The BYO Wine Restaurant Thread

FTR - Fri May 28 is 50yr anniversary of Olive Tree in Sth Melb. There is a special set menu dinner planned but I am in Cairns that night so won’t be attending.

50 continuous years with Emilio cooking up his fine steaks - just a staggering achievement 👍

Following week am planning to visit every night just cause I can - BYO as always.
 
Last edited:
Thanks,
Yes, the Sun requirement is/was always going to be a challenge but that's the brief my daughter gave me....

I thought I recalled you writing up something on a Kitchen but couldn't remember its name. There seem to be quite a few "kitchens". Will give them a call. Think the food will match Hunter Shiraz?

No doubt some Chinese food will match Hunter Shiraz.

Just thought of another option. Andly Private Kitchen much more upmarket but the food is amazing there. IF you can book the entire venue for your function, that could work well.

With Chen's Kitchen, perhaps just go check it out one day for a meal before committing. Easy enough to see if it meets your needs.
 
No doubt some Chinese food will match Hunter Shiraz.

Just thought of another option. Andly Private Kitchen much more upmarket but the food is amazing there. IF you can book the entire venue for your function, that could work well.

With Chen's Kitchen, perhaps just go check it out one day for a meal before committing. Easy enough to see if it meets your needs.
:) cheers
 
Another fantastic Sydney restaurant in Darlinghurst
Ultra modern take on Thai cuisine with a strong Euro influence
Not cheap at $97 pp for the degustation course however BYO is available at a reasonable $10 per bottle
 
Where is buzz? You can stop looking buzz - I found penegal! 👍

And he was in fine form at The Olive Tree last night - BYO wine as always which washed down $55 400g Wagyu scotch fillets beautifully! 👍

IMG_1907.JPG

IMG_1909.JPG

As always Emelio was behind the jump cooking away as he has done almost every night for last 50 years.

IMG_1911.JPG

And what is a night at OT without 3 or 4 Espresso Martinis to top off the night?

IMG_1921.JPG

Now one thing that penegal and myself always do is to look after our mates. Hear tell there is a bunch of AFFers heading to OT on Saturday night so we felt compelled to suss out and reserve the best table in the house for our cobbers ready for their arrival:

IMG_1916.JPG

Youse can thank us later 👌
 
Went to Bistro Rex yesterday. Great food and the atmosphere. Prices are moderate. Corkage is on the expensive side of $35 per bottle but the wine was properly decanted and fresh Riedel glasses offered for a new wine. So overall well worth it I thought.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0544.jpg
    IMG_0544.jpg
    115.8 KB · Views: 35
  • IMG_0542.jpg
    IMG_0542.jpg
    120.2 KB · Views: 35
No doubt some Chinese food will match Hunter Shiraz.

Just thought of another option. Andly Private Kitchen much more upmarket but the food is amazing there. IF you can book the entire venue for your function, that could work well.

With Chen's Kitchen, perhaps just go check it out one day for a meal before committing. Easy enough to see if it meets your needs.
*Update:

Andly Private Kitchen last night and no one went away disappointed Not cheap but yes great food which is much better than the alternative 😁

Food went very well with Arras Grand Vintage 2008 and 2014 Magnum 1921 Vines Old Paddock Shiraz and 2008 Red Queen. The 2 shiraz were poles apart, both good but I preferred the Hunter over Eden Valley.

Importantly, as it was my daughter's 21st she liked both... and the food.

Thanks for the recommendation.
 
Went to Bistro Rex yesterday. Great food and the atmosphere. Prices are moderate. Corkage is on the expensive side of $35 per bottle but the wine was properly decanted and fresh Riedel glasses offered for a new wine. So overall well worth it I thought.
I just realised I used to walk past this on my way home a couple of times a week - when I was doing the Mon-Fri thing in Sydney. Seems like I should have dropped in! Those days of travelling are a distant memory now...
 
So when my city heads into lockdown I head to HQ - or Olive Tree to be precise:

56C487DB-5BAB-46DB-BA1C-F181CD799F32.jpeg

Standard fare at OT in recent times is:

7610FD6E-01E2-41E6-A861-70438248CFD6.jpeg

Plus:

6730DA03-FA79-44D0-804E-4089A0355FC1.jpeg

15FEEF86-A976-46D6-829E-D916C7468728.jpeg

Plus:

87D4EB04-F75A-4CEB-9F84-AFCF7269E282.jpeg

AC15F8CB-2D44-4ECD-A6E0-7658FE813C01.jpeg

Plus:

FDD0FCD1-0D12-48A1-826D-B633BBBC7E6D.jpeg

D4584BAD-D197-4358-87E8-B78E51EB629E.jpeg

And what night at OT is complete without an Espresso Martini?

IMG_2600.JPG

IMG_2603.JPG

Yeah yeah - I can hear you saying that diet will hasten your demise quick smart due to 'Artery Strangulation' - well I can give you a couple of scenarios that can bring you undone much quicker:
  • Listening to qaz and boomy trying to outdo each other with their latest wine purchase savings - threepence here - sixpence there - that'll bore you to death in no time
  • Waiting for cove or TommyVexille to shout you a beer - short arms and long pockets those too - you'll die of thirst way before you get a beer from either of them
OT has been operating with owner Emelio cooking every night for 50 years - I have been going here for 34 years - ALWAYS a pleasure to eat here - last nights offerings just superb.

No 2 daughter Tania in charge last night - I extended my sympathy to Emelio and Tania re this latest lockdown - Emelio shrugged his shoulders and grinned saying 'Whatta you goin' to do?' - Tania shaking her head as dad walked away and said 'Tony we are just so lucky we have been able to survive - we have so many friends in restaurant trade who haven't survived'
 
Good on ya for heading in last night.

You should have texted, we might have been able to drop by.
 
A consolation in this 5th lockdown to see your Restaurant Review of Olive Tree. By the photos it certainly looks like the standard is well maintained.
 
Having a bit of difficulty flying to Melbourne at the moment from Perth. CE thinks I should be shipping some Margaret River special reds instead of us rocking up in person. Funny thing is my older brother lives in the same street as Olive Tree and i don’t think he has ever been there.
 
OzBargain: 20% off $150+ spend @ Good Food Restaurant Gift Card with GOODFOODMDAY20 - ends Monday 17th May
via OzBargain: 30% off Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Gift Cards e.g. $100 for $70 delivered @ Australia Post Online - ends today
VIC includes Ryne, Taxi Kitchen, Lord Cardigan, Steer, Cutler & Co, coughulus, TarraWarra Estate

also NSW/VIC/ACT/SA/NT - via OzBargain: free burger @ Grill'd for new Relish members joining via Cotton On Perks - ends next Sunday
 
Read our AFF credit card guides and start earning more points now.

AFF Supporters can remove this and all advertisements

Become an AFF member!

Join Australian Frequent Flyer (AFF) for free and unlock insider tips, exclusive deals, and global meetups with 65,000+ frequent flyers.

AFF members can also access our Frequent Flyer Training courses, and upgrade to Fast-track your way to expert traveller status and unlock even more exclusive discounts!

AFF forum abbreviations

Wondering about Y, J or any of the other abbreviations used on our forum?

Check out our guide to common AFF acronyms & abbreviations.
Back
Top