I am not particularly claustrophobic (I used to sit in my cupboard for ages looking to get into Narnia as a child) but I say to myself “This is one small, dark place!” And like my Narnia journey that never was, I am totally lost when finding it and it’s only when I ask at a neighbouring restaurant am I told that 121 BC is actually not on Holt Street but on Gladstone Lane and the sign doesn’t actually say 121 BC but it says Cantina Enoteca with 121 BC written in tiny letters near the door. Of course. I might have had better luck trying to find Narnia.
Named 121 BC as that was said to be when the first great wine harvest occurred (said to be the vintage of a lifetime), this is one of the three places owned by the people that own Vini and Berta also in Surry Hills. And there is one common thing: they are small with 121 B.C. seating 25 people on a long communal table and they are dark which means that I need my dining buddy Alison from delicious. magazine and her iphone to shine some light onto the food (she kindly helped me through the Singapore trip by providing the light there too). Before we arrived, I didn’t intend to blog it as we didn’t know how much food they would have but after clocking the wall menu the food sounds rather good. Before you know it, I’ve got the camera out.
I seem to have caught the flu that everyone else in Sydney is currently suffering through and so I nurse a ginger drink which is truth isn’t particularly gingery and just tastes like chinotto. The focus here is on Italian wines, 250 or so, that are served in 100ml tasting glasses and the sole occupant on the cocktail menu is the bellini. Bartender Giorgio checks on Alison’s wine choice. When she finds one a bit too dry he offers her a taste of another which she likes a lot better and then goes on to order.
Pork ribs $10
Our first course is the pork ribs which come out on a board sprinkled with salt at one end. The ribs are flavoured with balsamic and have a slight tanginess that helps offset the richness of the pork ribs. The meat has a lovely texture, a little chewy and crusty on the outside but falling off the bone too.
Kingfish $10
The sashimi or carpaccio of kingfish is paired with pomegranates and celery leaves. I’m not a huge celery lover but when you get a bit of everything it isn’t too bad although I always find that celery tends to dominate all of the other flavours and if you take a bite with just the pomegranate and kingfish then the flavour changes vastly.
Mozzarella en carozza $7
What’s not to love about buffalo mozzarella fried in bread and crumbs? This is earth shatteringly crunchy and buttery on the outside and with a stretchy, creamy buffalo mozzarella on the inside. And yes it’s worth every calorie and at this price for a few mouthfuls of utter pleasure, it’s worth it.
Figs, fennel, radicchio and prosciutto $10
The plate of fresh figs, radicchio, fennel and prosciutto was ordered as soon as we clapped our eyes on another diner’s plate. I adore fresh figs and these are quite sweet and it pairs with fennel and radicchio. The prosciutto comes crispy as if deep fried and we would have liked a little more. Or it could be that in the dark it was hard to tell what we were spearing onto our forks too!
Pork & veal meatballs with borlotti beans $18
The meatballs are a little too strong in a sausage mince taste. We do like the borlotti and braised greens underneath it but the meatballs themselves aren’t a favourite.
Corn cobs
Who ever knew that corn needed anything but butter, salt and pepper? Well apparently it needs porcini and reggiano shavings and although hard and unglamourous to eat, the sweet corn and savoury topping are worth just getting in there and hoping that lots of little bits aren’t stuck in your teeth. It’s time like these that I wish I carried dental floss.
Zucchini $8
The last dish piqued our curiosity as we couldn’t figure out whether it was zucchini based on their spelling and it was a surprising hit. The zucchini is grilled and then paired with a fragrant, rich taleggio cheese which is slightly melty although there isn’t much in the way of the promised preserved lemon except for one biteful which Alison gets.
Even though I didn’t try the wines, Alison was impressed with them whereas the food was a hit with both of us. Surprisingly reasonable is the price, it may not be the place to take your ravenously hungry boyfriend or husband but we’d imagine ideal for girly catch ups after work – and given that at 6:10pm Alison procured the last two seats don’t make it too late after work. Perhaps the confusing address might mean a better chance of snagging a seat at this tiny little hole in the wall!
So tell me Dear Reader, I know this is a strange question but do you ever carry dental floss with you? And I’d like to wish you all a very happy, fun and safe Easter holiday full of good food! I hope the Easter bunny brings you lots of goodies 
121 BC
4/50 Holt Street, Surry Hills, NSW (entry via Gladstone Street)
Tel: +61 (02) 9699 1582
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44 Comments | Add your own
The food looks 121 BC too! Very simple and fuss free.
It sounds like a great little find! The food is really reasonably priced and gorgeously presented!
I loved all your images, you wouldn’t even know it was dark!
No I do t carry dental floss but I did hide in cupboards as a child
Before you know it, the camera comes out!
If I had a nickel for every time one of my friends said this about me, I’d have enough money to fly to Australia and visit the beautiful places on your blog….
xxoo,
RMW
I do not carry it with me, but have WISHED I did so often.
Love the lighting in that top pictures. Makes me want to sit awhile. 
I know a few ladies who always has some floss in their handbags, so I guess it is much more common for the fairer sex.
And why do restaurants try to make their places so difficult to find?
Nice looking food, but if I had a cold or flu, I wouldn’t bother eating out since most of the senses important to tasting food are diminished.
There are times I sure wish I had dentil floss but don’t as a rule (although I do have a wrapped toothpick or 2 in my bag. The veggies at this place really took my eye… especially that zucchini… easy rich good.. yeah all the best food words. I also love places that are off the beaten path… and I tried the wardrobe trick too… it didn’t work for me either!!!
Despite the lack of lighting the photos look great!
I carry dental floss, breath mints, tissues and hand sanitiser every where I go… it’s something of a quirk. ^___^
Great post, NQN!
