After 5 Wine Bar Review: Q Enoteca

At one time, Commercial Street was the place to be in Springfield.

New businesses such as Q Enoteca are at the center of a movement in recent years to return C-Street to its former glory. Q Enoteca is Springfield's latest wine bar, opened in May by Lyle Foster, owner of Big Momma's Coffee, another C-Street business addition.

The first thing you notice about Q Enoteca is that it does very little to distinguish itself from the outside. If you don't have an address or know exactly where you're going, it's easy to drive right past. The only signage is a large Q above the door and small lettering on the front glass.

Inside, by contrast, you'll be greeted by hanging strings of lights, vivid colors on the walls, and a modern, art deco motif. Tables are scattered haphazardly about the wooden floor, and there are several half-circle high tables built into the east wall that mimic the dark stone theme of the bar located toward the rear.

My wife and I stopped in on a Friday evening for drinks and to check out the atmosphere. It was slow, and we browsed the retail section before sitting down.

In the back of the establishment, two large racks feature nearly 30 bottled wines and a dozen or so varieties of specialty beers. At Q Enoteca, all of the wines can either be purchased to take home or drunk on the premises for an $8 corkage fee.

The selection runs the gamut of reds, whites and sweet, dessert-style wines. You'll find German riesling, Italian pinot grigio, Oregon pinot noir and French Bordeaux. Beers include such exotic names as Blanch de Chambly, Menabrea 1846, Tommyknocker Maple Nut and Xingu Black Beer.

She ordered the evening's special, a glass of sweet sparkling Sarocco Moscato D'Asti ($5), while I started with a glass of Shooting Star California Sauvignon Blanc ($5.50). The wine was promptly served in generous 6-ounce pours.

We were disappointed to find that there were no hors d'oeuvres or food items of any kind, but we were told that there are plans to address that issue.

The managers also are looking at expanding the wine menu, and have the opportunity, as business dictates, to increase the size of the establishment. Manager Michael Hegg said there was standing room only on a recent night of live music, and that he and owner Lyle Foster are still working out the details of Q Enoteca's niche.

For a second drink, I chose a half size (3-ounce) glass of Ferriera Dona Antonia Tawny Port ($4), an aged, sweet fortified wine from Portugal. It was excellent, exceeding my expectations.

My wife switched to beer and opted for a Left Hand Black Jack Porter ($3.50). She enjoyed it so much, she suggested we pick up a six pack to take home.

The night stayed slow, so we didn't get a chance to experience much atmosphere other than the light jazz playing unobtrusively over the sound system and the conversation from the bartender.

Q Enoteca is a work in progress, a business that took the plunge and got started without waiting for the whole picture to come into focus.

It has an excellent selection of wines and beers, and a whole lot of potential.[[In-content Ad]]