Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards have named Western Australian venue Mayfair Lane as Australia’s Best Pub Restaurant Wine List in 2023.
Chair of Judges Peter Forrestal summed it up.
“There’s amazing energy that comes from the list at Mayfair Lane: it tends to vibrate in the venue itself, too,” their websites review writes.
“Perhaps, it has something to do with Foni Pollitt. Who else would make the connection with the wines under their wine preservation system as ‘Foni’s Posh Tipples’?”
Foni Pollitt nee Tsouvallas runs the joint with her husband Chris, opening on Outram Street West Perth in 2016.
This is the third win in this category for Mayfair Lane, which has also won a plethora of other awards over the years.
Foni says the award is a great acknowledgment for all involved.
“It is a great feat for the whole team including my husband Chris Pollitt and my Sommelier Iesha Poor, but to win an award from your peers is a humbling yet gratifying experience, 30 year in the business I guess finally pays off – I would just love to just thank for those that voted for me,” she told Neos Kosmos.
The Melbourne-born Greek-Sicilian spent her adult life travelling the world, drinking, tasting, teaching and loving wine.
She bought a one-way ticket to Italy, after leaving University and never looked back.
Her career in hospitality began in the early 90’s and she’s worked extensively in London and Montreal from gastro pub to fine dining.
It was in Montreal where she was awarded the Wine Spectators ‘Award of Excellence’ with her wine list made up entirely of Greek Wines.
Like her business, she too has won countless awards over the years, including the WA Good Food guide ‘Sommelier of the Year’ in 2018.
Also, an educator, she loves to share her passion for wine and her travel tales to students in Perth.
