They always say looks are deceiving. On first glance, Anise looks like a nice, quaint, hole-in-the-wall style wine bar. But it is so much more, with a full dinner menu and degustation option on offer.
The interior is designed around a classic wine bar with plush leather bar seating, wine bottle-adorned bar, dim lighting and exposed red brick walls. It is a very intimate dining, or drinking, experience with only 21 seats in total; most of which are around the bar. A sole record player adds to the ambience with some classic tunes.
Anise offers a full dinner menu with some cutting edge, fine dining quality dishes. Highlights include the cuttlefish tartare with black sesame, lime and daikon, the potato gnocchi with pea velouté, lemon, thyme, pecorino and jerusalem artichoke and the wagyu flank with grains, flowers and sprouts. The dessert highlight, and must try, is the mandarin and thyme crème brûlée with olive oil sponge and orange. A range of cheese is on also offer.
A six course degustation with a selection of dishes from the menu is available Tuesday to Saturday. Matched wines are also available, all of which were matched well with the dishes. Monday night, affectionately dubbed Magnum Mondays, offers a four course set menu paired with wines in large format bottles for a measly $45.
Although situated slightly out of the CBD, New Farm is becoming a haven for quality food and drink, and Anise certainly sets a benchmark that rivals its city counterparts.
Anise
697 Brunswick Street, New Farm
07 3358 1558