Vino Loco Gourmet in Englewood - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

First time here and, although a bit pricey when all is said and done, the food was incredible. We ordered the brie, crab cake and dates to share and would order them all again. All of this and a bottle of cabernet made for a fantastic date night for this 23 year couple! I only knocked down the atmosphere score because there was a highly intoxicated woman at the bar berating her "friend" over politics. Not the restaurant's fault, except that she's employed there and was allowed to continue her rude behavior.

Wow!!!! Quite literally, the best food in Florida that we have yet to find. The menu items are creative and the combinations, like pears honey and blue cheese, are not something I’d think of but the whole is greater than the sum of its delicious parts. There are a number of gluten free items on the menu, they have gluten free carrot cake, and they have gluten free bread. So the items with ciabatta can be made gluten free. Do you know how hard it is to find a really good gazpacho? It’s hard. Sure, you may say, it’s only cold tomato soup. And I think a lot of restaurants treat it that way. But you have to have the proper spices and background flavors like cucumber. Their gazpacho is the best I’ve had outside of my own. Buyer beware: it’s a bit spicy hot. If that’s not your thing, steer clear. We were delighted that we found Vino Loco. 6 stars out of 5. We came early evening in the summer and it was not very busy. Englewood seems like a sleepy old Florida town. I kind of hope you don’t read this. Then the next time we come, Vino Loco will give us a relaxed chill dining experience. For their sake, I hope you read this and go there. You-and they- deserve your patronage. P.S. and the gluten free carrot cake? Stop. Please. Just stop. It’s not allowed to be this good. I’m calling the authorities. Kidding. But do you know how hard it is to find good carrot cake on a restaurant? Again, most places look at it like Sara Lee with carrots. Just too much damn sugar. This one is perfectly balanced. Again, a true gem. Great carrot cake. Gluten free folk, trust me when I say this: if you long to try carrot cake but have been unable to try it: indulge. This is what carrot cake tastes like. It’s a great carrot cake, hands down. PPS dinner was 37 each including one drink for me. We are stuffed. Not bad at all

We've been here a few times and we've all been very happy. The food is unique, filling and excellent. GREAT wines and informative servers. Love it after the beach.

Another great gem on West Dearborn Street. We love living in walking street of these excellent locally-owned businesses. Vino always has high-quality, well-prepared food with a friendly, caring staff to walk you through the wine and drink list. Make sure to ask about their specials (food and drink) as they NEVER disappoint.

Lori is an awesome server!! The crabcake is one of the best I’ve ever had anywhere hands-down no junk no fillers. It tends to want to fall apart a little bit but that’s because it’s nothing but crab meat and maybe a little mayo or whatever whatever they use. It’s awesome.

Great selection of wine, beer and Spanish tapas

Always good food and good service. Plus a nice patio to enjoy the Florida weather.

We had reservations for a group of 8 and no one mentioned that do not give out separate bills. If we had know this at the time we made reservations, we could have been more prepared to pay as a group. The owner and waitress were very nice.

A great little place to grab a glass of wine and some light bites with friends or family. We tried many tapas, great place for conversation. Seating inside or out, extensive bar and lovely street views of downtown Englewood.

Beachtown local spot meets gourmet wine bar. Love it!!!

The Crimini mushroom dish....DELICIOUS! Back again today, February 3rd, 2024. Had the same dish! Delicious again. But this time...BONUS! Kendra, our waitress, was Very helpful in many ways! BUT, she is hysterical and very entertaining. She had me hysterically laughing, and very entertained throughout our delicious tapas! Thank you for this extra special experience 💖

Very surprising to find such excellent and creative tapas - maybe the best outside Barcelona! Plus a great wine selection by the glass — almost impossible to find in Florida. Service (by the owner) was very professional. But all of the tapas - the meatballs, escargots, dates, pears with blue cheese, crab cakes, were very nicely done with lots of delicious bread. The gumbo and butternut squash soup to start were also wonderful. In Englewood’s art district, nice little place.

Great wine, tapas and dog treats!!

1st time there and it was wonderful. Great food and service. Its a must go if you are looking for wine and cheese but a lot more.

It was a slow night been wanting to try it because heard so many good reviews the food is very good but don’t go if your hungry the morrcan chicken was good small plate and the white bean foccia appertizer was good then the waitress convinced me to order the crab cake it was $23 and it was as big as a golf ball with a small teaspoon of sauce no garnish or vegetable or anything else I thought it was much too expensive probably wouldn’t rush back

Always excellent food, wine and service!

