Porcine

Porcine is a French bistro at 268 Oxford Street in Paddington, Sydney, set above L’Avant Cave, a wine bar listed on the same site. The restaurant’s menu changes daily, with the published sample showing a produce-led French approach that moves from small opening plates to substantial mains, sides and desserts. It is a good fit for diners who enjoy a meal that feels considered without being limited to a single style of dish.

The sample menu includes Rock Oyster with smoked eel mignonette, Comté and pepper belly gougère, pork creton with lentils, guinea fowl and foie gras rillettes, and raw scallop with sweet prawns, verjus and citrus. Larger plates include vol-au-vent with slipper lobster and sauce Américaine, mirror dory with braised fennel and moules marinière, côte de porc with crushed artichokes and mustard, and confit dodine of pigeon with grilled onions and cep oil. Frites and salade are available as sides, while the dessert list includes Île flottante, tarte au chocolat, and a cheese selection.

Drinks are a major part of the offering. The list covers classic cocktails such as the French 75, Negroni, Martini and Boulevardier, along with beer, cider and a wide selection of French and Australian wine. There is a particularly broad focus on bottles from regions including Burgundy, the Loire, Jura, Beaujolais, the Rhône and Champagne, alongside producers from South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and other Australian wine regions. Aperitifs, vermouths, ports, digestifs, whisky, tea, coffee and a substantial range of non-alcoholic drinks are also listed.

The website gives limited detail about the room, beyond describing Porcine as a French bistro above a wine bar, so its atmosphere and history are best experienced in person rather than assumed from the menu. The combination of a changing food offering and extensive drinks list makes it most naturally suited to diners looking for a leisurely French-style meal, a wine-focused occasion or a more exploratory dinner in Paddington. L’Avant Cave is listed separately with its own service times, offering another option for drinks at the same address.