Vino Carta Solana Beach

We stumbled onto this place NYE because we were walking. It’s a wine bar but also has beer and kombucha. GF and vegan options. As people mentioned it is pricy but the food is AMAZING!! You have to close your eyes and savor it or you might miss something. Reminded me of being in Italy. If you are in a hurry don’t come here. Relax and enjoy!!! We ordered 5-6 dishes all of them didn’t disappoint. They helped with wine selections and were attentive despite not having enough service help. If you want an experience come here!

Heard great things about the food here, and it did not disappoint! Stand outs: * The Laffa bread is made to order, and it is hands down the best bread I’ve ever eaten in my life. We ordered two because one wasn’t enough! * The basque cheesecake lives rent free in my head. Technically perfect and the flavor was so good, not super sweet, texture was perfection, like silk. * Gambas/Shrimp… the presentation was so beautiful and I took quite a few photos, but the flavor is what I remember even more. I don’t know how to explain it, but when you get sauce on your plate like this, you have to eat every last drop. Which we did - lapped it up with the second order of Laffa bread! * The salad was so fresh and well balanced. Like something made with love for the ingredients. Textures were on point and I believe the chef has his own garden where he gets seasonal ingredients. We loved it! 10/10 will go again. Need to try some of the other items stat.

An amazing place where the staff will help you find the wine that will change your life. The staff are experts and they will guide you through the process of choosing the best wine for your needs. You can’t go wrong here.

Nice wine shop in Solana Beach. The selection is more European centric with many orange wines as well. There should be something for everyone. They have dinner kitchen on some evenings. As Long Story Short as resident chefs moved to their own restaurant in North Park, the menu is now by Mesa Agricola. The dishes were tasty and we liked each of them. It is slightly on the expensive side for what you get and one would probably like to get 1-2 additional fish or meat dishes. Nevertheless, we had a great evening.

great wine selection, lots of seating, food is overpriced - had to grab chiko afterwards to fill ourselves up

We come here every chance we get. Great atmosphere, friendly & knowledgeable staff. Being a wine store there is an extensive, eclectic, and reasonably priced wine & beverage selection. The intriguing wine list by the glass is always changing and offered in half portions. And the food plates, sort of tapas style, are simply outstanding. ‘Long Story Short’ are easily the most creative chefs in Solana Beach/Del Mar.

Menu was varied and priced well. Wine selection also so good. Overall experience was outstanding! Will be back!!

This place is the place. Together with it's Little Italy counterpart, they have the best selection of natural wines in San Diego, bar none. The fact that you can pull a bottle off the shelf, with help from knowledgeable staff, and open it then and there is so fun and laid back. But then there's this maestro in the kitchen, who seriously deserves every food magazine's recognition. Don't worry about the dishes not filling you up, you won't care--and you will be full. The vegetable dishes are inspired. You've never tasted squash or japanese yams or shrimp or laffa bread like this. Get in there. Skip the flatbreads and go for the skipjack, or the steak, or any of the vegetable dishes. Get the Caesar (major drool) topped with a mountain of parmesan. It's an unbelievable spot. It's what you make of it! I'll be back 100x.

Vino Carta is a cute wine shop (specializing in natural wines). Tucked away in a Solana Beach shopping center it's not super obvious it's there, but def worth a visit! It reminds me of Cardiff's former Wine Steals (oh how I miss that place)- equipped with bottles for sale, beer on tap and seating for dining in. Most recently they hosted Long Story Short who had a delicious rotating menu. They just finished their time there to move to their own spot and there will be a new Chef offering delicious cuisine. The prices were pretty average, and corkage fee was a fair $10. One thing I will say on the risk of embarrassing myself on future visits is that staff could a brush up on customer service. The first time I was there, I stood in front without being greeted for close to 5 minutes. I finally approached the register and asked how to be seated for my reservation and was helped but it was a little off-putting. In their defense, it was the last night Long Story Short was serving and it was "busier than usual" according to some other patrons I spoke with at the bar. I essentially chocked it up it being an off night, however on second visit while going in to purchase some bottles of wine to take home I had another less than ideal interaction. The only person working was on the phone, and while it did seem to be a work related phone call, there was no greeting, no asking if I needed any help and no "I'll be right with you" or "let me place you on a brief hold". She rang up my order while remaining on the phone, asked if I was a club member (at which point I didn't know was even offered) and when I said no, rather than ask if I was interested in potentially joining (which I very well might have been) proceeded to give me my total and continued the phone call. Neither of these things are deal breakers and it's not something that will stop me from returning but customer service goes a LONG way, and it shows when it's lacking. Again, great spot, great ambience and great funky selections of wines at great prices! Def recommend!

