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Nov 22, 2011 2 min read

Now Open: Etcetera Wine Bar and The Dark Horse Inn

Now Open: Etcetera Wine Bar and The Dark Horse Inn
Etcetera Wine Bar. Photo by Rebecca Kinney. © tablehopper.com.
Table of Contents

With reporting from intern Rebecca Kinney.
A while ago, I mentioned ETCETERA WINE BAR was opening on Valencia Street, and it has happened as of last week. The warm (er, very red) interior includes a blonde wood bar with inlaid design, and soft lighting. The global wine list is actually a binder compiled by owner Alexandra Gerteis. Wines are divided by country; each country has an information page with notable regions, fun facts, and history, as well as information about the main grapes of each country. Gerteis wants to help people better understand wine and wine labels. Although she was an export manager for Cave de Ribeauvillé, Gerteis resists the title of wine expert. “I know enough to say that you can never know everything,” she demurs, “There is always more to discover.”

The food menu features flammenkueche (tarte flambée), a traditional dish that comes from Alsace, just like Gerteis. In addition to the classic flammenkueche with bacon and caramelized onions ($10), there are a number of variations including the Galician with chorizo, bell pepper, onions, and Manchego ($12), as well as sweet flammenkueches such as caramelized apples with cinnamon ($6). Gerteis says she wanted to serve flammenkueche because it is not something you can find very much in San Francisco, and it’s good for sharing with friends or for a meal by itself.

There is also a cheese menu with suggested wine pairings and descriptions of each cheese. For those wishing to explore cheese, information such as, “Smells of roasted nuts and brown butter with a concentrated sweet and salty flavor,” can really go a long way in helping you decide. A nightly tapas board, salads, and charcuterie round out the menu. Hours: Tue-Thu 5pm-12am, Fri-Sat 5pm-1:30am, Sun 5pm-11pm. 795 Valencia St. at 19th St., 415-926-5477.

Grub Street mentions THE DARK HORSE INN has opened on Geneva, serving food and beer. Co-owners Andrea Ferrucci and Sean Ingram are presenting a casual menu of snacky bites, burgers, and sandwiches. Some items reflect Americana like Buffalo wings ($8), mac and cheese ($6), and a Western burger ($10) with pepper jack, bacon, barbecue sauce, onion rings; others have Latin influences (tostones, $6; fish tacos, $9) and Asian influences (teriyaki chicken sandwich, $9.50; Vietnamese pulled pork sandwich, $10). Craft beers on tap include in-state selections like 1500 Pale Ale from Drake’s Brewing in San Leandro, Racer 5 from Bear Republic in Healdsburg, West Coast IPA from Green Flash in San Diego, and Mischief from The Bruery in Orange County; and in-town selections like White Lightning from Speakeasy, and Kalifornia Kolsch and Dark Star Mild from Magnolia Brewing. They’re also offering some bottled choices, and a few wines from Vigilance Winery. Mon 4pm-10pm, Tue-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-2am, Sun 10am-10pm. 942 Geneva Ave. at London, 415-469-5508.

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