Absolutely amazing! So personable and knowledgeable!! We will most definitely be back again!

Vino Loco is a Quaint little place with nice ambiance and a nice selection of wines. Alcohol and beer are reasonably priced. But you’re LOCO if you order the food. The Brie and Pate plater was tasty but came with just a “smidge” of Brie (with 6 grapes). We also ordered the crab cake which was $23 for a very small cake. It was the most expensive crab cake we’ve ever eaten (from a not so high-end restaurant). We asked for an additional piece or 2 of crostini and were charged for it. We Don’t mind this, but given the cost of the crab and the platter, it seemed very chinchy. We enjoy tapas establishments and have eaten at many locally and elsewhere but won’t return to Vino Loco as the food is overpriced.

What a gem! Great atmosphere, great wine, and amazing food. They even have a nice wine store in the back.

We love this place. Food is excellent and the people running it are wonderful.

I was there for a wine tasting. The food was mediocre. The wine was provided by a local merchant. Purchased a nice bottle to which they added a corkage fee. I guess they considered that not one of their wines. The total experience didn't make me want to rush back.

This is one of our favorite places in Englewood. The wine list is extensive and priced well. We ordered a cheese board and it was balanced and delicious. The ciabatta was excellent. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. We sat outdoors and it was covered with a large fan. We will continue to visit here every time we are in Englewood.

adorable tapas restaurant on dearborn street. quieter than restaurants in manasota and the food was delicious, as was the service! nice wine selections by the glass and will def be back! easy parking too

What a wonderful experience. We were planning on going to another restaurant which haf. 1 1/2 hour wait and stumbled on this little gem. Every staff member we encountered were fabulous. Food was absolutely delish. I love eating small plates. Will definitely be back!

Had another wonderful evening last night. Sat outside to enjoy the laid back Dearborn vibe. This has become our favorite Englewood date night escape. Terrific wines. Yummy, healthy, small plates. Fun and engaging service. We've always had a great experience. Thanks Kendra!

Gourmet small tapas style dishes. Always fresh and interesting.

Great little spot in Englewood! Great wine selection, and awesome food! A must try

Outstanding tapas! We ordered a shrimp dish-FLAVORFUL, cooked perfectly! The chicken Spiced with cumin was also fabulous. We spoke with Ian about their wines and ordered a bottle of the Australian Viogner-light, crisp, very different from Virginia's Viogner but nice... the servers are attentive and friendly.

We have fallen in love with this place! We go there at least once a week and attend all of their events of special dinners and wine tastings! The staff is terrific! Ian and Kendra are our favorite servers. Ian is all about good service, and Kendra is all about service and having fun with the customers. It's a marvelous place to spend an afternoon and/or an evening!!!

Great food, excellent choices and very delicious. We were able to share several small plates and all 3 of us were happy.

Cute and relaxing atmosphere. A nice selection of wine 🍷

We had the best time. Our server, Kendra was terrific and made our time there so enjoyable. After some great wine and food, we headed to their store in the back and bought some bottles to bring home. We'll be visiting here again soon.

Great experience with great friends for a wine tasting.

Beautifully deocorated and perfect for dining outdoors. The food, though the average person might find it pricey, it is simply amazing. From the cheese and meat board to the meatball plate, everything was immaculately prepared. A nice selection of wines either by the glass or bottle. Looking for a place to sit, talk and have a bite? This is the place to go.

✨KENDRA made our Valentines Day experience Extra Special!!! ❤️❤️❤️

We really enjoyed the tapas, particularly the panini. We ate indoors and it was really charming. Bar was busy too. We will go there again.

These folks also have a wonderful retail wine shop in the back of the restaurant. The prices are on par or better than the big box retailers. People here are very eager to help you select a great wine. You can park right on the side of the building if there's no parking out front. Easy access in and out plus you will be supporting a local business.