Had the pleasure of enjoying a 5 course tasting dinner for a friend's birthday at Long Story Short - the pop-up/restaurant within Vino Carta that opens in the evening. Long story short: it was a delicious, unique experience. I loved the atmosphere of sitting within the shop for an elevated yet unpretentious meal. The menu changes regularly but was prepared with precision and care. We loved every course. 1) Tuna tartare 2) Lobster with bouillabaisse and saffron aioli 3) Parsnip risotto with pistachio and brown butter 4) Dry aged duck breast 5) Coconut ice cream with white chocolate and yuzu Sommelier Matt Bone was very welcoming, as were the rest of the staff, and chose some excellent wines to pair with our meal. Happy Birthday Brent! Thanks for making the reservation Robert. Shout out Jorge for ordering the bottles for the table.

We stumbled onto this place NYE because we were walking. It's a wine bar but also has beer and kombucha. GF and vegan options. As people mentioned it is pricy but the food is AMAZING!! You have to close your eyes and savor it or you might miss something. Reminded me of being in Italy. If you are in a hurry don't come here. Relax and enjoy!!! We ordered 5-6 dishes all of them didn't disappoint.

Great wine place, i heard it's about to shutdown though. Gonna miss it. Love their natural wine selection. Bartender is very knowledgeable.

This little place is amazing. The service is over the top, they can be busy but they will do the best. The food is good and their team is very good and friendly.

Such a hidden gem in Solana Beach. We started our evening with picking out a bottle of wine, which was affordable and only had a $10 corkage fee. Then we proceeded to have a delicious meal, care of "Long Story Short" the pop-up restaurant inside. Really enjoyed our meal, especially loved the basque cheesecake to finish. Each dish costs about $20ish dollars and the portions are on the larger side. Would definitely recommend and excited to come back.

Nice quaint spot located off the 101 in Solana Beach. You'd miss it if you weren't specifically looking for it. Reminds me of the former "Wine Steals" has two aisles of wine and beer in a fridge for purchase with a handful of tables for seating. Watch out because this place is pricey! $18/glass of red. They also have a $10 corking fee which is fine very strange as they sell wine from within the same location. Bottle of Commuter Cuvee - Pinot noir for $25, how is a glass of the same wine $18? The server also didn't suggest the bottle for a better value, we had to put that together ourselves. Also, small plates are pricey too. Side of mushrooms for $18. Can't say that I will be back here.

Lovely little wine bar. Very friendly staff as well. We made reservation for a Sunday afternoon but it was not needed. Wine was delicious. The cheese plate felt overpriced in all honesty but the Brie clouded my judgement bc it was tasty. Would totally come back. Super dog friendly.

I've been here a few times now to get bottles of wine, and have always ended up with something unique and tasty. Most memorably, I came to find a couple bottles of rose to bring to a boat party next day, and the recommendations were awesome! Both bottles of wine were different from one another and a huge hit with everyone there. Gotta hand it to the staff--they're mind readers. When I told them what I was looking for, they gave me that exactly. But then they went beyond--they also knew what else I would probably like, and pointed me in that direction too. I ended up with a bottle that wasn't what I was looking for, but ended up being my favorite of everything I tried! The also kept in budget, as I wasn't going to buy a bottle over $30. (For people with more expensive tastes, they have that too.) This place is rad, try it!

Love this place. Our server's wine recommendations have been excellent. I've been there three times, and always ordered the steak. It is always delicious. Homemade bread and butter is perfect. Love the Japanese potatoes. And the cheesecake is superb. This place is our go-to date night spot. It gets a little noisy sometimes, but the food is excellent.

