Tiger Tales

Best Bites

Ute Junker unites Adelaide’s favourite faces (and taste buds) who rate the city’s best pizza, ice cream, and more

When bringing together our panel of experts, we expected nothing but chaos, mayhem and tantrums. How wrong we were! Even bad-boy Screaming Jets rocker Dave Glesson behaved himself. Aside from a couple of little spats, our five-member panel of well-known Adelaide-siders agreed on one thing: some of the country’s finest dining experiences are to be had right here!

 

OUR PANEL
Amber Petty, SA-FM announcer on morning programme, Breakfast with Rabbit, Amber and Louie
Brett Maher, captain of the Adelaide 36ers basketball team
Anna Williamson, owner of Adelaide’s hot fashion label and boutique, Mais-Loui on Hutt Street
Jerome Tremoulet, chef at the acclaimed Magill Estate Restaurant in the Adelaide Hills
Dave Gleeson, frontman of Aussie band, The Screaming Jets

BEST PIZZA

Winner: Good Life
170 Hutt Street, tel: +61 (08) 8223 2618, www.goodlifepizza.com

Good Life has so many Restaurant and Catering Awards, it’s run out of space to display them. This may not mean much, but the cosy eatery is a hands-down winner with local punters too. This Hutt Street favourite goes from strength to strength, with a second outlet at Glenelg.

“The pizza is simply spectacular,” says Amber Petty, SA-FM announcer. “It’s all homemade with organic ingredients, and is the tastiest pizza that you’ll ever eat.”

Dave Gleeson, lead singer of the Screaming Jets has consumed more pizza than he cares to remember, but highly recommends the duck and shiitake mushroom pizza. Good Life pizza is so fantastic, it has even changed tastes.

“The Hawaiian is fantastic,” says Petty. “Ten years ago, I thought Hawaiian pizza was stupid, but now I think it’s the best thing ever!”

Pizza costs AUD18.50 (SGD23) for two.

Worth a mention:

Chefs are hard to please, especially French ones, so when Jerome Tremoulet, head chef at the acclaimed Magill Estate Restaurant puts his name to something, you had better take note.

Tremoulet is a fan of Feathers Pizzeria (542 Greenhill Road, Hazelwood Park, tel: +61 (08) 8431 5555) where he can be seen ordering a seafood pizza or margarita. Toppings at Feathers range from barbecued chicken to garlic prawns and are cooked to perfection (pizzas start from AUD13.90/SGD17.35 for two).

Brett Maher, captain of the Adelaide 36ers basketball team may be a tall guy, but he has a soft spot for the supreme pizza at Mamma Carmela Cafe Pizzeria (4 Jetty Road, Glenelg, tel: +61 (08) 8295 4477, www.mammacarmela.com.au) – he eats there before every home game (pizza starts from AUD16.90/SGD21 for two).

For those in the mood for a drive, Anna Williamson Adelaide’s sweetheart of fashion and owner of Mais-Loui boutique on Hutt Street, heads to Russell’s Pizza Bar in Willunga, an hour out of town. Russell’s is housed inside a converted blacksmith’s cottage and has made a name of itself as the coolest pizzeria in South Australia (13 High Street, Willunga, tel: +61 (08) 8556 2571).

BEST ICE CREAM

Winner: Cibo Gelateria
161-169 The Parade, Norwood, tel: +61 (08) 83644488, www.ciboespresso.com.au

This is a hands-down favourite amongst the panel. There are a number of Cibo outlets throughout Adelaide that stock gelato and are worth a visit any time of day.

“I had a gelato at the Central Market store this morning,” admits Tremoulet. Their dedicated gelateria in Norwood features a colour-drenched interior and superb location. You can take your gelato and go window-shopping down one of Adelaide’s best fashion strips.

Williamson recommends mango and apple; Tremoulet prefers the roast almond flavour; while Gleeson’s young daughter is a sucker for good old vanilla. Take-home packs are available too.

BEST FISH AND CHIPS

Winner: Sammy’s On The Marina
Holdfast Shores, Glenelg, tel: +61 (08) 8376 8211, www.sammys.net.au

Part of the Holdfast Shores development, Sammy’s meets the number-one rule about fish and chips consumption: it should be eaten within sight of the ocean. Whether it is one fillet or four, enjoy a platter of delicious fish prepared to such perfection you’ll come back for more.

Brett Maher also loves the restaurant for the attentive and friendly staff, and the menu variety on offer, although he admits to being a creature of habit himself.

“Without fail, I must always have the calamari,” he says. “Oh, and the seafood platter, of course.”

As for Williamson, it’s the lobster that he can’t go past. Mixed seafood entrées start from AUD34 (SGD42.45) for two.

Worth a mention:

Gleeson gets his fish and chips at the newly renovated Bath Hotel in Norwood (232 The Parade, Norwood, tel: +61 (08) 8431 5171, www.bathhotel.com.au).

“It’s got to be old school – nicely battered, with tartar sauce,” he says. Petty gets her takeaway from Fish Out Of Water (117 King William Road, Hyde Park, tel: +61 (08) 8272 1996, www.fishoutofwater.com.au), then heads for Henley Beach, while Tremoulet travels out of town to Star of Greece at Port Willunga (1 The Esplanade, Port Willunga, tel: +61 (08) 8557 7420).

“The batter is still crunchy after five minutes, and the chips don’t stick together. They always use fresh oil, and the view from the top of the cliff is simply spectacular.”

BEST ASIAN

Winner: Star of Siam
67 Gouger Street, tel: +61 (08) 8231 3527

Gouger Street is the only place to go for Asian food in Adelaide, and Star of Siam is one of the area’s mainstays. The upmarket Thai is a favourite with Williamson, who loves the pad thai, but isn’t really fussy: “You can’t go wrong here – everything on the menu is beautiful.”

