Updated ,first published
Bistro Molines
French$$$
Affirming French fare in the hills.
Refreshingly old-school and unaffected, Bistro Molines presents more like a lived-in Provençal mas than a classic Hunter-style Big Winery Restaurant, with cloths on the tables, plates and breadboards on the walls, and dainty ceramics and sweets covering the antique table.
The food is farmhouse fare, too. Hew to the sunny hand-illustrated carte for the day’s specials; scan the handwritten one-pager for cocktails and wines by the glass. On the menu proper it’s a two- or three-course affair, perhaps juicy house-smoked quail over roast Brussels sprouts and pickled apple, then hefty barbecued lamb cutlets, served rosewood-pink with silky white-garlic puree.
Food comes out hot from a kitchen that knows its way around jus and French reductions and a filet mignon, and salad wears its dressing as lightly as career waiters wear their easy charm. Meanwhile, the elevated position gives views of changing leaves and – sure – rolling vineyards. Timeless elegance from regional dining royalty Rob and Sally Molines, with just enough invention.
Good to know: The attached Little Orchard Cottage offers charming accommodation for up to four guests, with breakfast supplies included.
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Last visited: August 2026
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