Gladioli closes, becomes Inverleigh Cellar and Restaurant

It's the saying of 2017: one door closes, another wine bar opens. After six years, chef-restaurateur Matt Dempsey has retired his hatted Inverleigh restaurant, Gladioli. "After six years doing fine dining it was just time for a change," Dempsey says.

Over the weekend, Dempsey relaunched the High Street cottage as low-key wine bar Inverleigh Cellar and Restaurant in the Marion or City Wine Shop model.

A brief renovation has buffed up the floors and added a huge wine wall so diners can browse sommelier Stacey-Lee Edwards' already extensive 300-bottle wine list and drink-in for a $15 fee.

New head chef Lyndon Betts has taken over the kitchen and will be focussing on more relaxed dishes similar to Tulip's offering. It will be heavy on charcuteries, terrines and parfaits, and larger dishes such as slow-cooked lamb shoulder, grilled half chickens with corn salsa, and flank steak with chimichurri. There will still be a four-course chef's menu on weekends for travellers looking to do a destination long lunch.

"It's essentially the best of what we've learned over the last 10 years running Tulip (in Geelong) and Gladioli," says Dempsey, "but now we can cater to those who want to drop by instead of doing an eight-course meal."

Inverleigh Cellar and Restaurant is open lunch Wed-Mon, dinner Wed-Sat at 14 High Street, Inverleigh, 03 5265 1111, gladiolirestaurant.com.au.