The sedate Eastern suburbs renaissance continues with the addition of the charming Greenhart Wine Bar to the Camberwell wine bar and dining scene. Featuring natural wines, hearty food and a delightful back courtyard, perfect for summer evening chilling, it’s already a winner with the locals.
Update
Greenhart Wine Bar has had a change of direction.
Whilst still serving great drinks, the focus of the establishment has altered and it is now a Modern Asian eatery. Now under the experienced team from Benjamin’s Kitchen over in Alphington, the new menu offers temptations such a Yum Cha Selection, Noodles & Rice dishes and a range of Mains to Share. Personally, we’re looking forward to trying the Beef Brisket Rendang ($29.80) and Benjamin’s Green Curry Chicken ($29.80).
We’ll let you know what we think of food as soon as we’ve tried it, so watch this space.
For more of the flavours and texture of Asian cuisine, see our guide to the Best Asian Fusion Restaurants in Melbourne.
Greenhart Wine Bar
Location: 1226 Toorak Rd, Camberwell, VIC 3124 Ph: 0409 806 015
Greenhart Wine Bar is another comparatively new entry in the burgeoning wine bar/brewery/dining scene that has mushroomed around Camberwell, Glen Iris and Ashburton since the licensing laws opened up.
Tootle along Toorak Road heading east. Pass funky Japanese eatery Haiku, and a bit further up, on the opposite side of the road, sits the pale green calm of Greenhart Wine Bar.
There are 2 big drawcards at this Camberwell wine bar. Firstly, Greenhart Wine Bar serves natural wines and it promotes locally sourced drops – both choices that we love to see. Then there’s the surprising courtyard beer garden (Wine Garden) out the back.
Oh, and the food is pretty enticing too.
The Drinks
The team at Greenhart Wine Bar make no bones about their love of all things grape. After all, this is a venue that divides it’s drinks menu into ‘Wine’ and ‘Not Wine’.
As we mentioned above, they proudly serve a number of natural wines and champion Victorian wineries. And pleasingly, they offer a generous number of vinos by the glass – something that not enough wine bars do, in Eatability’s opinion.
We also love that their carefully selected wines have an Orange + Pink section. How much clearer can you be than that? Being lovers of such literal labelling we tried the fabulously named Delinquente ‘HELL’ Rose from Riverland SA and weren’t disappointed.
It’s worth noting that the team also give a shout out to their Wine Makers of the Month. If you sign up to the Greenhart newsletter, you’ll be across all the information on the featured producers.
And if you don’t feel like a wine, there are plenty or beers on the menu and a handful of ciders. For those of us that love a cocktail the Salty – Solento Organic Tequila, Lemon, Salt & Ice slips down very easily. As does the refreshing Pink Fizz Spritz – Gin & Pink Grapefruit.
Lastly, the Specials Board included Mulled Wine when we popped by. Hooray! There are few smells as evocative of a cosy winter evening than cloves and simmered in red wine. We feel that more venues should be cooking up a batch when the mercury drops.
For spicy cocktails with a twist, check out Oydis, a new bar in Ashburton
The Food
Greenhart Wine Bar offers a small, but perfectly formed, selection of dishes.
If you want something light to nibble on whilst you chat and sip, there are Snacks such as Tasty Nuts and Marinated Olives.
Under the slightly larger ‘Small Things’ you’ll find entrees. The Marinated Haloumi, Chilli Honey, Pickles is an addictive blend of squeaky cheese, heat and sweet, cut by zappy pickles. The richness of Chicken Liver Parfait is mellowed by a heady Plum Chutney and comes with the textural crunch of Lavosh.
When it came to ordering from the Bigger Things, we couldn’t go past the Beef Cheek. The meat had clearly been shown a generous amount of slow-cooked love, as it was soft and giving and tasted sublime. Accompanied by a creamy Mash, well-seasoned Red Cabbage and a plate-lickingly good sauce, it was a belter.
Alongside the beef, we had Pork on a bed of braised Lentils. Again, the flesh was cooked to pull-apart perfect and the lentils were the ideal backdrop.
Our final main was a bright, crunchy salad based around Roasted Cauliflower and Beetroot. Colourful and bursting with earthy flavours, it was a great accompaniment to our meat choices.
We finished off with a burnish-topped Citrus Creme Brulee which more than met the demands of the ‘crack test’ and a sliver of chewy Pecan Pie. Both of which we all claimed we didn’t want, but polished off in record time. Enough said.
Another ever popular local cafe is Legacy Camberwell. Read more here.
The Space
Decked out in pastel greens with plenty of foliage, the bar area of the Greenhart Wine Bar has a calm, European ambience.
However, the real ace in the pack is that courtyard Wine Garden out the back.
Now admittedly, I’m writing this in winter and when I last visited Greenhart a couple of weeks back, there weren’t enough gas burners in Melbourne to incite me outside. However, Melbourne isn’t always inhospitably cold. Come summer, the thought of popping in to that very same outside seating area will be extremely appealing.
In fact, even in this chilly weather, the team are running Winter Wine Garden Weekends. This translates as glowing fire pits and ‘fire-side food specials’, washed down by mulled wine and and spiced cider on a Saturday arvo. There’s also the added attraction of live music.
Update – What’s Happening at Greenhart?
The lovely people at Greenhart Wine Bar have continued making their presence felt in the local community with a string of events.
Now that summer is underway, the Wine Garden is the stage for Live Music from 3-6pm on Sundays.
And excitingly, the team are hosting March Made Markets in – you’ve guessed it – March. This will mean makers and their stalls set up in the courtyard every Sunday and an opportunity for punters to buy whilst enjoying some music and delights from the Greenhart bar and kitchen.
*If you wish to apply for a stall, visit the Greenhart website.
Overall
Greenhart Wine Bar is another great drinking and dining option for the once bar-starved residents of Boroondara.
With an interesting, locally-based wine list, hearty food, a welcoming front bar and the star attraction of it’s courtyard Wine Garden, it’s the kind of spot where you meet for a quick drink and end up staying for dinner.
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