Worth a mention:

Gleeson also heads to Gouger Street for noodles, but he likes Chinese, choosing the noodles at Wah Hing (85 Gouger Street, tel: +61 (08) 8212 0338). Petty’s pick is Thai Orchid for noodles (225 The Esplanade, Henley Beach, tel: +61 (08) 8353 4686).

BEST DESSERT

Winner: The Flying Fish Cafe
1 The Foreshore, Port Elliott, tel: +61 (08) 8554 3504

Williamson doesn’t usually eat dessert. So when she says she’ll make the hour’s drive to Port Elliott to have dessert at the Flying Fish Cafe, you know she’s onto something good.

“Once you’ve tried their pear soaked in cinnamon with plum sauce, you’ll never forget it,” she declares. And while you’re there, you might also spot some famous faces.

“Last time I was there, Alexander Downer was eating there,” says Williamson.

Desserts start from AUD14 (SGD17.50).

Worth a mention:

For a Frenchman, Tremoulet has a surprisingly dinkum nomination. “There’s a shop in Burnside called Kazzy’s (377 Greenhill Road, Toorak Gardens, tel: +61 (08) 8332 2711).

“It’s run by an old man, a real character who’s about 75, and he has the most fantastic vanilla slice. You have to get there early on a Saturday morning, or you’ll find they’re all sold out.”

Petty loves the sticky date pudding at Elephant Walk (76 Melbourne Street, North Adelaide, tel: +61 (08) 8267 2006), while Maher has a weakness for the fried ice cream at Japanese fine diner, the Sumo Station (Shop 7, Holdfast Shores, Glenelg, tel: +61 (08) 8295 5808, www.sumostation.com.au).

All dessert treats cost under AUD10 (SGD12.50).

BEST LATE-NIGHT DINING

Winner: La Trattoria
348 King William Street, tel: +61 (08) 8212 3327

If you’re looking to find a good late-night meal, ask a rocker. Gleeson goes straight to La Trattoria, where he loves to drop in after a few beers and tuck into a massive steak.

“I know it’s bad for you, but it’s just part of the rock ’n’ roll lifestyle,” he grins. The Adelaide favourite has been going for over 30 years, so it is clear that plenty of people agree with him.

La Trattoria’s Andy Parisi won the American Plate at the World’s Best Pizza Competition in New York in 2004 – just one more reason to check it out. Mains start from AUD16 (SGD20).

Worth a mention:

Williamson likes to tuck into anything on the menu at East Taste (119 Gouger Streeet, tel: +61 (08) 8231 0268), especially a plate of salt and pepper eggplant. A meal for two people costs under AUD50 (SGD62.40).

BEST ROMANTIC DINNER

Magill Estate Restaurant
Penfolds Winery, Adelaide Hills, tel: +61 (08) 8301 5551, www.penfolds.com/experience/dining/magill.asp

Tremoulet was unsure whether he was allowed to nominate his own restaurant in this category, but we told him to go right ahead – everyone else had chosen it too.

“The view is fantastic, the food is amazing,” says Gleeson. “My wife and I went there after we had our baby – our first night out in six months.

It is the place you go when you want to know you’re living it up.”

Tremoulet confirms a lot of people choose the restaurant for special events – particularly proposals. Try the Degustation Menu – six courses cost AUD120 (SGD150).

Worth a mention:

“When I find someone I want to be romantic with, I know exactly where I’m going to be taking him,” reveals Petty. Her romantic pick: Star of Greece (1 The Esplanade, Port Willunga, tel: +61 (08) 8557 7420), a charming 1950s kiosk perched on top of a cliff.

“The setting is stunning, right on the beach, the food is amazing, and the lighting is perfect for romance,” she says.

BEST SUNDAY BRUNCH

Winner: Tin Cat Cafe
107 Rundle Street, tel: +61 (08) 8362 9745

Both Petty and Williamson confess to tucking into big brunches at the Tin Cat. Petty doesn’t hold back: “Go for the lot – sausages, hash browns, spinach, you name it!” while Williamson raves about the scrambled eggs with asparagus and duck pate.

It’s not just the food that sets the Tin Cat apart, however. The surroundings are stunning too. The converted mansion has a beautiful courtyard filled with trees and sculpture.

“It’s such a great place – you have a few Bloody Marys, and you end up staying there all afternoon,” says Williamson. For a big brunch, try the Works (AUD16/SGD20).

Worth a mention:

Tremoulet loves the egg benedict at Chianti Classico (160 Hutt Street, tel: +61 (08) 8232 7955, www.chianticlassico.com.au).

“It’s like a terrine with chorizo on the bottom, then tomato sauce and eggs on top,” he says.

Mains start from AUD26.50 (SGD33.10).

Treat your tastebuds at Adelaide’s tastiest food festivals

2 March – Natuzzi The Parade Food, Wine and Music Festival
As summer peaks in Adelaide, restaurateurs along The Parade, Norwood, make the finishing touches to their signature dish and choose premium South Australian wines that best complement their dishes.
Bands, DJs and children’s entertainers stage performances while boutique owners and stylists show off their latest designs on the catwalk. www.npsp.sa.gov.au

8 March – Adelaide Hills Crush Festival
Head for the hills and celebrate all things wine and food, with wineries including Chain of Ponds, Hahndorf Hill and Petaluma offering delicious local food to go with the quality wines. Woodside Providores are also organising a special artisan dinner on 7 March. www.adelaidehillswine.com.au