Winetopia

Not surprised to see this place closed. They all drank on the job, gave away free drinks, overcharged for drinks, were loud, and like I said in my last review, fought with patrons. GOOD RIDDANCE!

Closed!!! The place is out of business and boarded up. I do not know why the system is saying that this review is too short. Do not try to go to this place, it is completely closed there is no one there and they are removing the sign.

This place is not there anymore and rightfully so. The staff drank on the job and overcharged for drinks. It was not a reputable business. One of the «owners» spilled a glass of wine (his) on me and gave me $ 40 cash (after me insisting) for ruining my pants and shoes that cost much more. Good riddance.

This establishment is closed. There is a lock-​out notice on their door indicating failure to pay rent.
Taking up space for review purposes.
This place is closed!

The service is the best here! We came in for a glass of wine, and ended up staying over 3 hours. The guys here are very friendly and make you feel right at home. Margherita pizza is the best and the sauce is homemade by KP’s wife. Will makes the best cosmos! Thank you Will, KP and Cesar for amazing service! :)

I recently moved into the neighborhood, and I had been checking out Winetopia because a) I like wine, and b) I was looking for a nice, nearby hangout. The first visit was innocuous enough, although the place was near empty.
The second visit, though, was for a networking happy hour. I went to the bar and ordered a glass of wine, which was advertised at $ 6. I pulled out my $ 7 in cash to hand to the bartender, but when I tried to pay, he waived me off and went to the register. He printed me a bill, which totaled $ 8.06. I was being charged some form of tax (!) and a mandatory tip. This being ridiculous, I handed over my $ 7 and walked away.
I was then pursued by the bartender, who said that the manager insisted that I pay the additional fees. As I had no more dollar bills, I gave him a $ 10 bill and asked him to bring me change. Rather than return to me, he handed my change to another patron, and had *her* schlep it back.
Obviously, that was the only drink I purchased that night, and it will be my last at Winetopia. I guess I’ll give Dish Society a try instead.

Great wine bar. Bartenders and owner were fun to talk to. The wine selection was good and not pricey. Plenty of available liquor for shots. Spinach dip was really good and fresh tasting. Even had some acoustic live music after 10 pm.

It’s been a few years since I have been to Winetopia. I went the first time simply because a friend of mine had a Groupon. I thought the place was OK on that visit and never bothered to return. Last year, a friend of mine posted some pictures of the food she had for happy hour and it looked like the place had improved. So, last Wednesday I was finally able to go with a friend to check it out. Our purpose in going was for steak night.
We arrived around 7:10 and a few people were siting around the bar. The bar didn’t have two vacant seats together so we elected to sit at a table. The bartender told us «Just come up here when you know what you want». So, we stared at the chalkboard menu for a few minutes and realized that only a few things had prices. We had JUST missed happy hour by 10 minutes. The only part of the menu that I noticed prices was for happy hour! Totally strange to me!
So, I ordered the house Merlot and I told the bartender I wanted a steak and he said «T-​bone or Filet Mignon». I had no idea what the prices were, but filet mignon sounded really good so I chose that. He asked how I wanted it cooked and that it came with garlic mashed potatoes and a caprese salad.
The salad came out about 10 minutes after my friend and I had been sitting there. The steak and garlic mashed potatoes came out about 30 minutes later. The salad was forgettable. My medium rare steak was super chewy and the garlic mashed potatoes were actually pretty good!
The owner KP came by and he did ask if the steak was cooked properly. I said it was fine because I was starving and really didn’t want to wait longer for another steak to be made.
When my check came I was totally shocked at my total.
$ 33 for my steak and $ 8 for my wine! I know it’s my fault for not asking what the prices were, but GEEZ! The price of the steak totally had me by surprise. I just went to Taste of Texas with my parents and the 6oz center cut filet wrapped in bacon for only a dollar cheaper than what I had a Winetopia! CRAZY!
The guys working there are nice and that’s the only reason I’m giving it two stars, but watch out people! It’s shady that they hardly have prices anywhere on that menu! Not to mention that they put a $ 10 hold on your card. I’m still waiting for my card to process and it’s now Monday :-/​
How hard is it to have little wine menus at each table or prices for everything on that chalkboard? It’s a restaurant! That is not an outlandish request!

…food is good, but don’t get the pizza unless you like cumin! The atmosphere is fun and anything can happen!

Stopped by this place last night. Ask the bartender for the wine by the glass list and he said your looking at it pointing towards himself with a smirk. Asked us if we like white or red. When we told him red he asked full bodied or light! He said they don’t have a wine menu b/​c the wine selections change all the time and we wouldn’t recognize any of the brands of wine. We said no thanks and left.
First time at a wine bar that doesn’t have a basic wine by the glass/​bottle list. I am assuming they sell by the glass but it is an assumption b/​c the bartender never told us. Probably will not be back.

