New wine bar Revel opens in Belle View Shopping Center

Revel wine and craft beer bar is officially open for business in the Belle View Shopping Center.

The location held its soft opening in mid-January and during a recent Saturday evening visit, the restaurant and bar area were filled to capacity. Proprietor Vanessa Moore, who owns both the adjacent Unwined store and the Unwined located at Bradlee Shopping Center, said the venue has already attracted a group of regulars in the short time it has been open.

The space inside Revel is modern and elegant. The decorations feature unique pieces like a barn door that Moore purchased in Culpeper, Virginia. Fresh flowers adorn each table and the bar area. Little touches like wine menus made out of cork make Revel feel like a special, intimate place.

With a wine menu boasting more than 150 different bottles ranging in price from $32-$650, Revel has something for everyone and every occasion. Moore wants to make sure patrons have an accessible wine experience where everyone will be treated equally regardless of their budgets.

For those who may not be knowledgeable of wine, staff is eager to educate you. During a recent visit, Revel’s Wine Director Vickie Reh took time out of her busy night to come over to visit with guests and provide them with tasting notes and general information about wine regions in order to help us select a wine from their vast menu.

Food at Revel focuses around plates to be shared. There is the expected cheese and charcuterie board, which include options from both Virginia and Maryland farms, and gets jazzed up with accompaniments such as pickled watermelon and caramelized onions.

There are also unexpected options like potatoes roasted in duck fat and the highly addictive Gougères, which taste like a fluffy cheese puff that melts in your mouth.

Moore, whose experience with the restaurant industry goes back to her college days, was excited to open up in the Richmond Highway area. As someone who lives in walking distance from Revel, she felt that the neighborhood was somewhat of a food and wine desert. She hopes that her venue will help build a sense of community.

Revel is located next to Unwined at 1600A Belle View Boulevard (see map). It is open from 3-9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 3-10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3-9 p.m. on Sundays.