Lucio’s BYOB & Grill – 905 Taft Street, is known around town as a “low-key” place where guests can come enjoy their own wine selections paired with Lucio’s palate pleasing, American cuisine. Guests have the option of selecting a three-course meal, starters or simply dessert to pair with their wines. Anyplace that allows me to do ME, is where I want to be. Which is why Lucio’s BYOB & Grill is the perfect place for hosting your own wine tasting.
A small group of friends and I gathered to celebrate two birthdays. I selected Lucio’s BYOB & Grill because my goal in life is to convert liquor drinkers to wine. Specifically red wine. Why? Because It’s cheaper, healthier and just tastes better (IMO). Lucio’s is the kind of place where you can really enjoy your company. It’s both intimate and quite. Perfect for girls night out. Especially when the weather is nice, and the patio is available.
I selected two of my favorite wines to highlight, “Cascina “Gilli” Malvasia Spumante” an Italian wine from Branwar Wines Distributing Co. and “Hot to Trot,” a red blend from Washington State’s 14 Hands Vineyards. We paired our BYOB bests with Lucio’s crab cake, spinach dip and fried calamari. Though the food was great, the crab cake was a bit over salted. We couldn’t determine if it was the mascarpone crema or the cake itself, but by the time we’d figured it out the crab cake was gone!
Lucio’s BYOB & Grill is open Monday – Saturday from 5pm – 10pm. Pro tip: On Monday the standard $8 corkage fee is waived. All wines are corked at no cost!
WINE NOTES
“Gilli”: A sparkling red wine made with Malvasia, a wine grape varietal grown in many of the worlds wine making regions. It holds a very distinctive combination of crispness and aromatic complexity. Its bouquet offers clean-edged wild red forest berry, along with unexpected floral fragrances. Best when served nicely chilled at 7-8°C. It is the perfect accompaniment to all desserts, in particular to fresh fruit and petit fours.
“Hot to Trot”: 14 Hands “Hot to Trot” is my Sunday afternoon go-to. It’s soft and silky on the tongue and tastes of all my favorite berries. This polished red wine offers aromas of cherry, red currant and tea. Flavors of cherries, ripe berries and plums, supported by a frame of refined tannins, give way to subtle notes of baking spices. Although it’s not sweet, it’s so easy you won’t be phased by that tiny nuance. Due to its inexpensive price point, it’s in regular rotation at my house.
*Reservations Recommended for dinner. Reservations now available from via Lucio’s BYOB & Grill’s website and Facebook. The restaurant will not seat incomplete parties. All guests must arrive within 30 minutes of their reservation or table will be released to other guests. Complimentary valet parking is available 6 days a week.
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