Winedown is a great wine bar and restaurant on Penn Avenue in West Reading. They offer a nice selection of wines by the glass. Most are from small wineries that you'll never see on a Berks County wine list. The wine list is nicely arranged. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly so even if you're not a wine expert they will help you make a great selection. With a decidedly intimate atmosphere, winedown is a great place to take a date. Couch seating in the back is a great place to sit with that special person in your life. read more

I don't know what's taken me so long to yelp about Winedown. I am there almost every week and always have a great experience. I usually try a different wine when I am there and they are all good. I have also had a few of their small plates and liked them all, though usually I order the cheese plate. I mean, what's better than wine and cheese? What really makes Winedown my favorite spot is the service. The owner, bartenders, and waitresses are all welcoming, friendly, and efficient. They rock! Winedown also has beer and cocktails. It's a great place to go for a drink before or after dinner on the Avenue, on a date, or to catch up with your girlfriends. read more

This was a relaxing place to go w a girl friend. They have scoured the area for the best cheeses and every time we have been there that is what we order. I am more of a sangria drinker, and my compatriot is a white wine drinker-the drier the better! This would appeal to any wine enthusiast and the menu accompanies nicely. read more

This place is great and a great addition to the West Reading restaurant scene. My husband and I went here after dinner. I had a nice red and he had a beer on tap. The service was great. The vibe was cool and relaxed without feeling pretentious. I also had a piece of cake, and I can't remember what it was for the life of me, but it was fabulous. I noticed some people getting sandwiches and salads also and I had food envy. I'll be back. read more

As I am far from a wino but me and my fiancé enjoy a fun night out trying new things, I was nervous stepping into an actual wine bar located in the rolling farmland hills of Reading. Two thoughts entered my mind: 1) This can either be "barefoot moscato and an assortment of cabot cheese" dull because I already do that at home to the sounds of The Notebook in the background, thank you or 2) just plain pretentious. But here, neither of that! Impressed with the knowledge the staff conveyed with the wine list to even with the cheeses. You really can tell they stay informed on the latest wine news and care about the service they provide. Management checks on customers too which is also good. The ambiance is also cozy, warm and romantic. Very nice touch to West Reading. Perfect for date night or girls night when your BFF comes into town . read more

Finally! A decent wine bar in Reading.....This place is a must go. They have a very nice selection of wines from around the world at reasonable prices. The staff is supper friendly and seem very happy to work there. I love the decor. It modern and warm at the same time. It is quiet enough for a conversations but it can get loud on weekends depending on the crowd. The food was excellent, especially complimented by some drinks. I say drinks because even though its a wine bar, they offer beer and mixed drinks too. My girlfriend and I love the white sangria. You will not be disappointed. Parking can be a pain on the weekends and I wish they would so a cheese or meats blocks at the bar. Overall, I nice place to have a nice glass of wine and relax. read more

This is the best restaurant in Berks County. The service is wonderful, the food and drinks are phenomenal. Its well priced for a nice meal and great ambiance. read more

The wine bar Winedown has a large selection of curated wine. From my conversation with one of the founders(or manager) from a networking event, he has a great understanding for wines and how to deliver them with tastes. There is a basic tapas style menu covered by appetizer. They have a good amount of cheese to choose from goat or cow cheese. The flavors are discussed in detail on the menu. The ambience is dark and hushed with low light levels. It is a good place for happy hour relaxation and quite, eclectic tastes. The parking is on street so you will need to find a place if it is busy. West Reading is a nice place to check out after you're down. Winedown has a big-city urban feel that is free flowing. Step inside and get a taste of what the restuarant has to offer you. I know the wine and cheese has my votes. read more

Great little spot! The grapefruit cosmo is delish as is their meat and cheese plates. The place has a chill vibe. Will definitely return.

