This was one of the most upsetting hospitality experiences I’ve had, especially from a place that many in our group have frequented.
Our group of 6 decided on celebrating a holiday together with a night at Bar a Vin. After attending a birthday celebration here previously and seeing outside food advertised on their social media, I opted to bring in a small dessert for our group, visible to the staff and management when we were seated. We ordered several bottles of wine (intended to order more over the course of the evening) and were enjoying our time when I decided to cut and plate our dessert. At that point, the GM (Harry) abruptly intervened regarding an outside food policy that we were obviously unaware of, threw his hands in the air and walked away from our table.
To be clear, I completely understand and respect the policy. I would've NEVER brought in the dessert, let alone cut it at the table if I knew it was going to be an issue. What was devastating was the way this was handled. There was no conversation, no warmth, and no attempt to find a solution. No option to discard the plates, pay a cutting fee, or resolve the situation in any reasonable way. We were simply told the policy and left at our table feeling uncomfortable and unsure of what to do next (with both an open tab and open bottles of wine).
Hospitality is about how situations are handled, and this was handled with zero empathy. It was obvious we were celebrating and had invested our time and money into the evening. Instead of being met with any level of understanding, the tone from management felt cold and dismissive. If we had been approached with this information and we had been offered an option to pay a fee or throw away full plates of food, I would have done either immediately to avoid what we experienced.
From an interpersonal standpoint, you never know what someone is celebrating, grieving, or simply trying to get through. The lack of empathy and the tone taken by the GM was truly shameful, and it turned what should have been a joyful celebration into something deeply uncomfortable.
It's especially heartbreaking because we’ve historically adored this wine bar. Morgan, in particular, has always been warm, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable—exactly what keeps us coming back.
I hate that this interaction with management eclipsed many positive memories and events I have enjoyed at Bar a Vin over the last 3 years. However, I cannot continue to support a business that allows its guests to be treated this way.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Victoria Queen
Last night, a group of six of us chose to spend an evening at Bar a Vins to be together before the holidays, something we don’t get to do often. We ordered multiple bottles of wine totaling over $130 and planned to stay for several hours.
A friend had brought a small homemade dessert to share. This has been allowed here in the past, is not mentioned as prohibited anywhere on the website, and was visible to staff (including management) when we arrived, with no concerns raised.
When we finally moved to newly opened tables and were still settling in — plates untouched, some of us hadn't even sat down yet — a male staff member named Harry abruptly approached two of us and stated, “You can’t have outside food in here,” then walked away without explanation or direction.
At that point, we were genuinely confused, as the messaging we had received from staff up to that moment indicated this wasn't an issue and we were trying to understand how to proceed and comply. We were apologetic and even offered dessert to the staff as a gesture of goodwill. Moments later, Harry returned, loudly announced that he was the general manager, and stated, “When I said you couldn’t eat that in here, I meant it,” loud enough for nearby tables to hear. When we asked what he wanted us to do, he told us to leave. The tone was aggressive and humiliating.
This all unfolded within minutes. We were polite, apologetic, and non-confrontational, genuinely trying to understand what was being asked of us. Instead, we were publicly scolded and kicked out while holding untouched plates of dessert, despite having just opened bottles of wine.
To be clear: having a policy against outside food is completely reasonable. This was and still is not the issue. The issue is how this was handled: inconsistent communication, no opportunity to course-correct, and an unnecessarily hostile, public confrontation that felt more like a power trip than hospitality.
We live in a city with endless options. We chose to celebrate at Bar a Vins. For some of us, spending this kind of money on food and drinks is not taken lightly and this gathering meant a lot to us. To be treated with such disdain over a few slices of homemade cake was shocking and genuinely hurtful.
We ended up standing outside in the cold to eat something made with care by a friend, after what should have been a warm, celebratory evening. At this time of year, a little kindness and discretion would have gone a long way.
Hospitality is about how you treat people, not just about enforcing rules. This situation could have been handled quietly, respectfully, and with basic kindness. Instead, it left us feeling embarrassed, unwelcome, and deeply disappointed. We will not return.
Service: 1
Tully Conroy
Unfortunately, I had a terrible experience at Bar a Vins this evening. We usually have a great time here, love their wine and food, and find their staff knowledgeable and friendly. Our group brought in an outside dessert and we were treated extremely rudely by their general manager, Harry, when he informed us that this was against policy. We would have gladly put away our dessert or paid a cutting fee but weren’t given the opportunity. We were met with conflicting information from staff and hostility and passive aggressive reactions from their GM. I’m shocked to have spoken to in this way at a place where I’ve enjoyed many nights and purchased many expensive bottles of wine.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Solomon Collins
Great atmosphere. My wife loves the wine, and I like that they have Pilsner Urquell.
