Spoke Wine Bar
Wine bar · Somerville
89 Holland St, Somerville, MA 02144
Highlights
Creative small plates & natural wines in intimate, cozy setting
Creative small plates & natural wines in intimate, cozy setting
"It’s amazing what can come out of a kitchen like the one at Spoke; it’s one of the tiniest in town, but you’d hardly know it from the beautifully composed small plates that play with seasonal ingredients and inspiration from around the world. One might dine on grilled clam skewers with a coconut chowder glaze, for example, or savory doughnuts made with sunchokes. And it’s a wine bar, so don’t forget the wines, which dance around familiar and lesser-known regions. Cocktails with interesting ingredients — fermented plantain, habanada pepper, “secrets” — round out the menu. Best for: An unfussy, very fun date night that will keep you on your toes." - Erika Adams
"Behind the nightly show of an ever-changing selection of ingredients, exquisitely designed plates, and delicious cocktails, is a tiny team of hospitable staff who are constantly going above and beyond. Its small kitchen is helmed by co-chefs Paul Butler and Kelcey Rusch, who are keen on selecting seasonal produce to spotlight. The duo isn’t afraid to experiment either; don’t be surprised to see unexpected combinations like yellowfin tuna and bison tenderloin paired together into a beautiful mosaic block. The beverages pair well with the dishes here, whether it’s a glass of thoughtfully curated pét-nat or a cocktail created by Katie Weismann, one of the best bartenders in town." - Celina Colby
"Spoke is the kind of restaurant that automatically makes a neighborhood cooler. Their combination of a great wine-by-the-glass list, snacky plates, excellent cocktails, knowledgeable staff, and intimate space pretty much guarantee you’ll have a good time. And that’s whether you’re alone taking down a plate of the mini sunchoke donuts with powdered leeks, or on a promising date tasting a couple of different pours and flexing some wine knowledge (that maybe the staff taught you the last time you were here). Pretty much anything on the menu is delicious, vegetable-centric, and often the perfect drinking accompaniment, like the milk-braised cabbage or tagine bean dip. It’s an excellent spot to wind down on a weekday after work, but for the weekends, make a reservation." - tanya edwards, lala thaddeus
"Gorgeous small plates come out of Spoke’s tiny kitchen; one might find a dish such as sunchoke doughnuts with XO gouda and powdered leeks on the compact menu, or perhaps chocolate-beet torte with pistachio and fennel shortbread. Nestle in with a glass of wine you’ve never tried, and get to know your date over braised lamb or crudo." - Celina Colby
"You’ll want to be a regular at Spoke Wine Bar, a cozy Davis Square spot with a staff that will remember your name (and order) after a few visits. The always-rotating small plates also mean return trips are not only a good idea, but necessary. Load up on under-$25 bites like coffee-poached duck breast and sweet and sour bluefish, or keep it plant-based with grilled chickpea tempeh and sunchoke donuts. The curved bar is where you want to be, lingering over one of the many $60-80 bottles or wine, or sipping an interesting cocktail with ingredients like vermouth and roasted dandelions. Even though the whole space is pretty small, you can usually get a last-minute reservation. " - tanya edwards
