Biota Dining Bar
“They’ll be made into pâté! That’s why they’re such vicious creatures – they know what’s coming,” snipes a passing father after the geese drive his offspring from their turf. The hissing and honking is all part of the lunchtime entertainment here on the outdoor bar tables in Biota’s garden. Which is lucky, because the kitchen today is under the pump, and has barred new orders for fifteen minutes. Our apologetic waitress does rustle up a Biota Pimms Cup ($15) brimming with botanicals, and an even better Venetian Sour ($15). The clever Aperol and gin combination increases our hankering for eats, so we’re thankful when the kitchen rights itself, then trots out arguably the best version of flash-fried Whitebait ($12) I’ve tried. The moist little fishes go down well with locally brewed Pigs Fly Pilsner ($8). Anxiety abated, we take our time with seasonal Pea, Mint and Persian Feta Salad ($11) and Smoked Beetroot, Hazelnuts, Cooked Curds and Poppy Seeds ($11) (which did want for a bit more smoke). Another local – the 2012 Sutton Forest Chardonnay ($13) – took us through a generous plate of Queso Manchego and Serrano ($14) and our closing Smoked Brisket Taco ($11). With dill pickles and cultured crème, it’s a notch about its dude-food cousins…
Biota Dining Bar
18 Kangaloon Road, Bowral
Ph: (02) 4862 2005 biotadining.com
Bar Food, Cocktails $$
