New Years day this year brings some sad news. Our old friends at Bar Bambino in San Francisco and, separately, Le Cigare Volant in Santa Cruz will be closing. Bar Bambino has been a fantastic Italian place. Incredible wine list with a variety and nuance in selection that few even think of, accompanied by simple and excellently prepared Italian dishes.
Le Cigare Volant was my go-to spot in the Monterey Bay Area for lunch, fun and reasonable food that puts most of the places around the bay to shame. They also had a fantastic wine list that featured Randall Grahm‘s production along side oddities and superlatives from around the world. Last time I at there we drank a little Tempranillo from the Canary Islands that stands as a personal definition of terroir. The tasting room will soldier on in the restaurant’s absence. Both will be dearly missed, drop by while you still have a chance.