What to pair it with It’s quite easy to give yourself over to the foolproof snacks – some olives and oysters with a finely tuned apple-jalapeño chilli mignonette dressing, say, or a crusty baguette with sesame butter, cured meats and Comté cheese. The one you really need on your table, however, has to be the crab toast: a thick spread of creamy, herb-flecked crabmeat on a crisp-fried wheel of white bread, capped with a spoonful of trout roe. Larger plates tilt more heavily towards meat and seafood territory, but a smoky and surprisingly meaty beetroot tartare proves the kitchen rocks it in the plant-based department, too. Don’t get too attached to any one thing, however – things change weekly, sometimes even daily, so you’ve always got a reason to return.
Why we love itThis is yet another very worthy addition to Potts Point, a neighbourhood chock-full of excellent, destination-worthy spots. But whereas other nearby establishments in its class lean somewhat more splashy and scene-y, Caravin is geared as much to midweek nightcaps as celebratory nights out. Phill and Greg know their audience, understand the limits of the tiny space and still serve up an experience that feels abundant and affordable, allowing you to play it as it lays.
