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Cardinale du Vin
Master Critic Reviews (5 Lists)
Cardinale du Vin
8.0
A compact wine bar that turns Pico into a low-key Paris-meets-LA date lane, with moody lighting and a conversation-first layout. The thoughtful list and small Thai-leaning share plates make ordering easy and romantic without feeling formal. Best for couples who want to linger over a bottle and a few smart bites.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chef’s Thai-inspired small plates, Seasonal tartare or crudo, Sommelier wine pairing flight
Scores:
Value: 7.2
Service: 8
Consistency: 7.7
Food Quality: 8.1
Atmosphere: 8.7
Cultural Relevance: 7.8
What makes it special: Tiny, candle-glow wine bar built for effortless date pacing.
Who should go: Wine-forward couples and first-date crews.
When to visit: After 7pm for peak ambiance.
What to order: Sommelier picks, share plates, seasonal specials.
Insider tip: Grab seats along the front for people-watch energy.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking only; generally doable along Pico and side streets before 7pm, but becomes tight after peak dinner hours. No valet.
Dress code: Smart casual with a date-night lean — elevated tops, dark denim, or casual-chic outfits fit the room.
Noise level: Moderate — music stays low and the compact layout keeps conversation easy without shouting.
Weekend wait: 30–50 minutes if you walk in after 7:30pm, especially for two-tops.
Weekday lunch: N/A — the wine bar opens later; no daytime service.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes — several small plates lean veggie-friendly, including salads and share plates.
Vegan options: Limited — 1–2 items may work depending on seasonal rotations; best to ask staff for modifications.
Gluten-free options: Yes — many small plates can be made gluten-free; staff is used to accommodating.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes — the dim lighting, small room, and bottle-forward structure make it ideal for relaxed conversation without feeling formal.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Often yes if you arrive early (before 7pm) on weekdays; weekends tend to fill quickly, and bar seats go first.
Is it kid-friendly? Not really — it’s a compact wine bar with limited seating and an adult-focused vibe; best suited for adults and date-night groups.
Best For
Better for: Long, low-pressure dates built around wine discovery, intimate lighting, and shareable plates that don’t interrupt conversation.
Skip if: You want a full dinner entrée experience, need kid-friendly accommodations, or prefer lively, high-capacity restaurants with big-group tables.
Cardinale du Vin
8.0
A cozy Pico-Robertson wine bar and café that opens onto a small outdoor patio, ideal for lingering over bottles and Thai-French-leaning plates. The food is detail-minded for the format, and the patio adds a relaxed neighborhood glow.
Must-Try Dishes:
Caviar service, Escargots, Seasonal Thai-leaning small plates
Scores:
Value: 7.6
Service: 8.1
Consistency: 7.8
Food Quality: 8.3
Atmosphere: 8.2
Cultural Relevance: 7.7
What makes it special: Wine-forward café with a legit patio and chef-driven bites.
Who should go: Wine lovers and patio date crews
When to visit: Early evening for best patio vibe
What to order: Caviar, escargots, rotating small plates
Insider tip: Patio seating is limited—arrive early on weekends.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking on Pico and side streets; easier before 6pm but can tighten quickly on weekends. No valet.
Dress code: Smart casual—jeans and a nice top fit the wine-bar vibe; slightly dressier for weekend evenings.
Noise level: Moderate—patio tables stay conversational, with light street noise but no competing music.
Weekend wait: 20–40 minutes for the patio if you arrive after 7pm; inside seating slightly faster.
Weekday lunch: Typically no wait; café pace is relaxed.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes—several small plates and salads work well for vegetarians.
Vegan options: Limited—1–2 items may be adaptable, but the menu leans butter- and cream-forward.
Gluten-free options: Several dishes can be made gluten-free; ask staff about modifications for small plates.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes—its intimate patio, shared small plates, and wine-forward rhythm make it easy for relaxed conversation without feeling formal.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Usually yes, but patio seating is limited. Arrive before 6:30pm on weekends if the patio is essential; otherwise indoor seats open more consistently.
Is it kid-friendly? Somewhat—better for older teens than young kids. The vibe is wine-bar focused with limited kids’ menu options and tighter patio seating.
Best For
Better for: Intimate outdoor wine nights, chef-driven small plates, and casual-but-polished hangs where the patio ambiance matters.
Skip if: You need a full dinner menu, broad vegan options, or guaranteed large-group seating—patio and indoor space are limited.
Cardinale du Vin
8.2
A small wine bar and café with chef-driven plates that lean Thai-French in spirit and land more thoughtful than the strip-mall frontage suggests. It’s the kind of neighborhood sit-down you discover once, then keep in rotation for bottles and smart small plates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cardinale burger, Rotating Thai-leaning small plates, Café pastries by day
Scores:
Value: 7.7
Service: 8.2
Consistency: 8.4
Food Quality: 8.6
Atmosphere: 7.9
Cultural Relevance: 8
What makes it special: Wine-forward neighborhood bar with Thai-touched chef plates.
Who should go: Wine lovers and small-plate hunters
When to visit: Early evening for best energy
What to order: Burger, rotating plates, dessert
Insider tip: Sit at the long shared table for the full vibe.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking on Pico and side streets; usually manageable before 6:30pm, tighter during peak dinner hours. No valet.
Dress code: Smart casual; jeans and a nice top fit the room, but many guests lean slightly dressy for evening wine nights.
Noise level: Moderate; conversation is easy at two-tops, but the communal table can run lively as the night builds.
Weekend wait: 20–35 minutes for small parties without a reservation; prime patio seats go first.
Weekday lunch: Typically no wait, though lunch service can be limited depending on the day.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Solid options in small plates and salads; several dishes can be adjusted on request.
