Gertrude Street Enoteca

Introduction: At 229 Gertrude Street Fitzroy, around the corner from Smith Street this small wine bar exudes an atmosphere of casual bon hommie. Enoteca means "wine library" and here the walls are lined with wines - mostly Italian
Ambience: Friendly
Service: Prompt, specially informative in regard to wines
Food: Simple tasty. Crisp toasted Pannini with smoked chicken, providone, radichio and fennel and rocket salad was very flavoursome as was theFoccacio with pea frittata, prosciuto with parmesan and rocket
I did not try the Pannini with baked pumpkin, rocket and pinenut salad nor the cured meat plate with olive salad which completes the lunch menu.
Wine: Extensive and frequently changing range by the glass or bottle. particulrly enjoyed Shaky Creek (Otago) 2003 pinot noir ($13) and the Tuscan La Massa 2001 Savignon / Cabernet ($15) however most wines were around $7 per 150 ml glass
Price: Modest Pannini and focaccio about $8 -9
Comments: Great place for a snack, coffee or a drink. Friday and Saturday apparently thet shuk oysters (about $2.60) and have a slightly more extensive menu. The blackboard offered the slow food manifesto which struck me as odd, anyway McDonalds is no competition for them!
Score: 14/20