5 Restaurants to Experience a Wine and Food Paired Menu

Ever sat at a restaurant table pondering the menu, unsure of what wine to order to go with which dish?

For those of us who enjoy a nice glass of wine but really don’t know what we are doing when it comes to pairing food and wine, there are many restaurants around the country that take away that quandary by offering menus where wine is paired with each dish. 

Here are five we recommend you try:

Paying homage to locally grown and foraged foods, stop into trendy restaurant on the Limestone Coast, Elementary by Soul Co on Margaret Street in Mount Gambier, for an intimate dining experience. A moody vibe of subdued lighting, dark wooden table settings and green tiles sets the scene for a perfect date night or group dinner with friends; expect local produce paired with an international wine list sure to tempt all palates.

 

Think offerings like whole smoked lamb tortellini, walnuts, Parmesan cream and parsley oil, accompanied by a glass of BK Carte Blanche, or Taschini 'Sunny Red' Blend with gnocchi, confit duck, mushrooms and broth; dessert temptations such as spiced brioche, vanilla parfait, milk chocolate cream and hazelnuts pair perfectly with a glass of Bande Apart Cab Franc.

Those looking for a restaurant with delicious seafood and stunning sunset views head to Restaurant 2317 on Sunset Boulevard in Soldiers Point. Named after the suburb’s postcode and with breathtaking vistas over Soldiers Point Marina, this dining destination projects a coastal vibe with white cane table settings overlooking the water along with a stylish indoor vibe of potted greenery and comfy couches ideal for perusing the enticing menu.

 

Opt for the wine-paired tasting menu and dive right in with oysters, mandarin and pickled chilli to start, followed by housemade gnocchi, grilled prawns, heirloom tomatoes, pesto and burrata, washed down with a glass of Clare Valley Riesling; slow-baked chocolate tart, peanut butter sauce, crushed peanuts and ice cream makes the ideal finish to a memorable meal.

Set on the waterfront in Rose Bay, Catalina on Lyne Park is an Australian culinary icon. Owned and operated for more than 30 years by the McMahon family, this Sydney restaurant has built a reputation for its effortless luxury and uniquely Australian approach to dining.

 

With sweeping views of the harbour, this is a destination synonymous with chic coastal style where every table has a stunning view; settle in with an entrée from the Winter tasting menu of soy-marinated King salmon, nori, wasabi mayonnaise, yuzu, cucumber, edamame, sesame seed, salmon rousing and a glass of Bourke & Travers Riesling. For the main, pair lamb rump, braised lamb shoulder, potato dumpling, celeriac and heirloom vegetables with an Argentinian Malbec.

Perspective Dining on Brunswick Street in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD is a modern gastronomic experience taking you on an unforgettable culinary journey. This closed-door 12-seat Chef dining venue offers cutting-edge seasonal tasting menus from five to nine courses with plant and protein-based choices in elegant surrounds sure to impress.

Choose the dinner nine-course food and wine pairing to enjoy dishes such as sand crab, freshwater eel, tangelo, florettis and sea crackling, along with crayfish meatballs, Perspective potato, Sicilian pollen sausage, cara cara and egg; perhaps pair a glass of Pinot Noir with Wagyu stew, old carrot, pudding, monkey apple and pearl onion, finishing with macadamia, brown butter crumble and balm for dessert.

Take in panoramic views of rolling vineyards as you dine in style at Barmah Park Restaurant & Cellar Door in Moorooduc. Located a short drive from Mornington on Moorooduc Highway, this destination restaurant boasts a beautiful, spacious dining room, casual enough for a midweek luncheon yet also intimate enough for a romantic dinner with your special someone.

Passionate Chefs have created a Modern Australian menu showcasing the abundance of world-class produce available in the region, paired with estate wines; think plates such as Goldband snapper, Australian prawns, flame-grilled capsicum, tomato, star anise, cavolo nero and fragrant herbs, accompanied by a glass of 2023 Lighthouse Pinot Gris, or a NV Barmah Park Sparkling Brut for bubbles lovers.