Porta Bella Wine Cellar - Thur., July 27, 2006

Address: 425 N. Frances St.
Phone: (608) 256-3186
Webpage: www.portabellarestaurant.biz/pb-cellar1.html

The Porta Bella Wine Cellar was drying out from the summer flash floods during our visit, but other than the mustier than usual smell, there was no apparent flood damage. The plastered brick walls are decorated with grape leaves, a bust of the Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and other thematically apt decorations. The ceilings are low and brick walls with arched windows partition the seating area. The small wood bar is attractive, but overall the place feels cold and soulless which is surprising given how cozy it used to be when it housed Paisan’s Restaurant years ago.

Joe, our bartender, was extremely friendly and provided us with lots of information about the new Paisan’s scheduled to open a few blocks off of the Square. We didn’t try any of the wine, but Marmot Girl and Brian said their selection is excellent and reasonably priced. Tap beer selection is excellent and includes Guinness, Newcastle, Warsteiner, Spaten Optimator, Franziskaner Hefe-Weiss, Capital Seasonal & Amber, Gray’s Honey Ale, Leinie’s red and Honey Weiss, Miller Lite, Spotted Cow, Sierra Nevada and Goose Island Nut Brown Ale.

Friendly bartender and great beer selection boosted the grade for the Porta Bella Wine Cellar up to a B-/B.