100 Wines: Another Great Eatery From The Cohns

I love to explore. I've always looked for out of the way places to eat, visit, and shop. Who else do you know that's been to Benin and Togo? Definitely out of the way places. I had heard the Cohns had opened another restaurant in Hillcrest, called 100 Wines, but didn't rush to try it simply because of the name. I thought it would be just a wine and appetizer spot, but I couldn't have been more wrong. On a Friday night (not a good choice of nights) we drove to 100 Wines. It took us 45 minutes, so we won't do that again on a Friday, but it was worth it. We were really hungry by the time we arrived, and thoroughly enjoyed our evening. The decor is similar to Bo Beau in Ocean Beach. Comfortable tables, dark and rustic looking, areas for bigger groups to wine and dine together, an outside area with a fireplace, and in general a great vibe from the minute you walk in. We were lucky to find a place right in front on busy University Avenue. The wait staff is extremely helpful. They will suggest their favorites and were able to describe dishes in detail. Immediately upon sitting, our waitress announced that someone would bring over a complimentary appetizer for us to munch on while we studied the menu. We received a cup of roasted chick peas (whole, in the shell), roasted with sea salt, olive oil, lemon and chili flakes. Chick peas (garbanzo beans) are in a shell similar to edamame, so you remove the shell and eat the inside. I'd never had them before, and when the chick pea was roasted, it diminished to half its size. Not much to eat, but it was tasty and unusual. I love the Cohn restaurants because they all have very reasonable prices on wine. I love a glass of wine, and at $6 for an excellent Merlot, I was very happy. I was happy about the food we ordered and some I saw and can't wait to go back and try. There are lots of appetizers on the menu, and I think many people come for drinks and appetizers in lieu of dinner. We started with melted brie topped with jam and dried fruits and nuts. It was served with thin sliced bread that had been lightly toasted. Amazing. We also had the Mediterranean lamb meatballs. There were 5 in the order, served on a bed of lettuce with a yogurt-cumin dipping sauce. I loved it, and the tart sauce with the meatballs was refreshing. Too much for us, so Pepper polished off one meatball for breakfast the next morning. Next, Ron ordered the pork osso bucco and devoured the entire thing. It was sitting on a bed of semi pureed carrots which had been infused with the juices of the pork. Ron raved, and wanted to lick the plate. I had a ravioli with sage and butter sauce. Excellent. 100 Wines has lots of pizzas, like the prociutto and fig pizza that we almost tried, but will get to next time. They have roasted cauliflower with bacon (similar to the brussel sprouts dish at Bo Beau), that I also want to try. Cheese and meat boards, steak tartare, and a combo of Mediterranean salads were also offered. Stuffed chicken breast, pan seared scallops, 5 oz. beef filet, and simply broiled fish of the day were also on the menu. The menu changes seasonally, so this is a place you can go back to again and again. It's not for someone who wants a basic steak and potato. You won't find that on the menu. But if you like to try new combinations, new flavors, new locations, this is the place. By the way, after the long ride to get there, we were home in less than 25 minutes. It's great to explore new restaurants and new neighborhoods. You never know what you're going to find. What we found, 100 Wines, is a real find.