VIN - San Rafael

Tugboat Annie called me and said she'd take me to VIN for dinner..if I help her with a pesky raccoon that's been terrorizing her block for two weeks! You betcha! I told her, but could we get it to go, and eat it here because my raccoon eradication involves quite a bit of hanky panky, and it'll be messy that's for sure, so we'll need to be here for some 3 or 4 hours. Let's just say VIN pulled out a tremendously amazing porkchop, maybe the best I've ever had, full of flavor and as tender and moist as your first girl friend! 5 stars all day long.

Delicious and inventive flavors! The shrimp toast was a delightful surprise (unlike any I’ve had and so yummy) and the oysters were perfect. We sat outside and had fantastic service. The cocktails were excellent too!

VIN is hands down the best restaurant in Marin!!!!! Every single dish is outstanding. Their menu continues to change seasonally, and their recent fall/winter additions are superb, specifically the squash over chermoula and goat cheese, the sopresine pasta with clams and sausage, and the new crudo with the coconut crema (pasta was so good I forgot to take a picture before devouring) can’t forget to mention the bread- ordered on the side with the pasta, but it’s the bread used in the focaccia with stracciatella (also a must get)!! makes sense as the dough comes from Oliver’s pizza upstairs (also hands down best pizza in Marin) 15/10. HIGHLY recommend!!!!

We recently hosted a corporate event for Birkenstock here, and everything was absolutely fantastic! The food was delicious—I received multiple raves from our team about how good everything was. The service was excellent; the servers were attentive and made sure everyone’s drinks were always full. Planning the event was so easy thanks to Jon and Carroll. They catered to all our needs and communicated with us every step of the way. Whether you’re planning a corporate event or just looking for a great place to have dinner, this is the perfect spot. Highly recommend!

The ambience at VIN is warm and inviting, with a modern feel that makes it perfect for an evening out. The cuisine is modern Californian with global influences, combining local ingredients and bold, unexpected flavor pairings. The menu items seem to change often which means there’s always something new to try. My current favorite is the celery and date salad which is divine - balanced, and full of flavor. The donut holes with vinegar mascarpone are a miss for me. They’re hard, oily, and overly vinegary in a way that just doesn’t feel right. The cocktails are excellent. Overall, VIN is an imaginative restaurant that’s clearly aiming high and mostly succeeds.

After an early morning start in Los Angeles and a long work drive all the way to San Francisco, we found ourselves looking for a place around 8 PM — tired, hungry, and honestly picky. Options were limited at that hour, so choosing wisely mattered. Turns out, we got lucky. VIN ended up being exactly what we needed. From the first moments, the atmosphere felt calm, confident, and intentional — the kind of place that knows what it’s doing without trying to show off. The food was outstanding across the board. Thoughtful, balanced, and deeply satisfying. Every plate felt deliberate, with flavors that made you slow down and actually pay attention. Huge respect to the chef — this is cooking with character. Service deserves special mention. Not just good, but genuinely attentive and warm. Nothing forced, nothing rushed. And a big thank you to the bartender for the non-alcoholic cocktails — complex, refreshing, and clearly made with care. That kind of detail says a lot about a place. The overall experience felt cohesive: food, service, and atmosphere all working together. If you live nearby, you’re lucky. And if you’re just passing through the city — this spot is absolutely worth a stop. We’ll remember this dinner for a long time.

Wow! Such a great experience. The service was wonderful, our waitress Ryan suggested a perfect wine for us. The dishes were all so thoughtful and delicious - we tried so many different ones and they were all outstanding! I especially enjoyed the blistered snap peas, the focaccia, the crudo and the sweet potato (can’t forget about the butter cake dessert!). Do yourself a favor and get yourself here - ideally with a group so you can try the whole menu

I've been here a handful of times now and each time the service, food & vibe has been excellent. It's hands down the coolest bistro in central Marin. For the third time, i sat at the bar, grabbed a cocktail, some apps and an entree and enjoyed their playlist. They recently added their oysters and shrimp toast to the "official" menu, which cannot be missed. The pork chop is perfectly cooked and packed with seasonal flavors. I recommend Vin for your next date night, or the spot to take your friends coming up from SF to visit you in Marin. You'll definitely find other excuses to come back.