menu.
The wine list, which I'm sure will rotate on a fairly regular basis, was pretty long: 15 whites by the glass, four sparkling whites, two roses, 16 glass reds and one "sweet red." Glasses were listed by price, not name, and ranged from $5 to $22. A $5 glass of wine at a trendy new wine bar? Imagine that.
If you'd rather order a bottle of wine, you can pick one from the huge rack on one of 13.5%'s walls. The bottles are listed with an $8 corkage fee, but you can take them home if you want to -- you just subtract $8 from the price tag.
13.5% also has a short but impressive draft beer list: Clipper City Gold ($4.50), Stone IPA ($6), Clay Pipe Hop-Ocalypse IPA ($7), Mama's Little Yella Pils ($8) and Saison Dupont ($10). The beer list is rounded out by 22 bottled beers. It's good to know 13.5% has something for suds lovers too.
But Amie and I didn't come to 13.5% to drink beer. Or eat food, for that matter. She ordered a surprisingly smooth Bodegas Arrocal ($11), and I got a spicier Nomade malbec ($10).
We were also surprised at the pleasant, professional bartender. Hampden isn't exactly known for its stellar service, which made our trip to 13.5% all the more enjoyable.
I'm leery of making predictions in such a downtrodden economy, but based on our night there, I'd say in time, 13.5% could become a neighborhood staple. It's certainly off to a promising start.
(Baltimore Sun photo by Kenneth K. Lam)
Erik Maza is a features reporter at the Baltimore Sun. He writes for several sections of the Sun paper and contributes weekly columns on music and nightlife. He also writes and edits the Midnight Sun blog. He often covers entertainment, business, and the business of entertainment. Occasionally, he writes about Four Loko, The Block, the liquor board, and those who practice "
Comments
Nice review Sam. I'm glad to hear this place has potential. I plan on checking it out this weekend.
Posted by: Mark Twain | July 28, 2009 9:05 AM
I was also at 13.5% Friday later on (around 10 or so) and also got the Nomade malbec (very nice.) I thought the atmosphere was great, but the servers' recommendations were a little off... maybe they'll get better with time to get to know the selections.
Posted by: Annie P. | July 28, 2009 9:22 AM
In the neighborhood, we just call it "the wine bar." 13.5% is too much.
on my first visit, the bartender was spectacular, and informed us we could always have a taste of a wine before we ordered a full glass, to make sure we liked it.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 28, 2009 9:31 AM
Do they have a wine presrvation system for their wines by the glass?
Posted by: Armando | July 28, 2009 9:57 AM
I concur with Mr. Twain, Sam. I am going to have to check this place out.
Posted by: jason z | July 28, 2009 10:09 AM
Had a nice weeknite dinner there in mostly full room with attentive staff who were professional and pleasant which is a nice change in Hampden. Under $10 paninis were tasty. Attractive space and it's a very welcome addition to the choices on the AVE. Maybe knock down those draft beer prices a bit!
Posted by: ELMREZ | July 28, 2009 11:16 AM
who's the hottie in the picture, Sam?
Posted by: jason z | July 28, 2009 12:03 PM
Decent beer selection but those prices are laughable.
But like you said... you're not going to a wine bar for the beer!
Posted by: Brad | July 28, 2009 12:20 PM
The place is nice but the owner is a jerk
Posted by: Dave the wave | July 28, 2009 12:22 PM
Jason Z,
You feel like checking it out Thursday? Give me a call.
Posted by: Mark Twain | July 28, 2009 1:15 PM
Jason Z, the woman in the photo is Zita Nunes of Baltimore. It was taken for a Glimpsed! portrait.
Posted by: Sam Sessa | July 28, 2009 1:36 PM
Twain, I will email you later...
Sam, hook a brother up!
Posted by: Jason Z | July 29, 2009 10:12 AM
Why is there a corkage fee for a bottle of wine you're buying and drinking at the establishment? I thought corkage fees were for BYO places???
Posted by: Patapsco Jones | July 30, 2009 11:08 AM
PJ- I'm guessing (hoping) that the prices on the rack bottles are retail for people coming in to get a bottle to take home. The $8 corkage would most likely still make the bottle cheaper than typical restaurant markups if you decided to have it there.
Posted by: Neighbor | July 30, 2009 12:04 PM
Ha to Anonymous -- we should just call it the wine bar. I can't figure out what to call it. Thirteen Point Five? Thirteen and a Half? Thirteen Five Percent?
There's definitely nothing like it in the neighborhood, but I suspect it's a little too pricey. Perhaps migrating Roland Parkers will make up the difference. I'd give it a try if they had a $5 wine night like a bunch of places in Fed Hill do.
Posted by: pomme de terre | July 30, 2009 7:08 PM
13.5% now has lots of rockin' specials, including no corkage on some days, etc. It's all on their website. I've had a lot of fun in this place, and as mentioned, the bartenders are great.
Posted by: Stacy | November 17, 2009 6:49 PM
I preferred when it was called Proof 27
Posted by: Owl Meat Gravy | November 17, 2009 7:53 PM