Was our favorite place but our last visit was really disappointing. This waitress was standoff-ish and rushed us from the moment we walked in at 8pm.... Tried be accommodating by ordering fast and being nice. I thought maybe she was having a bad night? Forgot our main course and didn't even apologize. "Like do you like still want it?." She wasn't listening to me when I responded. I don't think I'll return. It was so so bizarre. In the past it had been great. A pity.

This is a very cute place. The thing I like about it the most though is the owners were not smart enough to make the business come up when you search wine in the Apple app. This means every time you go there there's not a lot of people which is perfect. Hopefully they don't get a clue to this and make it all crowded and such

Deeply disappointing. Service bad: it is a sharing plates (tapas like) menu with many entries in 4 pieces, but they will not make it five (and add the corresponding charge) even as we had 5 people at the table. Plus slow, unresponsive. Dishes were not changed at all. We had to insist on changing wine glasses when we moved from white to red. There was no bill. The waiter approached us with the credit card machine without giving us a chance to see a bill. After some negotiations the bull was produced but only on the screen of the machine used to charge credit cards. Ugh Then there is the food. Mediocre. Toast with tomato, uber salty. Same problem with the cheesy creamy zucchini noodle (whatever that was). The patatas bravas is a modern take on the concept where instead of potatoes you get a bread like cube of some mysterious ingredient (surely potatoes, or potato starch makes it into the mix) topped with a spicy sauce with a flavor dominated by tomato paste (fresh from farm??). The clams in green sauce were basically in lemon juice. Rice did not fare better. There seems to be no attention to balancing flavors, and one overpowers the rest making it every dish unpalatable... except the desert, a nice slice of light and fluffy cheesecake that however was accompanied by a ca-tasting preserved sliced strawberries. Great selection of wine, as it is also a wine store. The corking fee is low if you buy form the store, but the store prices are not so good.

Great little wine bar and restaurant in Solana Beach. Small menu with different items nightly. Farm to table. The risotto was delicious. And I tried octopus for the first time. Loved it.

Natural wines, Chino Farms sourced vegetables, expert and attentive service, stunningly curated = our new favorite spot in all of North County. We wandered into this relatively new establishment one recent evening (after I searched "natural wine") with little to no expectations...and were blown away. This welcoming but unimposing spot punches well above its weight, featuring a small but expertly curated wine list and a weekly rotating menu--depending on the times, tides and whatever is most enticing at their organic purveyors. Adam expertly curates the wine list and husband and wife team, Elliott and Kelly (the chefs behind Long Story Short) wow with perfect plate after perfect plate. Balanced, nuanced, bursting with flavor...we loved every single thing, and can't wait to go back!

Really enjoyed the tapas style food. We enjoyed most times on the menu and split between the four of us. Everything was tasty. Loved pulling the wine off the shelf. Recommend reservations. Nice ambiance. Relaxed service.

Vegan friendly! Best food I have had in North county hands down. Thoughtful dishes with amazing saucy and large portions of food. I got the turnips and broccolini. Both dishes were beyond delicious. Even the bread was fantastic. We'll done. We'll done. Spectacular

My wife and I made a reservation here for dinner not knowing quite what to expect. We felt Vino Carta had a great, casual vibe. The staff was great - and did a wonderful job in helping to explain, describe and pair some of their interesting, off the beaten path wines. The menu was quite varied and had quite a number of vegetable, meat and fish entrees. We shared a great squash dish and an amazing octopus dish. Both were well prepared, delicious and featured really fresh local produce. We also indulged in a strawberry "pop tart" dessert that was really tasty and paired by Adam with a great dessert wine. We're super happy to have a place like this so close to our home. We'll definitely be back!

The restaurant here, Long Story Short, is the best food in Solana Beach/ Del Mar hands down. Chefs use locally sourced meats, fish, and produce, and know what they're doing. Have recommended to many friends and everyone absolutely loves the food and experience here, and has quickly become our regular spot. Definitely check it out, you'll love it too!

