Era Wine Bar
Restaurant · Mount Rainier ·
Global small plates and wines from underrepresented regions
Global small plates and wines from underrepresented regions
"Located just past the D.C. border in Mount Rainier, Maryland, Era Wine Bar showcases grapes from underrepresented regions and a selection of delicious small plates. The brick corner fixture offers wines by the glass in 3-, 6-, or 9-ounce pours, over 100 bottles for dine-in or to-go, and splurge-worthy bottles poured carefully with a Coravin wine tool. Era comes from first-time restaurateurs Michelle and Ka-ton Grant, a well-traveled duo who’ve called the neighborhood home since 2018. Much of the list highlights small producers, organic and biodynamic styles, and women-owned wineries. There’s also a membership club and concierge service for military and foreign service members." - Emily Venezky
"Located just past the D.C. border in Mount Rainier, Maryland, Era Wine Bar showcases grapes from underrepresented regions and a section of delicious small plates. The brick corner fixture offers wines by the glass in 3-, 6-, or 9-ounce pours, over 100 bottles for dine-in or to-go, and splurge-worthy bottles poured carefully with a Coravin wine tool. Era comes from first-time restaurateurs Michelle and Ka-ton Grant, a well-traveled duo who’ve called the neighborhood home since 2018. Much of the list highlights small producers, organic and biodynamic styles, and women-owned wineries. There’s also a membership club and concierge service for military and foreign service members." - Vinciane Ngomsi, Tierney Plumb
"Just past the D.C. border in Mount Rainier, Maryland (3300 Rhode Island Avenue), I discovered a refreshing new corner wine bar opened by first-time restaurateurs Michelle and Ka-ton Grant; Michelle, a tech consultant-turned-certified sommelier, says regulars are already coming in a couple times a week. The bar offers 45 wines by the glass (and over 100 by the bottle) served in 3-, 6-, or 9-ounce pours so you can taste-test everything from Croatian grapes to “beautiful” Malbecs from Spain and full-bodied reds from Turkey and the Middle East, with lesser-known North American varietals as well — think great Riesling out of New York and Cab Francs out of Mexico. Wines pair with global small plates and a cheese-and-charcuterie program Michelle calls “insane,” including an Italian board with rare finds like truffle salami, lambrusco wine jelly, and imported smoked mozzarella; small plates draw on the couple’s travels and heritage (tandoori chicken wings, goat cheese–stuffed dates, Swahili samosas filled with ground beef, scallion, potato, pea, and cumin, Catalonian chickpeas with smoky paprika and shaved garlic, and tzatziki-topped lamb sliders). A tasting-room cellar under the main dining level has temperature-controlled wine lockers for members, much of the list highlights small producers, organic and biodynamic styles, and women-owned wineries, and a splurge section is poured with a Coravin; cocktails even loop in wine, like a Shiraz-topped riff on a New York Sour. Era’s hours are Tuesday–Thursday 4–10 p.m., Friday–Sunday until 11 p.m., with weekend brunch from noon–2:30 p.m. (steak and eggs, French toast, salmon boards), customers linger about two hours on average, and the bar has New Year’s Eve plans for a four-course dinner ($100) or $150 with wine pairings." - Tierney Plumb
"I’m intrigued by Era in Mount Rainier, a two-level wine bar and bottle shop highlighting grapes from underrepresented regions such as Mexico and the Middle East, offering 45 wines by the glass in 3-, 6-, and 9-ounce pours, a “Cru” and “Grand Cru” membership with temperature-controlled lockers and tastings, and global small plates like tandoori chicken wings, chimichurri shrimp, PEI mussels in saffron broth, Moroccan tagine, plus Middle Eastern–themed brunch boards and challah French toast." - Gabe Hiatt
"I’m intrigued by Era, a two-level Mount Rainier wine bar showcasing underrepresented regions such as Mexico and the Middle East alongside global small plates, offering 25 wines by the glass, at least 50 bottles, and wine lockers for members." - Gabe Hiatt
