Humble Wine Bar

I returned to the newly opened Humble Wine Bar in Lakewood for a bite to eat with a friend. It was nice to see the place busy on a Thursday night, and luckily we easily found parking spots in the lot behind the building and were seated right away.

My friend hadn't been there yet, and she was struck by the atmosphere and design. It makes quite an impression when you walk in. It was a gorgeous night, so the garage doors were open to the patio as well, and the late summer breeze felt great throughout the restaurant.

I had my mind made up before I even got there. Somehow, the Lardo pizza had alluded us during the Friends & Family Night. Everyone had raved about it, and I was determined to get it. I paired it with the Humble House Salad ($7).

Now, this salad pictures is sans goat cheese. After a couple of bites, I realized that it was missing and the kitchen quickly fixed their mistake. Apparently, it was their first day with this salad on the menu and they hadn't quite figured out how to plate it yet. I saw another one go by without goat cheese later. The dressing on it was simply amazing, very light and tangy. It's a perfect pairing with a carb-loaded pizza.

When I ordered the Lardo ($15), our server said "Do you know what Lardo is?" and then proceeded to check in on me after it arrived to see if I liked the pizza. There was a look on her face that doubted whether or not I was going to like the lard. Trust me, this isn't the craziest thing that I've eaten...I'm fine. Her reactions were a little odd. Maybe other diners have been put off by it? If so, their loss. This pizza was fantastic.

Two wins with the food.

I wish that I could say the same for the wine. My first glass was the White Blend, and it was terrible. It tasted like apple juice, and smelled like rotten apple juice. Of course, I choked it down, and then ordered a glass of their Riesling. Much better.

Deagan, the owner, addressed several Frequently Asked Questions on their Facebook page recently. One of those brought up the issue of sound. Apparently, there are plans in the works to install some sound-proofing elements into the restaurant. Boy, is it needed. The restaurant was busy, but not full, and I could barely hear my friend across the table. This restaurant has all of the elements for a great, relaxing night out, but I don't want to scream to be heard by my dining companions. Expect some changes on this front soon.

Other than the noise level, my first return visit was a success. Also, the leftover pizza reheated well and made for a great lunch the next day!

Have you been to Humble Wine Bar yet?

Humble Wine Bar
15400 Detroit Avenue
Lakewood, OH 44107
(216) 767-5977