Cin-Cin: A Hidden Treasure

When dining at Cin-Cin Wine Bar and Restaurant one is guaranteed a culinary treasure trove of sumptuous morsels.

Overview: Tucked away on a small hidden street riddled with spas and salons, is a wonderful find. At first glance, you might think that you have stumbled on to a Spanish Tapas Bar, but upon looking at the menu and the combinations of items paired with main entrees, the food is best described as world fusion with a strong Mediterranean influence. Its sexy and sophisticated cuisine invokes a feeling of traveling as each menu item finds its roots in different cultures. Chef Chris Schloss is a true epicurean artist as the offerings on his menu are unlike any other. 

Décor: The bar area is comfortable and conducive to enjoying drinks and nibbles. The dining area is pleasant and appropriate for conversation and eating. Cin-Cin’s modern furnishings sport an autumn color scheme featuring greens, rich dark browns, scarlet and tan. Green textured walls, which look like strips of young bamboo and a cloth-covered ceiling appeal to the eye and give a sense of softness. The floors are a light colored wood that plays well against dark rattan bar chairs and dining tables. On the walls, track lighting sets off artwork that depicts wine in various stages of service.

Drinks: Wine, yes there is a cornucopia of options in various vintages and styles; after all, it is a wine bar. However, the surprise is the full bar complete with creative cocktail creations. The drinks are interesting, Avant-guard and are designed to pair well with appetizers and small plates. Offerings include The Derby ($9.50) made with Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon with sweet vermouth and orange curacao garnished with fresh lime paired well with the Fresh Ricotta Crostini. Other specialty drinks include Cool as a Cucumber ($9.50) Square 1 Organic Cucumber Vodka with Sho Chiku Bai Organic Sake and Elderflower syrup, Siesta 10 ($10.00) Blade Gin and Campari muddled with fresh raspberry, lemon and citrus bitters leveled out with simple syrup, Dealer’s Choice ($9.00) name your poison and the bartender will create something especially for you, and finally the Pisco Pop ($9.50) which is Porton Pisco mixed with German Gilabert Cava, maraschino liqueur, lemon juice and a dash of orange bitters. If you like beer you will find this collection of flavorful beers a unique cashe of liquid grain from around the world. One can select items like Arrogant Bastard Ale ($12.00), Butte Creek Organic Pale Ale ($6.00),  and Bison Organic Chocolate Stout ($6.00). Fountain drinks and distinctive Cin-Cin sodas such as Yerba Buena ($5.00) which means good grass. It is a great name for a drink made with basil, mint, elderflower syrup and lime soda. There is also the HotLips ($5.00) a fruit juice soda from Oregon in either Black Raspberry or Cherry.

Appetizers: This menu is like a list of items found in many neighborhood tapas bars in Spain, however the presentation may look more similar to sister dishes from other countries. The Sherry Chicken Livers ($6.00); Hummus and Flat Bread ($6.00); Spanish Tuna Melt ($6.00); Chorizo Wrapped Stuffed Olives; Huevos Diablo ($5.00); Roasted Serrano Ham Wrapped Dates ($7.00); Spiced Olives ($4.00); Citrus Marinated Olive Sampler ($5.00); Cin-Cin Sampler ($22.00); and Wild Mushroom Empanadas ($12.00) would be at home in Madrid, but other items open the world for the diner with Maitake Mushroom Tempura ($10.00); Three Cheese Arancini ($14.00); Cin-Cin Flatbread ($10.00); Crispy Goat Cheese ($10.00); Soba Noodle Wraps ($12.00) Fresh Ricotta Crostinis ($10.00); Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts ($10.00); Artisan Cheese Plate ($13.00 and $21.00) and Charcuterie Plate ($13.00).

Entrees: Thoughtful and delicious, the combinations of Chef Schloss ingredients whisper of the exotic. Offerings like Pan Roasted Mediterranean Branzion ($22.00) accompanied with roasted piquillo pepper-almond sauce, English peas, spring onion agrodolce, and mini frites; Togarashi-Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna ($18.00) served with “bubu arare” a tiny rice cracker, charred avocado guacamole, and fried baby bok choy topped with yuyu-miso sauce and garnished with wasabi; Albondigas ($16.00) tasty garlic cumin lamb meatballs served chickpeas, rapini and garnished with yogurt, harissa, and mint puree clearly take you on a culinary world tour. In fact, the entire main dish menu is like a global tour. The Corn Crusted Loch Duart Scottish Salmon ($25.00) served with protein rich quinoa, black lentils topped with a  jalapeno emulsion and accompanied with sweet corn puree Yukon Gold potatoes and shaved brown butter sings of the loch’s of Scotland and the spice of Mexico. Other items like South Carolina Style Pulled Pork Sliders ($13.00) with spiced apples on silver dollars rolls; Korean Tacos ($14.00) bulgogi style shaved ribeye, spicy tomatillo sauce, cucumber-daikon salad, cilantro; and Cin-Cin Deluxe Diner Sliders ($13.00) premium natural grass fed beef on silver dollar rolls, grilled onions chow-chow, aged cheddar fondue, chipotle aioli are all popular with the patrons and the Crispy Duck Confit ($16.00) coriander and herb spaetzle pinot jelly, St. Andre cheese, ancho cress and blood orange salad is fit for hipsters and heads of state.

Sides: The sides are healthful and unique and include items like Truffled French Fries($6.50); Sautéed Chickpeas with rapini, yogurt and mint ($6.00); Goat Cheese whipped potatoes ($6.00), Baby Bok Choy with Sesame-Soy vinaigrette ($6.00), and Warm Citrus-Marinated Beets ($6.00). Baby Bibb Salad ($9.00) bibb lettuce heart, watercress, arugula, dijon-herb vinaigrette, seasonal radishes, crispy shallots; Bacon and Egg Frisee Salad ($11.00) bacon lardons, fried shitake mushrooms, Yukon Gold potatoes, crispy poached egg; Mary’s Free Range Chicken Salad ($19.00) little gem lettuce, fig and olive tapenade, feta stuffed peppadew peppers, crispy artichokes tooped with vella dry jack vinaigrette.

Dessert: Cin-Cin’s delicious and innovative dessert menu features items like Chocolate Soufflé Cake ($8.00) accompanied with ricotta panna cotta, raspberry-lime coulis, chocolate almond cookie, and seasonal chocolate truffle. The Vietnamese Coffee Bread Pudding ($8.00) served with condensed milk, caramel, and finished with cinnamon gelato speaks to the dessert lover that like to have coffee and sweets. This concoction combines the two. There is also the Caramelized Strawberry and Currant Clafoutis ($8.00) with Ras el Hanout coated Tahitian vanilla gelato and caramel. The Cheesecake Beignets ($8.00) with Hazelnut honey, raspberry sauce and dark chocolate dipping sauce is one of the dessert items that is a people pleaser. 

Service: Greeted with gracious smiles and outstanding hospitality, the highly professional and knowledgeable wait staff ensured a wonderful dining experience.

Signature Dish: The Braised Beef Short Rib ($27.00) is a favorite. The ribs are served with warm marinated beets and grilled cabbage dressed with dill vinaigrette. On the side is the goat cheese whipped potatoes topped with horseradish crème fraiche.

• Cin Cin
• 368 Village Lane, Los Gatos CA
• Chef: Chris Schloss
• Cost: $25 to $50