First impression: While the décor is lacking, it’s a charming space that stays relatively quiet and is inviting. When me and my wife arrived, a gentleman in his early 40s (owner?) walked our friends (a couple) who had arrived earlier through some great selections, and then walked us through as well. He was friendly, knowledgeable and just wonderful. We drank and laughed and had a marvelous time, and this was on the way to being one of my very favorite places to get a drink. A nice quiet place for a few couples to have some great wine and relax. So great!
My friend took out a ten and lay it on the table we were sitting at, as he was going to leave that as the tip. Then we went back for a second drink and decided we’d close out our tabs. Then we stood at the bar and waited. It wasn’t a busy evening (no more than 20 people in the place), but the only bartender (the older, helpful gentlemen no longer there) was helping another customer. Fine. We chatted for five minutes. Then someone else approached and got addressed before us, who were obviously waiting for our order. Fine. But then the bartender, after addressing the new person and taking their drink order, went and fiddled with the ipod for another few minutes, forgot the guy’s drink order and then took it again. Then he helped someone else. Finally got to my friend (who is spanish – as in, from spain), condescended to his request and got his drinks. He took my order, and printed all of our tabs off. My friend left zero tip (he was tipping with cash) on the credit card receipt. Bartender poured one of my two drinks (two glasses of wine), then decided to process the bills, ignoring me when I asked about the second glass. When he finished the bills, he looked at me, so I asked for my (already paid for and tipped on) drink, and he remembered (he seemed a bit too tipsy).
All this was frustrating, but then, as he was pouring my glass of wine, he confided in me: All of these g*******d foreigners need to go back to their country. I let him finish pouring the glass of wine I had already paid for, considered throwing it at him (decided against it because we were having a fun time and no one else heard – plus it was an excellent wine) and told him to shut his f***ing mouth, before heading back to my table, and enjoying time with my friends. Before we left, I let my friends know the gist of the conversation and that they should keep their cash.
Here’s the thing: I loved this little bar, I loved the concept, I loved the wine and I loved the service we received when we arrived. If we had only gotten a single drink, it would have been perfect and five stars. Unfortunately, the other bartender is inattentive, forgetful and openly racist to other customers. This Dr Jekyll, Mr Hyde act means that as marvelous as it was at first blush, we’ll never be back.

What kind of an owner sits around late at night writing rude messages to reviewers? This is what I got from a review I wrote 2 ½ YEARS ago for Winetopia! As if he even remembers what happened. SO SAD AND LAME!!!
Thank You 1÷9÷2014
New! 90 friends
9 reviews
Krutar P.
Houston, TX
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Small production wines equals rotational wine list every few days… And by forever you mean 5 mins or less? Wow that is forever…

My friends and I came to this bar to have a glass or two of wine. it is called WINETOPIA after all. The staff was extremely rude. One of the customers actually came up to us and asked why we would come to a place like this. Not only did the staff not defend us but we will not be returning to this place. Bad service and rude staff… seemed to be looking for a fight. Sad. :(hopefully this place doesn’t last long with such rude customers/​staff.

Welcoming, cozy atmostphere & friendly crowd. Very knowledgeable bar staff with great hospitality. Will come back soon!

Most of my previous grumbles looked like they got smoothed out. I’ve been here a time or two since my initial visit and have to say the general consensus is very positive.
The owners really care about good customer service and making sure that everybody is having a great time. There’s a karaōke night every Tuesday which is definitely worth dropping in on for the people watching and toe tapping.

