Vinum Coffee and Wine Lounge was reviewed in the Weekly Volcano in February 2009. After a brief closure last year, Jennifer Zaskorski took over the Pacific Avenue spot. The order-at-the-counter set up features a huge hanging menu of hot and cold sandwiches, salads, soups and breakfast items. Wine, beer, cocktails, espresso, coffee, canned and bottled soda, juices and the like are offered.

Merely having wine does not a wine bar make. As the title of this post suggest, Vinum comes off as more of a sandwich shop.

In the Gorgonzola, chicken and spinach sandwich, sliced chicken breast pieces were very dry at the edges, suggesting precooking and reheating. The chicken avocado sandwich had the same issue. Only one side of the bread was dipped in egg batter and grilled on the Monte Cristo. Canned jalapenos of the variety typically used on nachos are found in the Cajun sandwich. All sandwiches were served on barely toasted white bread.

On the bright side, tomato bisque had visible herbs and a pleasant, slight sweetness. Sadly, brownie bites were very hard and vegan chocolate chip cookie tasted stale.

"It's pretty good for $8," says sky diving realtor Marguerite Giguere, my most recent lunch date, of her simple open-face caprese sandwich crowned by fragrant basil leaves and drizzled vinaigrette (pictured above).

That's the positive thing Vinum has going for it: the entire menu is under $10.

[Vinum Coffee and Wine Lounge, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday - Thursday, 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday, Closed Sunday, 1001 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, 253.779.9901]