We all love eating a meal together with family and friends…there is nothing better than sharing a plate or two with a glass of vino.
Share-plate dining has become increasingly popular Down Under to the extent that many venues offer menus specifically designed for sharing. Here are six of our favourite places for communal dining:
Find vast water views from every table at modern waterfront restaurant Ponte Bar and Dining on Wharf Road in Nowra. This South Coast dining destination, set alongside the banks of the Shoalhaven River, boasts an enclosed balcony, atmospheric dining room and a bar-lounge area for chilling out with a cocktail of choice while perusing a varied menu inspired by cuisines from all around the world.
Dine in the evening as the sun turns pink and enjoy share plates of tempura fish tacos with jalapeño mayo, cos lettuce and pico de gallo, or fried duck and pork ravioli with sesame sauce; before a decadent dessert of sticky date pudding, toffee sauce, vanilla bean ice cream and peanut praline.
Delivering a unique experience in the comfort of your own home, Private Dining By Steele offers Modern Australian fine dining with global influences. The brainchild of Chef Steele Lee, menus showcase the beauty of native ingredients and harness raw flame to serve up elegant dishes with superb flavours to diners in the Townsville area.
With a goal of sharing his love for food, Steele can cook at your home, office or venue of choice, whether you are planning a special occasion, function, or just feel like treating yourself to a long lunch with friends. Along with a stunning array of canapés, think share plates like Wagyu striploin, burnt onion, wild mushroom and wattle seed jus.
Tucked into the lively boutiques of Richmond's Swan Street, Cochin Wine Bar & Restaurant provides a fusion of French and Vietnamese cuisine in a sleek establishment well-suited to the style of trendy Melburnians. This radiant establishment draws an after-five crowd looking for a variation of signature cocktails, icy beers and wines imported from France to enjoy unwinding in moody surroundings where dark timbers, earthy touches and contemporary lighting add depth to an exclusive ambience.
A tapas-style menu offers up small bites bursting with vibrant flavours like prawns in a crisp green rice batter with pineapple dipping mayonnaise, deep-fried chicken wings and nuoc cham sauce or crispy pork belly slices with pickled vegetables, served in lettuce cups with Vietnamese hoisin-style sauce.
Expect a unique dining experience punctuated by a vibrant atmosphere and professional service at new restaurant on the Adelaide block, Kiin on Angas Street in the heart of the city. A fun yet refined modern ambience with a warm and inviting vibe awaits local diners and visitors alike as they peruse a creative menu showcasing Chef Ben Bertei’s wealth of experience and Thai-inspired dishes.
Meaning ‘eat’ in Thai, Kiin dishes up exceptional fresh produce and world-class wines as seen in share plates such as crowd favourite stir-fried rice cakes, curry spices, pork crackle, green onion and herbs; or Thai pork sausage and coconut squid skewers with green chilli, ginger and mint.
Sunshine, share plates, cocktails and live music await at community-minded Anglesea restaurant the Love House on Great Ocean Road. For every guest who eats at this diner with stunning water views and sea breezes, one meal is donated to feed an insecure Australian child; kick back, enjoy the vista, sip a cocktail and enjoy knowing you have put a smile on a child’s face that needed it.
Start with Korean fried chicken bao, sesame, slaw, herbs, pickled carrot and Kewpie mayo, then devour slow-cooked chipotle Angus beef short rib, with cauliflower purée, chimichurri and pickled red onion. Perhaps a barramundi fish parcel tempts with soy, chilli, ginger, sesame, bean sprouts, herbs and shallots.
Heartfelt meals to suit any gathering or occasion are what you’ll find at Soul Kitchen on Ruthven Street in the heart of Toowoomba’s CBD. Bespoke dishes await at this stylish venue where olive green walls are adorned with vibrant artwork and clothed tables are set with napkins and sparkling glassware to set the scene for a memorable four-course menu with matching wines that is ever-evolving.
Settle in with a glass of Grenache and devour grilled scallops with kaffir pickled onion, ginger, jungle curry and puffed rice, before Cape Grim eye fillet, beetroot purée, asparagus, broccolini and jus, best paired with a glass of Shiraz; finish with an individual cheese board and a glass of Noble Semillon.
