Crispy brussel sprouts with local honey and Mimolette cheese. Photo: Wendy Johnson
Flank steak… served with black garlic butter. Photo: Wendy Johnson
Truffle toasties. Photo: Wendy Johnson
Gildas… a skewered olive, anchovy and pickled peppers. Photo: Wendy Johnson
Pressed chicken leg, with kernels of corn, saffron and truffle Madeira sauce. Photo: Wendy Johnson
A playful wine bar-bottle shop combo nestled on Kennedy Street, Kingston, Tintino invites customers to “take a seat or take it home”, writes dining reviewer WENDY JOHNSON.
Tintino is small but mighty. The menu is inviting and the food designed to pair with wines on offer.
Co-owners Ben Florance and Adam Brown know that in today’s crazy world of hospitality, being unique and lifting the bar are key. Brendan Hill, head chef, is in sync.
Sharing is the way to go at Tintino. Oysters are always a fabulous start to a meal, and we loved the plump, juicy ones sourced from Wheelers Oyster Farm (south coast) – a perfect temperature and served with a bright mignonette ($6.50 each, minimum of two).
Artisan bread sourced from L’épi Bakery, was soft and addicting ($6). We adored it with a wonderful, whipped parmesan and intensely flavoured, salty squid ink Bottarga ($12).
Perfectly poised Gildas feature a skewered juicy olive, punchy anchovy and pickled peppers ($7 each, minimum two). As an aside, some say this tapas-style snack is named after Rita Hayworth’s character in the 1946 film Gilda.
The truffle toasties were super fun and mighty tasty, much better than a Croque Monsieur, claimed one of our party ($16, we cut to share).
Quality ingredients are a full commitment at Tintino. An example is the rainbow trout sourced from the Snowy Mountains. It is high quality, firm and flaky but not overly fishy. Prepared with buttermilk and fennel, it was worth every bite ($35).
Gorgeous and inventive was the thick slices of pressed, succulent chicken leg, with golden-brown skin and super sweet kernels of corn. The dish was elevated with saffron and truffle Madeira sauce ($38).
A smashing dish was the flank steak, so tender you could cut it with a fork, served with black garlic butter ($55).
Sides are super interesting at Tintino. Think cauliflower blossom and egg yolk with cashew ($15) and crispy brussel sprouts with local honey (hot) and Mimolette cheese ($15).
Everyone gave the thumbs up to the carrot dish. The purple and orange carrots were enhanced with caraway and topped with a chimichurri ($16).
Friends happened to be sitting close by, and they invited me over for a taste test of the chocolate terrine ($16) and sourdough toast ice cream ($15). Stunning.
As a wine bar-bottle shop, Tintino’s selection is impressive. A compact list of wines comes with the menu, including our delish Linear Gruner Veltliner from Tumbarumba ($16 a glass, $76 a bottle).
Customers can also explore and choose from the shelves of wine bottles on offer, with a mix of very approachable and very special options (currently $20 corkage fee for wines $45+). We selected a brilliant Domaine Jean Dauvissat Pere and Fils Chablis 2023 ($80).
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