Lovely wine and good food. Reasonable too. Would definitely come back if I'm in the area.

I don't want the word to get out but this may be the best restaurant in north county. And I am an admitted food snob. Happy to eat .99 cent tacos and $150 prix fixe meals as long as it's GOOD. This is insanely good. The dinner menu is so curated (at least for Sunday supper) that every dish knocked it out of the park. I also appreciate the sustainable seafood and high quality meats. The wine was stellar and unique also. Until relocating to North County, I lived in NYC, LA and SF and this is on par. Hats off to an amazing meal.

I almost hesitate to write this review as Vino Carta (Solana Beach) feels like one of San Diego's best kept secrets. The food prepared by Long Story Short is truly magical. Small, creative, and flavorful dishes are perfect for sharing and sampling the many different foods and unusual combinations, and each is perfectly executed like a work of art for the palate. Wine selection is always interesting, and they do half glass wine pours so you can try a greater variety.

Google maps still thinks this is BottleCraft, and so did I, until I entered the new store. I was disappointed to see most of the beer replaced with wine and I have to say this spot is no longer special to me. There are so many wine options in the area, I couldn't believe BottleCraft, my beer spot is gone. While the beer selection is small they do have some good stuff, however the prices are more than I'm used to, even for the quality beer it is. For example you can get all their beer significantly cheaper at grocery stores like Seaside Market (next door), Lazy Acres and Jimbos.

Wonderful spot for dinner if you like to try / share a few small-med sized plates with thoughtfully selected wine. Relaxed atmosphere, knowledgeable and friendly staff, and a very creative & talented chef.

Love this place so much!!! The wines they sell are terrific-and great variety of wineries too! Adam and Sam give great client service... always willing to offer great wine knowledge and suggestions ... and "go the extra mile ".... Kelli and Elliot are beyond amazing in their culinary talents....beyond amazing!!! Great neighborhood gem

We wanted to love this place. Local wine bar with interesting looking menu. Arrived at opening hour 4:00. Only people there. Service was slow, even while sitting at the bar, our glasses sat empty for long enough we had to ask a different employee (manager?) for a refill. Messy looking, We could see multiple open drinks against the wall (clearly employees teas? soda? Coffees?) open box of Cheezits (which another employee started eating out of a bowl while walking around ignoring us). Our bill was $100 (2 happy hour specials and 4 glasses wine ). No fun engaging wine talk, messy feeling and way too pricey to return.

This place is a hidden gem! I have recently been introduced the world of natural wine, and there are very few options in North County- until now! My partner and I went for dinner on a Thursday, and the food blew us away. Portions are modest, but it seemed like every ingredient was locally sourced and prepared perfectly. We started with oysters from Baja, then a salad with vegetables from Chino Farms, fish baked in parchment paper with a French cream sauce, and a mushroom risotto. I cannot remember what wines we drank, but they were delicious!

I have been here twice now, and each time was wonderful. The first, was simply for a bit of wine with a friend, the second was to celebrate a friend's engagement. Both times involved incredible wine and (if it is even possible) better service! To say that this place is beyond amazing is an understatement, and I am almost loath to write a good review because I would love to keep this incredible gem, with their great drinks, delicious food, and amazing service, all to myself!

What a great place with delicious wines to choose from and a surprising delightful menu!The staff did a fantastic job at making this a great evening at a new location.We compliment the chefs who we later found out were from North Park where we used to live...small world.Great food..excellent wine..great people what else can you ask for!We will be back.

We're local and really wanted to like this place. Unfortunately after several visits I am disappointed. Service is incredibly inconsistent and our most recent visit was a total let down. We came for an earlier happy hour on Friday and were literally the only two at the bar, so the staff was not flooded with patrons at this point. After our first glass of wine, the bartender (or bar manager) seemed to disappear running around setting up for the evening which is understandable except while he was away our glasses stayed empty for an extended period of time and the two other employees walked passed us on numerous occasions without any acknowledgement...Zero engagement. We were looking to order another glass each at least but decided to head to carruth cellars instead and receive some decent service. I'd love to see this place get their act together but based on our visits the overall experience has been poor.