I will admit that I have never been to Woodstock, Georgia. When I got the opportunity to have a pre-NYE dinner, as a Culinary Local ambassador, I jumped at the opportunity. I am happy to introduce you to a brand new restaurant, seriously under three months old, called Rootstock and Vine.
Foodies unite – especially local patrons that do not want to drive all the way to downtown Atlanta for bold wines and delicious bites. They have a beautiful rooftop patio space to enjoy the view and outdoor music. It’s a two story brick building with charming wooden accents. It has a warm ambiance that sets the tone for a perfect date night with candle chandeliers.
THE FOOD
The NYE Eve Wine Pairing Dinner featured some of my favorite dishes, such as, wild mushroom risotto and pan seared scallops with cauliflower puree. The standout wines were the 2014 Levendi Estate Reserve Chardonnay from Napa Valley, California and the 2016 Domaine Claude Riffault ‘ Les Boucads’ Sancerre from Sancerre, France.
THE SERVICE
Our service was on the slow side. I think with any new restaurant, they are still figuring out how to run service smoothly. We even had an instance, where the chef was not aware of what kind of nuts were in the dessert and my dining partner has a nut allergy. They eventually found the answer (she wasn’t allergic – whew!), but more attention to detail will improve the service.
The restaurant’s Sommelier, Taurean Philpott, was polite and knowledgeable in explaining the wines, their origin and why it paired well with our meals.
