Lina's Bistro A Vin

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, a Parisian style bar with an interior wall lined with wine racks, is a cosy place that feels like it was once a home.

My dinner date and I chose this place out of sheer curiosity. From the outside looking in, it portrays a warm ambience and the weather was crap too, so it satisfied the need to go somewhere we hadn't been before.

The menu is either bar food or small plates dining. We opted to sit at the bar and order a variety of small dishes which took up most of the space, probably best suited for a large table. Oh well, we managed.

To start off with, we had Cheese Fondue priced at $8, which was really good in texture and taste, except for two (small) things that weren't cool. One, in my fondue experience the bread served should be toasty and sized to dip. We were given soft sliced baguette. Staff were happy to make the change, the grill was literally set up behind the bar. Convenient.

Two, okay another fondue past experience is the cheese is lightly lit underneath by a candle to keep the texture constantly warm and creamy and without this flame, it eventually becomes cluggy. Bummer.

The rest of what we ordered was pretty good and it all came out at once. This is what we had; Grilled sourdough with goat cheese mushrooms priced at $12. Tick. Baby calamari with aioli and paprika priced at $15. Tick. Classic garlic tiger prawns priced at $18. Tick. A side of rocket, pear and beetroot salad for $9. Tick.

We ate all this so casually, whilst sipping a bottle of Lina's house Red, a Shiraz 09 priced at $35.

But wait there's more. Yes, we even had dessert to share because I wasn't going to fit anything see in. A lemon meringue with rhubarb for $13. Perfectly put in a glass cup, which turned out to be extremely refreshing and light.

Lina's has a special shared dining menu Saturday and Sunday at $40 per person including a glass of house wine.

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#albert_park
#south
#restaurants
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