For a date night we decided to try something new while visiting family in Reading for the day and I must say, this place did not disappoint. We were seated on the small cozy patio along the side of the building and immediately our server took our drink orders. She was very attentive and, given the number of tables she had that night, it amazes me she could keep orders straight - in her head! Our wine selections were just what each of us were looking for but the food was even more spectacular. We got a cheese plate (I would arguably say the best goat cheese I've had the pleasure of tasting), the duck skewers, and the goat cheese/prosciutto/spinach flat bread. My only complaint regarding the food was I thought there could be a better balance of goat cheese and prosciutto - the prosciutto seemed to over power every other flavour. Overall our date night was amazing. The atmosphere, wine and tapas selection, and all around service makes this tiny establishment a must do if you're in or passing through the Reading area. read more

We recently went to Winedown about a couple of weeks ago. My fiancé and I both enjoyed the food. We had the steak and frites and for dessert salted Carmel gelato which our server recommended for us and we tried. It was awesome. The only thing I wished was if they had French onion soup but the staff was great! We enjoyed our night our together and will definitely go back read more

Nice little place. Small menu but complementing wine. Waiter was quite knowledgeable. Food was delicious. Definitely returning.

Excellent wine bar with full service liquor. Ben is attentive and always has time for the customers that walk through the door. I have never had a bad experience here. It is a perfect place for after dinner cocktails and wine. The food menu is light, as meant to be. They feature some great appetizers, many made from the great content of DiBruno Bros in Philadelphia. Parking will be limited as will all businesses on Penn St., so be prepared to park around the block a bit. read more

This is our favorite bar to go to, period. We know we'll always be taken care of and treated like the best of friends, whether we go three times a week or once a month. (It's usually closer to the former!!) The waitstaff knows us by name, all of them, and we have never been disappointed by the ambiance, or selections--the wines and beers change regularly, but the staff always knows what's up and what they're dealing with because they've done their homework, and they care. I love their Sangrias and their naked chardonnay and my significant other always finds a new beer he digs. We did New Years 2011 there and it was a complete hit (my mom loved it!)! Food is light and fabulous, lighting and music are very atmospheric, but we really keep coming back for the company, time after time. read more

Casual wine bar experience in West Reading. The by-the-glass selections are a bit limited for a place that claims to be a wine bar. Sure California produces great wines, but so do NY and certain areas of PA; it would be nice to see some more regional wineries and varietals represented. The food is light and fresh and reasonably priced. My boyfriend would recommend the crispy duck salad, while I always have the artichoke and mushroom flatbread. We skip the cheese course because local cheese producers aren't featured. The staff is always friendly and are pretty knowledgeable about the menus, which is great because the printed descriptions of wines and entrees are fairly brief. The interior lacks personality - it has a certain calculated hipness, but there is no soul. I recommend asking for a table in the narrow, brick-walled courtyard. On a warm evening, with kids coming up and down the fire-escape, it reminds me of my favorite outdoor dining spot on the UES. read more

Atmosphere is great for a date. Prices are normal for wine bars. What else can I say? Nothing, the end. read more

Visiting Reading from Florida, very tasty plates and enjoyable cocktails. Server and bartender Michael is very attentive and uses excellent, subtle movements when serving drinks. Example, the glass of water he serves, the drink napkin is server btwn in the fingers and lays nicely when placing the drink down - just a nice move. Conversation is nice as well, versed in many a topics. read more

I can't say enough great things about this place. My wife has gone several times with friends for drinks and always enjoyed herself. We tried it last night for the dinner and wine pairing and I was blown away. First of all the Staff not only were they friendly they were informative and incredibly attentive to ensuring our experience was pleasant. Our food was cooked perfectly! The plates were just done right! The 3 Course meal was the right amount of food paired with excellent wine choices. Although everything was great one of the simplest parts of the meal stole the show the pickled red onion relish!!! Unbelievable!!!! Although I am not a upscale type food person this place may be the exception great food great portions at a reasonable price. Thank You for a great experience. read more

Guys night out, we had a great time. Ben and our server, Allison were absolutely wonderful! Highly recommend, we will be back

