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Big things are happening at Carmella's Wines, the wine bar located beneath the Hawthorne Bridge with a former bank vault for a wine cellar; a 27-page by-the-bottle list; and two cozy fireplaces. Owner Maggie Shippy has brought in Erica Dunham, formerly sous chef of Bamboo Sushi and The Original, to serve lunch Monday through Friday and small plates evenings. All of the dishes, from hand-made gnocchi with mushroom ragout to scallop tartar, are designed to pair with the restaurant's current wine selection.
Previously, Carmella's Wines focused on snacks, viz. the cheese and charcuterie plates wine bars are known for. The wine bar now serves beer and cider on tap, too. Lunch hours are 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the small plates menu begins at 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
