By The Glass

Overview

Armadale and wine bars go together like aged cheddar and cabernet sav, with existing favourites in the suburb including Auterra, Toorak Cellars, Otter's Promise and Albert's.

Enter By The Glass, Armadale's newest vino merchant, where guests can purchase their favourite drops by the bottle or (hence the name) glass.

By The Glass seats 68 patrons, which is on the rowdy side for a neighbourhood wine lounge, but the space in Kings Arcade is broken up nicely by the giant horseshoe, terrazzo bar. If you're after a midweek date venue with oysters, riesling and witty banter, this place fits the bill nicely. There's also seating outside, in the arcade, when things get busy.

The wine list itself is pretty adventurous. Lots of Austrian and German rieslings, chardonnay from California, white aromatics and chablis from France, punchy reds from Spain and Portugal, plus several hand-picked local vineyards. You could drink your way around the world in a single night.

Head chef and venue manager Myles Davis-Schiele isn't pulling any punches with the food, either. Expect burnt butter brioche topped with mackerel, duck and lamb pâté flying off the pass, and oysters with a sprinkle of bloody shiraz gin caviar. Big continental flavours are the name of the game here.

"We've worked hard to bring something different to Armadale. By The Glass teeters on the edge of a traditional wine bar, managing to offer a sense of eclecticism through its menu and overall aesthetic. I think the local community will appreciate a place of difference on this side of the river," owner Ron Dhali says.

Image: Simon Shiff, supplied.