Monopole

I took my partner to Monopole for his birthday. It was a lovely experience, the restaurant décor is dark and moody but the service is light and friendly. We had the tasting plate menu for $ 65 a head which consisted of seven dishes. We also choose some wine from their extensive wine list. Each time a course came out the waiters would explain what it was. First course was cured meats — duck, pork and rangers valley tri tip (I don’t even know what that last one is!) with bread and olive oil. Next up was cured trevally with pickled cabbage, horseradish and finger lime. The meat dishes came next — beef tartare, snapper and crisp skin chicken served with asparagus with mustard and pistachio cream. Desert was pumpkin ice cream with chocolate ganache, mandarin and salted pepitas. We enjoyed every single dish and left feeling happy and satisfied!

Wow — just wow. What a pleasant dining experience. My wife and I had a leisurely dinner here last night — we opted for the nightly tasting menu. 7 courses ranging from house-​cured meats to fish, meat and dessert. The wine list could take hours to navigate — so many interesting choices. But — the sommelier to the rescue! Helpful, knowledgeable and made two outstanding recommendations to pair with our dinner. The restaurant is dark and the noise level is on the low side, meaning it’s intimate and possible to have a conversation. We were walk-​ins (we’re staying in the neighborhood) but there was no problem finding us a table. Service was polite and professional. Some may question the «5 star» rating — thinking that it should be reserved for the né-​plus-​ultra and rarefied stratosphere of fine dining. To me, though, the sum total of the experience, how much I enjoyed the meal, is what really matters.

Service, food, wine list and ambience are as good as it gets in Sydney. Use of sound absorbing panels is unique but incredibly effective. Highly highly recommended

We went here with another foodie couple, which was lucky as there is so much to try at Monopole. There are two ways to order here: choose from their plates menu or try 5 – 8 of them via tasters menu. We went for the left side of the menu (plates) and between the 4 of us polished off 6 of them. The dishes aren’t huge, but they all seemed to come in portions of 4 pieces of whatever so dividing them up was easy. Maybe they did that for our table on purpose, who knows? The waitress suggested we get 8 – 9, but 6 (plus an order of cheese instead of dessert) was just right. These dishes are sequenced in order of richness so we ordered across the spectrum. Standouts were the scallop ceviche, smoked octopus and snapper. A comment on the wine list and sommelier. A good comprehensive menu, and we were looking for a pinot noir to accompany our diverse set of dishes. I’m not not a huge fan of Aussie pinots, so we went French (duh!). The first Burgundy we asked for was out, but that introduced us to Monopole’s esoteric but highly knowledgeable sommelier. He set us up with two different obscure but outstanding Burgundies that went beautifully with our meal. Overall a terrific meal with stimulating innovative dishes in the modern Aussie style, a great wine list guided by a highly knowledgeable sommelier, and a cool way to order dishes. We’ll be back.

We both really enjoyed our evening here and most of the food was absolutely delicious. The standouts were the snapper with pickled celery, snowpeas, and the scallops ceviche with charred avocado, corn.
Food and service was mostly fantastic.
A couple of small things:
I got a few surprises when my meal came out different to what was on the menu e. g, the beef tartare with mushrooms, the mushrooms were powdered mushrooms which wasn’t listed.
Then later on when we had the fillet of beef with prawn, it was prawn shavings. Both these dishes left me disappointed because I felt mislead by the menu.
Also really difficult to take a good photo because of the mood lighting and I didn’t want to be disturbing the neighbouring patrons with the flash, who were sitting just a little too close to me with the way the table were laid out. They were definitely listening to our conversations.
Lastly, I felt with how the restaurant carried itself, that my plate should have been cleared after each dish. Sharing and all the sauces made it a tad harder to really experience each dishes flavour. We only got one plate clearing for the very last dish.
All in all a very pleasant evening for 2 @$ 110 including sparkling water.
I would recommend you go to monopole to try the interesting range of dishes but just be aware of the points mentioned above. Almost more stars… Almost

A bar cum restaurant that could cut it in any global city, Monopole mixes an intimate interior, a full and creative wine list (the Jauma Grenache is very cool) and food that is just amazing (the lamb is the standout). Highly recommended.

