28/09/2023
Norwood has always boasted an excellent selection of first-rate drinking establishments, but traditionally they’ve all been clustered around a single strip. “There have been quality wine bars and pubs along The Parade for years,” says East End Cellars Norwood General Manager and Owner Mathieu Smeysters. “But with the growth that Norwood is experiencing towards the Magill Road side of the suburb, we thought it would be amazing to contribute to the local community with another high-quality venue.”
So after months of anticipation, the Vardon Avenue institution has finally opened the doors to its first suburban offshoot on the ground floor of the Norwood Green development. And in addition to the exemplary wine selection that has made the original venue so iconic, visitors will find local beer and spirits from Little Bang Brewery and Australian Distilling Co. as well as an increased focus on food.
Smeysters describes the new space as a bottle shop, wine bar and restaurant in one, adding “the intention is to make our Norwood venue as much of a dining and night out destination as a wine destination.”
That means charcuterie and cheese plates are joined by a menu that incorporates plenty of French influences but isn’t afraid to look further afield for inspiration. Executive Chef Josh Lansley calls it “bistronomy… approachable bistro food; not overly complicated but delicious and made well.”
Diners can expect everything from small plates including Ligurian focaccia with caramelised Jerusalem artichoke or crispy potato millefeuille with raw beef and Murray cod caviar to 28-day dry aged sirloin on the bone. And if you can’t decide where to begin, a four-course Feed Me menu highlights the freshest seasonal offerings.
A selection of 600 bottles in the wine shop covers every base from affordable weeknight outings to seriously special occasions. As at the original venue, they can all be enjoyed onsite, and you can expect the bubbles to be flowing constantly at South Australia’s first Krug Champagne Embassy. Krug will be pouring by the glass at all times (alongside fresh Gazander oysters on the half shell), and the opening is perfectly timed for warm spring evenings spent at one of the 80 al fresco seats.
East End Cellars Norwood will be open for coffee from 7am on Tuesday 3 October, but there is also a weekend brunch menu on the cards and Smeysters is busy preparing a calendar of wine tastings, masterclasses and special events that will start in just a few weeks.
And already, he says the love he’s been feeling from locals has confirmed his hunch that this was just what Magill Road needed. “The response has been incredible, we are thrilled to see that our locals are just as excited about us being here as we are.”
