Kiaora Place has brought a lot of things to Double Bay. Fifty different types of quinoa (thank you Aboutlife), a supersized bottle shop (Dan Murphy’s baby!) and finally, at long last, some parking – they’re all vastly improving our Double Bay experience, but now there’s also MISTELLE.
Parisian bistro meets Italian wine bar at this moody venue – al fresco dining gives way to deep blue banquet seating running along one wall all the way to a private tall table surrounded by floor to ceiling rows of wine bottles. The fully-stocked bar is a playground for the bar staff, who know their drops and are quick to encourage the Double Bay set to stray beyond G&T’s.
Dine al fresco in Double Bay. Image by Jason Loucas
A good place to start the evening is with Liberte, a Lillet Blanc, Archie Rose gin and orange bitters cocktail that’s clean and crisp. The Mistelle Garden Punch is a good introduction to the venue’s namesake fortified wine, or jump straight in and start with a standalone mistelle as an aperitif. And then there’s the wine list to peruse – owner Alicia Wadsworth is a member of the exclusive wine Commanderie du Bordeaux, so set your expectations high for a great global offering.
Whatever you do, don’t wait too long to start perusing the food menu. The steak tartare topped with quail egg has been known to sell out but there’s plenty of moreish grain-covered Lucienne bread sticks that will go marvellously with the buffalo mozzarella caprese salad and comes piping hot to the table.
Don’t miss out on the Lamb, quinoa and confit tomatoes. Image by Jason Loucas
Other dishes designed to be shared, or savoured all to yourself, include plump cheese croquettes perched on chorizo paste, freshly shucked oysters, even Imperial Black Caviar if you’re in the mood… The lamb and quinoa main is a melt-in-your-mouth experience while the grass fed sirloin stead comes sliced and served with just the right amount of Café de Paris butter.
The team at Mistelle definitely aren’t afraid to use butter. The tarte tatin is a rich and gooey delight you shouldn’t miss. If you don’t have the sweet tooth for it, French, American, Italian and local cheeses are a perfect savoury finish.
MISTELLE
16 Kiaora Lane, Double Bay
T: (02) 9326 1900
Tues – Sat: 11:30am – midnight
Sunday: 11:30am – 10pm
