The Carlisle Wine Bar

I think the good folk of Balaclava have been keeping secrets and one of them is the Carlisle Wine Bar.

While it hasn’t caused epicurean upheavals or signalled the coming of a new gastronomic star on the restaurant horizon, it is a wonderful place.

This unassuming spot has been around for 7 years, yet remains a secret to many Melburnians who probably don’t realise what a great (local) place they have in the suburbs.

Their regional Italian style menu is described (by them) as rustic, honest and traditional has lots of interesting dishes.

A few I like off their recent menu include roast duck served with soft buckwheat polenta, Roman lamb which is braised and oven baked lamb shoulder, hand-made agnolotti filled with prawns, scallops and blue eye and a spicy pistachio crumbed calamari on wild rocket, radicchio and witlof.

And there’s no shortage of choices when it comes to selecting a good wine to go with your meal

The Carlisle Wine Bar is a wonderful venue of choice for dinner, for drinks, for a meeting, even just the chance to relax by oneself and to be spoiled by the professional staff.

It has warmth and atmosphere and I love the red leather banquettes at the front.

I also list it as a good date place. Not too many distractions, great cocktails, music not too loud and if things are going well, then there’s the good food to help the evening progress.

Oops..with The Carlisle Wine Bar, I think I’ve let the cat out of the bag.

The Carlisle Wine Bar: 137 Carlisle St, Balaclava. Ph: 9531 3222

Open: Mon – Fri: 3pm -1 am

Sat/Sun: 11am – 1am

http://www.carlislewinebar.com.au/main.html

http://www.theage.com.au/news/restaurant-reviews/carlisle-wine-bar/2006/05/01/1146335660964.html

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/71/760399/restaurant/Melbourne/St-Kilda/Carlisle-Wine-Bar-Balaclava