Atmosphere: 5
Ashley Hines
Went for the first time last night. Lovely service from the two ladies at the park (one of them sings spontaneously…loved it) there was also a very knowledgeable man who assists with buying the wines. Very friendly. Our bread, meat and cheese combo was delicious. Atmosphere was perfect including Tupac on the soundtrack. I will for certain, return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Curtis Dauw
Had an activation for oysters that they widely marketed. Bar was completely unprepared. Waited 40 min for the first 6 oysters. Another 25 for the next dozen (which were ordered at the same time as the first six). Were encouraged not to order bread to take pressure off the kitchen, but watched several customers come in after us and enjoy bread. Pretty disappointing experience, very clear they were just trying to sell $18 glasses of wine and either hadn’t thought through or had no intention of providing the advertised service to their customers.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Samonica Ngo
Quiet and quaint, great wine recommendations, we always split multiple bottles. The fancy caviar service is always fun
Absolutely adore this spot! I'm moving to Charlotte from Austin and was so excited to find this adorable and well stocked wine bar! I see MANY visits in my future!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Danielle Luffman
We were there for our second visit and it was so relaxing. Great atmosphere and service. It would be nice to have a heads up before the kitchen closes / time check on how much longer they are open next time, but that’s a tiny wish.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Janeen Bryant
Morgan was fantastic, personable, and willing to go the extra mile. The music, the wine, and brie only added to a great night.
A great spot to have close by with a lovely vibe! Always enjoy stopping by for a glass of wine or a spritz. The staff is super knowledgeable while not being pretentious, and are all approachable, kind, and cool. Their bread and butter is to die for as well. 10/10, no notes!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amber Campbell
Love this bar! Lovely vibe with loads of delicious wines to choose from and food is delicious! Bread and butter is a must!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Devon McDonald
Favorite place to grab a fancy glass of wine and listen to nice background music
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Marinated Anchovies, Sardines in Garlic & Butter, Even Fancier Caviar Service, Fancy Caviar Service, Caviar, Baguette
Jo Covington Nencetti
First time visiting this cute wine bar. We went in the early evening so it wasn't crowded and we got excellent service. Huge selection of organic and bio dymamic wines from all over the world, but none from NC. They have a small tasting menu of unique meats, cheeses, olives and other items that pair well with wine. They do have a back patio but it's not as cool as the inside vibe. The only complaint I have is I feel like the music was too loud for the space. I have noticed this a lot in other places and sometimes it's hard to carry on a conversation with the other people you are sitting with. This place is on the main drag of NODA so unless you can walk there, use rideshare because parking is a challenge.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mike Nencetti
Large selection of wine. All the wines are organic, biodynamic. That means they use sustainable practices. Harry the GM and our bartender was very helpful picking wines for us. We like dry white wine and they had 6 by the glass to choose from. We already had dinner so we got a small side of olives. They have a large selection of food. Of all the wine bars in Charlotte this place has the location and vibe we like. Edit. A friend we just met let us try the octopus in olive oil. We liked it.
This was one of the most upsetting hospitality experiences I’ve had, especially from a place that many in our group have frequented.
Our group of 6 decided on celebrating a holiday together with a night at Bar a Vin. After attending a birthday celebration here previously and seeing outside food advertised on their social media, I opted to bring in a small dessert for our group, visible to the staff and management when we were seated. We ordered several bottles of wine (intended to order more over the course of the evening) and were enjoying our time when I decided to cut and plate our dessert. At that point, the GM (Harry) abruptly intervened regarding an outside food policy that we were obviously unaware of, threw his hands in the air and walked away from our table.
To be clear, I completely understand and respect the policy. I would've NEVER brought in the dessert, let alone cut it at the table if I knew it was going to be an issue. What was devastating was the way this was handled. There was no conversation, no warmth, and no attempt to find a solution. No option to discard the plates, pay a cutting fee, or resolve the situation in any reasonable way. We were simply told the policy and left at our table feeling uncomfortable and unsure of what to do next (with both an open tab and open bottles of wine).
Hospitality is about how situations are handled, and this was handled with zero empathy. It was obvious we were celebrating and had invested our time and money into the evening. Instead of being met with any level of understanding, the tone from management felt cold and dismissive. If we had been approached with this information and we had been offered an option to pay a fee or throw away full plates of food, I would have done either immediately to avoid what we experienced.
From an interpersonal standpoint, you never know what someone is celebrating, grieving, or simply trying to get through. The lack of empathy and the tone taken by the GM was truly shameful, and it turned what should have been a joyful celebration into something deeply uncomfortable.
It's especially heartbreaking because we’ve historically adored this wine bar. Morgan, in particular, has always been warm, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable—exactly what keeps us coming back.
I hate that this interaction with management eclipsed many positive memories and events I have enjoyed at Bar a Vin over the last 3 years. However, I cannot continue to support a business that allows its guests to be treated this way.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Last night, a group of six of us chose to spend an evening at Bar a Vins to be together before the holidays, something we don’t get to do often. We ordered multiple bottles of wine totaling over $130 and planned to stay for several hours.
A friend had brought a small homemade dessert to share. This has been allowed here in the past, is not mentioned as prohibited anywhere on the website, and was visible to staff (including management) when we arrived, with no concerns raised.
When we finally moved to newly opened tables and were still settling in — plates untouched, some of us hadn't even sat down yet — a male staff member named Harry abruptly approached two of us and stated, “You can’t have outside food in here,” then walked away without explanation or direction.
