Reviews

Peninsula Beacon Reader’s Choice Award 2007
Best Wine Selection

“Your first glance at this OB wine bar may prompt a certain confusion. You won’t know whether you’ve walked into a bar that dabbles in retail sales or a wine cellar with a drinking license-such is the level of attention this establishment renders both services. Hundreds of bottles from around the world are there for the taking, surrounded by funky-colored walls and maps of the world’s most well-known wine regions; 3rd Corner serves dinner too, and many patrons make a habit of ordering a meal and then visiting the racks to pick the wine that goes best with their food. You’ll come away with a very decent bottle of wine, and you won’t be paying an inflated price just ‘cause you’re at a restaurant.” --April 10, 2008

Zagat Survey - 2008

“Wine lovers unite” at this “sophisticated” bistro, bar and wine shop in “funky Ocean Beach”, where they choose from a “spectacular” range of vintages and price points in “the surrounding cases” and pay “only a $5 corkage”; once a bottle is procured, a “smart staff” “helps” pair it with French small plates, which are often “large enough to share” and so “delicious”, even local “chefs drop in before bed” (it’s open till 1 AM).

“I ventured to the 3rd Corner, a wine shop, wine bar and restaurant in the Ocean Beach community of San Diego. My brother had been urging me to check it out for quite some time and it's a cool hangout for wine lovers. The wine selections are diverse and reasonably priced. One room is devoted to whites, the other to reds, with diverse selections from around the world: California, the Priorat region of Spain, France's Rhône region, Australia, Germany, Washington state and beyond. There were also lots of rosés. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. A wine bar is in the middle of the store, with a reserve room behind the bar housing special bottlings. The food we had was very good: olives, grilled prawns, duck confit, sautéed scallops and clam chowder. You can dine inside among the wine racks and floor stacks or outside in the walled patio area.As a beach town crowded with surfers and sunbathers, Ocean Beach is hardly a gastronomic hotbed—although a long-time local favorite, Thee Bungalow, is right across the street from the 3rd Corner—which makes the wine shop/bar all the more alluring. It’s a wine haven in surf city.”
~James Laube, Wine Spectator Online
July 23, 2007

“Earlier this year, Ed Moore sold his venerable, wine-savvy restaurant, Thee Bungalow, to focus his attention on this intriguing space across the street. Other restaurants have wine shops attached, but 3rd Corner takes it a step further: Tables are scattered around the stacks of wine, and servers spend their spare time tagging bottles with price stickers. The kitchen is tiny but creative, producing a menu of small plates such as mussels baked in white wine and a mahi-mahi with panko and jalapeño-lime aioli that rivals the best seafood in town. Best of all is the wine program—diners can order any bottle in the shop at retail price plus $5 corkage. You'll find collector items in the wine vault behind the bar, and hundreds of selections from around the world are scattered around the shop, such as the Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2004 ($36). It's off the beaten path in Ocean Beach, but 3rd Corner is worth seeking out because the concept is so refreshing.”
~Tim Fish, Wine Spectator
November 16, 2006

“The kids are all right – especially the kids in Ocean Beach. Ed Moore certainly thinks so. His revamped 3rd Corner Wine Shop & Bistro "wouldn't have succeeded the way it has if it hadn't been for the kids." At Thee Bungalow, the restaurant across the street that Moore recently sold, "I saw some OB people. But I think that OB in general was afraid of that restaurant. That's where you took your parents when they came to town."

The possibility of duck confit after midnight makes the place something of a rarity in San Diego. In many parts of town, late-night dining means fast food or an all-night diner. (Not to say that either of these is an unpleasant option, just that they're all that's out there, and if you're in the mood for Pinot, you may want something a little more gussied-up.) Says Moore, "I'm flabbergasted that in the Gaslamp, it turns over 100 percent to the nightclub scene, that there isn't something beyond the basic taco shop that stays open late. There have got to be night owls there who don't want to go to the clubs. Once they find we're here, they love it."
~Matthew Lickona, The Reader
August 3, 2006

“Sprinkled throughout the restaurant are racks and crates of wine. Before you sit down, wander around and pick out a bottle to open at your table. The selection is huge and diverse. There are pinot noirs from Oregon, shiraz from Australia, wines from Temecula. The prices are great, too. Most bottles are under $25, and there's a best-buys section that features wines for as little as $8. The 3rd Corner charges an additional corkage fee of $5 to open your wine, but it's still a bargain. After 11 p.m., corkage is free. If you don't like your wine, just get up and get a new one. Most bottles are so inexpensive that you can take a chance on something unfamiliar and end up pleasantly surprised.

The restaurant, which serves until 1 a.m., is a cool alternative to the bar scene. The comfortable feel of the place and self-serve concept facilitate late-night conversation. If you need some food to go with all that wine, everything on the bistro's menu is priced under $13, and portions are generous.

My favorite entree is the braised chicken with marsala. The half-chicken is plenty for sharing, although you may be reluctant to do so after your first taste of the moist, meltingly tender meat. The marsala gives the dish a rich, slightly sweet flavor that goes well with the spicy chorizo rice served alongside. The panko-crusted fish with jalapeno-lime aioli is also a good option. I had succulent mahi-mahi one night, but the fish selection changes to whatever's fresh that day. The menu also features a cheese plate, an olive sampler and other savory bites to nibble with your wine. You can cap your night with a creme brulée, gelato or a chocolate treat, but if you prefer to drink your dessert, there are lots of sweet dessert wines just a short stroll away. “
~Candice Woo, San Diego Union Tribune
April 13, 2006

“Ocean Beach is fast becoming a hip spot for food and wine. One of my favorites for both is The 3rd Corner Wine Shop and Bistro. Owner Ed Moore’s concept is unique: retail wine store, full bar and short bistro menu. Cruise the store for a bottle, pay a $5 corkage fee and order a bite to eat with your wine. Unfinished bottles are corked and bagged for you to take home (in the trunk of your car, of course). Best of all, you can sip and nibble long after most places close as the kitchen is open until 1 a.m. The small bistro menu is what it is. Nothing fancy, nothing costing more than $13—just basics like an artisan cheese plate, olive and paté samplers, a smoked salmon plate and a very good classic whole-leaf Caesar that includes white anchovies and homemade garlic croutons with bread from Point Loma’s Con Pane bakery. Substantial dishes include well-flavored and tender short ribs with mashed potatoes, a fresh fish of the day and spicy pasta with fresh tomatoes, mushrooms and pesto all balanced with a squeeze of lemon. It hit my spot on a chilly afternoon. The prime-time weekend wait for a table can stretch to an hour or more because of limited patio, sofa and banquette seating, and no reservations are accepted. But the service is knowledgeable and attentive. I particularly love that wine is served in proper glasses similar to the Spiegelaus that you can buy there for $35 (6 in a box ).”
~Marcie Rothman, City Beat
January 25, 2006