Adelaide’s top 11 restaurant openings of the decade
It’s been a huge decade for food and wine in Adelaide. From the trailblazing Orana restaurant, to drinks-led dining in the Hills, here are our top 11 openings of 2010-2019.
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From the trailblazing Orana restaurant, to drinks-led dining in the Hills, here are our top 11 openings of 2010-2019.
ORANA
Opened 2013
Cooking with native ingredients wasn’t new when Jock Zonfrillo opened his restaurant Orana in 2013, but what the chef did was put them front and centre. His cutting edge 22-course degustation, featuring a crescendo of “snacks”, also was an entirely different offering from Adelaide’s dining scene. The restaurant remains a unique fine dining experience and is undoubtedly one of the best restaurants in Australia.
1/285 Rundle St, city, 8232 3444, restaurantorana.com
PEEL ST
Opened 2013
Chef Jordan Theodoros is a master of herbs and spice, drawing inspiration from Middle Eastern and Japanese cuisines to create dishes that really are the essence of “contemporary Australian”. He quickly made waves in his Peel St restaurant, with share-style plates that are generous in size and flavour. To this day, advance bookings at the restaurant are a must.
9 Peel St, city, 8231 8887, peelst.com.au
UDABERRI
Opened 2013
Today Adelaide is spoiled with small bars, but at the beginning of the decade this just wasn’t so. Udaberri paved the way, opening before small bar licence legislation was passed. The Spanish-inspired venue is moody and intimate, but not at all pretentious. Food comes as pintxos (single serve bites) and plates to share, from jamon and blue cheese croquettes, to black angus rib eye with patatas bravas.
11-13 Leigh St, city, 8410 5733, udaberri.com.au
PIZZATECA
Opened 2016
Oh how far pizza has come! This McLaren Vale destination earns special mention not only for the wonderful, traditional Neapolitan style pizzas it serves up, but also for the venue itself. It’s relaxed yet fun, with grass for the little ones to run around, plus music and wine made by the owners’ family, V Mitolo and Son. A must-do for summer.
19 Chalk Hill Rd, McLaren Vale, pizza-teca.com
2KW
Opened 2015
If there’s an opening with the best view, it’s this. 2KW opened in 2015 on top of the heritage-listed former Bank of New South Wales, which also houses Jamie’s Italian on the ground floor (opened 2014). It spearheaded Adelaide’s rooftop bars and it still arguably the best, with outdoor booths and dance floor, plus quality food and drinks. Look over to Adelaide Oval or an illuminated Convention Centre, or simply up at the stars.
2 King William St, city, 8212 5511, 2kwbar.com.au
JAMIE’S ITALIAN
Opened 2014
Foodies were thrilled with news Jamie Oliver was opening one of his restaurants in the city centre. Set in the a restored former bank chamber, it looks magnificent, from the hanging prosciutto legs to the former bank vault toilets. Food-wise, expect no-frills Italian. The Australian arm of Jamie’s restaurant chain has since collapsed, although the restaurant is still open.
2 King William St, city, 7109 5000, jamieoliver.com
SUMMERTOWN ARISTOLOGIST
Opened 2016
So Jock Zonfrillo’s restaurant manager (from the aforementioned Orana) jumped ship in 2016 for a more relaxed life – in the Adelaide Hills. He teamed up with natural winemakers Anton Van Clopper and Jasper Button, creating a drinks-led dining experience that helped put Basket Range on the map. Chefs change regularly to keep the menu fresh – and always delicious, with homegrown and local produce at the fore.
Greenhill Rd, Summertown thesummertownaristologist.com
AFRICOLA
Opened 2014
An African restaurant serving up slow-roasted sheep heads, traditional potjie (stew) and boerewors sausage, was like nothing Adelaide had seen before. Chef Duncan Welgemoed, now praised as one of Australia’s best, soon shifted the focus to South Africa with more plants on his menu (the whole roasted cauliflower was a hit). The food is bold, the atmosphere a party and the cocktails excellent. It’s no wonder Katy Perry made a visit when she was in town.
4 East Tce, city, 8223 3885, africola.com.au
THE CUBE
Opened 2017
d’Arenberg winemaker Chester Osborn’s kooky vision – a Rubik’s cube among the vines – came to life in 2017. Visitors from far and wide come to McLaren Vale to stare at the impressive construction, taste wines in the cellar door and eat in the fine dining restaurant. Chefs Brendan Wessels and Lindsay Durr create inspiring food to match its environment, from eel and foie gras “cookies”, to a 3D printed dessert.
Osborn Rd, McLaren Vale 8329 4888 darenberg.com.au/darenberg-cube
FINO
Opened 2014
Chef David Swain and front-of-house Sharon Romeo closed their beloved Fino restaurant in Willunga, to open in Seppeltsfield Winery. It’s a much bigger offering, but the food is still focused on produce. The pair have now just opened a city offering, Fino Vino, which doesn’t define itself as a restaurant or bar, but a community – a place to drop in, perhaps have a drink and a bite or just chat with friends.
Fino at Seppeltsfield, 730 Seppeltsfield Rd, Seppeltsfield; Fino Vino 82 Flinders St, city, fino.net.au
LOT 100
Opened 2018
Speaking of drinks-led dining, this property has it all – Mismatch Brewing, The Hills Cider Co., Adelaide Hills Distillery, Vinteloper (wine) and Ashton Valley Fresh (juice). It’s a collective cellar door and restaurant, boasting pizza guru Tom Bubner (Pizza e Mozzarella) and Shannon Fleming (Orana, Blackwood) in the kitchen. Dine in the restaurant or bring the kids and throw a rug out on the lawn for a relaxed day out.
68 Chambers Rd, Hay Valley, 7077 2888, lot100.com.au
