Veritas Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 yep, exactly. That's something that the area didn't have and it's not a bad thing. In fact, a few months ago now, I was asking (on here I think) if Sheffield had a "nice wine bar" - because I couldn't think of one. In the past Menzels on Ecclesall Road used to be a very nice upmarket place with a good choice of wine - but that seems to have gone downhill considerably. Going back many years further, there used to be another very nice, upmarket, wine bar on Ecclesall Road called the Victoria (I think). But that went donkey's years ago. There's that place "La Scala" on the crossroads of Abbeydale and Archer Road which purports to be some kind of wine bar/bistro, but it's hardly upmarket and I don't like the atmosphere in there. So, it's a struggle to find a place where we can go and enjoy a glass (or bottle) of decent wine in nice surroundings, maybe even have a snack if we fancy it. I think the Summerhouse will tick those boxes. I wonder if it's open in winter though? I remember going to The Voctoria Wine Bar for a birthday dinner 28 years ago and also for a drink on other occasions. It was indeed a bit on the upmarket pricier side. It was owned I think by Johnny Falsone who laso owned Giovanni's further down the road opposite the nursery. Menzel's when Michael originally opened it was a great place with good wine and food unfortunately he overspent on the place and was always struggling due to the pressure from his bankers. I thought La Scala was just a local Italian restaurant although I only ever went there once. I also thought Trippet's in its original incarnation was good and enjoyed many a Friday lunch in there when it was usually very busy mainly due to one of the local barristers chambers. I also used the Crush Bar in The Lyceum on a Friday lunch when it first reopened with Champagne & Oysters being promoted Funny enough I had a conversation last week about the original Sheffield wine bars VAT 1 and Mr Kites and how our palates have changed from the early days of drinking Bulls Blood and Tiger Milk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreb48 Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Wow. I'd completely forgotten about VAT1. Can remember going in as soon as it opened. We thought we were so cool. It was German whites for us. A nice chilled Niersteiner. Any idea what year that was? Also I'd confirm that La Scala is an Italian restaurant and certainly not a place to go just for a drink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritas Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Wow. I'd completely forgotten about VAT1. Can remember going in as soon as it opened. We thought we were so cool. It was German whites for us. A nice chilled Niersteiner. Any idea what year that was? Also I'd confirm that La Scala is an Italian restaurant and certainly not a place to go just for a drink I would have thought I went in VAT1 about 1978-1980 not sure how long it was before it became Bartons. Think it was 1980 when I started frequenting Mr Kites more regularaly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerbyTup Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 (edited) I remember the name "VAT 1" but I can't for the life of me think where in Sheffield it was. I used to frequent Mr Kites too back in the late 70's/80's. It's still there although it appears to be full of scruffy looking students nowadays, whereas it used to be quite a trendy, fairly upmarket, kind of place before. It's a long time since I went to La Scala so my memory of it being some kind of a wine bar/bistro (I did say /bistro!) may be incorrect. So, it is just a bistro then? Fair enough. Maybe it should try and be a wine bar as well seeing as we are so short of them in this city? West 10 - yes, I know that one. In fact I was in there fairly recently with my dearest. What can I say? It's ok isn't it? It's not exactly anything special in terms of the decor or the wine list, but it's in a decent part of the city and it does attract a bit better class of folk, although having said that, when we were there a few weeks ago I was almost at the point of taking issue with one of the "locals". This prat was showing off outside with his new iphone 6 plus and kept banging on the window with it - God knows why. But he was just such an annoying pillark - and this was not a young kid in his teens or twenties - but some bloke in middle age trying to impress the MILF clientele no doubt. I'm afraid that area, Ranmoor, does seem to harbour quite a few of those type. They tend to be academics, often in medicine or perhaps education. Guardian and Observer readers. They want all the trappings of capitalism but extol a strong socialist conscience. They need a damn good hiding actually. Edited November 1, 2015 by DerbyTup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreb48 Posted November 1, 2015 Share Posted November 1, 2015 As I remember it VAT1 was on West St near Glossop Rd Baths on the corner of one of the streets opposite. I remember it changed to Bartons which was a burger bar. I'm sure the owner of that had something to do with Uncle Sams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cityspinner Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 As I remember it VAT1 was on West St near Glossop Rd Baths on the corner of one of the streets opposite. I remember it changed to Bartons which was a burger bar. I'm sure the owner of that had something to do with Uncle Sams. Yes it was and yes he was the founder of Uncle Sams. Those were the days when Wine Bars were a real novelty in Sheffield and we thought we were super-cool by frequenting them. I remember going in Vat 1 before Josephines! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreb48 Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 Funny how a thread about Summerhouse has turned into something else ! Thanks cityspinner , I thought the guy at Bartons had owned Uncle Sams but I didn't want to say that for sure. He was a nice bloke to talk to. It must have been there for a few years cos I can remember taking my kids there late 80s. Great burgers. A Vat1 and Josies night out sounds good to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerbyTup Posted November 17, 2015 Share Posted November 17, 2015 Very true DT. is the wine list good then?The city centre could do with similar imo. TBH the wine list is "ok" - suitable for purpose I'd say. It's not a Menzels (of old) where you can find something really special to drink - but it's got a reasonable mix of decent wines that most people in that area will find palatable. No Blue Nun or Black Tower though - so some may be disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tess Posted January 20, 2016 Share Posted January 20, 2016 Has anyone eaten here since the last posts? It looks very good - I follow them on Facebook and they seem to have some good offers. Might use Valentines Day as an excuse to try it myself! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritas Posted January 23, 2016 Share Posted January 23, 2016 Has anyone eaten here since the last posts? It looks very good - I follow them on Facebook and they seem to have some good offers. Might use Valentines Day as an excuse to try it myself! Been a couple of times as well as NYE food very good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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