Bite Bistro and Wine Bar in Hillcrest

Bite is a modern California bistro wine bar in Hillcrest that offers a wide range of plates at reasonable prices. But let's be real, we like Bite because it's a cool bar that offers really good drinking food.

Bite's influences are very clear: the Italians and the French. The waitresses, in addition to looking like they were created to inspire a struggling French poet or an Italian painter who needs to see color again, are informed of every menu item and wine flight and bottle the place has to offer.

Do you know where Champagne originates? Well, if you are interested, go the official Bite Champagne Happy Hour from 5-7pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and within five minutes, you'll know the name of the village, the wars they fought and the best and worst Champagne makers that nobody talks about. It is almost scary how effortlessly these people can unleash knowledge about grapes, but it definitely adds to Bite's charm.

Before going into Bite for the first time, a crotchety old man wearing a Nebraska Cornhuskers hat walked behind me, looked at the menu near the door, and asked, "What the hell is tapas?" At the time, I couldn't help him, but after leaving, I wanted to find him and let him know that he should find out.

Insider tip: Stop by after work on Mondays for half priced wine from 5-9pm. And, the house cured duck proscuitto atop wine poached seckle pears is unbelievable after a few too many flights of champagne.