Neighbourhood Wine
13/20
European$$
The back-story is compelling. an underworld gambling den, left untouched after a police bust 25 years ago. The future is equally good for Neighbourhood Wine, an easygoing wine bar and eatery that punches above its weight thanks to the combined smarts of sommelier Simon Denman and chef Almay Jordaan (ex-St Jude's). The European menu sings in the key of comfort. Start with freshly shucked briny oysters with red wine vinaigrette, an appetite-piquing trio of celeriac remoulade, fried zucchini and marinated globe artichokes, or a jelly-bound pressed pig's head terrine. Segmented chicken nails the season with a creamy stock-based sauce, roasted pumpkin and sauteed chicory; slow-cooked jumbuck on mashed potato is spruced up with jammy slices of pickled quince; desserts such as fruit crumble stick to the brief. With unfancy retro decor, comfortable bar and ever-spinning turntable, no wonder it's a home away from home for local hipsters.
Continue this series
Cracking Christmas catch-up spots for Melbourne 2017Up next
The Rose Fitzroy
The reborn Rose is still a friendly, unpretentious place to get a pot and parma.
Nine boozy brunches in Melbourne
The bastard child of breakfast and lunch is being raised to new levels of fabulousness at these Melbourne venues.
Previous
Cheers to Melbourne's top 20 bars 2017
From supper clubs to raucous neon-lit joints, a new wave of bars is enlivening Melbourne. We raise a cocktail-filled glass to the best in town.
From our partners
Original URL: https://www.watoday.com.au/goodfood/melbourne-eating-out/neighbourhood-wine-20130827-32c1n.html