The reimaging of a classic, heritage-listed venue in The Rocks has delivered the type of sophisticated wine and dining venue that can accommodate many tastes, with an expansive wine list and menu that slides effortlessly from Paris to the Mediterranean coast, while not disguising an Australian identity.
Drop in for a glass and a bite either before or after visiting a show at the nearby Museum of Contemporary Art.
As part of the Swillhouse Group – proprietors of a scattering of fashionable Sydney venues, steered by Anton Forte, Allie Webb, Stefan Forte, Toby Hilton, Anthony Moore, and Jordan McDonald – Le Foote opened during 2013 to present an impressive array of wines that span both Old World and New World styles, ranging from classic European wines impacted by sea breezes, volcanic soils and ancient varietals, to a new generation of Antipodean wines.
To explain it all, the wine list contains compartments that explain the textures and impacts of the wines – texturally decadent, powerful; orange and oxified; spicy, earthy and complex; monolithic body and constitution. A huge by-the-glass program also offers at least 40 wines from all over the world at different price points.
“Offering wines for everyone means affordability as well, with great value wines like a glass of Shobbrook ‘Poolside’ Rose, which we serve on tap, through to a rare vintage bottle of 2000 Bernard Defaix 1er Cru Chablis, or a premium glass of Barolo served under Coravin,” says Anton Forte. “Wines with a story are always welcomed at Le Foote, whether it be a tiny winery in Mt Etna that has been owned by the same family for generations, or a husband-and-wife duo making wine in Yarra Valley.”
Le Foote boasts a complex layout over two levels, with two different bars, each serving cocktails and access to the huge list of wines available by the glass, carafe or bottle. Upstairs has plush seating on black leather banquettes, then the rear of the venue is occupied by an 80-seat dining room, lined with an ornate Etruscan mural. The Mediterranean-inspired menu is stacked with small plates, plus substantial meat and seafood options cooked over charcoal in the building’s original cookhouse. The lights are set low, and the serene mood carried by a breezy soundtrack of laid-back, classic Italian tunes, tasty jazz and pulsing Euro grooves. It capably proves itself as a venue that caters for many tastes and appetites, all at the same time.
Toby Hilton and brothers Anton and Stefan Forte of The Swillhouse Group have been responsible for some game-changing bars in Sydney, from Shady Pines Saloon to Baxter Inn and Frankie’s Pizza. More recently, they have had restaurants in their sights, with Restaurant Hubert, then Alberto’s Lounge, in 2018, gently shaking the foundations of Sydney dining…
Proving that smart wine bars are spreading far beyond inner-city laneways, Bar Superette in Merimbula, deep down the coast in southern New South Wales, is setting an impressive high benchmark in both wine and food quality. By being serious about food in a more casual setting than restaurants, but making sure that smartly curated wine offerings remain the primary focus of attention, the team that created Bar Superette – Ryde Pennefather (manager and wine buyer), Cam Charnock (designer and builder) and Nick Parkinson (creative, marketing and digital media bright spark) – have struck upon a winning formula.
On the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, in a beautiful quiet valley at Jugiong in central New South Wales, The Sir George Hotel stands as an oasis between Sydney and Melbourne.
While this grand old pub was established in 1854, the current Sydney-based owners – general manager and wine buyer Leonie Sassall and executive chef Anthony Davis – bought the business in 2021 and introduced new energy and vision. “We are endeavouring to make this pub a food and beverage destination in addition to offering 5-star accommodation in an award-winning garden setting,” says Sassall.
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