Welcome to @hfxfoodreviews: Vines Fusion & Grill

Disclaimer: We received an invitation to attend an “Industry Night” at Vines Fusion & Grill on June 27 (in partnership with Harvest Wine, Beer & Spirits). There was no charge for the meal, but we weren’t told what to say in our review. Also, there were seven courses paired with six wines. As such, the food alone would have totalled approximately $100 apiece after tax and tip. We usually share maybe two or three items during an average dinner out, so to say this was a plentiful meal would be an understatement. J almost always clears his plate, but even he had to tap out early! Regardless, we went in with the intention of providing an honest and objective review of our visit. Here goes!

Vines Fusion & Grill (Fusion, 73 Alderney, visited June 27). Our evening started off with baked Oysters Au Gratin on the patio. We were advised this wasn’t a usual menu offering, which is a shame as M quite enjoyed them (J doesn’t eat seafood). After enjoying the view of the harbour, we headed inside for our meal, where each course was introduced by Chef Avi, and each wine pairing explained by Brodie Cook from Harvest – so, there was a little education/insight to accompany the meal.

The Lamb Chickpea Soup was a lovely start with a bit of a kick. Co-owner Vishal Srivastava stopped by our table and mentioned the staff’s intention was to use spices to bring out the flavours, not to burn our faces off. Mission accomplished! Next up was the Artichoke Lobster Dip, which interestingly featured masala. The servers kindly provided J with a personal serving without lobster, too. Both were creamy and delicious, complimented nicely by grilled naan. The dish was followed by a lovely fried Onion Pakora. We weren’t sure if the green sauce was mint, cilantro or something else – but it was tasty nonetheless!

Two entrees were on the docket. First, Basil Coconut Chicken. Basil isn’t a common ingredient in Indian cuisine, but it really worked and we’d gladly eat it again. The Lamb Rogan Josh featured a rich red chili sauce and popped when paired with the garlic naan. Lastly, the deconstructed tiramisu was surprisingly large, but still nice and light after a rather heavy meal.

The service was great, the wine pours generous, and we left very full and content. Clearly, a lot of thought went into the evening, and we hope this is what all guests can expect when visiting Vines Fusion Grill. We certainly plan to return and try some of the other offerings (Butter Chicken Pasta? Yes please!) Verdict: 4.5/5 (90%) chance of returning.