Frankie & Mo's — Restaurant in Blackheath

My wife & I weren’t planning to go out last night…thinking of having a quiet night in at the Airbnb.

Our daughter convinced us that we would regret not going to Frankie & Mo’s on our last night in Blackheath and so we decided to enquire re bookings at 5.30pm.

As expected, being a Saturday night, they were almost completed booked up, but Em (the chef) passed us over to Tom & we ended up scoring a spot at 7.30.

I got off the phone and I was starting to wonder if we should just give it a miss, given the 2 hour wait …so my wife read me the background story of Tom and his father Bob. It was so very “Hollywood”, so I was sucked in immediately LOL !

THINK WHAT WE WOULD HAVE MISSED OUT ON if we hadn’t gone !!! : Right from the moment of entry, the physical space created an immediate atmosphere, complemented by the soft lighting, good vibe music and then there was the great staff looking after you !

From the amiable Johnno, to the welcoming Em, the quietly understated Tom and the hilarious Jess - it was just like the reviews had stated: like being a guest at their home.

My daughter, being the foodie, picked the food (but in all honesty, you could have picked anything on that menu and made your tastebuds very happy!) It was deceptively simple, confident, inclusive and intelligent.

From the pepper berry, lemon & chili warm Sicilian olives, through to the berry chocolate star anise dessert sorbet, the must-have focaccia “blocks” & gnocchi staples (the latter is finished with a gorgeous mushroom sauce that even my daughter who dislikes mushrooms enjoyed)….Em - you deserve every accolade you receive as the Chef !

Johnno helped us find something to drink to everyone’s liking: a smooth Pinot, a meaty Rose (Shiraz influenced) and an interesting “Skinsy” (where the skins are left in) which had all sorts of interesting elements in it.

Must admit that I didn’t have very high expectations of organic wine, but like the food, it was interesting, complex & delicious !

Tom & Bob clearly aren’t afraid to experiment either….apart from the Skinseys No. 13 and No. 15, I got to try a Pinot Gris with Rose integration and a smooth Grenache-style (yumm..)

You get to taste test the wine before you drink (order by the glass or bottle, but by the glass is a lot more fun!).

Oh…and make sure to bring your credit card with you to buy the wines you enjoyed so you can relive some of the Frankie & Mo experience when you get home !

To Tom & the Gang : a 5 star rating just doesn’t do you justice, so we’re giving you 15 stars !

What a brilliant & memorable finish to my wife’s birthday weekend !

We’ll be back (with friends)! Until next time, Muchas Gracias !

Rach,...

Now here is a rare gem.

Frankie and Mo’s is the breath of fresh air the Mountains didn’t know it needed. Whatever you think or experience of the world of natural wine making it is an expanding movement, centring largely around young people who have the advantage of coming to wine without the preconceived ideas of the old world of values. But the team at F&M’s aren’t throwing any beautiful babies out with the bathwater and you will find here exquisite old world wines alongside exciting harmonic living examples of the new. And they should know as they don’t just sell it, they make it.

But how does one approach this new world if one has little exposure to its delights? One does that by spending time at F&M’s. And by asking questions of the experts on hand (including Bob and Tom Coleman of Frankly This Wine Was Made by Bob). The F&M team love questions. They love nothing more than an inquiring mind. And they will present you with such an unexpected landscape of flavour (which may take some getting used to for the uninitiated) that will simply change the way you think about wine.

And then there is Em’s delightfully imaginative and complementary menu, cooked in an energetic open kitchen and matched with great dexterity by the team to their ever-changing range of wine options. There are very few places that are doing what this team are doing across NSW. Perhaps more than I know as they tend to stay under the radar. You could call this place a hidden gem, but it won’t remain hidden for long.

You should go there I think. You should go there now. And then go again. I am certain you will not be...

My friend and I had lunch recently at Frankie & Mo's. This venue usually starts service from 3pm, but the proprietors opened up especially for us, which was kind. I had wanted to try this standout wine bar come bistro in the heart of Blackheath for a long while. Happy to report it did not disappoint. The southern Italian inspired menu is heavy with imaginative vegetable dishes, perfect for vegetarians and vegans. I recommend sharing because each dish is a flavour explosion, and this is a menu you will want to work your way through. We ordered several dishes (braised fennel, pork rillettes, focaccia), cocktails/liquer (Negroni and Amaro) and dessert (chocolate mousse cake). Everything was delicious and beautifully presented. Great care goes into each element of each dish. This attention to detail is also self-evident in the decor, from the Parisian style striped awning over the entry door, to the bottle-lined picture rails, to the stylishly striped fabrics on the banquettes. The atmosphere is chic, intimate and cosy. The open kitchen is adjacent to the main dining area, which on busy nights would provide some theatre for diners. Even the bathroom is immaculate and thoughtfully presented. We're looking forward to going back to sample the potato gnocchi in mushrooms and roast garlic, more Negronis (delicioso!), or some of Bob's boutique wine selection. Thank you for a wonderful dining experience. In the words of Arnie "we'll be...