Adelaide Restaurant Tips by pchamlis

Restaurant Name: Nonya Bistro-Wine Bar

The Nonya Bistro-Wine Bar features cooking drawn from dozens of cultures and takes great pride in celebrating (and cooking) Adelaide's diversity. The main focus is probably Malay cuisine, with a nod towards neighbor Thailand. The name "Nonya" comes from a malay-chinese term denoting a woman of prominent or social standing.

This is a small little establishment, and you'll feel more like you're at a small dinner gathering rather than "going out to eat", per se. In fact, the menu states that visitors should "savour the exquisite flavours and enjoy the relaxed ambience". That's pretty much a perfect line to describe an evening at Nonya. The menu adds "Nonya is the place for you to meet, chat, eat, drink, entertain and celebrate". I agree.

Our experience was particularly enhanced by the services of a terrific and attentive young waiter. When I told him that we were somewhat unfamiliar with Malaysian food, our server took it upon himself to insure a terrific experience, offering advice and guidance based upon a careful review of the preferences we shared with him.

Favorite Dish: Let's just share some menu items...

For starters, Nonya 's selection includes..

veggie spring rolls with dipping sauce of rice wine vinegar, gula melaka and
fresh chili (A$5)
wrap of chinese roast duck (with avocado, cucumber, julienne snow peas, toasted
sesame seed and a light hoi sin sauce) (A$10)
penang coconut milk and fish laksa (in a rempah of chili, turmeric, blue ginger, lemon
grass, coconut milk, lime leaves, tarmarind skinds and pineapple) (A$15)

Nonya features their curry dishes. The menu includes the following gem of curry wisdom: "curry in a hurry, there's never a good curry made in a hurry" Nonya also adds that their masterpiece is "not your average onion and capsicum sauce curry". The menu also WARNS that curry dishes are "on the menu until we sell out", so you'd best "be early if you want to curry it home".

Nonya Curry Dishes, all A$18
Penang Lime Leaf Chicken (with chili, turmeric, lemon grass and blue ginger)
Gulai Ayam Kapitan (captain's curry of chicken with candlenuts and tamarind)
Kurmah of Chicken (with blue poppyseeds, cloves, star anise and cinnamon)
Penang Nonay Chicken (highly spiced with potatoes and coconum milk)
Malay Chicken Rendang (lightly spiced...not a "wet" curry. A true Malay classic)
(We enjoyed the Chicken Rendang)
Malay Braised Beef Shin (with chili, cloves, star anise, cinnamon, curry leaves, tamarind)
(another dish we loved)

Other entrees include
Red Curry of Roast Duck (with blue ginger, lemon grass, chili, coconut milk, lychees) A$20
Char-grilled kangaroo (with bubble & squeak root veggie puree and onions,
caramelized in balsamic vinegar) A$20
Compote of Prawns (with sliced onions, lemon grass, blue ginger, chili, lime leaf,
turmeric and caramelized pineapple) A$23

Want dessert? (all are A$10)

Warm pineapple tart (with sago gula melaka and passionfruit)
coconut carmel custard (with black rice and a spiced fruit combinations of figs, pears
bananas and orange)
pears poached in red wine (and burnt caramel)
carmelized pineapple (with caramel ice cream)

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Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific Rim
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 08 8232 0944 (phone and fax)
Address: Shop 5, 242 Hutt Street, Adelaide 5000
Directions: Nonya's is on the outside (relative to downtown) edge of Hutt Street, right at the intersection with Gilles Street.

Restaurant Name: The Astor Hotel

They call this place "The Astor Hotel", but I don't really think they rent overnight rooms anymore. It's more a series of bars and restaurant rooms. We had dinner in the pub, as we were looking for simple pub fare on a cold and rainy Adelaide evening. The Astor did not disappoint.

I noticed that they seem to have a special function on every night of the week. The night that we were there, it was "steak dinner for two" for something like A$35. We were in the mood for something else, so we passed on the steak, opting for fish 'n chips. And, they had a nice selection of local cold beers on tap, which really hit the spot with the FNC. We also enjoyed talking with the bartender and waitress. In fact, the bartender gave me the name of "one of his mates" to contact when we traveled on to Alice Springs. He said "he'll take good care of you". Unfortunately, his mate was on holiday when we got to the Alice. But you get the idea... the Astor is a friendly, comfortable, local place where one can get a good meal and nice pint or two in Adelaide.

HAPPY HOUR is 5.30 - 6.30 Monday-Friday
And, on Fridays... all "by the glass" wines are A$4 per glass.

Favorite Dish: We had the fish 'n chips and beer. Terrific... nice and fresh, lightly breaded with hot, sizzling chips. And the beer was fair dinkum, too.

Here are some other menu items and costs...

Starters...
Veggie spring rolls, A$7
Indian Fried Chicken Shashliks, A$8.50
Salt and Pepper Squid, with salad garnish, A$9

They have a nice selection of pizza, including the "Astor Special", which is A$14. The special includes salami, bacon, roast capsicum, mushrooms, onions, olives, cheese and tomato sauce

Mains
Astor burger with chips, A$11
Beer-battered fish and chips, with tartare sauce and lemon, A$13. (VERY GOOD)
Middle Eastern spiced chicken, in zesty tomato sauce on jasmine rice, A$17
Beef or chicken schnitzel with chips and choice of sauces, A$12

Steaks
The T-Bone, served on creamy mash (mashed potatoes), with a choice of sauce, A$16
The Drunken Rump, a slad of rump marinated in red wine and herbs, served
with mash and a salad, A$17

BTW, the "choice of sauces" includes mushroom, pepper, Dianne and "gravy"

The Astor Pub has a modest list of red, white and sparkling wines, many available by the glass.

