Carlisle Wine Bar

Ph: (03) 9531 3222; 137 Carlisle St, BALACLAVA 3183 www.carlislewinebar.com.au

Italian, $$
Open Mon-Fri 3pm-1am; Sat-Sun 11am-1am; Licensed; AE MC V EFT, Seats inside 65, Outside seats
Chef Marco Santucci (7-11-07) Owner Marco Santucci & Steven Milic (7-11-07)

Mietta's Review
Along with an outstanding wine list and well-pawed cocktail menu, Carlisle Wine Bar also serves interesting, well prepared and moderately priced Italian dishes offering a lot more than what its name suggests. A comfortable spot, stylish yet cosy, it meets the needs of Eltsernwick and St Kilda residents effortlessly.

Other published opinions

Age Good Food Guide 2008 Score: 14/20 "If Balaclava's real estate agents ever allowed themselves a moment of reflection, it might result in grateful unmarked envelopes of cash under the door of this perfectly attuned local restaurant"

The Age Cheap Eats Bars 2007 "There's a spunky spontaneity to this long-loved place."

Age Epicure Restaurants, John Lethlean, 2-5-06 Score: 14.5/20 "It doesn't have Melbourne's best food, wine or service. It's not the cheapest or most expensive, doesn't have the best interiors. Its simply one of those things you know when you see it Ifs the perfect local restaurant, or pretty damned dose. Even if they do call it a wine bar. Open about three years, Carlisle Wine Bar is a long, narrow space in the thick of the Balaclava shopping strip. The lighting is low and moody, the furniture eclectic , but not in a thrown-together way. The floors are timber, the banquette red stitched leather and the ceiling, in part at least, Venetian glass mirror. These are comfortable, tangible things."

The Age Good Food Guide 2006 score 13/20 "There's no doubting Carlisle Wine Bar's sex appeal - and that's even before you see the mirrors on the ceiling. The seductive alchemy stems from dark-wood trimmings, a white onyx bar, low lighting and an air of super-chilled calm, helped along by a pair of turntables that spin vinyl at all times of the day and night."

The Age (Melbourne) Magazine 04/05 Bars Melinda Houston "his oh-so-civilised addition to East St Kilda opened its doors a couple of years ago, and quickly became beloved of both the bright young things and the district's older boho crowd."

The Age Good Food Guide 2005 "THERE can't be many places where you can enjoy a decent meal then hear great music at a club - without leaving your seat. Somehow the Carlisle wine bar manages it from a narrow shopfront in ever-evolving Carlisle Street."

The Age Cheap Eats 2005 "THERE'S something about this place that is just so right, but it's hard to say exactly what. It certainly has a great buzz most nights. It's really a bar (complete with turntables for guest DJs on Friday and Saturday nights)."

Herald Sun CityStyle Best of Melbourne 04 Best wine bar "Carlisle is a thoroughly modern wine bar, despite its dark wood, faux antique fit-out. Not only is there a superb list of wines, but they make a mean cocktail, serve good rustic Italian food"

The Age Cheap Eats 2004,Good bar,Somewhere really special,'With its wall lamp lighting,sleek onyx bar,well-stocked cellar and red leather banquette,Carlisle Wine Bar beckons.Good food and great wine with a solid dose of European charisma'

The Age Melbourne Magazine 27/10/04, John Lethlean, "the grooviest thing in the Bagel Belt for your St KIlda-fringe young-at -heart aspirational thirtysomething ... the rather clever rustic-with-pretentions food; the interesting wine focus; the unquestionable value for money and the generally easy vibe of the place."

The Age, Agenda, 2/5/04,John Lethlean,'When a waiter describes the soup de jour,minestrone,as 'autumnal, a bit like my hair today' I reckon you're on to a wine bar with spirit.James Brown's on the turntable, a verdicchio is on the specials board and a braised rabbit,with fennel and green olives is on buckwheat polenta.A little gem.'

Age Good Food Guide 2004 13/20

The Age,A2,24/4/04,Thomas Hunter,'a business that balences good food and quality wine with casual dining and affordability,an irresistible formula.The menu is a loose collection of contemporary Italian dishes,with an emphasis on game and pasta.'

The Sunday Age, Sunday Life, Eat Streets, Dani Valent, 16/2/03

The Age, Epicure, Barfly,24/6/2003, Melinda Houston