(707) 536-9215
Parking: gas station parking lot
Hours: Closed Mon-Wed; Open Thurs-Sun 11:30am-7:30pm
vinoma.net
Food: 4 stars
Atmosphere: N/A
Service: 4 stars
Price: $
I first learned about Vinoma through some news articles about where to find the best Bay Area restaurant, although you can't actually eat inside. The headline about it being located next to a gas station sounded curious enough and since I've spent a good amount of time in Rohnert Park, I knew this cuisine definitely wasn't available there in the past. Although I've had empanadas at various restaurants around the Bay Area, it was in 2019 when I had the opportunity to visit Buenos Aires that I had a chance to try one that was so good that I went back for more the next day. While I was passing by a convenience store, slightly smaller than most 7-Eleven's in the states, I saw that they had a heat lamp pointing at multiple shelves of fresh empanadas. Since I love a good Chinese curry beef turnover, I figured I had to try these local treats and I was not disappointed. It seemed that a lot of people were stopping there for a takeaway lunch and when I passed by it an hour later, all of the empanadas were gone.
To save time and avoid missing out on what might run out at Vinoma, I ordered online the night before and although I arrived earlier than my delivery time, they were able to accommodate my order. It seemed that most people that came without ordering ahead received their empanadas in 15-20 minutes.
A menu on the outside of the door, with photos, is available to help you decide what to get. There's a discount if you buy a dozen. And in case you forgot what you ordered, a picture menu is also sent with you when you pick up your order. Vinoma adds a nice touch with each order - a fresh dahlia. Since many may not be familiar with an Argentinian empanada, they help educate you by noting that each empanada is 3-4 bites and they recommend you get 4-6 per person. There are meat, vegetarian, dessert, vegan, and breakfast empanadas available. Brian, the owner, will answer any questions, and I watched him explain the same thing over and over to many new customers.
- Canastita (open face empanada) - I tried one plum and bacon and one spinach and artichoke. Both have a very flaky crust that is a bit reminiscent of eating puff pastry. The plum is a rehydrated plum with a very intense flavor that pairs well with crispy bacon, fontina, and mozzarella cheese. If you love a mix of sweet and savory, I would definitely recommend this one. These empanadas also come out super hot out of the oven - to the point that you should use caution when eating them. The spinach and artichoke canastita is mixed with onions, garlic, and monterey jack - for me, this was like eating a delicious bite of quiche, but of course, without the eggy quality.
- Empanada - For the traditional style of empanada, I ordered traditional beef which is ground beef with scallions, red onions, spanish olives, chopped eggs, and spices. This was yummy also, but less novel than the plum and bacon. The texture of the dough seems different here because of the fold, but still tasty. If you prefer a spicy version, they have that available too. The other empanada I tried was ham and cheese made with diced hickory smoked ham, bechamel, and fontina. This was also quite good, but there was something about walking down the street in Buenas Aires, where those may have been fried and even flakier that I can't quite compare these to. Both are still good and worth trying.
Empanadas are $3.89 each or $3.44 each if you purchase a dozen or more.
If you're in the area, this is definitely worth checking out. Avoid the lines and order ahead.
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