So I’ve been looking for a replacement for Rockpool Bar and Grill, thinking I’d never find one, but lo and behold, after strolling down a dodgy-looking part of the city on a Sunday afternoon, I ran across a little treasure-looking-like place. That’s when I found out that it was a cute little wine bar that has all Victorian decor, and does high tea on Saturdays!

So I did a little research on it, and apparently it won best wine list in South Australia (cause Rockpool wins for Australia!). Plus they don’t advertise their list online, so I had to visit. My expectations were: giant wine list, and servings by the half glass, and was secretly hoping for varietal specific Riedels.

Of course, when I got there, they do indeed have a noteworthy wine list! Plenty of quotes throughout, as well as a Provenance to read through. Except… the list was much much smaller than I expected. Maybe 20 pages? I’m sorry, but I wanted a Rockpool-thick encyclopedia! They did have a great range of 75mL “tasters”, served in baby Riedels, which made me happy. Plus they were incredibly cheap at $5 – $5.50 per serving, considering at Rockpool I’m paying $16 for 75mL for their reserve stuff.

And while they don’t serve burgers, they do have a highly respectable bar menu much like Rockpool Bar and Grill, with excellent presentation and great range.

Goat curd, pink peppercorns and honey toast

The pink peppercorns made these little toasts super tasty, and the honey offset the goat curd nicely. They were a little expensive at $4 each, but it is goat curd, plus pink peppercorns, so yes, I will always order these! And make it myself one day.

Cured salmon with radish and white gazpacho

I can’t remember exactly what the gazpacho was made of, but I was anticipating like, cured salmon in soup. But this was more like grilled salmon on sauce. It was so tasty as it was seasoned just right, and those are some amazing radishes! I want ones like that as they are very pretty.

Lamb backstrap with almonds and split pea puree

It is so hard to find lamb backstrap, and when I do, it’s expensive. This was tasty and the puree was awesome mixed with the lamb!

They also have amazing prosciutto with this fennel pretzel thing, tasty olives and have a balmain/moreton bug dish – I was just too lazy to take pictures of them.

When it came to dessert, they had a few cheese options. I had a white mould cheese but it was sharper than I liked; I wanted something earthy and mushroomy. Nevertheless, I love cheese and enjoyed it.

Dark chocolate mousse with toasted coconut marshmallows, and cherries

I couldn’t resist a second round of dessert and had to get their special. I loved the mousse but had a little giggle when I was taking pictures because of how the quenelles of mousse looked! I also thought that toasted coconut marshmallows would look like standard toasted coconut marshmallows, but no, these were different and snowy! I wanted more of it!

This place makes me miss Rockpool Bar and Grill so much – in fact it’s the only reason I want to go back to Sydney. I want my 75mLs in full, varietal specific Riedels, not baby Riedels! While the two have a very similar classy atmospheres, Rockpool Bar and Grill is overall busier and louder, which I like. Both places have exceptional waitstaff, who remember things without writing them down and both magically refill water!

I love being asked if I want another drink; too bad a lot of cafes don’t ask me this when I’m by myself. I need a sign above my head saying “ASK ME IF I WANT ANOTHER COFFEE”.

So after this and Celcius, I must find more places to blog about!

… And I need to find people to drag here on a regular basis.