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<docID>339349</docID>
<postdate>2025-03-13 04:00:52</postdate>
<headline>Wine bar with cool vibe and a compact menu</headline>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/baked-racletta-img_9114-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="583"> <meta itemprop="height" content="437"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="339340" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Baked-racletta-IMG_9114-resized.jpg" data-orig-size="900,675" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.5","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1736446156","copyright":"","focal_length":"5.7","iso":"32","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Baked racletta IMG_9114-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Baked-racletta-IMG_9114-resized-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Baked-racletta-IMG_9114-resized.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Baked-racletta-IMG_9114-resized.jpg?w=583&h=437&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Baked-racletta-IMG_9114-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Baked-racletta-IMG_9114-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Baked-racletta-IMG_9114-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" width="583" height="437" loading="lazy" data-original-width="583" data-original-height="437" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Baked racletta IMG_9114-resized" alt="Baked Raclette… melted Swiss cheese served with drizzles of honey and sunflower seeds. Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 583px; height: 437px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> Baked Raclette… melted Swiss cheese served with drizzles of honey and sunflower seeds. Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/trio-of-chocolate-img_9130-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="289"> <meta itemprop="height" content="217"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="339341" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Trio-of-chocolate-IMG_9130-resized.jpg" data-orig-size="900,675" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.5","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1736452954","copyright":"","focal_length":"5.7","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.03030303030303","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Trio of chocolate IMG_9130-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Trio-of-chocolate-IMG_9130-resized-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Trio-of-chocolate-IMG_9130-resized.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Trio-of-chocolate-IMG_9130-resized.jpg?w=289&h=217&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Trio-of-chocolate-IMG_9130-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Trio-of-chocolate-IMG_9130-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Trio-of-chocolate-IMG_9130-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" width="289" height="217" loading="lazy" data-original-width="289" data-original-height="217" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Trio of chocolate IMG_9130-resized" alt="House-made trio of chocolate – Chardonnay salted honeycomb, Riverina strawberry and couverture and chocolate lemongrass mousse truffle. Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 289px; height: 217px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> House-made trio of chocolate – Chardonnay salted honeycomb, Riverina strawberry and couverture and chocolate lemongrass mousse truffle. Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/wagyu-and-hierloom-carrots-img_9122-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="289"> <meta itemprop="height" content="216"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="339337" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Wagyu-and-hierloom-carrots-IMG_9122-resized.jpg" data-orig-size="900,675" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.5","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1736449844","copyright":"","focal_length":"5.7","iso":"40","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Wagyu and hierloom carrots IMG_9122-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Wagyu-and-hierloom-carrots-IMG_9122-resized-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Wagyu-and-hierloom-carrots-IMG_9122-resized.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Wagyu-and-hierloom-carrots-IMG_9122-resized.jpg?w=289&h=216&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Wagyu-and-hierloom-carrots-IMG_9122-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Wagyu-and-hierloom-carrots-IMG_9122-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Wagyu-and-hierloom-carrots-IMG_9122-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" width="289" height="216" loading="lazy" data-original-width="289" data-original-height="216" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Wagyu and hierloom carrots IMG_9122-resized" alt="Seared Wagyu beef… with burnt butter and garlic. Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 289px; height: 216px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> Seared Wagyu beef… with burnt butter and garlic. Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/duck-and-orange-img_9126-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="301"> <meta itemprop="height" content="200"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="339342" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Duck-and-orange-IMG_9126-resized-e1740720344137.jpg" data-orig-size="900,600" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.5","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1736449868","copyright":"","focal_length":"5.7","iso":"40","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Duck and orange IMG_9126-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Duck-and-orange-IMG_9126-resized-e1740720344137-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Duck-and-orange-IMG_9126-resized-e1740720344137.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Duck-and-orange-IMG_9126-resized-e1740720344137.jpg?w=301&h=200&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Duck-and-orange-IMG_9126-resized-e1740720344137.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Duck-and-orange-IMG_9126-resized-e1740720344137-600x400.jpg 600w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Duck-and-orange-IMG_9126-resized-e1740720344137-800x533.jpg 800w" width="301" height="200" loading="lazy" data-original-width="301" data-original-height="200" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Duck and orange IMG_9126-resized" alt="Duck breast… with tangy orange jus and roasted carrot puree. Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 301px; height: 200px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> Duck breast… with tangy orange jus and roasted carrot puree. Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/prawns-img_9111-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="301"> <meta itemprop="height" content="226"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="339338" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Prawns-IMG_9111-resized.jpg" data-orig-size="900,675" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.5","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1736445354","copyright":"","focal_length":"5.7","iso":"40","shutter_speed":"0.01","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Prawns IMG_9111-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Prawns-IMG_9111-resized-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Prawns-IMG_9111-resized.