Date Spot Volume 3 - Bistro Rex
As many of you would know, I am a transplant in Melbourne, having moved here 3 years ago from sunny Sydney. I feel so lucky to have both places as my home and travel frequently between the two. My most recent trip was in June and I had organised a wee lunch at a new French bistro in Potts Point called Bistro Rex.
I like to stay on top of all things Sydney dining because I visit so frequently and because I suffer from FOMO and still need to feel Sydney relevant, you know? I love a good French bistro, good ones can be few and far between and range in authenticity.
Bar Rex is like a bistro on steroids, it's a gorgeous, big old fit out under the Rex Building in Potts Point, and on this particular day we were sat next to Bryan Brown and Sam Neill. It was majestical *cue a barrage of The Hunt for the Wilderpeople quotes*. I mean better company I could not keep, other than the people I was with.
Reasons why I think it would make a good date spot? Here's a few:
Little tables for two are dotted around the space, which is moodily lit and even when we were there day drinking at the window booth in broad daylight, it feels romantical (I don't think that's a word, sorry, The Hunt for the Wilderpeople references resume).
It's in a tremendous location. I was up there with the old ball and chain and wanted to show him around my past stomping ground, and it was great to be able to have a quick wander and a drink at The Bourbon (referenced as the place where Carlotta beat up Ricky Ponting so he got the relevance of it) and saunter down to lunch. If you were on a day date, you could do something fun like wander through the markets or do what we did beforehand and if it's night you're not short of somewhere for a cheeky cocktail before you start the evening off.
It's not share food, you can have your own big person meal and it can be whatever you damn well please! I don't mind share food at all, but I really love getting my own meal. You can still have the fun of sharing by swapping half way through, or not at all if yours looks heaps better. Picking food can be the fun of a date so if you did want to try a few of the same things you can order a few share entrees.
Steak Frites. Enough said.
Buzzy vibe and good crowd, let's face it, you want to be somewhere that's busy on a date. There is nothing worse than being one of the only tables in a restaurant. You won't get that here, but it's also not too noisy, you can hear each other speak, but enjoy the vibe that's happening around you.
I really enjoyed my time there, it was fun and flirty and cool, just like Paris and just like all dates should be!
Bon Appetit!