Vegan options: Limited—usually 1–2 small plates qualify or can be lightly modified.
Gluten-free options: Good selection of naturally gluten-lean dishes; staff can guide substitutions but no fully separate prep area.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes—intimate but not stiff, with a wine-forward, low-key setting that feels polished. The lighting and pacing make it comfortable for conversation without feeling overly formal.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Usually early in the evening or later in the night; peak hours (6:45–8:00pm) are tighter. The communal table often has room even when two-tops are full.
Is it kid-friendly? Not ideal for younger kids due to the wine-bar layout and limited menu. Teens or older children who enjoy quieter dining environments will be fine.
Best For
Better for: Wine-driven small-plate nights, chef-minded flavor profiles, and relaxed but stylish neighborhood evenings that feel more curated than typical Pico strip-mall spots.
Skip if: You want large entrées, a big patio scene, very fast service, or a fully family-oriented environment.
Cardinale du Vin
8.2
A compact wine bar that periodically runs chef-driven pasta and small-plate omakase/tasting sets, letting the kitchen riff Thai-French and Mediterranean ideas in short, curated flights. The frontage is low-key, but the cooking is more thoughtful than you expect for the neighborhood. Best for adventurous diners who like their tasting menus casual and wine-paired.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pappardelle with salted egg sauce and shrimp, Chef’s seasonal tasting menu (50 or 70 set), House burger
Scores:
Value: 8
Service: 8.1
Consistency: 7.8
Food Quality: 8.6
Atmosphere: 7.9
Cultural Relevance: 7.6
What makes it special: A neighborhood wine bar offering rotating pasta/chef’s omakase tastings.
Who should go: Wine lovers who chase off-menu chef flights.
When to visit: Saturday omakase nights or early evenings.
What to order: Pasta omakase, seasonal tasting set, glass pairings.
Insider tip: Ask what’s new that week—menus change often.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking on Pico and side streets is your best bet; it’s doable before 6pm but gets tight later. No valet.
Dress code: Smart casual—elevated but relaxed. Jeans work fine if paired with something polished.
Noise level: Moderate; music and chatter create energy but you can still hold a normal conversation.
Weekend wait: 20–40 minutes if you walk in during peak tasting nights; shorter if you’re flexible with bar seating.
Weekday lunch: Not applicable—their omakase/tasting offerings are dinner-only.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes—several pasta and small-plate courses can be adjusted, but confirm when booking a tasting.
Vegan options: Limited—chef can adapt a couple of dishes, though the tasting format is not fully vegan-friendly.
Gluten-free options: Partial—the kitchen can accommodate gluten-free pastas on some nights, but tasting sets may rely heavily on wheat-based dishes.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes—it's intimate, dimly lit, and the wine-forward pacing makes conversation easy without feeling formal or high-pressure.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Often, yes—walk-ins can usually grab bar seating early evening, but tasting nights fill quickly and should be reserved.
Is it kid-friendly? Not really—small space, later dining hours, and wine-focused service make it better suited for adults.
Best For
Better for: Spontaneous, chef-driven tastings in a relaxed setting—more intimate and improvisational than larger, formal tasting-menu spots.
Skip if: You want a long, multi-hour fine-dining progression or need extensive dietary flexibility—this is a more casual, chef-led format.
Cardinale du Vin
8.2
A compact neighborhood wine bar that periodically flips into a chef-driven pasta and small-plate omakase, with a front-row seat to the kitchen’s Thai-French riffs. The vibe stays casual, but the tasting flights are thoughtful and built to pair with bottles from their tight list.
Must-Try Dishes:
Saturday pasta omakase flight, Rotating chef small plates, Sommelier glass pairings
Scores:
Value: 7.8
Service: 8.3
Consistency: 8.1
Food Quality: 8.7
Atmosphere: 7.9
Cultural Relevance: 7.9
What makes it special: Wine bar that runs intimate chef omakase nights.
Who should go: Wine nerds who like chef flights
When to visit: Saturday omakase or early evenings
What to order: Pasta omakase, specials, glass pairings
Insider tip: Sit at the long shared table for kitchen energy.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking on Pico can be tight after 6pm; look for metered spaces on adjacent residential blocks or use nearby paid lots within a 2–3 minute walk.
Dress code: Smart casual; most guests lean elevated-casual with dressy tops or button-downs. Jeans are fine if paired with something polished.
Noise level: Moderate; you can comfortably hold a conversation, but the room picks up energy during omakase nights and peak wine-hour crowd.
Weekend wait: 30–45 minutes without a reservation, longer on featured omakase nights.
Weekday lunch: Not applicable—primarily an evening operation with no lunch service.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Good coverage—several small plates and occasional pasta courses that can be made vegetarian.
Vegan options: Limited—most dishes rely on dairy or egg, though a couple of small plates may be adaptable.
Gluten-free options: Moderate—some small plates are naturally gluten-free, but pasta-heavy omakase flights are not ideal for strict gluten-free diners.
Good to Know
Is this good for a first date? Yes—it's intimate, softly lit, and the chef-flight format gives you built-in conversation moments without feeling formal or high-pressure.
Can I get a table without a reservation? Possible on weeknights if you arrive early; omakase nights fill fast, so reservations are strongly recommended for any weekend seating.
Is it kid-friendly? Not particularly—small space, wine-forward crowd, and tasting menus skew adult. Teens who enjoy adventurous food may fit, but young kids likely won’t.
Best For
Better for: Casual chef-led tastings with strong wine pairings and a relaxed neighborhood vibe that doesn’t require fine-dining formality.
Skip if: You want a traditional full-course tasting menu, extensive dietary accommodations, or a quieter, more spacious dining room.