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Tom Colman, a trained viticulturist, and his father Bob started making wine together back in 2016 in a backyard shed. Frankly, This Wine Was Made by Bob was born, featuring natural, organically made wine. In 2023, the duo opened Frankie & Mo's – a wine bar, restaurant and bottle shop rolled into one.
But just don't call it that to Tom. "We think of ourselves more like a wine pub – a place built on community, not exclusivity," says Tom.
"Somewhere people can drop in, feel at home and explore wines made right around the corner or further afield, without the inflated markups or pretension that often come with “wine culture,” he adds.
Inside is cosy and vibey, with electric artworks, pops of colour and a chef’s table where you can pull up a stool and watch the team in action.
The food
Fresh, seasonal ingredients are front and centre at Frankie & Mo’s. Their goal? Cook as locally and regeneratively as possible. The menu changes often, but you may enjoy things like radishes with butter and sea salt; beetroot carpaccio with almond ricotta and black garlic vinaigrette; line-caught bluefin tuna with harissa and olives; anchovy toast with pickled fennel and blood orange; lamb rump chop with smoked beans, carrot and herbs; and a flourless chocolate cake with berries. The duo is big on celebrating talented up-and-coming chefs, or those seeking a bush break. So, they feature a new chef in residence serving beautiful dishes, celebrating produce often grown down the road.
The drinks
Natural, organic, fun and funky – the wine at Frankie & Mo's is good for the planet and good for the soul. Personally, I’m a big fan of the party-starting pét-nat. At the back of Frankie & Mo's is the bottle shop, where you can select a bottle to enjoy with dinner ($25 corkage). And if you come on Thursday, you can enjoy free corkage for their locally made wines. They also offer cellar door tastings on weekends from 12-4pm. There’s a selection of cocktails if you’d like to kick things off with one.
Time Out tip
If you’re here for a weekend away in the mountains, be sure to check out Australia’s most Instagrammable waterfall, Wentworth Falls, and lace up for the Grand Canyon track – one of New South Wales’ most popular hikes.
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