A trifecta of fine wine, great food and welcoming hospitality
Mona Vale’s cool wine bar and restaurant, Paddock & Vine, is a welcoming space. Not only is the vibe upbeat, but the interior is softly lit with cozy booths and tables and our welcome by host and co-owner John Ward is the best in hospitality. Groups and couples fill the room with chatter and laughter, and as we settle into our table opposite the impressively stocked bar, we feel like we’ve left our daytime worries behind. John is quick to say hello and go through the menu and spends the evening treating all the guests with the same service, making sure everyone is enjoying themselves. On arrival we enjoy a treat, a glass of Clover Hill sparkling, before perusing the menu, which has charcuterie options, along with a number of share plates – perfect for those who are after a good glass of wine and a light dinner. The tuna crudo is fresh and delicious, seasoned with chipotle aioli, soy, sesame and shallot, and its delicate flavour is a perfect accompaniment to our wine choice, AIX rosé from Provence, France. Then there’s the meatballs – tender pork and veal in a rich marinara sauce. Split in two and devoured in minutes, we’re thankful there’s accompanying parmesan sourdough to soak up every last drop of the remaining sauce.
Our next course kicks off with a glass of Big Buffalo Chardonnay from California, USA – John’s recommendation. With hints of stone fruit and a buttery texture, it is smooth and very easy to drink. The bar is brimming with high-quality offerings and it’s clear to see that John and fellow co-owner and chef, Nicholas Christie, take their curated wine list seriously. “When we took over (as co-owners in October) there were mainly Italian wines on sale,” John says. “So I brought household names in like (Australia’s) Henschke, Torbreck and lots of wine from The Barossa and New Zealand. We also have rose from Provence, France.
“Everybody’s coming in and raving about the wine list and raving about the food.”
The mains menu has a number of favourites, and our pick, the seafood linguine, has fresh succulent scallops and prawns, accompanied by fresh pasta and a moreish bisque of chilli and prawns. While the pinnacle scotch fillet is sliced, medium rare and perfectly accompanied with rosemary rustic fries and parmesan butter – so good!
We can’t leave without trying dessert, and the lemon cheesecake with raspberry coulis has a wonderful texture and creamy taste, and it’s the perfect way to round off our Saturday night at this revived Beaches bar and restaurant.
Paddock & Vine Shop 8, 1 to 5 Bungan Street, Mona Vale paddockandvine.com | 9999 3807
