Stem Wine Bar Menu

Stem Wine Bar Restaurant Review:

Stem is a true wine bar in the “enoteca” sense of the term. A large U-shaped bar ringed with seating allows patrons to engage knowledgeable bartender Chris McNeill in conversation. The menu of small plates and snacks ranges from octopus slowly braised in red wine then grilled and served with bits of chorizo and fingerling potatoes to chorizo-stuffed dates in a smoked tomato sauce. We are singularly fond of the duck prosciutto from The Spotted Trotter in Kirkwood, a sweet rim of fat enclosing dark, deeply flavored meat. Gulf shrimp "al ajillo" (in a little garlic) is pure Spain on a plate. Salads are splendid, and just lightly dressed. It's tough to determine which we prefer: shaved Brussels sprouts with a warm bacon vinaigrette or the local bean and field pea version with a bit of grapefruit here and there. End with sticky toffee pudding under a scoop of house-made toffee almond ice cream. The extensive, adventurous list is not long but it is inspired. Most choices are available by the glass, although the chiefly red wine reserve list is not. Open with a classic white porto splashed with tonic or sparkling water and lime or lemon wedge as they do in Portugal, a good sparkler or a chilled fino sherry.