At that point, we were genuinely confused, as the messaging we had received from staff up to that moment indicated this wasn't an issue and we were trying to understand how to proceed and comply. We were apologetic and even offered dessert to the staff as a gesture of goodwill. Moments later, Harry returned, loudly announced that he was the general manager, and stated, “When I said you couldn’t eat that in here, I meant it,” loud enough for nearby tables to hear. When we asked what he wanted us to do, he told us to leave. The tone was aggressive and humiliating.
This all unfolded within minutes. We were polite, apologetic, and non-confrontational, genuinely trying to understand what was being asked of us. Instead, we were publicly scolded and kicked out while holding untouched plates of dessert, despite having just opened bottles of wine.
To be clear: having a policy against outside food is completely reasonable. This was and still is not the issue. The issue is how this was handled: inconsistent communication, no opportunity to course-correct, and an unnecessarily hostile, public confrontation that felt more like a power trip than hospitality.
We live in a city with endless options. We chose to celebrate at Bar a Vins. For some of us, spending this kind of money on food and drinks is not taken lightly and this gathering meant a lot to us. To be treated with such disdain over a few slices of homemade cake was shocking and genuinely hurtful.
We ended up standing outside in the cold to eat something made with care by a friend, after what should have been a warm, celebratory evening. At this time of year, a little kindness and discretion would have gone a long way.
Hospitality is about how you treat people, not just about enforcing rules. This situation could have been handled quietly, respectfully, and with basic kindness. Instead, it left us feeling embarrassed, unwelcome, and deeply disappointed. We will not return.
Service: 1
Unfortunately, I had a terrible experience at Bar a Vins this evening. We usually have a great time here, love their wine and food, and find their staff knowledgeable and friendly. Our group brought in an outside dessert and we were treated extremely rudely by their general manager, Harry, when he informed us that this was against policy. We would have gladly put away our dessert or paid a cutting fee but weren’t given the opportunity. We were met with conflicting information from staff and hostility and passive aggressive reactions from their GM. I’m shocked to have spoken to in this way at a place where I’ve enjoyed many nights and purchased many expensive bottles of wine.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
Great atmosphere. My wife loves the wine, and I like that they have Pilsner Urquell.
Atmosphere: 5
Went for the first time last night. Lovely service from the two ladies at the park (one of them sings spontaneously…loved it) there was also a very knowledgeable man who assists with buying the wines. Very friendly. Our bread, meat and cheese combo was delicious. Atmosphere was perfect including Tupac on the soundtrack. I will for certain, return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had an activation for oysters that they widely marketed. Bar was completely unprepared. Waited 40 min for the first 6 oysters. Another 25 for the next dozen (which were ordered at the same time as the first six). Were encouraged not to order bread to take pressure off the kitchen, but watched several customers come in after us and enjoy bread. Pretty disappointing experience, very clear they were just trying to sell $18 glasses of wine and either hadn’t thought through or had no intention of providing the advertised service to their customers.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Quiet and quaint, great wine recommendations, we always split multiple bottles. The fancy caviar service is always fun
Atmosphere: 5
Recommended dishes: Fancy Caviar Service, Baguette
Absolutely adore this spot! I'm moving to Charlotte from Austin and was so excited to find this adorable and well stocked wine bar! I see MANY visits in my future!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were there for our second visit and it was so relaxing. Great atmosphere and service. It would be nice to have a heads up before the kitchen closes / time check on how much longer they are open next time, but that’s a tiny wish.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Morgan was fantastic, personable, and willing to go the extra mile. The music, the wine, and brie only added to a great night.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cheese Platter
Restaurantji Recommends
A great spot to have close by with a lovely vibe! Always enjoy stopping by for a glass of wine or a spritz. The staff is super knowledgeable while not being pretentious, and are all approachable, kind, and cool. Their bread and butter is to die for as well. 10/10, no notes!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love this bar! Lovely vibe with loads of delicious wines to choose from and food is delicious! Bread and butter is a must!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Favorite place to grab a fancy glass of wine and listen to nice background music
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Marinated Anchovies, Sardines in Garlic & Butter, Even Fancier Caviar Service, Fancy Caviar Service, Caviar, Baguette
First time visiting this cute wine bar. We went in the early evening so it wasn't crowded and we got excellent service. Huge selection of organic and bio dymamic wines from all over the world, but none from NC. They have a small tasting menu of unique meats, cheeses, olives and other items that pair well with wine. They do have a back patio but it's not as cool as the inside vibe. The only complaint I have is I feel like the music was too loud for the space. I have noticed this a lot in other places and sometimes it's hard to carry on a conversation with the other people you are sitting with. This place is on the main drag of NODA so unless you can walk there, use rideshare because parking is a challenge.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Large selection of wine. All the wines are organic, biodynamic. That means they use sustainable practices. Harry the GM and our bartender was very helpful picking wines for us. We like dry white wine and they had 6 by the glass to choose from. We already had dinner so we got a small side of olives. They have a large selection of food. Of all the wine bars in Charlotte this place has the location and vibe we like. Edit. A friend we just met let us try the octopus in olive oil. We liked it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Octopus in Olive Oil
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