Library Wine Bistro - Wallingford

Where the restaurant truly fell short was in its role as a wine bar. While the selection by the glass wasn't tiny, nearly every option was bland and of low quality (see photo). There was nothing I'd want to pair with a steak. The Merlot costs $18 retail, and the Cabernet is priced at $23—both are quite mediocre. At least the bottled options had a few I'd consider drinking, despite the list being only a page and a half long. For instance, if they included that Barolo as a glass option, I would expect a higher-end selection in bottles to complement it. Plus, it's surprising for a wine bar not to list any vintages. Overall, the wine selection was a complete disappointment.

The interior of the Library evokes the style of the early 1930s, featuring ornate railings, grand staircases, and elegant balconies. The impressive columns and coffered ceilings add to the ambiance. The menu is diverse and very enticing. The service was exceptional and highly attentive. However, the main drawback was the noise level. From the moment we arrived, the volume made it difficult to carry on any conversation. With live music occurring in the main dining room, it was nearly impossible to speak and be heard. If I were to make a suggestion, it would be to reduce the noise levels and consider relocating the live music away from the bar and main dining area.

The breakfast was good for the price. The salmon was my favorite. I?ve tasted better salmon meat before, but the combination with other vegetables kicked it up a notch. The key lime pie was too sugary for my taste, but it was well made. The tipping was good. They don?t slap 18% gratuity for basically doing nothing; they just round off the change.

I love the character of the building, love the entrance. The food was tasteful. Unfortunately service was worse than any Applebee 's. We had a private event room upstairs. 1 drinking bartender, and 1 MIA server. Empty plates and cups left on the table for the entire 3 hours. I had to search for the server to get waters refilled for the 4 tables. They were not attentive at all. The funny part was the bartender (guy showing off his tattoos) was taking shots every so often, and constantly on his cell phone, never making eye contact when we would order drinks. Only response was, yeah, you will have to wait 2 minutes ``. Bartender not professional or presentable. I would not come back for a private party event ever again and probably not for anything more than drinks. Wish this could have been better, I had really high hopes of this place.

Dined for the first time at The Library with a party of 9 for a birthday dinner. The restaurant has a very nice ambience and the building definitely has Library charm. We were seated in the upstairs loft area above the bar. There was plenty of room for us and the other 4 parties that came in after us. The food was great and everyone enjoyed it. There were three orders of the short rib entree, a rib-eye dinner, scallop plate and a salmon dish. One great commodity was the option to substitute sides with little or no extra cost! The kiddos had chicken tenders and fries and there was plenty to take home! Overall a great dining experience and we will return to try other menu items.