Good wine, good company and good food… what more do you need?

The restaurant 58 Degrees and Holding Company was exactly this; and I must say that the ambiance was absolutely wonderful. The open seating restaurant was decorated with Christmas reefs and the lights dimmed as the evening progressed. You are greeted and told to sit wherever there is space available.

You are given a wine list and a menu when seated. The menu consisted of different varieties of food from mini hamburgers to artichoke and pesto bruschetta.

It did take quite a while for one of the servers to come and take the orders for some friends and me; I was getting a little impatient. However, when they did come the service was impeccable.

Servers came by often to make sure that our needs, such as refilling our water, or the fetching of another glass of wine was in order. Whenever they did come over, you were approached with a friendly smile and an eagerness to help.

The wine list was rather extensive having a variety of red wines such as merlots and zinfandels, to white wines such as chardonnay, pinot grigio, and sauvignon blanc.

You are given a glass of your wine and it comes with a miniature bottle to hold the rest of your wine.

The servings of the restaurant are a little smaller, but the flavor of the food makes up for it. The bruschetta is a must have, especially the smoked mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes and walnut bruschetta that they offer. The collaboration of all three distinct flavors truly makes each bite a delicious treat.

Choosing to get a full meal, I opted to get the Grilled Steak Sandwich that is served on herb ciabatta bread with brie, roasted garlic and greens. The greens were touched with a hint of sweet vinegar, which made eating the green rather enjoyable.

The steak in the sandwich was superbly cooked, without having that rubbery taste which most restaurants tend to have. The brie melted with the heat of the steak and the collaboration of the two was a nice treat to go along with my Campagnola Pinot Grigio Veneto Italy 2006 wine.

Of course, no meal can be complete without the finishing of a sweet dessert. The dessert menu was small but consisted of dishes with rich dark chocolate, warm apples and the dish, which I chose, the Pumpkin Spice Creme Brule.

This decadent dessert was absolutely sinful as it melted in your mouth with every bite that was taken. The custard like dish added wonderful holiday flavor to the end of a delicious three-course meal.

This restaurant is perfect for a first date or small intimate dinner to catch up with old friends over a glass of wine. If you enjoy exquisite food, go to 58 Degrees off of 18th and Capital and get ready to enjoy their varieties of deliciousness.

Vanessa Johnson can be reached at [email protected]