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Prawns-IMG_9111-resized.jpg?w=301&h=226&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Prawns-IMG_9111-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Prawns-IMG_9111-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Prawns-IMG_9111-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" width="301" height="226" loading="lazy" data-original-width="301" data-original-height="226" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Prawns IMG_9111-resized" alt="Tempura prawns… with fresh lime and chilli mayo. Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 301px; height: 226px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> Tempura prawns… with fresh lime and chilli mayo. Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/cured-kingfish-img_9119-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="301"> <meta itemprop="height" content="226"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="339339" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cured-kingfish-IMG_9119-resized.jpg" data-orig-size="900,675" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.5","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1736448827","copyright":"","focal_length":"5.7","iso":"32","shutter_speed":"0.0070921985815603","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Cured kingfish IMG_9119-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cured-kingfish-IMG_9119-resized-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cured-kingfish-IMG_9119-resized.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cured-kingfish-IMG_9119-resized.jpg?w=301&h=226&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cured-kingfish-IMG_9119-resized.jpg 900w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cured-kingfish-IMG_9119-resized-800x600.jpg 800w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Cured-kingfish-IMG_9119-resized-600x450.jpg 600w" width="301" height="226" loading="lazy" data-original-width="301" data-original-height="226" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Cured kingfish IMG_9119-resized" alt="Cured kingfish… with pepper berry, radish and buddha's hand. Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 301px; height: 226px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> Cured kingfish… with pepper berry, radish and buddha’s hand. Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<div class="tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject"> <a href="https://citynews.com.au/lemongrass-martini-img_9105-resized/" border="0" itemprop="url"> <meta itemprop="width" content="571"> <meta itemprop="height" content="660"> <img class="" data-attachment-id="339336" data-orig-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Lemongrass-martini-IMG_9105-resized-rotated-e1740719026745.jpg" data-orig-size="778,900" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"1.8","credit":"","camera":"iPhone 13 Pro","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1736444319","copyright":"","focal_length":"1.57","iso":"40","shutter_speed":"0.01010101010101","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Lemongrass martini IMG_9105-resized" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Lemongrass-martini-IMG_9105-resized-rotated-e1740719026745-600x400.jpg" data-large-file="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Lemongrass-martini-IMG_9105-resized-rotated-e1740719026745-778x800.jpg" src="https://i0.wp.com/citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Lemongrass-martini-IMG_9105-resized-rotated-e1740719026745.jpg?w=571&h=660&ssl=1" srcset="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Lemongrass-martini-IMG_9105-resized-rotated-e1740719026745.jpg 778w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Lemongrass-martini-IMG_9105-resized-rotated-e1740719026745-519x600.jpg 519w, https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Lemongrass-martini-IMG_9105-resized-rotated-e1740719026745-600x694.jpg 600w" width="571" height="660" loading="lazy" data-original-width="571" data-original-height="660" itemprop="http://schema.org/image" title="Lemongrass martini IMG_9105-resized" alt="Lemongrass and ginger martini. Photo: Wendy Johnson" style="width: 571px; height: 660px;" /> </a> </p>
<div class="tiled-gallery-caption" itemprop="caption description"> Lemongrass and ginger martini. Photo: Wendy Johnson </div>
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<p><span class="kicker-line">"Tucked in the back of Lonsdale Street’s Branx Building is a wine bar with a cool vibe, an extensive and impressive wine list, and a compact menu with interesting food that complements the top drops on offer," says dining reviewer <b>WENDY JOHNSON</b>. </span></p>
<p><strong>Romanée Wine Bar in Braddon has a niche place in the market and in charge is sommelier Chester Mok, who has strong credentials in the hospitality industry and deep knowledge of wines from Australia and around the world.</strong></p>
<p><img class=" wp-image-234855" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Wendy-Johnson-207x300-1.jpeg" alt="" width="243" height="352" /></p>
<caption>Wendy Johnson.</caption>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Early on a gorgeous warm evening, we settled in at a table in Romanée’s cosy outdoor courtyard. There was no rush, and Chester took time to chat about wines and answer questions. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He promises something for everyone from his extensive cellar and doesn’t skip a beat in recommending labels that take customers out of their comfort zones.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Romanée offers wine by the glass and keeps matters interesting by changing the menu weekly. The bar also offers an intriguing bespoke cocktail list that includes a maple bacon old-fashioned and a lemongrass and ginger martini (both $20). The refreshing martini was a stunning mixture of gin, lemongrass, ginger liqueur and vermouth.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sharing is the name of the game, and we delighted in the broad bean hummus, well balanced and a lovely texture. It arrived with Turkish bread and crispy polenta. We applauded the sumac.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Decadent was the baked Raclette ($21 and also from the snacks section of the menu) – melted Swiss cheese served with drizzles of quality honey and sunflower seeds for a bit of crunch. The fresh rosemary and leaves from colourful, edible flowers augmented the dish.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The prawns were plump and perfect ($18.50 for three). The tempura was light, the fresh lime was zesty punch and the chilli mayo creamy and smooth.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cured kingfish was next ($24) and it was sensational with pepper berry, radish and buddha's hand – a citrus fruit, segmented into finger-like sections, featuring a lovely, lemon-like floral aroma. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We shared both dishes from the main section, adoring the duck ($32). The breast was succulent and seared to perfection. It married well with tangy orange jus and roasted carrot puree. The tender Wagyu beef was also wonderfully seared and elevated with burnt butter and garlic ($35).</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our visit was topped off with a house-made trio of chocolate ($16) which I still crave – Chardonnay salted honeycomb, Riverina strawberry and couverture and chocolate lemongrass mousse truffle. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Wines we explored included a 2019 Chenin Black from Goon Tycoons (Margaret River, $65 a bottle), a Swinging Bridge 009 Gamay (Orange, $70) and a Dawning Day Skin Shady (Southern Highlands, $72). We appreciated Chester’s support in selecting these top drops.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The wine bar is named in honour of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, an estate in Burgundy, France, widely considered among the world’s greatest wine producers. </span></p>
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