Lamont’s Wine Store Cottesloe

Monday to Saturday 11am to midnight and Sunday 11am till 10pm

12 Station Street, Cottesloe

Telephone 08 9385 0666

My love affair with Amano cooking school, run by the delightful Bev Sprague, was ended about six months ago when it was announced that Bev was shutting up shop, and Kate Lamont would be opening a new wine store, taking advantage of the small liquor licenses so furiously fought for in Perth.

The concept is really clever - you can use Lamont’s Cottesloe as a wine store -simply to pick up a bottle and enjoy at home - or as a bar to enjoy a quiet drink, or as a restaurant to sample some of the delights from their tapas menu.

Last night we visited to dine and had a great experience. The space itself is quite small, and you sit pretty close to your fellow diners, however they have done a great job with the fit out so the acoustics are really good and there is no issue with noise.

Mum started with a sherry, and the rest of us a bottle of Pinot Noir from Pemberton, the Picardy 2006. I really enjoyed the pinot. Uniquely, as it is a wine store you are not limited to the wine list, but can choose any wine in the store. My only criticism was that the waitress didn’t know much about the wines (and at this sort of place that should be the first thing they learn). One of the other waitresses also commented that she “does not eat that stuff” when I asked her about the tuna cerviche…

We noticed some crystals in the glass on pouring the pinot, and the owner sat with us and explained how the crystals are formed, and often if you shine a torch into a barrel it will be like a jewelled cave.

We ordered a variety of tapas:

french onion soup with gruyere toasts (8.50)
wagyu beef and mushroom pie (14.50)
fried marron, pepper and garlic dust (15.50)
tuna cerviche with creme fraiche (14.50)
confit duck salad, mandarin oil (11.50)
The food was fresh, simple and absolutely delicious. The open kitchen set up is great because it is really nice to watch the chef prepare the dishes (most of which are pre-cooked, and simply plated and dressed at the counter). Dad of course complained that they are charging main course prices for entree sized food but that is the nature of tapas.

Dessert was macaroons, pan forte and cappucinos.

A great experience. Well worth trying.