Thirsty Vine offers options for dining and wine tasting

Opening a restaurant is risky business, even in the best of times.

When Annie and Bo Kaser decided to open The Thirsty Vine in Sleepy Hollow late last year, some friends tried to talk them out of it. But the Kasers knew they had an ace in the hole: a loyal customer base built from their previous businesses.

Although the Kasers are new to the food service universe, they've had a long, local history with wine connoisseurs.

Their first venture was a West Dundee wine shop called Distinctions which started out as a gift shop and evolved into a wine-focused establishment. "We had that for about five years and then we moved to Spring Hill Mall," said Annie Kaser.

The Kasers closed that store three years ago last November and began looking for a site for their current venture, a cafe/wine bar and retail store, which they found along Route 72, just south of the Spring Hill Mall, in what is officially Sleepy Hollow, although the location is surrounded on three sides by West Dundee. The village of Sleepy Hollow issued its first-ever liquor license to the Kasers.

"The whole idea was to enjoy wine and cheese and maybe take it home with you or choose off of our shelf to enjoy here," explained Annie Kaser.

The space is at the end of a small strip mall and is decorated with a Mediterranean theme in shades of sepia. A U-shaped bar with a granite top is centered in the space with large, muted TVs hovering over the heads of the bartenders.

Tables and chairs are scattered about and a couch sits in the corner next to a stack of games.

Behind glass panels and doors on one side of the bar is the retail area, where bottles of wine are on display along with refrigerated cheeses.

As one might imagine, The Kasers' wine selection is a star at The Thirsty Vine.

"We use smaller vineyards from around the world," said Annie Kaser. "Some of our labels are a little recognizable but a lot of them come from small vineyards that may only produce 600 cases and we're allowed to get four of them. So, they're not in the grocery store and they're not in the chains."

Choosing which wine to sell is tough job, Kaser said facetiously.

"We taste everything that goes on our shelves," she said with a small laugh. "We want to know what we're selling and make sure its what we're looking for."

There is free wine tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and there's more than enough variety to interest wine enthusiasts.

"We have 70 different varieties and we will have close to 100," she said.

There is also a varied menu, which the Kasers want to evolve and grow.

"We knew that we didn't want to do any fried foods or grilled foods," Kaser said. "What we wanted to do is lighter fare that is affordable, but elegant looking.

"Everything is fresh, including our salad dressing," she continued. "We get big wheels of cheese that we grate ourselves. We make our own soups, everything."

Kaser describes the menu as based on Mediterranean fare. Offerings include: pistachio cilantro hummus and chipotle shrimp cocktail as appetizers, flatbread pizzas, paninis, soups, salads and a soon-to be-added cheese and chocolate fondue.

They even serve breakfast including steel-cut oatmeal, quiche, omelets, frittatas, smoothies and bagels with cream cheese.

Annie Kaser created the menu based on what she likes to cook at home.

"I hate to say this, but I'm Italian and I know food. I love creating things and putting flavors together and saying, 'let's try and put a new spin on things.' Like doing flat bread pizza with Macadamia nuts and pesto and pancetta."

Kaser will add menu items according to the season and, in the spring, an attached patio will change the configuration of the space.

"We have an almost a dozen square foot patio that will become a wine garden," Kaser said. "We're building a band shell, so there will be a stage with acoustical music. We'll have a fire pit and heaters."

Currently, acoustic musicians are presented inside the restaurant from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturdays.

"We've had great positive response," Kaser said. "The community has embraced us wholeheartedly. People need a little pick-me-up and our menu isn't expensive so they can treat themselves."

"It's so fun to see familiar faces and even those we don't know," she said. "The word-of-mouth is spreading and those we don't know are becoming familiar faces."

<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>If you go</b></p>

<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>What:</b> The Thirsty Vine cafe and wine bar</p>

<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Where:</b> 1025 W. Main St. (Route 72), Sleepy Hollow; across from Spring Hill Mall</p>

<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Hours:</b> 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 7 a.m. to midnight Friday; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday</p>

<p class="factboxtext12col"><b>Contact: </b>(847) 844-0567 or <a href="http://thethirstyvine.com" target="new">thethirstyvine.com</a></p>