$$$$ • Winery • Fitzroy North
Suze is an exceptional wine bar/restaurant. It retains a relaxed, fun vibe whilst serving very high quality fare in a sophisticated environment. The food is innovative and cooked to perfection. It is one of those restaurants where you are blown away by what seems the most innocuous dish on the menu. Two of us shared 3 small plates, 2 mains and 2 desserts. Everything was good. Standouts: possibly the best chicken parfait I've ever eaten; silky and rich and served with a pear "jam "and ginger bread "toasts", that lifted the whole dish to another level. Roasted artichoke with a sauce that incorporated tonnato was sublime. The fully boned whole flathead main course with a lemon and caper sauce was beautiful and good value for money. The signature dessert (Tulumba) which is a fried Turkish dough pastry swimming in a black garlic caramel sauce and a nigella seed "cream" was a magical mystery tour worthy of its hype. The service is professional but engaging. Our waiter had a sense of fun as well as being informative and attentive. The sommelier was excellent. A man who had deep knowledge of his subject and was infectious in his enthusiasm.
This is a venue that suits both those looking for a booked, dinner experience or those looking for a glass of wine and perhaps something to eat as the evening unfolds. Good for an impressive first date or for a group of friends on a night out. I was there for my wife's birthday. She loved it.