Banter Wine

Came here to check out the wine bar and it did not disappoint! Loved how big it was on the inside and there is also a back room with some old school arcade game. I loved the decor and ambiance here. Great for a date or to hangout with friends. They also offer natural wines too. You can buy it by the glass or bottles here. Very clean interior and plenty of seats! You order at the bar. Parking was a little hard to find but if you go in the streets behind you can find something. Beautiful place and ambiance.

Located in the small pass thru commuter town of El Cerrito, Banter is not too far from Central on San Pablo Avenue. The inside is retro mellow reminiscent of cafes that you used to find in SF's Mission District back in the day.Unlike a cafe, Banter is a Wine bar with natural light vibes and a relaxed, mature crowd.This fun place is run by Devon, the man behind the counter and owner and master mind of this wine bar which offers a favorable menu of whites, rosés, reds, sparklings and even orange wines along with a reasonable menu of appetizers such as olives, a meat and cheese platter and even an anchovy platter which I hope to try next time.Along with the comfy and casual vibe, they have a record player that provides the music. They were playing a lot of Band of Horses and I enjoyed it very much.The wines are fairly priced ranging from $10-$18 or so and our man Devon gives you a very good pour.If you are lucky to stake out the couch, you will spend a comfy 2 hours socializing.Really had fun here and look forward to coming here again in the future.

Good cheese plate, good wines, relaxing atmosphere. When I'm in El Cerrito about once a month to help out my parents, I need wine. I was a little upset that they are closed on Sundays but I get it, the owners want a day off. Luckily, right down the street is Scene Wine Bar for those Sunday wine needs.Banter has some unique wines. I wanted to like the Richmond white blend but it's not for me, tasted too young and green. A Trebbiano d'Abruzzo from Italy was better. More importantly than the wine, a comfortable place to hang out with my good friends to relax and talk.

I love this place. All the wines we tried were delicious. I love that you can build your own flight! We got the meat and cheese plate which we also really enjoyed, and the staff were super friendly. Very fun, funky decor. Can't wait to go back.

Cool spot, we went after visiting the EC natural food market. My friend and I stopped in to this gem of a spot. It was cool inside with records and tapes from the 80's and beyond and the vibe was very relaxed. Her and I both got a flight which was super reasonable. I appreciated you could pick any wine they offered for that day, no preselection. I will be back.

Poor El Cerrito. It must be rough to be the sibling of a much more exciting and vibrant Richmond, CA. Nothing ever happens in EC. There's no more Off the Grid, the plaza is meh but they keep trying. Except for the fantastic salsa/music nights across the street at EC Natural. So, when I heard of this place but didn't have a reason to come because it's EC and why???But I came here because my husband was going with a coworker and her French mother. And boy, am I glad! This spot is ahhh-mazing. The wine was good, the charcuterie came with good cheese and the gluten-free crackers. I don't eat after others and arrived a bit late after work (I got off at 4:30 and they got off at 3). They'd already finished one board and ordered one once I got there. It was soooo good. And the sweet, spicy Peruvian pepper jam added a wonderful kick. The vibe hit the right spot for me. It has a very Berkeley-ish without the pretension and accompanying squalor. They had records playing and the music was groove-worthy. There were different styles of music and it was a joy to have a conversation with a good, yet non-distracting set of albums. And they played the album, not the singles only which added to the atmosphere. They also had VHS movies in the background.But they have so many wines! And yes, they are a bit pricey to me, but they are a small, local spot and I would pay the price just to enjoy my find there. So, I will definitely be back for a glass and a nosh on my way to somewhere else. It's worth it. And while there, don't forget to get a $5 wine opener with their name on it.

The food is delicious and locally sourced! Great prices- I love doing the wine flights. Such a cute local spot, welcoming staff and they always have pop ups with other businesses! Great spot to bring friends for a nice relaxed wine bar!

We ordered a flight to try three different wines. None of them were impressive. All too bland. Don't feel like they are good quality wine for the price we paid. Service was very good though.

Amidst the bustling traffic in El Cerrito, there's a hidden gem and a recent addition to the area. Blink and you'll miss it. Even during a brief pause at a stop light when there's a chance to look around, it's highly probable that you'll still miss it. There's no signage on the building itself, so look for the wine barrels sitting on the sidewalk as your clue, or perhaps you'll spot their small sandwich board just outside their front door. Find parking somewhere near 10368 San Pablo Avenue, the address to Banter, a wine bar with a warm atmosphere, welcoming decor, and communal tables. Offering a curated selection of old and new world wines, Banter focuses on small producers who prioritize minimal intervention from vineyard to bottle. On location, you can purchase a bottle from the shelves to enjoy at home or savor a glass (or bottle) in-house. If you need something to eat while you're there, choose from various delicious snacks including cheese, charcuterie, and other tasty treats.During the pandemic, while drinking wine and eating cheese in their backyard, owners Claire and Devin were inspired to open a wine bar, but they wanted their wine bar to feel like "home," - comfy, casual, no frills, just...chill. A collection of cozy couches in the back creates an ambiance reminiscent of enjoying a drink in the living room of your most stylish friend. Classic VHS tapes and 80's knick-knacks are precariously stacked high next to small vintage TVs playing films that will take you back in time. When I was last there the original Flash Gordon was playing. You probably won't get to hear any of the movie dialogue because the bar is spinning LPs from an ever-expanding vinyl collection, fueled by contributions from patrons. A pinball machine in the back room adds to the decor's nostalgic charm and provides an entertaining distraction between pours. With a partial kitchen, Banter partners with local talent and the community to create new opportunities by featuring "pop-ups" - temporary restaurants that allow chefs and restaurateurs to try out a new neighborhood, experiment with their menu, generate a following, or just get some great experience for their staff. During my most recent visit, I got a front-row seat at the bar to witness Chef Emmanual from the restaurant Bolita work his magic with fresh masa, a must-have ingredient at the center of all his signature dishes. Most notable was the Tamal de Calabaza which featured squash masa, mole negro tamal, roasted kabocha, and cashew crema. A nice compliment was the Papas Rositazadas, simple roasted potatoes with black garlic aioli. Both were deliciously elevated and beautifully plated for such a casual environment. Unfortunately by the time you read this Bolita would have moved on to their next location but you can track them down on their website at www.bolitamasa.com. Banter will continue to feature pop-ups and to find out what's in store next visit their location or follow their Instagram @banter_winebar. As temporary as the pop-up food concept is, Banter is hopefully here for good as they focus on what's most important, which is most fittingly stated by the intentionally sloppy, hand-painted sign in front, "Bad Signs, Good Wigns!"

A cozy, rustic, vintage style wine bar. It features a long bar with bistro style tables and a little couch area. We went on a cooler Sat evening and it was a great place to catch up with a friend. Vintage posters, record and VHS tapes serve as decor. They offer up a select few wines by the glass, aflight option or feel free to buy a brittle to enjoy. They do have limited canned beer and cider, as well. Food wise, I spied some nibbles like almonds and chips, but also 2-3 more substantial items like charcuterie and a ham and cheese baguette.I went with the $20 flight and selected 3 wines. There's about 3-4 different wines under each category: bubbles, red and white. The 3 reds I selected were fine. I wouldn't say I loved any of the ones I tasted, but none were bad. The team was helpful and friendly. This spot screams "locals". So what a win for El Cerrito with this gem. Coming from Berkeley, I wouldn't say this is a must, but with a friend that lives nearby it's a perfect place to meet up.