Mille Vini

PROFILED BY DEGROOTS MEDIA

Mille Vini, the wine bar offering 1000 wines (well, close enough anyway), oozes sophistication and European charm. And for those who walk the beat of Surry Hills, this restaurant has been welcomed with open arms. At 6pm, when the doors swing open, Mille Vini's two levels fill up with alarming speed. The room is lined with the aforementioned bottles of wine, and with sandstone walls and dark wood throughout, the effect is reminiscent of a well-stocked cellar.

The menu is made up of what those stylish Italians call spuntini which are little tasting plates, not unlike the Spanish tapas. A glass counter reveals some deliciously gourmet ingredients and is brimming with cured meats, blocks of cheese and glistening olives. Beyond these mouth-watering morsels, you can catch a glimpse of the chefs who are delicately putting the final touches on their orders. Plates of grilled lamb skewers, beef carpaccio with truffle oil, and lightly fried zucchini flowers will have any epicurean wringing their napkin in anticipation. But, wine comes first and foremost so before you order away, leaf through the extensive list for your choice of tipple. It can be a daunting task but the knowledgeable staff are at the ready to assist in any pairing or description queries. So for example, a glass of Louis Jadot Macon Blanc from Burgundy, France marries terrifically with Prosciutto san daniele, sliced as thin as can be and served with Kailis premium organic olive oil and home-made grissini, and grilled calamari with rucola, radicchio and olives.

Annabel Wise