Mitchell Harris Wine Bar is the best thing to have struck Ballarat since gold

GATHER round, wine buffs, and raise a glass to the best thing to have struck Ballarat since gold. Housed in a handsomely refurbished 19th century produce store, Mitchell Harris Wine Bar is a one-stop shop for top wines and eclectic grazing.

BALLARAT is having another Eureka moment … this time on the food and drink front. Mitchell Harris Wine Bar, housed in a handsomely refurbished 19th century produce store, joins a growing throng of progressive eateries in the heart of Victoria’s gold rush city.

Doveton St, especially, is feeling the pulse of change with Underbar (a 12-seat fine diner) on one side and The Pub With Two Names (a “contemporary grill restaurant”) on the other.

Mitchell Harris lies between them, an oasis of industrial cool, pleasing punters with robust country bistro fare and hugely appealing wines.

Mitchell Harris Wine Bar. Picture: Rob Leeson

FOOD

Which comes first here, the wine or the food? If the spring menu is any guide, it doesn’t matter because the Mitchell Harris kitchen is seeking to cover every base.

Partner fiercely hot polenta chips ($14) with a cooling rose. Try a tempranillo with asparagus-laden “golden potato pizza” ($15).

THE PUB WITH TWO NAMES

A PUB WORTH CROWING ABOUT

And make it a nebbiolo if you’re ordering twice-cooked pork belly ($18). This robust dish, sticky with a caramel chilli sauce, demands a big red.

Steamed vegetable gow dumplings ($17) are chopsticks-friendly fare, nicely pleated and spotted with sesame and soy, while supremely good Peking duck bao ($18) gets a good kick of Asian slaw and hoisin ginger sauce.

Twice cooked pork belly with chilli caramel sauce. Picture: Rob Leeson

The charcuterie plate ($10), with its 40g of sliced cured meat, cornichons and sourdough, would have sharpened the appetites of old-time gold miners.

But if a toasted Swiss cheese and mushroom sandwich ($14) is all you want, Mitchell Harris can oblige … with shaved truffle.

CAFE TURNED FOODIE COCKTAIL BAR NAILS IT

THE 20 BEST DISHES TO EAT IN VICTORIA RIGHT NOW

DRINK

This urban cellar door is a one-stop shop for winemaker John Harris’ fine-beaded sparkling and earthy shiraz.

Harris likes to let his grapes do all the talking, but if he’s on deck, take his “wine flight” advice. You might even get some barrel samples to taste.

Peking duck bao with asian slaw salad and hoisin ginger sauce. Picture: Rob Leeson

Beyond the marvellous Mitchell Harris range, the eclectic list here namechecks plenty of (big and small) winemakers from Central and Western Victoria.

With 20 top drops by the glass, and a supporting cast of beers, ciders and spirits, it truly has a deep beverage bench.

SERVICE

The well-drilled Mitchell Harris team wears its knowledge lightly, keeping a watchful eye and suggesting canny food and wine matches.

X-FACTOR

Got it all — a pumping front bar-restaurant, a wine store, a barrel room and underground cellar — and the place feels as if it’s always been there.

Steamed vegetable gow dumplings with chilli, sesame and soy. Picture:Rob Leeson.

BANG FOR YOUR BUCK

The bar graze ($25 or $30 a head) is great value if you’re partying with 10 or more. Wines by the glass are very competitive.

VERDICT

Gather round, wine buffs, and raise a glass to the best thing to have struck Ballarat since gold.

Charcuterie with sourdough and cornichons. Picture: Rob Leeson

MITCHELL HARRIS WINE BAR

38 Doveton St North, Ballarat
5331 8931

FOOD Wine bar

HOURS Mon-Wed 11am-9pm, Thurs-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-7pm

CHEF Jeremy Duxbury

BOOKINGS Yes

TIME BETWEEN ORDERING AND EATING Six minutes

PERFECT FOR Snack grazing over glasses of wine

DESTINATION DISH Twice-cooked pork belly with chilli caramel sauce

NOISE LEVEL Vigorous

ONLINE mitchellharris.com.au

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