Actually ZERO stars would be more appropriate, but that is not an option.
Let’s begin by saying that I am a huge fan of Unilocal and refer to Unilocal alllllll the time. Thank you fellow Unilocalers for being awesome! And by the way I should have read the reviews on this place a bit more carefully, but lesson learned. However, I have not Unilocaled in a long long time… why? lazy, stuff, life. Anyhow, that all changed after we experienced Winetopia. No, I mean DOUCH-​ATOPIA! This was the worst bar experience I’ve had, ever!!! which is sad and extreme considering I’ve been to countless shady/​sketchy joints but still managed to drink my way to a good time. Well, thank you Winetopia and Mister A-​hole bartender for winning the grand prize of being a complete shite-​hole. Yes, this establishment motivated me to actually find my Unilocal login information just so I can share the joys and experience with anyone who even gives a hoot.
The beginning: so this whole journey began with me trying to lead our group to a new wine bar in a centralized location. so with a few clicks on Unilocal,I found Winetopia, noted that it is in a nice area which I’m familiar with, checked out a few reviews that were all positive, and everyone agreed the place looks like a sure winner!
The arrival: we arrived around 8ish on a Thursday evening (last week) and from the outside, it looks lively and fun! Parking lot was full but still some spaces left for us, which is always a good thing… and that’s when all the good stuff went bad. Very bad. sooooo bad.
The downward spiral: instantly as we entered we noticed something was «odd» — it appeared a makeup party was going on or it looked like some sort of sales thing of that nature, so that was weirdness number 1. Weirdness number 2 was there were no chairs or stools… ok well there was seating outside. Oh, just kidding! no there wasn’t. Oh well we can stand and drink our wine… okay so let’s get that wine menu! Weirdness Number 3 was when we asked for a wine list, the A-​hole drunken bartender slurred at us, «we don’t have menus, we’re not the Tasting Room»
WTF???
The A-​hole bartender: he gets his own section. This guy… what a prize. He was three or four cheap sheets to the wind drunk in seven thousand directions. He could barely hold himself upright, and he was shouting insults at us about how we were going to the Tasting Room… what WHAT??? is he insane? perhaps. But anyhow, after realizing he was drunk, I asked him since he didn’t have a menu, what are his wine specials? He said, «I’m not the Tasting Room, my wine is affordable. all my stuff is good. All of it is $ 10 or $ 13 a glass and it’s all good. Not like the TAsting Room…»
OKay what the hell is he talking about the Tasting Room for??? Did the Tasting Room give him an ass beating? I hope so, he deserves one. but anyway.
So yeah, this conversation went on for a while, sadly, and he kept slurring about the Tasting Room. Then he told us we were copping out for not finding chairs and we can sit in their back room… so we looked in there and there were piles of clothes and open containers of food. No seating and probably a staff break room. Who knows!!! and more importantly, who cared at that point? Not us. We thanked him for his time and turned around. as soon as we turned our backs, he drunkenly SHOUTED at us. yes shouted!!! he shouted at us, «hey ladies, you go back now to the Tasting Room where you came from!!» and something about us being dumb bitches… lovely. Just lovely…
Okay so that was our 20 minutes adventure in and out of Winetopia. What a glorious time, and a memory that we will all four share for the rest of our lives.
At least our evening could only get better after that charade. We ended up at the bar at Philippe and had a marvelous time: good service, great food and fabulous (and affordable!!!) wine… and spent the night laughing about that crazy circus of an experience we just had… and I had to laugh harder — they had $ 9 glasses of Merlot, and the A-​hole bartender at Douch-​atopia was yelling about how his bar was the cheapest and nicest place in town. What. an. idiot.
It’s unfortunate that our experience was so bizarrely negative, I would not be afraid to return and see if we can have a better time, or at least to be entertained by that drunken bartender ASSCLOWN. what a fun guy!

I will start off by saying I give Winetopia a BIG FAT 0 STARS
If you want to go to a quiet wine bar… do not go here. With all of the live music, djs, and owner drunk yelling obnoxiously, and their bartender who is a creeper it’s absolutely ridiculous.
I went on a night where they were grilling steaks outside?! Is that even sanitary… or just tacky? As I walked inside with my group the first thing we saw was the big black chalk board. another tacky piece to this dive. No wine list was given to us so we basically had to roam around the bar with our eyes closed to pick a «standard» bottle of wine. We ended up picking a red wine that was «okay» but not for the price.
As we were drinking our wine I began to notice the plates of food that another table had. It literally looked like they bought their food at Sams and threw it in a organized fashion on a cutting board. What was more funny is that I get the same exact meat they were selling from Sams too. HAH
After we finished our bottle we got the hell out of there. This place will not be around for much longer.
I also read some of the previous reviews and I find it quite funny because most of the reviews come from their regulars who I am sure was told to post on Unilocal.
WELP good luck with that.

Living in Midtown now, this is traveling «out beyond the loop»…but I was definitely impressed.
In a strip-​mall thing with built in hospital… hmmm, ok… BUT, once you are in the space, the atmosphere is really pretty cool — and, although I didn’t hang out in the back room — one could imagine that the bar was in an older, re-​purposed building with this bonus cool little back room that used to be something else (that’s a plus).
The night I was there, I was part of a group that had a large turn-​out, and they had a DJ in the house with an improvised dance floor, which worked pretty well. The staff seemed to more than keep up, and was friendly, responsive and helpful throughout the evening.
Will be back.

This was our first time and although they were very busy (last day for a Groupon coupon) — the owner did personally deliver the wine and open it for us. The only frustration that we had with the place is that there are no prices on the walls for the wine. Luckily we choose a relatively inexpensive wine.
I will give it one more chance especially since it is good to support the little neighborhood wine shops.

I have been dying to come to Winetopia for months. I knew it opened a long time ago and I even bought the Groupon for $ 25 worth of food for $ 10.
It was one of the better experiences I’ve had at a wine bar. First off, there was hardly anyone there at 7pm on a Friday night so it was easy to talk to the manager and find out details about the place.
So apparently everything at Winetopia is from small wineries. Only 2% of the wine here are well known brands. There are over 200 different labels ranging from beer, white wine, roses, and reds. Everything is moderately priced. Most bottles are about $ 30-​$ 35. There are some bottles that are more expensive if that’s your style.
The inside is spacious and yet intimate. There is a back room you can rent out for special occasions and a side room with great art work inside. They have live music weekly and have artists come in as well. There is ample out door seating as well, glass tables, cozy chairs and ashtrays included.
We got great table service, delicious tapas. The meat & cheese plate is $ 15, a large hummus and pita for $ 6, $ 1 truffles, and $ 1 dollar Indian popcorn. All of the meat and cheese was delicious, fresh and perfect with the wine.
I know for certain I have definitely found a new regular spot, great for midday relaxation dates.