I have an enormous passion for expertly produced wine dinners, but my budget doesn't always match my enthusiasm. Enter Parallel Seventeen [2], the modern Vietnamese bistro on 17th Avenue. Stopping by on a recent Tuesday evening, I was delighted to learn of the restaurant's once-a-month wine dinners that are priced at an unbelievable $35—yes, that includes pairings.

The meal began with a crunchy and refreshing watermelon and pork belly salad, dressed with a zingy chile, mint, and lime dressing. (The pairing: Vega Sindoa [3], and light, dry rosé from Spain.) Next up was the deconstructed tuna nicoise salad (pictured) served with a spiced whole quail egg. (Served with a Côtes Du Gascogne [4], a minerally white from France.) The third course consisted of a seductively sweet corn agnolotti with wilted Chinese broccoli and lemongrass demiglace. (It was accompanied by a Grenache-Syrah blend from Black Beret [5] in France.) The meal concluded with the sweet-and-sour Meyer lemon tart served with juicy macerated blueberries and a flute of sparkling sake.

In all, it was a delightful evening with an excellent—and unexpected—price point. The next wine dinner is scheduled for August 21. Make your reservations [6] here.

Bonus: The month of August marks Parallel Seventeen's seventh year in business. Look for $7 daily deals on the restaurant's Facebook [7] page.

1600 E. 17th Ave., 303-399-0988