Vertical Wine Bistro

At the top of a flight of stairs tucked into a narrow alley, Vertical Wine Bistro exploits its vertical orientation. Wine, the central attraction here, is stored from floor to ceiling in a beautiful glass-enclosed cellar separating the lounge from the dining room and accessed by ladder, as one might see in a library. With more than 400 wines from around the world (up to 100 available by the glass or the flight), it’s quite a card catalogue. Living up to its motto “Come for the wine, stay for the food,” Vertical offers a variety of tapas style dishes to fuel your wine fancies, making it the A.O.C. of Pasadena. Cheese and charcuterie plates draw on artisanal producers. Starters like their mini grilled cheese sandwiches with radicchio, walnuts, and honey draw raves. For something more substantial, try skirt steak or roasted grassfed lamb rack with those full-bodied reds. Given that film producer Gale Ann Hurd (with action flicks “Terminator” and “Armageddon” under her belt) is the inspiration behind the operation, the décor is surprisingly soothing: earthy tones of walnut, cabernet, and moss green dominate in the dimly lit space. With Yujean Kang’s and Mojitos Restaurant & Rum Bar right across the street, this corner off the main Colorado strip is shaping up to be quite a culinary grotto.