We have been dining at Vino Loco when we winter in Englewood from NYC every year from when it first opened. We have never been disappointed. The wine selection is extensive and the tapas are all made to order and delicious. Our last visit Ian was as always knowledgeable about every wine and every dish. My husband had the days special of empanadas which were excellent. I had the smoked salmon over greens which was excellent and the only other place I find that quality of smoked salmon is in the bagel shops in NYC My only suggestion would be to maybe have a few walnuts and cranberries added to an otherwise delicious but plain smoked salmon and greens salad and maybe a couple of pieces of brushetta toast. Will def continue to frequent this restaurant.

Great place to enjoy a glass of wine with friends

Welcoming atmosphere. A good place to make new friends.

What a wonderful little gem this is!!! Lisa, the owner, is absolutely amazing. She greets us with a smile every single time, just as the rest of the crew. Leslie is incredible. Their knowledge in recommending wines has allowed us to taste some amazing bottles and add new favorites to our list. The food: YUM!! So original and delicious. Great combinations and they go perfectly with the wines. Compliments to the chef! We never miss a chance to go to Vino Loco when we are in town, and it is on our top of our recommended places to visit when you are in town. You’ll miss out big time if you don’t go!

I have been a regular, snowbird, patron of this outstanding tapas restaurant for 8 years. Lisa and her staff, Val, Donna, Bobby, Katrina Lynsey and others are friendly, outgoing, knowledgable, and always treat me like family. They greet me with my nickname and always remember my likes and dislikes and make suggestions accordingly. I’ve eaten in restaurants around the world; France, Spain, Japan, Viet Nam and across the span of the U.S.. Vino Loco ranks number one for a superb gustatory experience. Their wine selection is unparalleled!

Super service! The food is amazing. It's a quality over quantity place, which is perfect. This was an unexpected afternoon out, relaxed on their patio with excellent food and wine.

Cool little cork and fork type of place. Great service too,! (Sorry I forgot our server's name, she was really personable)

Okay so this was our third time visiting this place, first time we had no issues and did a wine tasting bought a prosecco from the tasting. Second time there were 2 couples and took home 4 bottles home 2 each couple from the wine tasting. This time there were 12 of us. The wine tasting and tapas went well, on the last two wines I wanted to have a bit more of the tasting we were not sure which one to buy. We asked the girl serving the water if she can ask the owners for a bit more wine for us mind you they give you very little to taste, we waited no one came. I went up to the bar and Lisa the owner was not happy that I asked for more wine she said it was a tasting, not a full glass. Ian to defuse the situation said he would open another bottle, he did and gave our table a bit more to taste. I decided after the tasting I was going to buy that same bottle of wine it was delicious and also order one to drink there with our friends. We asked the girl serving the water to let the owners know what we needed. Well, we waited for about 10 minutes and no bottle came. Our group was ready to leave some had to work the next day. My friend had order tapas to go for me assuming for some crazy reason it was free.....we got a bill for it no problem it was 8 dollars so we paid it. We had already left a 10 cash tip prior. So, on the 8 bill we did not include a tip since we had already done so, as we were leaving Lisa specifically took our tab from our table and came to the door asking if everything was okay. I explained to her that we were not happy because we had order a bottle for our table and it never came, plus we wanted to take another one home, she was dismissive and borderline rude. So we just left. Here is the kicker as we are walking out into the parking lot this guy comes out from vino loco right behind us and start calling us names, using foul language on us, yelling to go back to NJ, mind you we are locals. The place is not safe, the owner is rude. We paid 70 dollars per couple for wine tasting from the get go and all we asked was for a little more wine to help us decide between the last 2 bottles. The place is also understaffed we are not coming back. Port Charlotte has a fine wine tasting, we will check that one out. Update. 9/9/2022..to respond to the owner we never had multiple wine as she claims we had just the one Ian open for just not us he gave to the other tables. We did order a bottle of wine to go and one for the table neither one we got. We never received multiple tapas as she claims. I did not order extra tapas to go my friend did without me knowing and we paid for it. Lastly why should we tip anymore when the service provided to us was lousy and you were rude? GRATUITIES are according to the service yours was lacking and if you have to be so cheap about the wine then why bother. You should have extra bottles for your customers.

One of the best meals I’ve ever had. Everything was delicious.

