There are many different ways to be good, but this friendly Richmond wine bar seems to have mastered all of them. Neighbourly hospitality: tick. A sustainable wine list that highlights Victorian producers: tick. Fun plant-forward dishes made with local farm-to-table seasonal produce: tick, tick, tick.
In a sea of fast-paced venues and shiny new openings, Waygood brings something different to the table: a rare opportunity to slow down, smell the roses and enjoy the simple pleasures in life – all in great company, of course. The best way to experience this Swan Street wine bar is to stop in on a Tuesday evening for the ‘Neighbourhood Nights’ series, a vegetarian banquet designed by ex-Ottolenghi head chef Brad Cunningham. Priced reasonably at just $39 a head, the menu offers za-atar-spiced pita chips, marinated Mount Zero olives and house pickles to begin, followed by an elaborate flavour-packed feast.
Think lentil tabouli with pickled currants and tamari seeds or whole-roasted rose harissa cauliflower with burnt honey and preserved lemon. Other dishes that nod to the Middle East include crispy Brussels sprouts with tahini maple dressing and sweet herbs, fragrant beetroot hummus with everything bagel seasoning, and green falafel sandwiched in yogurt flatbreads with fermented capsicum and chilli sumac sauce. Add a $10 glass of rosé and your feast stays under a flat fifty. Heck yeah!
Never fear, there’s still plenty for both vegans and meat lovers on the menu, and sweets can range from a softly perfumed rhubarb and pear crumble with feijoa soft serve to a Basque cheesecake with ginger and lime caramel. If you're still thirsty after a wine or two, the cocktails keep it approachable with freshened-up crowd-pleasers like elderflower Spritzes, chilli pomegranate Margs, plum sours and an Old Fashioned sweetened with dates.
Backed by a team of hospo greats including founder Martin Pirc, who you might recognise from Punch Lane and Juliet Melbourne, Waygood is a cumulative labour of love, pure in its intention and refreshingly pared back in its execution.
For more details, go to the website.
