Close

Not in Melbourne?


Jimmy Watson's Wine Bar Restaurant

places|vic|carlton|jimmy%20watson's%20wine%20bar%20restaurant
Delightful courtyard dining is a favourite for many of Jimmy Watson's regulars. Jimmy Watson's Wine Bar since 1935 and home of the famous 'Jimmy Watson Trophy'

Editorial


You've heard of the Jimmy Watson trophy, Australia's best known wine award? Now visit the place where it all began. The old wine store, established by wine merchant Jimmy Watson in 1935, was taken in hand by the great architect Robin Boyd in 1962 which is also the year it first started offering food. There's a front bar complete with Jimmy's portrait and a restaurant area, with function rooms upstairs and a lovely courtyard. The floors are tiled, the chairs are bentwood, the walls are white, and it's all very convivial.

Ramone Villotet took over the kitchen this year, having worked there some years earlier and returned. The food is mainly Italian with pastas, a range of pizzas baked in the large oven, and further options of porterhouse steak or a rich, hearty fish stew. Additional dishes are chalked onto the blackboard. To start with there's a range of nibbles like olives, mushrooms, fetta and so on; and on Monday lunchtimes only there is DIY barbecue in the courtyard. This is an Australian wine bar, and the Watsons still source wines and blend fortifieds to sell under their own label. Try the sparkling Shiraz and the tawny port, working your way through the range. Just don't forget to eat something; a platter of cheese is great for you wine lovers out there.

Rita Erlich, September 2007

Do something with this page

2 User reviews (add yours)

User Feedback

ijah
December 20, 2006


Awesome dining experience here, but I think the creative writing used on the menu at JW's requires some comment. Steak with potatoes and salad could be as creatively written as: "An aged Mt Hunter Red Angus, charred rare-medium-rare over a hickory and eucalypt fire, topped with a deglazed churned Friesian product and petroselinum crispum sauce, served with thrice blanched confit of red pontiac and a side of oakleaf, tossed in Moderna's finest". Anyone got a thesaurus?

Flag this comment as inappropriate

sarah hellwege
November 16, 2007


After many years of walking past this institution I finally ventured inside and found myself very surprised by the relaxed feel of this building with such a reputation.I was even more surprised with the extensive menu on offer.Snacks, Starters, Very Modern and style pizzas, and house made pastas.Ive eaten up and down lygon street and nothing compares to the quality,value, and service here.I will continue to eat here and help make it an instituion for many years to come, and I think yuo should to

Flag this comment as inappropriate

Your Feedback

*Your rating

* required

*Your review (1000 characters max)




 

What's Nearby