Happy Easter!!
I had to laugh when I saw the Mozzarella en carozza. I had never heard of it until last night when Mr BBB and I saw it in a cooking magazine!!! Why I have never tried such amazing cheesy goodness is beyond me?!
Cute dishes. Is it wrong to want the Mozzarella en carozza for breakfast…?
Oooo… how annoying about not being able to find it at first! I would have been annoyed.. but great that it was worth it in the end!
Hehe no I never carry dental floss. I would though, if it meant delicious corn like this all the time. The fig plate sounds beautiful. & I was exactly the same as a child – searching for narnia in cupboards
Heidi xo
Why do I always leave your blog hungry! Gorgeous pictures!
What a fun place — from the gooey fried mozzarella to those cute little meatballs. I hope you’re feeling better and that this scrumptious meal acted as a tonic for what ails you.
The Mozzarella dish brings back lovely memories of my childhood, Sigh… Mum’s version also added anchovies and ham, delicious stuff!
Love the menu, it’s all very rustic Italian which pairs perfectly with a glass or two of vino.
Don’t carry dental floss but I should, my husband never fails to alert me to spinach or other foodstuff stuck in my teeth even whilst I’m still eating lol.
Happy Easter Lorraine and family. I’m very happy as the extremely difficult to bake Pizza di Pasqua has turned out perfectly this year, Yay!
I DO! Also a toothbrush and toothpaste. I am a bit anal that way. Cannot stand the feeling of food in my teeth or worrying over bad breath.
The dishes looked yummy & the price is surprisingly very affordable. Thanks for sharing this!
this looks superb and i do like berta and vini! can’t wait to check it out!
Yes dental floss, hand santiser, mints and tissues like Noelene! Thanks for reviewing – like having somewhere to add to my list for catch ups with the girls or even a pre-theatre chow.
I carry everything else in my bad, so I’m not sure why dental floss isn’t in there too. Shall add it to the list.
I like the look of 121BC as I love sharing little plates of this and that – a fun way to eat and noone gets food envy that way.
You’d never know you had such trouble with the light – iPhones do seem handy don’t they?
Looks Good! Hope you’ve got rid of the flu by now… Nope, never carry dental floss with me though sometimes I wish I had …. Have a wonderful Easter!
Haha as soon as you said you wished you carried dental floss I chuckled. My Mum and my sisters all carry dental floss, and our friends always looks at us strangly when we whip it out (in the bathroom) after dinner. Having food stuck in your teeth is the worst!
~~I will order the “Mozzarella en carozza” right this minute. Yes, that & a nice dry Merlot.
PS. my girlfriend brings floss with her and I must say, This drives me INSANE! Seriously. xx
Mmh! I actually LOVE small, cosy, dark places – mother’s womb complex? This very much sounds like an informal meeting place I would like – lots of vino choices, chance to strike up an interesting conversation – and, I love the look of the figs and the zucchini. And the more ‘hidden away’ it is, the more special and comfy I feel! Love the name, too – some lateral thought gone into it!! Dental floss – yes, always, tho’ it does not necessarily get remembered or used!
Ha! At times I wish I did carry around dental floss- it would definitely have calmed many frustratingly tongue numbing moments when dining out. You know when you’re in a serious conversation with your friends but can’t help but focus on that damn meat lodged between your teeth!
I haven’t quite progressed to carrying dental floss, but I’m a religious flosser. I get quite antsy if mine runs out and I can’t get any more that night…
Which is why we should all eat nothing but fried cheese. Never gets stuck in teeth!
@ Adrian in Food Rehab – actually find spinach and bok choi shreds between the last and second last molar on the left upper side most annoying!!
Nope can’t say I carry dental floss. I do appreciate a toothpick sometimes though.
Happy Easter!
I don’t carry dental floss, but I do carry one of those between teeth brushes – much better, and less obvious. This food looks great, but isn’t it a little pretentious to make your restaurant hard to find. It would be tempting to just keep walking.
Yep. Always have the floss with me for emergency situations – in the ladies loo of course!!!
haha I ALWAYS carry a mini container of dental floss with me, I do so hate getting things stuck in my teeth when I’m out!
I’m glad you eventually tracked down the goodies! I think some places like to have a bit of mystique and purposely make it a bit hard to find them.
I don’t carry dental floss, but my work tool box is like Mary Poppins carpet bag, it has so many wierd and wonderful things squished into it, and everyone comes to me for anything from knife sharpeners to tweezers to panadol.
Oh how fabulous. That would be right around the corner from my old work. Have always adored Vini, so am sure this will be a winner too. NB, completely agree with the Mary Poppins bag. I pretty much pride myself on having everything with me, at all times.
I have to say the pork ribs look a little meatless!
but the corn cob and zucchini look great! Happy Easter Lorraine! x
Pass the ribs and no one gets hurt.
I carry dental floss with me (and think it very weird but I do need it occasionally)
The foods look superb! My favourite has got to be the pork and veal meatballs…!
The corn and zucchini dishes look fantastic… I must admit I’ve never heard of this place. I guess that’s the idea though seeing as they’ve made it so hard to find. And yes, dental floss is essential if I’m going out to eat – especially if you’re going to be ordering the corn!
I don’t carry dental floss, but my fingernails can usually do the trick (just not at the table
). Happy Easter!
I carry it everywhere!!!
I prefer the look of poking around at your teeth with your tongue for hours after a meal – much classier
I want that mozzarella!
coucou un délice merci**
I love the look of the share plates and the sound of the various wines to sample! Great find
The Fried mozzarella looks awesome! I love all these little places opening up in sydney. I just wish I was there to try them out!
No dental floss for me, I am normally very unprepared. I hope you’re feeling better Lorraine! x
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