Augustine

A visit to Augustine is like stopping by your oenophile-buddy’s home to sample some rare vintage wine. Matthew Kaner and Dustin Lancaster (Bar Covell), along with newcomer Dave Gibbs, have carved out a little slice of heaven from a former Brats Brothers along Ventura Boulevard, complete with black truffle cheese plates, tater tots, and some of the rarest vino you'll find in the valley, let alone the entire city. Soak up the jazz humming through the sound system and sink into a worn-in sofa as you get your money’s worth out of the 1964 Chateau Latour Pauillac that caught your eye on the chalkboard behind the bar. There's a rotating list of dozens of varieties by the glass. For some guidance, find your nearest bartender. These guys and gals know the menu like the back of their hands and will find exactly what you are looking for—or what you weren’t, which makes it all-too easy to burn a hole in your wallet. Best to let the soft industrial lighting and sexy vino lingo wash over you, and worry about your negative checking account tomorrow.