Score another point for great places to go in College Hill. Thanks to my fabulous friend Nicole, I went on a gastronomical adventure for lunch at Mike’s Wine Dive. Located at Douglas and Oliver, it has a simple charm that is woven throughout the look of the restaurant, the lunch and dinner menu, and, of course, the wine menu.

Because I went for lunch I was not able to partake in any wine but I did not leave disappointed – the food was downright delicious. My lunch buddies and I were greeted by a friendly hostess and helpful wait staff. For only being open a few short weeks, the staff is very knowledgeable and passionate about the menu.

So, let’s get down to the best part – the food. After perusing the menu and seeing unique starters like drunken bread and grilled vegetables and goat cheese empanadas, I knew I was going to like this place. I decided to try the salmon burger, a handmade salmon patty topped with green tartare, arugula and roma tomato and served on naan flat bread. Then I went to check out what sides came with the burger and my eyes immediately went to the French fries with a truffle oil drizzle. You had me at truffle oil. Neither choice disappointed; the salmon burger was moist and filled with flavor. The fries were nothing short of fantastic – the truffle oil added a sophisticated touch to the basic French fry.

Other dishes that were sampled at our table included the Cuban sandwich, Emily’s apple harvest salad and the roasted turkey sandwich with cranberry apricot relish. The Cuban sandwich is served on French bread with slow-cooked pork, sweet ham, swiss cheese and a spicy mustard that my friend Nicole described as awesome. She choose the sweet potato fries as her side (yes, we have another place in town with sweet potato fries!), and since she didn’t leave any on her plate I have to assume that they were awesome too.

Emily’s apple harvest salad has all the right things going on; mixed greens, apples, dried cranberries, candied pecans and the king of cheeses – bleu cheese. It is topped with a lemon poppy seed dressing. According to my friend Cari, this salad was refreshing, crisp and full of flavor.

The indication of a good meal is a “happy plate,” and the plate that the roasted turkey sandwich resided on was certainly happy. My lunchmate Kendra ordered this sandwich and described it as the perfect combination of spring and Thanksgiving. The slow-roasted turkey is served on ciabatta bread with the cranberry and apricot relish, aged Swiss cheese, arugula and scallions.

If only we had room for dessert, we would have had several sweet treats to choose from – they even have s’mores on the menu! This place is the perfect combination of sophistication and fun. I highly recommend you check it out on your next lunch outing, as it is not just a place for a fabulous dinner and glass of wine.

However, my next adventure to Mike’s Wine Dive will be for dinner, so I can partake in a glass of wine and possibly indulge in the lobster, shrimp and crab macaroni and cheese.

Stay tuned for part two – the dinner and drinks installment. I just briefly checked out the wine menu, but I can tell I will have a lot to talk about.

(Image Credit)

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