Top food and drink spots at Garden of Unearthly Delights, Gluttony and RCC at Adelaide Fringe

There’s a smorgasbord of food and drinks on offer at this year’s Adelaide Fringe – here are our top picks at Garden of Unearthly Delights, Gluttony and RCC.

Hungry? Good, because there’s a smorgasbord of street eats on offer at our beloved Adelaide Fringe hubs – Garden of Unearthly Delights, Gluttony and RCC.
This year you’ll find old favourites – Ozzie Gozlome for example – as well as new offerings worthy of the trip alone, from East End Cellars’ pop-up wine and charcuterie bar, to Fire x Soi. 38’s award-winning Thai fare.

Here are our top 21 picks for 2021, followed by the complete list of vendors.

Fringe performers Lizzy Baker, Kween Kong and Alex De Porteous from the show Smashed – The Brunch Party, with food from the Garden of Unearthly Delights. Picture: Matt Turner

I’M HUNGRY

VENUE: GARDEN OF UNEARTHLY DELIGHTS

Rundle Park/Kadlitpina

EAST END CELLARS

Adelaide’s east end bar and bottle shop is popping up for the first time in the GOUD. This is a place to graze – think charcuterie, cheese, cornichons and of course, wine.

Cheese and charcuterie at East End Cellars pop-up bar at GOUD.

BAO BROTHERS

The popular stand is back with their fluffy bao buns, filled generously with everything from traditional pork to mushroom. Prices hover around the $20 mark, so they’re one of the more expensive options.

KING CREOLE

For lovers of fried chicken (so, most of us). Really great southern fried chicken, and burgers, too.

LOS TACOS HERMANOS

Who doesn't love a taco? These guys have delivered the goods in recent years, with marinated meats, fresh guac and pico de gallo hitting all the right notes.

GYOZA RECORDS

Japanese dumplings and other tasty bits – you might find tempura vegie chips, fried chicken and edamame in the mix.

Gyozas at Gyoza Records in GOUD.

OZZIE GOZLOME

A perennial favourite, the made-to-order gozleme here are hard to beat. Both the veg, and meat versions are delicious – make sure to get the side of chilli sauce. It’s worth the wait time.

ADELAIDE’S FAMOUS POFFERTJES

Why have one big pancake when you can have a whole pile of mini ones? These are the little Dutch pancakes, dusted with icing sugar (or your chosen accompaniment), which this year celebrates 50 years at the GOUD.

DONUT DINER

Hot cinnamon doughnuts and hot jam doughnuts (which happen to be vegan). Need we say more?

Donut Diner at GOUD.

VENUE: GLUTTONY

Rymill Park/Murlawirrapurka

FIRE X SOI38

Award-winning Thai restaurant Soi38 is bringing its mobile offering to Gluttony and we bet it’s going to be a hit.

ANGLER SEAFOOD

Stirling’s recently-opened seafood cafe also is emerging for the first time here and we expect big things – fresh fish and chips for a start.

SHIBUI DESSERT BAR

Adelaide’s dessert king Quang Nguyen is behind this little stall that has sweet tooths coming in droves. Last year options included Nutella panna cotta, soft serve and mochi doughnuts to name a few.

Jamie Pavs with a Little Pink Cloud dessert from Shibui. Picture: Dean Martin

PIZZATECA

McLaren Vale’s favourite pizza destination comes to town – the team will be slinging quality Neapolitan style dough, including the famed margherita.

HUBBA HUBBA HUMMUS

Love hummus? You’ll love this stand. It’s a Middle Eastern flavour power house – yes, there’s hummus, but also housemade falafel, Israeli salad and pretty pickles.

Hummus plate at Hubba Hubba Hummus.

Margherita pizza from Pizzateca.

GANG GANG

These guys have made a name for themselves in recent years with their burgers, from the Asian inspired, to Cardi B chicken and Tinie Tempah (vego).

RAGINI’S SPICE

If you enjoy Indian flavours, then make sure to visit Adelaide’s queen of spice – Ragini Dey – at her festival stall.

RCC

Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga

ROBERTA’S

It’s an Italian disco diner, with all the trimmings – think red and white checkered tablecloths, fiasco wine bottles and traditional Tuscan fare. Bookings required at thercc.com.au/robertas

Ragu at Roberta's Italian Disco, RCC, Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide.

THE CRANKY CRAB

They’re callin git a “kitschy seafood outlet”. Think neon lights, nautical features and the catch of the day.

MR CHOW’S DUMPLINGS & NOODLE BAR

An Asian disco bar that’ll focus Asian favourites.

ANTICA PIZZERIA

The team from the Hyde Park restaurant will serve up signature wood oven pizzas.

Antica Pizzeria at Gluttony.

IT’S LIT

An open fire-pit cooking up an assortment of meats and American-inspired dishes. Try the brisket burger with a side of mac ‘n’ cheese.

LOUKOUMADES

If GOUD has the Dutch poffertjes, RCC has the Greek loukamades. Rather than mini pancakes, these are mini doughnuts, traditionally served in hot honey syrup.

