Walking up to Esters Wine Bar, I was impressed with their stunning design. The exterior is modern and their outdoor patio is quite inviting. They happen to be next door to Cassia, an extremely popular restaurant featuring Southeast Asian cuisine. I invited my friend to try Weekend Brunch at Esters Wine Bar.
The vibe is friendly and relaxed. The interior has high walls with shelves and reminded me of a library. Wine bottles take the place of books and the symmetry is visually interesting. Directly in front, our bartender provided all of the beverage orders. A refrigerated case featuring gourmet cheese was to my right and in the distance, you can watch the busy action from the kitchen.
When we arrived, they appeared to be short-handed. Besides the kitchen chefs, only the bartender and the general manager were working the front of the house. We learned that the patio was reserved for a wedding shower and so we sat at the bar. I didn’t mind that because I was able to people watch.
Bloody Mary with tomato, cucumber, jalapeno, sesame and soy 
B ‘n’ B Sour – Rye, Bacon Amaro, Cold Brew, Maple Syrup topped with coffee bean shavings
The ingredients on the B ’n’ B Sour intrigued me: rye, bacon amaro, cold brew, and maple syrup. We were thoroughly entertained at the amount of effort it took to make this drink. During two separate times, the bartender shook the mixture vigorously in a cocktail shaker. The result was a tasty frothy coffee drink that was served in a dessert wine glass.
My friend knows Bloody Marys and when I saw the drink, it didn’t have the “wow” factor that I’ve seen in many others. I was relieved that he said that it was very good after taking his first sip. Loeb caught notice that he liked it and clarified that it has a unique sesame cucumber taste.
I failed to communicate my intent that day and so we ended up heavy on salads. Despite the many choices on the menu, my friend surprised me by selecting a chopped salad. I selected an arugula salad to share and a Croque Madame as my main course. Croque Madame is a gourmet Ham and Cheese Sandwich topped with fried eggs.
The beverage of choice seemed to be the Esters Mimosa Trio Service. This includes a bottle of Italian Prosecco with 3 flight sized glasses of fresh fruit juices: orange, grapefruit, and lemon-mint juices. Customers could mix their mimosas to the desired taste and strength. It seemed like a fun thing to do. It was priced at $33.
Since I selected Croque Madame, I went for the full French experience by selecting champagne. I was surprised and delighted to receive a glass of Guy Larmandier champagne. This estate produces a small yield of high-quality champagne. This champagne had notes of apple with a very nice finish.
While Esters is called a wine bar, the food is not an afterthought. Chefs that have led the kitchen include Jeremy Fox (Rustic Canyon) and Chris Ono (Gesso). The current executive chef is Jessica Liu He (The Bazaar by José Andrés). Other interesting brunch items include made-to-order frittata, nduja cheesy grits, and a Reuben with house corned brisket and sauerkraut.
Esters is easily a place to entertain a client from out-of-town during happy hour, grab a drink before eating at Cassia, or hosting a wedding shower in their patio. They also have a small retail section where you can purchase chilled wine, cheese, and various gourmet treats.
Esters Wine Bar, 1314 7th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401; 310.899.6900
esterswineshop.com