This little add-on wine bar in the popular Berkelouw Books Leichhardt branch has bloomed into a formidable Norton Street haunt, no longer merely an afterthought for local bookworms.
The place has a simultaneously chic and cosy ambience, where bookshelves live harmoniously next to fully-stocked wine cubes; plush Persian-style rugs, velvety antique lounge suites and rustic wine barrels co-exist with sleek table settings and a shiny grand piano; and literary enthusiasts mix it up with artists and trendy inner-west barflies.
Favouring local drops, the wine selection is surprisingly sophisticated and thoughtful, with a broad enough range available by the glass to satisfy discerning winos.
The menu is predominantly made up of tasting plates, with a great selection of cheeses and Mediterranean-style goodies, but the restrained tapas and pizza selection is also very good, with options such as the
jamon serrano (Spanish ham with spicy tomato salsa),
champinones al ajillo (mushrooms in a garlic and white wine sauce) and straightforward and tasty chicken pizza with roasted peppers and fetta. Leave room for some sweeties too, with excellent dessert options including the panacotta with vanilla bean, and the chocolate mousse with raspberries in vanilla syrup.
Katherine Scott