Really enjoyed our experience at Monopole. Initially, we sat at the kitchen bar, but it was so hot from the stove flames we had to move. Don’t sit up here.
The food was outstanding and it was a nice progressive meal, not rushed but also not too long between dishes. Interesting wine list too.
The cured pastrami entrée was awesome. And the meal finished really strong with the mandarin sorbet desert. Don’t pass on the beetroot either.
Will definitely be back soon

OK I really would rather give 4.5 stars, since 5 stars is reserved for the highest stratosphere of dining, but, seriously, Monopole is outstanding.
A dinner for two in this dark woody masculine and busy little spot.
Brent Savage, mastermind of this, Yellow and Bentley, has done a great job. The innovative sound deadening apparatus was very effective in what was a bustling and could have been very noisy space.
The cocktail selection is good, and the mixologists suitably eclectic sporting the obligatory beard and attitude.
The menu is interesting — all designed to be shared, or not. We opted to share and I have mixed feelings about that, mainly because some of it I wanted it all!
So, kicked off with a martini, big tick for the extra dry with a twist, although the Cosmo she had needed a touch more sweetness, which was added on request.
A good recommendation for a wine, although not at all what I was expecting, was well received. French wines, takes a while to get to know, and I ain’t there yet, so I was glad of the help.
Entrée — well, what to do, just had to have a lot. Oysters, lump, juicy and delicious to start.
Then, for me the standout of the night, house-​cured beef pastrami with house pickles on a long cracker with some creamy stuff I couldn’t place — turned out to be goats curd — who knew? Seriously, died and went to heaven. Could have eaten a plate full of them — the beef was so darn beefy, and the pickles exquisite. Really regretted sharing that one, I can tell you, as there were two to the serving. Followed this with pork shoulder terrine, although to be honest I thought it more of a pâté, with woodfire toasted bread and some cream fraiche. Bam! Another winner. Damn.
Mains — we had snapper grilled with endive, charred cabbage and pickled onion, and beef cheeks with I can’t remember what because by then I HAD died and gone to heaven. Melt in the mouth pull apart with the fork I mean the cheeks were SO tender and tasty.
By now we were too full for a desert but I had one anyway, the rhubarb sorbet with poached rhubarb, ginger and ginger curd. The sommelier brought us a couple of late harvest riesling on the house as one of our dishes had been a bit cold — dead set legend!
All in all very impressive, the more so when compared with a meal the prior week at Rockpool Bar and Grill, which cost about 50% more and we enjoyed at least 50% less.
Get thee hence, you will not regret it.

I liked the look and feel of this place. The wine list was a little too heavy on the French side of thing for my taste, but I was able to find a few interesting Shiraz that they open and poured by the glass even though they were not on the BTG menu.
The food was very good. The Charcuterie plate was solid although the duck was very salty. I had the lamb with smoked yogurt (never had smoked yogurt before). The meat was fantastic but the yogurt a little over the top with smoke (maybe just a tiny amount on the side would have been enough.
Felt like I had found a unique, Sydney restaurant for my one day stop over.

Dark, masculine & intimate. Monopole is the perfect wine bar, eatery and more. Really enjoyed this place!
Chef
Brent Savage
Vibe
A dark and masculine narrow wine bar and eatery, decorated in grey metallics and rich dark tones. It’s intimate, welcoming and is spacious enough to not overhear other conversations. I had dinner here with my girlfriend Tess for a long overdue catch up and post-​birthday gift ceremony. I thought it was the perfect restaurant to unwind after work and I was right, it has a very calm and cool vibe about it. They have a really great selection of share plates on the menu for light to medium eaters, but if you are not in the mood for a meal as such, I recommend coming here just for a glass of wine and nibbles at the bar. They have an extensive wine list and the most beautiful creamy rich cheeses (and Iggy’s bread yum!) — The perfect wine bar! It’s also a really great date night spot, so I will definitely visit again with my boyfriend.
Spend
$$ Surprisingly affordable for a restaurant that was awarded One Chef Hat (The SMH Good Food Guide 2014)
Dress Code
Sophisticated, clean cuts but bold (splash of Morange or Lady Danger) and your highest heels.
Food
I really enjoyed the food. We may have gone with a few of the safer options (Last time I went to a Bentley Group restaurant, Yellow, I was in an experimental mood and tried some of the more adventurous dishes, which adversely affected my experience). First up; we shared the Iggy’s bread & house made butter (really safe haha), if you haven’t tried this before definitely give it a go, it’s fluffy and chewy at the same time. The cured beef pastrami, was a favourite! Great complementary flavours and textures. The snapper was cooked just right and went beautifully with the pumpkin purée. For dessert, we had the strawberries & cream, basil & milk crumb — it was ok, but it didn’t leave an impression unfortunately. On the other hand, the Soumaintrain cheese was so creamy and smooth I was suffocating myself with it. We didn’t order a lot of food but we were so full by the end of it, probably from all the bread. I cannot imagine why anyone would order sardines (!!!) and I was specifically warned against ordering the saviche sardines — so eat at your own risk! Overall I really liked this place and am very curious about the other dishes on the menu (minus the sardines) so I will be back to try them very soon.
Enjoy!
Love Bangers x
Pictures can be found on my blog x

Excellent.
Had a fantastic Sunday lunch here yesterday; sensational wine list (if pricey), great and knowledge service, good atmosphere and top level food. It’s a very comfortable room, sort of cool, but not pretentious.
We will definitely be back.