I’M THIRSTY

WINE WRITER KATIE SPAIN’S TOP DRINKING HOLES

Fringe-going is thirsty work. There is no late night Fringe Club this year, but that’s a great excuse to support venues offering late-night and good, bar-style times. These watering holes are a great place to pause between shows (or kick on afterwards).

CLARE AT THE QUEENS

Corner of Playhouse Lane and Gilles Arcade, city

This atmospheric new Fringe hub has Clare Valley wines, comedy and cabaret at heart. In addition to hosting 25 shows, it is pouring a list of exclusively Clare Valley wines for purchase by the glass or bottle. On Fridays, Saturdays (and some Sundays) winemakers from the region will pop in to conduct wine tastings. There’s food by Apoteca and brews, cocktails and spirits by Sparkke Change Beverage Company, too.

Clare at the Queens for Adelaide Fringe. Picture: Angus Northeast

Pineapple Brothers at GOUD. Picture: Katie Spain

THE EXETER HOTEL

Rundle St, city

It’s not a Fringe bar as such – this pub is an essential stop on the local bar scene all year ‘round. During festival season, however, it is adjacent to Tiger Mountain (a pan-Asian food stall run by local hospo powerhouse Mark Kamleh). The stall serves up miso chicken (or eggplant) rolls, chicken wings (by the half-kilo), dumplings, chips and shallot pancakes (the latter Kamleh assures us are his best work). There’s not better place to casually encounter a comedian over a beer or butcher of Krug.

ARTHUR ART BAR

66 Currie St, city

There’s always art on show at this multistorey gallery, bar, live music venue and tech hub – it’s a permanent fixture on Currie St after Cassandra Tombs (of Tuxedo Cat fame) and her team reclaimed (and revitalised) the art deco building. It’s full of delightfully eccentric creative types, especially during Fringe when it extends its hours and hosts their Fringeland event FOMO-PROMO, which gives budding performers a chance to jump on stage for 10 minutes. The audience ‘pays’ them in tokens that are cashed in at the bar. There’s naked cabaret, too.

MERRYMAKER (HOTEL INDIGO)

23-29 Market St, city

When Hotel Indigo (located next to Adelaide Central Market) opens on 1 March, it will feature Merrymaker, Adelaide’s highest rooftop bar with a raw food focus. Think Coffin Bay oysters and cured meats from Adelaide Central Market. The drinks menu boasts 25 award-winning gins and a wide range of South Australian wines and craft beers. The views from the 16th floor are gobsmacking. There’s a downstairs bar and all day dining restaurant called Market & Meander, too – the colour scheme is inspired by the late Don Dunstan’pink shorts.

All 145 boutique hotel rooms are Adelaide-themed. Some even have bedheads emblazoned with Adelaide Festival-inspired murals.

Artist impression of Hotel Indigo’s Merrymaker rooftop bar.

PINEAPPLE BROTHERS

The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Rundle Park

Watch the happy bunch behind the bar at this pineapple juice stand as they cut fresh fruit and juice it to order. The pure fruit juice is great for designated drivers (and many-a-Fringe acrobat in need of energy), but if you really want to light your internal fire, go for a Cocospresso – a mix of cold brew coffee and vodka, served ice cold in a coconut shell.

HIGH HORSE

The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Rundle Park

An oldie but a goodie. As aesthetics go, this quirky Garden bar looks a bit like a giant

treehouse and is a great spot for people watching. Coopers is king here, plus cider, basic spirits, Pimm’s on tap, RTDs for the sugar fiends, and wine by the glass or bottle.

GORDONS GIN BAR

The Garden of Unearthly Delights, Rundle Park

A new bar for Garden folk and lovers of gin. Expect a colour burst of a backdrop, plenty of gin and tonic options and the Gordon’s Pink spritz.

SUGAR

Rundle St, city

If you haven’t played pool at Sugar at 2am, you simply haven’t lived. During February and March, the venue hosts Fringe Late Night Takeovers. If you’re lucky you’ll spot nightclub owner and DJ Driller Jet Armstrong chatting to punters and fellow DJs who frequent the bar.

GLUTTONY

Rymill Park, city

Wine brands Alpha Box & Dice and Yalumba are this Fringe hub’s wine partner this year so expect plenty of their wines on the menu. Once again, The Local Bar will serve up South Australian wine, beer and spirits, while the Coopers bar does what is says on the label, and the new Evergreen Tanquerary Bar is gin-focused. Hop, skip, jumping between Gluttony venues is thirsty work. Luckily there’s also Smith’s Wine Store, the Lounge Bar, Pacific Bar, and Barbar (a roaming bar during peak times).

Exeter Hotel. Picture: Giuseppe Tauriello

SUPER BUENO

13-15 Gouger St, city

This new kid on the Gouger Street block is a casual wine bar and bottle shop created by multi-venue publican Hugo Pedler (Penny Hospitality, Lion Arts Factory, West Oak Hotel and Joe’s Henley Beach) and creative director Stuart Duckworth (Royal Croquet Club). It’s inspired by the no frills, all fun wine bars in Italy and France. The indoor and outdoor alfresco street dining comprises Italian-style small plates, wine list, classic cocktails and beer. This is no flash in the pan – Super Bueno is here to stay. Open Wed-Fri noon-late, Sat-Sun 4pm-late.