Nice little place to spend a night out with a small group of friends. Staff is very knowledgable and willing to suggest wines based on your likes. Wasn't to fond over one of the lady employees who seemed a bit snobbish and very rude. read more

Vast selection of wines and beer. Prices are reasonable. Very calm, sophisticated atmosphere. A great change of pace if you don't feel like braving the crowds at bars and pubs. Great for a relaxing drink and conversation. Ideal for a date. read more

Walked in on a Friday evening for a nightcap, was received rudely by a bartender/waitress as we were trying to find a seat. "It's the same on both sides", she said rather sharply. Finally she offered us a choice on where we would like to sit, hastily shoved menus on the table, and never returned. First off, there was no greeting. Second, nobody asked if this was our first time there, when it obviously was. Thirdly, the person who briefly attended to us continued to walk to and fro by our table without saying a word. Enough for us to walk out. Then someone from the bar noticed us. "Have a good night!" we heard yelled gratefully from the bar. Are you kidding me? How ridiculously rude. I will never visit this place again nor recommend it to any of my fellow moms looking for a chill place to unwind. Skip this one. read more

We had a great time. The food was excellent and the service was very good. Friendly fun and great place to relax and enjoy a date night out with my wife. Our bartender was awesome. Thank you read more

Winedown has a corner bar mentality with an upcale chic that is hard to dismiss. You can make the argument that the wine is expensive and it is, but it is good wine and you get an education while drinking it. The cheese selection and presentation is fantastic and compliments the wine perfectly!! read more

I have been to Winedown on several occasions. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a great place to get cheese, tapas, and wine. They have a great wine selection and offer them all by the glass and bottle, which is a plus to me. I would not go to Winedown if you are starving because you may end up spending a lot of money to get full. They do not have entrees. My favorite appetizers are: philly cheese steak spring rolls, cheese sampler, and the pizza. The servers are very attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. It is pretty small in there so be prepared to wait on a weekend night. They have four couches with little coffee tables to eat off and a nice bar. read more

Marissa was a wonderful and informative wine lady! We thoroughly enjoyed our choices and cheeses. Only down side was that PA state law prohibited her from selling us several bottles, due to the timeframe we where there. Would have loved to take some home! We will come back some day read more

This is by far the nicest winebar I have been to! Tonight I am enjoying a nice glass of red wine and some sharp cheese. I recommend the chocolate lava cake and a glass of port wine. So delicious! There is even a nice outdoor seating area perfect for a summer night. So if you ever have a chance to stop by West Reading be sure to stop in Winedown Cafe!!!!! read more

Went out with my girlfriend Patty tonight to try The Winedown and absolutely loved our experience! Our waitress (Marissa) was very knowledgeable about the menu and the drinks. She even recommended a few things and not one of her suggestions failed us! Everything was delicious and unique. Definitely will be back for another date night with my beautiful woman Patty! read more

I have mixed feelings about this place. The atmosphere is very classy, and the drinks are reasonably priced for how strong they were! We had cosmos and Manhattans and I was not disappointed. The food was tasty but please be advised now, the portions are TINY. We ordered veggie spring rolls, there were five rolls about an inch long smaller than my thumb, but the flavor was good and the dipping sauce was awesome. We also ordered a mushroom truffle and artichoke pizza, again the flavor was superb but it was smaller than a personal pizza. Now for the negatives: We went here on a Saturday night and got a table with no problem, but there were only two of us. THIS PLACE IS BAD FOR GROUPS. Several groups of 4 or more people arrived and were unable to be seated because the place was full and there were only about 2 places they would all be able to sit together anyways. Also, being a Saturday night and almost every table taken, there was only 1 server on staff. We waited over 10 minutes before she even saw our table and then saw her only one time again when she brought out our food and drinks, we did not even get a chance to put in another drink order and became extremely annoyed at the lack of attention and poor service. At one point the single bartender became so overwhelmed that the young hostess started mixing drinks. I'm sorry, but if I am paying close to $10 a drink, I would prefer an experienced bartender make it, not the girl who seats people! So to reiterate, this place has good atmosphere, but is bad for groups. The food is tasty, but the portions are tiny. Also, management needs to better prepare for the weekend crowd by staffing more waiters! read more

This place reminds me of a few spots in Philly, very cozy and relaxing a taste of the big city in W.Reading. The owner is super nice bartender knowable and accommodating, we didn't eat there but maybe next time were in town. read more

Awesome wine selection and also great food and desert. Great place to lounge.

