Don't let the name fool you. There's so much more to Cantine Bar and Bottle Shop than its selections of grapes and grains — though we dig its wall of 200 bottles of wine and walk-up beer cooler stocked with more than 250 brews. But don't overlook the affordable and adventurous small plate offerings, ever-evolving since the Broadview Heights spot's opening last December. Share a variety of dishes at one of the wooden communal tables or the comfy bar while you sip on your drink of choice (try a bottle of Rancho Sisquoc sauvignon blanc or a can of Revolution Brewing's Bottom Up Wit, both of which can be blasted cold in a subarctic chiller). Start off with chevre-stuffed peppadews ($6). While the sweet peppers complement the mellow flavor of the goat cheese, it gets a nice zing thanks to a handful of arugula and a drizzle of balsamic reduction. The arancini di Riso ($7), three risotto balls stuffed with buffalo mozzarella, were creamy and piping hot. Be sure to try the pork wings ($8), with meat so tender it falls off the bone into an addictive sweet chili sauce. Whether paired with a cold one or a glass of vino, it's the dish we'll come back to again and again.
When You Go
Cantine Bar and Bottle Shop, 1100 W. Royalton Road, Broadview Heights, 440-877-9399, cantinebottleshop.com
