Nestled into an unassuming strip mall right off the main drag in Chatham, 3Sixteen Wine Bar makes up for its humble settings with incredibly good eats, a wide selection of drinks and a terrific wait staff that make the little place that could into a top-shelf restaurant and bar.
Locally owned by five friends who share a love of wine and fine dining, they opened up shop three years ago to not only fill a void they saw in area eateries, but also to have a place to hang out themselves. When experienced restaurateur Nikki Griffin came on board to design, manage and run the establishment, 3Sixteen was on its way to becoming a jewel in the competitive, crowded community of food and drink-serving venues.
If there's a secret to their continued success it would be the steady hand and observant eye of Griffin, who came by her experience honestly through studies at Lincoln Land Community College and plenty of on-site work at various restaurants around town. Her combination of well-chosen wines, custom craft beers and high-quality liquors compliment the healthy, homemade (but not home-style) menu that includes a sumptuous and creative food lineup of flatbreads, soups and salads, all served with an astute, professional style.
As an added bonus, 3Sixteen presents live, acoustic music every Sunday afternoon and some weekend nights, plus offers a side room that only requires a reservation for private party usage. During the challenging times of 2020, Griffin and crew set up tables outside under a covering every day and brought it back in every night, all while masked up and following COVID-19 precautions well and thoughtfully, as they delivered food and drinks from inside to patrons outside.
Perhaps it's that extra effort, along with the already established good times, that made our readers feel this place is better than the rest, as 3Sixteen Wine Bar continues to bring out the best in all of us.
