Waygood
In the heart of Swan Street, this warm neighbourhood haunt is celebrating good vibes, great wine and a crafty menu complete with a daily-changing fresh pasta offering.
Overview
In the Swan Street space once home to Saint Urban, now sits owner Martin Pirc's (Punch Lane, Juliet) latest venture — a much-loved neighbourhood pit-stop for wining, dining and general merriment, named Waygood. It's a relaxed space with a charming streetside terrace, a penchant for top-notch, yet accessible wine and a menu designed by group Executive Chef Nuno Gabriel.
From the kitchen, an oft-changing lineup heroes approachable dishes and real ingredients, guided by seasonality without tying itself too firmly to any one cuisine. You might find yourself easing into your meal with bites like the sweet tamarind caramel pork spiked with a touch of chilli and perched atop a betel leaf; or perhaps a light, bright riff on miso eggplant, finished with edamame and pea shoots.
Glossy salmon pastrami is teamed with a dill creme fraiche and house-made crackers, the cauliflower steak is enlivened with pistachio dukkah and an eggplant kasundi, and a daily-changing fresh pasta special shows off a flair for Italian flavours.
As for the vinous accompaniments, consider yourself totally spoilt for choice. A reasonably priced cellar selection runs to a hefty 80-strong rotation of bottles, available to grab-and-go, or to enjoy right there with your meal.
Among them sits a solid spread of biodynamic and low-intervention drops, should you fancy quaffing something like the Moondarra pet-nat rosé ($15/74) or Quealy's Pobblebonk ($70) while you soak up rays on the terrace. A brief lineup of cocktails is equally primed for aperitivo hour — try the Davo Plum Sour ($20) or a Boulevardier made on Starward's Two-Fold whisky ($24).
Images: Kristoffer Paulsen