We really like going to Wine Down. It is a favorite for appetizers with a nice selection of wine and liquor. When you see Ben, tell him his sister recommended the place. ;) read more

Staff was able to recommend a type of wine based on my preferences perfectly. Love coming here for a relaxing glass!

I went in with a group of friends and was greeted with rudeness. This was followed with more rudeness and snooty treatment from the staff. I wanted to enjoy some good wine with house recommendations...Instead we only were treated as though we did not matter...very rude staff who seemed annoyed to be working!! read more

As advertised, this is a classy wine bar/lounge. Great for a romantic night out. If your in the mood for wine and want some ambiance, this is the place. The wine selection was ok. I enjoyed a cheese plate and olives. Service was very friendly and knowledgeable. The lounge music made it a perfect setting to warm up from the cold. read more

The patio is a little small but good for an intimate setting. The sangrias are delicious. The food served there are appetizers but delicious non the less. read more

Thanks to the positive Yelp scores, I wandered into Winedown while on business in Reading... and I'm certainly glad that I did. This place seems like its the anomaly for this area. At the surface, a snazzy wine bar in Reading (West Reading actually) is a head scratcher. That's not a slight against against this fine establishment; its a slight against the city. Apparently Reading is the poorest city per capita in the country, so as an entrepreneur, one would think that the natural thing would be to open a wine bar. Well I'm not sure if my sarcasm is conveyed here, but the risk that the owner Ben made by opening the first wine bar in the area is definitely paying off! The ambiance here is on point; a long narrow bar with high top tables and an overall loungy feel. It was a welcome treat that I was not expecting! I unfort ate an early dinner at my hotel and wasn't overly hungry, so I certainly didnt plan on eating. Well, after looking over the menu, I was reeled into getting something. They had a perfect wine bar menu of small plates, cheeses, crostinis & pizzas. I opted for the hummus & I'm happy that I did. The hummus tasted like it was made to order; ripe w/ flavor & freshness, and the crostini's to dip in the hummus were perfectly toasted! I'm mad at myself for eating prior to coming here! The wine selection was solid. Surprisingly, there was only one bottle that I've heard of; which could be good or bad. In this case, its was good. It seems to me that the owner goes through great lengths to procure a variety of wines to deliver to his customers at an affordable price! If you're in the area and are looking for a great place to relax, eat & enjoy some wine, this is definitely the place for you! If I'm ever back in Reading, this place is on my must stop list. read more

This spot has an amazing bartender, Brianna. She's got serious skills and drink knowledge. She always seems to be in a good mood, she's personable, and she has a great sense of humor. Brianna is constantly talking to customers, crafting cocktails, cutting garnishes, handling transactions, organizing products and glassware, keeping her space clean and more with such a great attitude and poise. It's really mesmerizing to watch her. I love this place. The best cocktails in town. Food is delicious too! read more

We stopped in here twice on a recent, weekend trip to Reading, PA. Loved it. Extremely friendly and helpful service, especially important as visitors. Great wine selection, of course, and a thoughtful menu with tasty little treats. The decor and atmosphere is warm and inviting, yet modern. Great place to begin your night with a glass before dinner or truly winedown at the end. Pun intended. read more

This is a great cozy spot to begin or end your evening. I love the selection of wines by the glass, there is always something new on the menu. Last time I was there I tried a BEAUJOLAIS. It was a deliciously smooth French red! The menu has little bites to accompany the wine. This is a wine bar so for dinner you may want to hit another spot afterwards. I always stay for a while as it is a great place to chat and catch up with friends. Oh- and be sure to share a piece of their Tiger cake. It is divine! read more