Absolutely stunning meal! We had a bottle of Shiraz, sampled the four cured meats, and the snapper and salt cod for meal. Price was about $ 130, which felt reasonable for how fantastic the food and ambiance was.

This restaurant has been on my radar for about 12 months. Not sure why the universe waited this long but ohhhhh Monople!
Everything about this restaurant is amazing. Décor, staff, food, wine list are all perfectly perfect. A charming and relaxed restaurant with a killer team cooking and serving.
We sat up on the bar and enjoyed watching everyone work away on our drinks and food. The bottle of Frick Riesling was a perfect addition to the meal.
So the true hero at Monopole is the food. We had the set menu and were blown away. Seriously delicious food cooked with extreme care and skill. We are talking possibly the best food I have eaten in a long long while from starts to dessert perfection was served up on our plates. My highlight was the Snapper with corn 2 ways and dehydrated olives! The dessert however really kicked it in over drive with insane almond jelly, soaked peaches and candied peppercorn. Arghhhh just typing it leaves me spent.
Enjoy Monopole!

Excellent food and brilliant idea with half bottles of wine. In Sydney we love our choice. This place gives you both. Each dish is unique balancing flavour with artistic creation. Starting with the chargrilled baby sweet corn & citrus mace yoghurt the flavours are distinct yet subtle, next we moved to the pork belly, prawn black garlic with orange vinaigrette. This dish balances a rich pork belly with the tangy citrus. We combined the meal with a brilliant French red by the half bottle…
Finished off with a selection of cheeses. How do you finish any better? Only path I assume is with a dark, rich, cherry coloured Shiraz!
Please don’t change the format… we can’t get enough…

If there’s anything I like more than a Wine Bar, it’s a Wine Bar. So, it’s no surprise I’ve fallen in love with Potts Point’s newest Wine Bar and Restaurant, Monopole.
Mr N and I took refuge from the stormy Sydney day at Monopole and proceeded to spend the next 5 hours caught in a parallel universe of sorts, where time stood still and we entered what can only be likened to a wine and food coma.
Situated on busy Macleay Street, Monopole is an oasis of calm. Its glam industrial chic interior features grey metals and dark rich woods, with the open kitchen we’ve come to expect these days in trendy restaurant fit outs.
Boasting a wine list that reads more like a book and offering over 500 rare and boutique wines from around the globe, this is my kind of paradise. Sommelier, Nick Hildebrandt, you have done yourself proud.
But, not content with offering just a high calibre wine list, Monopole ups the stakes and offers food of an equally high standard.
Brent Savage has gone all out preparing a casual ‘share plate’ style of menu, along the lines of the food we’ve come to expect from the Bentley Restaurant and Bar crew, though with slightly more relaxed flair.
I decide to bestow the honour of wine choice on Mr N this day and he doesn’t disappoint. We start with Chassagne Montrachet and we end with a robust red, The Nebb from McLaren Vale. Boy was I glad I left the wine choice in Mr N’s capable hands!
Meanwhile, we go about ordering our feast of the non-​liquid kind. We choose:
* Charcuterie — a selection of 4 house cures and pickles
* Grilled Baby Sweet Corn, Tamarind Yoghurt
* Shaved Heirloom Vegetables, Baby Pink Fir Potatoes & Buttermilk Whey Dressing
* Calamari, Macadamia and Celtuce
* Grilled Lamb Shoulder, Ricotta & Leek
Wow, we are suitably impressed.
Rather than the dishes coming out at once, each dish is served individually, allowing you to savour the flavours of each plate. The wait staff also explain each dish to you as it is served, which adds to the experience.
We finish our savoury courses and one look at the dessert menu confirms we absolutely cannot make a choice. So, naturally, we order both:
* Nectarine & Sorbet, Brown Butter Curd
* Whisky Chocolate Mousse, Sour Cherry & Granita
A-​mazing. If you asked me to pick a favourite, I could not.
I think it was about this point, I realised Monopole was really something special. Not only is the food and wine exquisite, but the wait staff are knowledgeable and guide you along the journey. I felt like it was my insider secret. Only, I couldn’t help thinking, I don’t think it will be my secret for long. This secret is about to get out.