LOCATIONOn the corner of Castlereagh and King Streets in the heart of the CBD.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIABillowing chiffon curtains that encompass clandestine booths, room dividers made of rough thatching and smooth leather chairs make this a restaurant that embraces textures. You can’t help but feel a little sexier as you step down, New York-style, into the basement of Subsolo’s designer dining room which oozes come hither-ness combined with European class and sophistication. Sultry lighting effuses over tapas bars, banquettes and private rooms, setting the mood for an indulgent modern Spanish dining occasion. No expense has been spared when it comes to style and this is also evident in the superior produce used in both kitchen and bar.
After indulging in possibly the best sangria this side of the equator, share a few tapas plates to whet the appetite and notice how the texture motif spills over into the menu. Baked pimientos rellenos with goat’s cheese, pine nuts and wild rocket is simple, yet smooth, fresh and surprisingly delectable. Char-grilled baby squid stuffed with paella and served on burnt anchovy butter gives a delightful little spring under the fork and bursts with European flavour. A predominantly Spanish wine list marries your choice of dishes wonderfully, so take the time to peruse the list again before moving on to the next course. Portuguese espetadas are show-stopping skewers of barbecue meat which dangle daintily from stands placed on your table. This is where your tongs come in handy as you slide off individual pieces of prawns wrapped in Spanish jamon, barbecued quail with a sherry glaze or rock-salt crusted rump steak. The experience is not complete without spooning into the crema catalana, bruleed at the table mind you, accompanied with a nip of sherry. With a passion that shines through loud and clear, the team at Subsolo will pull out all stops to ensure your experience is sensational.
Annabel Wise
DETAILSSubsolo, which means ‘basement’ in Portuguese, puts an entirely new, sexy spin on the typically unassuming underground room. A discreet doorway leads to a lavish dining space, where exposed brick walls and low lighting evoke the clandestine atmosphere of private dens. Hot red accents recall the spicy Spanish cuisine and passion of the Iberian homeland, as sculptural crimson lampshades create a canopy of warmth above scarlet-curtained booths.
FUNCTIONSSubsolo Wine Bar is the ultimate CBD meeting place for drinks. Unwind with one of Subsolo's signature Cocktails, a glass of Spanish Wine or Sangria. An impressive list of Spanish Beers is available featuring ice-cold Estrella Galicia Pilsner on tap. Subsolo's Tapas Menu is available at any time the Wine Bar is open.
A full range of menu and beverage options are available to suit breakfast meetings in the Cafe-Deli; corporate or social functions in the Restaurant; cocktail parties in the Wine Bar; or exclusive venue hire for engagement parties or unforgettable wedding receptions.
FOOD & BEVERAGESubsolo has designed a modern Iberian menu that spans Spanish and Portuguese influences, served with a dash of the restaurant’s signature drama. The tapas list is lengthy to say the least, offering up moreish creations like the pork tenderloin rolled with morcilla (blood sausage) and pistachios on Calvados-spiced apples, and crunchy bacalao (salted cod) croquettes with aioli. Each dish is also available in entrée size should diners want a serving all to themselves. Crusty-based paellas come in ‘valenciana’ (with chicken, chorizo and seafood) and vegetarian styles, and arrive in piping hot dishes to share between two, while espetadas – Portuguese charcoal-roasted skewers – are plated right off the hot metal rod at the table. Clinch meals with a luscious crema catalana with quince purée brûléed live at the dining table. No time for a sit-down meal? Head for the in-house wine bar for a pick of mouth-watering contemporary cocktails; Spanish, Portuguese and Australian wines; and imported sherries and beers that tickle tastebuds alongside smaller bar snacks.