Bite Me: Stage a Fernwood tapas gem

Columns March 4, 2015

The wonderful neighbourhood of Fernwood has a unique restaurant called Stage Wine Bar. It’s located right in the heart of the Fernwood Village, at 1307 Gladstone Ave., and the hours are Sunday to Wednesday, 5–10 pm, and Thursday to Saturday, 5–11 pm.

Bite Me is our regular food column (file photo).
Bite Me is our regular food column (file photo).

I frequent this establishment because I live about a five-minute walk away. The staff is always friendly; on my first visit, the owner came to our table and introduced himself, asked what our favourite type of food is, and then recommended choices on the menu that would satisfy our food desires.

It was a rather comical visit, because I was with family from England who love their pub fare, and at first they were a little put off at the sight of my fried Brussels sprouts on a tiny plate.

However, their skeptical attitude quickly changed after they tried them; they’re absolutely delicious, and I like to describe them as little green flakes of heaven.

Wine Stage Bar is a tapas bar, so it’s fun to go with a group and try a little bit of everything. Just to give you an idea of what they offer, the plates include a chef’s choice plate, cheese plates, vegetarian and gluten-free options, and house-made sausages. Sometimes my friends and I pop in just to have a glass of wine from their extensive wine list.

What makes Stage unique is its Fernwood location and the personable attitude of everyone who works there. They make you feel like family, and that you are wanted there; I never feel rushed to eat and get out just so they can open a table.

Stage can be a bit pricey, but it’s totally worth checking out.