Leigh Street Wine Room promising a different style of dining
When this anticipated bar and restaurant opens on Leigh Street on 4 September don’t bother booking — it’s walk-in only.
When Leigh Street Wine Room opens in Adelaide’s CBD on Sept 4 don’t bother booking – it’s walk-in only.
Former Sydney chef Nathan Sasiand his Adelaide-born wife Sali chose a former nondescript Leigh St dry cleaners in which to turn their dream into reality.
Aesthetically, they were inspired by intimate bars they encountered on a honeymoon in Paris and Barcelona.
“The long, narrow layout was inspired by 10 William St, one of our favourite wine bars in Sydney,” Sali says.
Local architect studio-gram was tasked with the mammoth transformation. A mezzanine dining area has two communal tables. Downstairs there’s bar seating, bunkette window seating and outdoor dining.
Behind an expansive terrazzo bar, a wine rack displays 400 bottles.
The wines span the globe and are exclusively minimal intervention (made using zero or limited sulphur and organic or biodynamic fruit). South Australian natural wines and “unicorn” drops are the heroes.
The menu is best shared and showcases South Australian produce. That’s precisely why the young family made the move to Adelaide.
“The quality of the ingredients here is incredible and I feel like it’s something that doesn’t get recognised enough nationally,” Nathan says.
Nathan’s CV spans Sydney’s Rockpool, London’s Moro and Dinner by Heston, South Carolina’s Husk Restaurant, Sydney’s est., Nomad and Mercado, and Bali for Mason and Fishbone Local.
A chef’s table will allow four people to sit at the kitchen pass, with a view of Nathan and chef Blake Drinkwater (ex Charlick’s) at work. Nathan has a nose-to-tail approach and makes his own charcuterie, bread, cheeses and vinaigrette. The menu will change weekly and be produce driven.
“It’ll teach Adelaide a different style of dining,” Sali says. “It’s about being more relaxed.”
Leigh Street Wine Room opens September 4; 9 Leigh St, city; Tue-Sat 5pm-late (from mid Sept, Fri-Sat from noon) 0499 555 461
