Lunch @ Barkers Wine Bar and Bistro

Barkers Wine Bar and Bistro is a newish development in what used to be the Beehive Hotel. It's owned by Sovereign Hotel Group and while the executive chef is Michael Lambie, the head chef is Tony Twitchett, who has moved from his position as head chef at Taxi (also owned by Sovereign).

I've gone on record twitter to say that I don't like the name, for me this will always be the Beehive Hotel. While there may well have been some legal impediments that prevented them to use Beehive, it's a real shame they couldn't find a way to incorporate the name. Regardless, they must be doing something right because the Bistro is booked out, so we're offered the option of dining in the wine bar



You get the same menu as the bistro plus you also get the option of dishes from the bar menu. For our lunch, we've picked dishes from both menus.

We start with an offering to share from the Bar Menu



the modestly named Tasting Plate is more like a tasting feast. The grissini are still warm from the oven which makes them all the more delicious. At the front of the platter is marinated salmon with chilli yuzu sauce topped with a refreshing asian inspired salad (thai basil, mint, coriander). Salami and prosciutto, a terrific slab of blue cheese, an assortment of pickles and



a terrine topped with truffled foie gras parfait.

For mains:



Excellent battered fish - the batter crisp and light, the fish moist and juicy served atop a generous amount of french fries.




The pizza comes out of a wood-fired oven and had a nice thin base but an excess of oil meant that it was soggy in parts. Not quite sure if this combination really worked - the parmesan in particular just overwhelmed the buffalo mozzarella.

For dessert,



we opted to share the Tiramisu - a very good version, well soaked sponge fingers, creamy mascarpone, it ticks all the right boxes.

For a first visit, we are generally quite impressed with the food and we will certainly return.

The details:

Barkers Wine Bar and Bistro
84 Barkers Road
Hawthorn

03 9853 6638

Open:
Monday to Sunday: Noon till Late

web:
www.barkerswinebar.com.au