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 08 8223 2442/ 8232 3020 (fax)
Address: 437 Pulteney Str, Adelaide, South Australia 5000
Directions: From the Gilles-Hutt Street intersection, turn TOWARDs Adelaide downtown. After about four blocks, you'll see the Astor on the right upper corner.
Website: www.theastor.com.au
Other Contact: john@theastor.com.au

Restaurant Name: Rundle Street Tips

The Rundle Street Mall is located along (surprise!) Rundle Street in downtown Adelaide, between King William and Pulteney Streets. Along with the numerous shops and venues in the area are several small eateries serving a variety of interesting and reasonably priced food. There's even a little indoor alleyway that leads into a food mall between the Rundle Street Mall and neighborning North Terrace. Within its confines are more fast-food spots of interest to grab a quick bite before heading out for more fun.

Favorite Dish: Like I say, there are many, many restaurants and food stands in this area. Among the types of food you'll find are:

Asian/Pan Asian noodle stands

Burger joints

Fish 'n chips

Pizza

Steaks

Veggie wraps

Thai and Chinese food stalls

Ice cream and other snacks

........ and about any other quick food item you'd want to enjoy. All seem to be reasonably priced and the service, like almost everywhere in Adelaide, is efficient and friendly.

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Theme: Other
Comparison: least expensive
Prices: less than US$10  » Currency Converter
Address: Rundle Street Mall, Adelaide, SA 5000
Directions: Along Rundle Street, between King William and Pulteney Streets..... just south of North Terrace Avenue

Restaurant Name: The Arab Steed Hotel Restaurant

We ate at the Steed our first night in Adelaide. Having arrived late, and the weather being dreadful, we didn't wish to wander far from our Florence's Cottage accomodation. At the corner of Hutt and Gilles street, we found the simple and homey Arab Steed restaurant and pub. Starting our meal off with a cold brew or two got the cold rain out of our bones and warmed us to the hospitality of Adelaide.

The Steed had lots of pub food items on the menu. For me, the thing that caught my eye were several "schnitzels". For some reason, I was in the mood for a crisply-breaded and sizzling veal schnitzel....with the accompanying lemon slice. Add the roasted potatoes and another beer, along with a nice salad, and bingo.... a good meal. And, the cost was so very reasonable, too.

Favorite Dish: As I say, I went "schnitzel" that evening. My wife had a ravioli dish which she said was good as well.

The proprietor of the Steed is SHAYNE WHITE. His email addy is shayne@arabsteedhotel.com.au, and his mobile phone number is 08) 0419 032 513

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (08) 8223 1015
Address: Hutt at Gilles Street, Adelaide
Website: www.arabsteedhotel.com.au
Other Contact: FAX (08) 8223 3011

Restaurant Name: I'm just being funny.

Please forgive the VT humor, folks. Of course, this is NOT a bar or pub. This is the Women's Christian Temperance Movement's Hutt Street headquarters in Adelaide. Obviously, they see no future in visiting the local pubs for any reason.

I do not agree with these folks, for what it's worth. : )

Go on and get yourself a fine Aussie wine or some James Boag beer. And say a little prayer for those poor folks over at the Temperance House who'll not be able to share the hospitality of an Adelaide Pub. : )

Favorite Dish: They were out of MY favorite beverage. ; )

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Theme: Local

Address: Hutt Street, Adelaide
Directions: If you REALLY want to visit, it's just north of the Hutt Street/Gilles Street intersection. (south of North Terrace)

Restaurant Name: The Stag Hotel

The menu isn't large at the Stag, but it's well-prepared and of reasonable value. The Chef (Amanda Griffiths) has done a fine job of creating and interesting assortment on her menu.

Favorite Dish: I had a good look at several items, and a taste of most...

The Beef Cheek Ragout was a wonderful little meat pie of with super-tender roasted beef. It was seasoned and served with a black cherry au jus. MMmmmmmm Mmmmmmm.

The rolled lamb loin was the very definition of succulent. : )

They also had a nice ravioli featuring chicken and porcini mushrooms.

The roasted duck appeared (on another table) to be wonderful. The menu says that the duck is accompanied by a coconut lime rice and a spring onion omelet. Also appearing, from my next table vantage-point, to be great was the "seafood fricasse".

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Theme: Local
Comparison: more expensive than average
Prices: US$31-40  » Currency Converter
Phone: 08 8223 2934
Address: 299 Rundle Street, Adelaide SA 5000

Restaurant Name: The General Havelock Hotel

A nice selection of a la carte meals.... nothing particularly fancy, just good food. You can get a nice burger, some fish and chips or maybe even a fair-dinkum steak for either lunch or dinner. There are weekly chef's specials and the lunch menu supposedly has a continuous variation.

Favorite Dish: Had a burger and a brew, mate. : )

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Theme: Local
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (08) 8223 3680/8232 4180 (fax)
Address: 162 Hutt Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Other Contact: info@postcards.sa.com.au