Nectar Wine Bar & Bistro - Osseo, MN

Last night I entertained some clients out in Osseo near the office, and we took a group of 10 to Nectar Wine Bar & Bistro. It's a small, local spot that was a bit flustered when we called for a same day reservation for a party of 10 - the place only seats 50. The place was super cute and pretty quaint, located on the main drag in "downtown" Osseo. The decor was a little outdated. Dark curtains and upholstered chairs allows for a darker environment, but the service was friendly and they did a great job with a larger table for such a small place. They have a great selection of wines by the glass, and at decent prices. The specialty cocktail menu looked pretty interesting as well - nothing that jumped out at my taste, but those in our party that tried one enjoyed it. I shared the Hawaiian Poke "Tostada" with one of my coworkers, and we both really enjoyed it. The chunks of tuna were generous and fresh, with a small cabbage salad on a crisp homemade tostada and a little drizzle of a yummy Asian inspired sauce. The serving comes with two decent sized tostadas, and I thought it was perfect to share with my friend. For an entree, I ordered the Hoison-glazed quail with butternut squash risotto. I have to admit, this seemed a bit too autumn-ish for mid-April, but it sounded good so I gave it a try. The quail was okay - the sauce was good, but it wasn't anything I'd order again. The risotta was flavored well but wasn't cooked to perfection. Had a few tough little pieces here and there. The presentation of the meals left something to be desired of a place with a relatively epicurean menu. My neighbor ordered the cioppino which looked pretty tasty, and she really enjoyed it. The spare ribs also looked great (I can't believe I was able to resist ordering that one) but the portions were pretty hefty. We ordered a couple dishes of ice cream to share, and they were okay. Definitely not something I'd write home about or recommend having. All in all though, the atmosphere was very pleasant and comfortable, and it was a nice little find out in the burbs. Off the main dining room there is a tiny little bar that I'm a lot more interested in coming back to visit. Super cute, tiny little spot and with a nice wine menu I would definitely stop by again for cocktails after work.