Vino Java Brew House

The following review was published under my byline in the Florida Times-​Union on Saturday, April 23, 2016. This is an original, unabridged version of that review.
Serendipity introduced me to Vino Java Brew House in Orange Park. A co-​worker suggested the loungey tapas spot on Kingsley Avenue for a morning meeting, until we realized the place wasn’t open mornings.
Here’s a place with «Java» in its name, but it’s not open during prime coffee consumption time? This called for a full investigation.
Even with GPS assistance, first-​timers will likely stumble to pinpoint Vino Java in a cluster of rustic buildings on Kingsley between Plainfield Avenue and Doctors Lake Drive. There’s no signage facing traffic, aside from a banner tacked up on the building’s aqua-​colored paneling.
Husband-​and-​wife team Nicky and Janet Spofford own the 2-​year-​old tapas lounge and live entertainment venue, which is open five nights a week for dinner. This isn’t their first restaurant venture: for more than four decades, Nicky’s family owned and operated Avondale’s West Inn lounge, rebranded West Inn Cantina in later years for its Mexican eatery.
Along with getting there, navigating to Vino Java’s dining room may throw you, too. The entryway feels more like a stockroom, with stacks of bottled sodas on a counter. Hang a right into a hallway and soon you’ll find a rectangular dining room containing a small bar with stools, high– and low-​rise tables and coffeehouse-​like chalkboards scrawled with scores of beverage options – more on those later. It all has the feel of the downstairs lounge of a bed-​and-​breakfast – a small, cozy place to meet friends or make new ones. You’ll even find TV tray tables along the wall, for those who want to lounge in a pub chair and grab a bite. A wraparound deck boasts outside seating as well.
Even hearty appetites should find it easy to cobble together a substantial meal from the menu of salads, naan bread-​based personal pizzas, and small plates dominated by cheeses and spreads.
We began our night with the Trio Sampler ($ 14.50), which offers your choice of three spreads with naan bread, crackers and blue-​corn tortilla chips. We chose the chicken salad, pimento cheese spread and guacammus, a hybrid of guacamole and hummus. Each boasted a different flavor profile: while the guacammus was more hummus-​y with a welcome creaminess to it, the pimento spread featured a spicy end note. The chicken salad was my favorite: sweet, thick and chunky with dried cranberries.
We chose personal pizzas as our entrées; each measures six to eight inches in diameter. My Mediterranean ($ 11.50) had as its base a soft, enjoyable foundation of naan bread. However that made it hard to manage as a handheld, with the plethora of feta, spinach, caramelized red onions, roasted red peppers, tomatoes and Kalamata olives weighing it down. A fork-​and-​knife approach may be best.
If you’re not a heataholic, don’t fret over the «very spicy» menu warning about the Buffalo Chicken pie ($ 11.50). My friend’s rendition featured a tasty-​yet-​mild Buffalo chicken spread – apparently dialed down by customer request – mixed with caramelized red onion, blue cheese crumbles and a swirl of homemade buttermilk ranch dressing. In spite of its mild-​manneredness, the chicken chunks were too dry for our liking.
Vino Java’s desserts are limited to two items that rotate based on popularity: truffles and «mini» cupcakes, both homemade. The former ($ 5.50) featured a trio of Tequila Rose Strawberry flavored spheres, but we found it hard to pick out that flavor from the dense chocolate center. My choice, a chocolate cupcake with chocolate chip cookie dough center, dressed with chcolate ganache and cookie dough icing ($ 6.50), was an intense sweet treat. It’s suitable for two to share, but no more.
While you won’t find a formal happy hour or liquor cocktails at Vino Java, there’s no shortage of beer, wine or coffee-​based beverage options. You’ll find strong local and regional craft influence among the 24 bottled and canned beer selections and six draft options. Wine is available by the bottle or glass – the latter available from Barefoot and four draft wines provided by the Gotham Project wine-​on-​tap collaboration – along with two sangria flavors.
Vino Java sources its coffee from Green Cove Springs roasters Brass Tacks, with a house blend, decaf and three flavorings to choose from. Or opt for a «coffee shot,» a flavored wine cocktail, also available as a four-​ounce pour. That’s a little more than your standard morning joe.
A small specials board in the dining room lists a schedule of live music acts, usually jazz, blues and acoustic, which play to 21-​and-​up crowds Fridays and Saturdays from 9 to 11 p.m. and the last Thursday of each month.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stumble onto Vino Java and its classy, cozy tapas scene. Our next visit, which won’t be such a stumble, will be to check out its weekend live music.

This place is awesome! Everything they serve is top quality. Seriously, my wife and I travel a lot, and this is one of our favorite spots we have been. Do yourself a favor and come here!

We liked it. Service (from one of the owners?) was quite good. Nice selection of beer and the food (flatbread and a salad) was fine. Nice, sorta cozy, atmosphere.
Recommended!

Orange Park has needed a fun little bistro with great food, drinks, music and atmosphere. Highly recommend it!!!

Love this place! It’s a perfect atmosphere for a relaxing date, or mingling, etc. I love that the menu offers some light but filling and indulgent food selections, in addition to a great beer selection. Wonderful hummus (several kinds), Flatbread pizzas, salads, sandwiches and more.
The desserts are amazing, as in SINFULLY good. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed lunch time experiences and evening ones at Vino Java. This isn’t really the place for people whose idea of a good dining/​drinking experience is eating mediocre hotwings and fries amidst 40 big screens, washed down with Bud Light.

A romantic space with lite Tapas and a assortment of beers and specialty wines. I enjoy the guitarist they have on several nights. The patio is peaceful and has a woodsy view. You can sit and hear the crickets harmonizing with the guitarist inside. If it was larger I would consider this a excellent party venue for birthdays etc. I have had previously the chocolate trio and it was amazing. It is a perfect place for date nights.

This place… Absolutely delicious. Great service and amazing food. Not a large menu but it’s terrific. I love going with a girlfriend or five! Wine, tapas, and the best chocolate truffles! This is a jewel in Orange Park! Must try!

Have come here a couple times now and this place is great. This is a small sophisticated place, like no other in Clay County. Reminds me of places in Avondale, Five Points & San Marco.
It’s built in a remodeled old house on Kingsley Ave with several small rooms and outside deck. The bar area is small but adequate that serves several local craft beers, bottled & on tap, as well as wine. As the name suggests they also serve Coffee. I’m not a coffee drinker, but decided to try a cup and man, it was better than anything I have tried before.
Everyone here is so friendly. Great customer service while allowing plenty of private adult conversation.
Music from local musician play on the weekend.
They have a small but very delicious tapas menu. Everything is homemade. Pimento Cheese, Chicken Salad and flat bread pizzas that are to die for! Try either the Buffalo Chicken pizza or Sirracha flank steak pizza.
And make sure to save room for dessert. You will NOT regret it! I hear they are opening for lunch, can’t wait!
Really glad to see this place come to Orange Park.

Wide selection of wines and beers. The food menu is rather short, but definitely worth eating. The service is excellent and see that your time in is the most pleasing from beginning to end.
Very laid back and relaxing environment, might seem secluded at first, but it began to fill up quick. From what I saw, it’s a nice hang out for folks over 40.

Hidden gem in the Fleming Island/​OP area. Terrific beer selection and the food is outstanding. Area was way overdue for this place.