THE playful Scrabble letters used to spell out the menu items, displayed on the wall, tell the tale of the new Vincent restaurant and wine bar in Barton.

Not too serious on the personality side, but seriously good on the food and wine side.

Share snacks, small plates, large plates and dessert are all on offer – whatever tickles your fancy. Have one dish with a glass of wine or dive into several to form a full meal. Vincent isn’t about big meals, but it is about pretty meals, with plating to please.

The wines are carefully sourced from around the world. If you’re confused about what goes with what, just ask. The staff are knowledgeable and happy to chat options.

A fair few of the menu items inspired us… it took us some time to decide.

Snack plates include a cheese plate and shaved, cured meats. Small plates include prawns with avocado mousse and citrus salad, and a mini lobster burger. Large plates feature baby snapper, pork belly and lamb rump. Prices vary up to the mid-$20 range.

We shared the scallops with celeriac, chorizo and apple from the small plates menu. The scallops were cooked beautifully and the combination of tastes fabulous. I was expecting chunks of chorizo, not crumbled bits on top. The way the dish is described on the menu was a bit deceiving. Still, I’d order the dish over and over again. The three scallops were pretty on the plate – note “three”, so if you’re four at your table, ask if Vincent will up the ante or order two serves.

The gnocchi was a winner. Soft, fluffy pillows of deliciousness, with a generous serve of creamy goat’s cheese, pumpkin, rocket and pear. Congrats to the chef. Sometimes (no, often) I’m disappointed with gnocchi when dining out.

Slices of tender Wagyu sirloin served with Pommes Anna, that classic French dish of sliced, layered potatoes cooked in an unhealthy, but essential, dose of beautiful butter. I could have ordered an entire plateful of just that! The Wagyu came before the gnocchi, but it wasn’t the end of the world.

The décor at Vincent is clean, cool and contemporary; no doubt a bit “dark” for some. The lighting is soft and warm, and the long, communal bar a great space in and of itself.

The wines aren’t a huge pour, but that’s by design so you can select different drops for different dishes. Prices range from $8.

We didn’t end on a sweet note (meaning we didn’t indulge in dessert), although it was tempting to be enticed by the white-chocolate mousse, with raspberry, shortbread and pistachio.

And the name? It’s a blend of vino and cent. Why not?

Vincent, 38 Macquarie Street, Barton. Call 6273 7773. Open Tuesday to Saturday.