Treated very nice by Kinda....will be back

We ordered this special via Grubhub for a celebration at the beach. The order was pushed to 1H later and they called with a mix-up about a menu item we “couldn’t have ordered because it doesn’t exist”. (So the restaurant needs to verify with Grubhub then). Food came in a box with NO silverware or napkins to eat albóndigas with sauce and salad with dressing even though we specifically asked for these things (and as someone who formerly packaged caterings this should be common sense). It was only 6 small tapas, not that hard to track. Also, we marked “vegan” on a dish to have the topper cheese taken off. The person who needs to be dairy free was told “Yes, I ordered it dairy free for you” as they ate it and the got a stomachache from the cheese. All around for the cost of what we paid this was not worth it. The Grubhub driver gets 100/10 points for trying to clarify with what seemed like a very unorganized and confused restaurant not focused on its customers. I would call and get refunded but in my experience get a run around of whose fault it is when using a 3rd party app.

Great place to go very friendly. Our service was amazing good food and wine. We will be going back with friends .We met the owner she was great to talk to .if your looking for a night out with friends or a romantic night out this is the place.

Great place, Kendra was great!!! Wine was great.

Tasty tapas and great wines. Our server Kendra was friendly and attentive. Will definitely go back next time we're in Englewood.

This is the kind of place you would want to bring either a group of friends or your special person for a romantic evening. It has a great ambience, nice music playing, and a lovely decor. The presentation is top notch. That all being said, we were very disappointed with the slow service. We ordered our drinks and soup which we received very quickly. We ordered just 2 appetizers/tapas that we waited 45 minutes for! During peak season, they really should have more staff to accommodate the volume of visitors to the area. Sitting at the bar, we could see that the servers had a rough time keeping up with all the orders. Also a little pricey for what you get. One and done for us.

A lovely dining experience. Great food, wine and service. We had a wonderful evening at Vino Loco!

Really good food, wine and service. Best server we have had on our vacation. She was the only server and the place was full.

Staff is wonderful! Food and wines are awesome!

Great wait staff, we had the beet salad, which was wonderful, the pears with honey and blue cheese, again really tasty and the meatballs. They were okay, but probably wouldn't choose them again.

We are just visiting this area and this place was highly recommended by a local…it lived up to the praise it received and exceeded it! We sat outside on the patio near the heater that the owner turned on for us on this breezy evening, and it was so charming and cozy! We had beet salad, pate, mushrooms, empanadas, white bean bruschetta and gobbled the key lime pie (light and creamy and perfectly tart and sweet) and the carrot cake was so moist and flavorful with a light dusting of coconut on top! Textbook Cabernet was recommended and it was delicious! Such a well-prepared meal with great wine and super friendly and knowledgeable service! We will be back and the table next to us booked a reservation for the next night! Loved everything about this place! You will not be disappointed!

The food and service was excellent! Valerie was our waitress and was very attentive, enjoyable and knowledgeable of the menu. Will definitely return.

Absolutely delicious and fulfilling tapas with a variety of wines to please any pallette. 🍷 Cheers and enjoy this beautiful restaurant with a phenomenal atmosphere right in the heart of Englewood

Outdoor seating. Good food. Great service.

Very nice evening sitting outside on their patio as the sun went down. We had a great server who helped us choose our wine (we tasted 2 before choosing) and then gave us all the specials of the day. The tapas are amazing and you can tell the chef loves combining flavors to make something a little bit different. Yes, the serving sizes are small but their food is organic and it's not just something simple on a plate. The place was hopping with many regulars who received hugs from the servers. It was a sweet night here for us.

Really 4.5 stars. What a delightful little gem. Mainly a Tapas bar with a small wine shop in the rear. Had two of the specials of the day, seared scallop, fried calamari, and three of the menu items, Morroccan chicken , smoked salmon, and fresh baked brie. All delicious, flavors well matched. Chef really knows what he/she is doing. Chicken was a tad overcooked, somewhat dry, but not unpallateable. Scallops and calamari perfectly cooked. Light sauces on each perfect. Guest had a "house red wine", which is really one of their odd (in a good way), can't find anywhere else wines that they also have in their shop. Was pretty decent. The house wine won't win any awards, but didn't have any bad characteristics. Very drinkable. And reasonably priced. I had a Full Sail Ale, which is an excellent IPA and hard to find around here. Reasonable prices. Each dish typically $10 to $14. Drinks $6 to $10. Not a lot of atmosphere, small generic place, but I'm there for the food, not the ambiance. Wait staff was very good and knowledgable. Overall I really liked this place.

