Mille Vini Review

Review By Rachel Corbett

Nestled between the restaurants and bars of Crown Street is a haven for lovers of wine. Mille Vini literally translates to 'a thousand wines' and is a tribute to the Italian tradition of sharing great food, conversation and a glass (or three) of vino.

Although the wine list falls short of the thousand mark, you would still have to drink for weeks to get through all of the drops on offer here. With varietals from Australia, New Zealand, Italy and France, this is a grape nuts paradise, but those who don't feel comfortable navigating a wine list need not be intimidated, as the staff are well equipped to suggest the perfect drop for any taste.

Even though the ribbon has been cut on this little bar for over 3 years, it still packs out like it opened yesterday and it can often be difficult to get a seat. Turning up early is definitely recommended but you won't have the place to yourself for long and the atmosphere created by the crowds is definitely worth the lack of personal space. Filled with dark furniture, and warm candlelight, this bar has a really modern feel, but the sandstone wall and exposed beams give a hint of the buildings past which only adds to its charm.

The low lighting might mean you'll need to put your glasses on to read the menu, but it creates a space that is inviting and a million miles away from the hustle and bustle going on right outside the doors. Of course, if you prefer to be amongst the action, you can always pull up a stool at the window or take a table outside and people watch with a good book and your favourite glass of red.

The owners, who also gave us Pizza e Birra, focus on fresh local produce with much of the menu consisting of small tapas style plates that can be shared with friends, although if you're not into grazing or sharing, you can satisfy your hunger by ordering a bowl of pasta all to yourself. The grilled calamari with spicy red capsicum and avocado sauce is light and delicious and the Mille Vini radicchio salad served with roasted beetroot, walnuts and fresh goats' cheese was so good I could have eaten it three times over.

It's a great place to go after dark but they also open for lunch on Thursdays and Fridays so you can take a break from the office with pasta and a glass of wine. The prices for food generally range between $10-20, and wines are individually priced.

A staple of the Sydney bar scene but still as fresh as the food they offer up, Mille Vini truly is one of the best wine bars in town.

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