Great afternoon at Vino Loco. A nice variety of tapas, relaxing atmosphere, great service and so, so tasty. Ask about specials, as they're always amazing. Cucumber soup is especially delicious. Where else can you find two different vermouth drinks on the menu?

Food, wine, and service (Donna) was outstanding.

Fun atmosphere and experience. We went for a wine tasting with tapas.

Real gourmet food. My husband liked the great wine selection. We were very comfortable outside listening to Tommy sing, very nice.

Best Place For Brunch. They Have the Best Eggs...

Great atmosphere. Wonderful selection of wine. Great owner.

You can tell this was a passionate concept when it was taken on by the owners. There's lots of love in the food with interesting flavor combinations, menu selections, and excellent wine and beer list. The staff seem to love their job and seemed polite, helpful, and happy! Great experience

Love the outside seating. Good food.

Gourmet food. Wine specials everyday. Good service. They make you feel special.

What an adorable, delicious, fresh place! So much wine knowledge. I cannot wait to make it a regular stop.

Fabulous food. Great specials. Wine store in back. Fun time.

The food was extremely good, surprisingly so for Englewood. Service was excellent. I recommend the pate. Not on the menu, but ask for it, excellent!!

Wonderful wine, food and entertainment.

Food was very tasty. Service good. Dog friendly. Wine selection was adequate.

Great food, friendly service, decent prices. Always love stopping here for lunch when in the area.

I made reservations for my wife and I at Vino Loco Gourmet Restaurant for Valentine’s Day. When we arrived we received a very warm welcome by Val and we were promptly seated. She explained to us that the Owner (Joyce, who we had the pleasure of meeting at the end of our visit) and the Executive Chef (Katrina) decided to open 3 special bottles of wine from the wine shop to pair with the evening’s entrees. She offered us a taste of the red and the white and we accepted the recommendations. Our Server (Leslie) was wonderful and brought us the crab and shrimp bisque. It was fantastic. The entrees were brought out at the perfect time and I had the pan seared halibut with a squash medley and scalloped potatoes. My wife had the vegan Bolognese. Both entrees were outstanding. Executive Chef Katrina creates and prepared each entree to perfection. I honestly did not want the meal to end! The desert that was chosen was the vanilla gelato covered in strawberry preserves and drizzled with a chocolate syrup served in a chocolate cup. It too was delicious. My wife and I were extremely impressed with every aspect of the evening. We highly recommend visiting. Well done!

Great atmosphere. I very much enjoyed the outside seating. This is a great place to get together with friends!!

Great place for tapas/ light meal. Friendly, accommodating staff. Little wine shop in the back. Will be back! 🍷

Love this Place and its Exotic Food and Wine

Tasty tapas and great beverage selection.

Great guidance regarding wine purchase

Donald's. Food, beverages and staff!

Can't wait to return! My wife and I loved it!

Great meal...great wine...great friends!

This place is first class!!! I don't get there often enough , but when I do..... AMAZING.

Great Location, Great food, Good service, Great Atmosphere! Highly reccomended! A great place to find Organic and Vegan options too!

Wine tasting get a reservation! It's very small and every seat was reserved, inside and out. We saw multiple people turned away. Arrive early to have your choice of seats. Order an extra glass or two of wine, they had several specials. They provide a bit of bread and cheese to clense your palate between wines. But go ahead and order something as your $10 tasting fee is waived with a purchase. Plan to take your time. She visits each table with a small pour and info about the wine so it's a relaxed pace. We look forward to returning next time we are in town!

Best place for good time in Englewood!

It was Such a Great Experience! The Music, the Food, and Service was Awesome!

Food and drinks are very good. Went in with a very large group (40+) the staff i the banquet seemed a vit overwhelmed. Other than that great overall.

Great ambiance, delicious food and giod wine selection

The music! The food! The wine! It's all amazing!!

Gourmet food and wine. Classy entertainment. Wonderful service.

Our favorite restaurant in FL. We go several times during our stay. By now I think we've tried every dish. You can't go wrong whatever your choice.

Excellent bistro for tapas, snacks or just drop in for a cold beer or glass of wine. 5 stars!

Delicious small treats and tapas with wine. Great service and often live music.

Fabulous place for Sunday brunch. Food was great, and service was very good. Only complaint was that warm brie starter arrived after one meal had already arrived. Music was a very nice touch.

The samdwiches here are always do fresh! Soup is delicious