Best places to shop, eat and drink in Adelaide’s inner west
IN the sliver of western Adelaide suburbia between Port and South roads, a world of flavours awaits. Here are 20 places to shop, eat and drink in the inner west.
IN the sliver of suburbia between Port and South roads, a world of flavours awaits. Here are 20 places to shop, eat and drink at in the inner west.
SHOPPING
1. Adelaide Lebanese Bakery
A butcher, a baker and much, much more, the Adelaide Lebanese Bakery is a true one-stop shop for Middle Eastern eating now it has settled into much spacier premises up the road from its original home, closer to South Rd.
The crates of super-fresh flatbreads are reason enough to visit, but there are also shelves of spices and condiments; a selection of fresh fruit and veg at rock-bottom prices; and a butcher that specialises in lamb and ready-made kofta, fragrant with cinnamon and other spices. At the back are tables where you can sit down for a flatbread (try the spinach and sumac) or a coffee and baklava.
67 Chapel St, Thebarton, 8234 9545
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2. Gaganis Bros
The food version of a Bunnings warehouse, with towering shelves stacked with packets, cans and bottles of food imported from all over the world. This is the place to come before setting up a new kitchen, to get spices, oils and other staples at bargain prices — particularly if you buy in bulk.
Goods are arranged by themes, rather than origin, so Lebanese orange blossom water can be found alongside French chestnut puree and Scottish marmalade. Gaganis keeps up with latest trends, selling smoke guns and wood shavings among its other gizmos. This is also the place to find a mechanical spit to cook a whole lamb or smaller versions to make your own kebabs ... they even make their own seasoning mix.
9-13 Bacon St, Hindmarsh, 8346 5766, gaganisbros.com.au
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3. Omega Foods
Another large-scale importer, this time, as the name suggests, with a focus on Greece and nearby parts of Europe.
So expect to find a wide range of feta and filo, including ready-made cheese-filled parcels, as well as smallgoods, dried and canned fish, olives and oils — how about 20 litres of SA extra virgin olive oil for $126? Omega also sells wine and spirits from Greece, Serbia and Croatia, including a dangerously large choice of ouzos. Yamas (cheers)!
33 Adam St, Hindmarsh, 8346 6499, omegafood.com.au
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4. Persian Grocery
Smaller than some other nearby supermarkets, this store specialises in Iranian ingredients and spices.
Look out for the brown dried limes — they don’t look appetising but add a particular tang to slowly braised meats — and the nearby dried eggplant.
There are also barberries, sumac and imported Iranian rice (look for a white sack with red roses) that the friendly owner explains is very different — and superior — to Indian rice. Enter via rear door.
54 West Thebarton Rd, Thebarton, 8443 8599, persiangrocery.com.au
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BUTCHER
5. Specialty Foods
Whether it’s a mega barbie to feed a crowd or just stocking up for your own tribe, this large-scale meat market has you covered, often at prices well below normal retail operators.
Everything from sides of beef down to individual marinated chicken skewers is on display in the chiller, with other choices available frozen.
There are even big bags of charcoal, ready for the barbecue or spit.
8a West Thebarton Rd, Thebarton, 8443 5444, specialtyfoods.com.au
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COFFEE
6. D’Angelo Coffee
More comfortable tending his roaster than in the spotlight, Tony D’Angelo is nonetheless renowned as one of the most influential figures in Adelaide’s coffee culture.
After 25 years at Rio Coffee, Tony started his own business, setting up production in this nondescript shed in the backstreets of Thebby. You will swoon at the aroma of roasting beans, blended from the contents of sacks that have come from a range of the world’s warmer climes.
As well as two house blends and special mixes for a host of restaurants and cafes, Tony sells single-origin releases. If he isn’t busy watching the roast, he may even make you a cup.
35 Cawthorne St, Thebarton, 8352 6313, dangelocoffee.com.au
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DAYTIME
7. The Deli
The Deli — which new owners took over this year — has the local community covered morning, noon and night.
An all-day breakfast ranges from eggs and smashed avo to a more substantial pulled pork benedict. It’s supplemented by lunch goodies including a fried chicken burger and pumpkin and beetroot salad. Then, from 5.30pm Friday to Sunday, the pizza oven cranks up for a casual dinner, while acoustic sessions on Saturdays encourage you to linger, out under the vines.
54a George St, Thebarton, 8354 4878, thedeli.com.au
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8. Mister Sunshine’s
The name says it all ... At this warm-hearted cafe you might see a hipster beard or two but everyone is made to feel at home.
Minced mushrooms on toast and a haloumi and tomato sandwich are a good way to start the day, before impressive burgers and salads take the spotlight. No surprise to find plenty of vegetarian and vegan options, as well as juices and other healthy drinks.
32 George St, Thebarton, 8443 5125
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9. Entropy
Hidden away in the Uni of Adelaide’s research centre in Thebarton, this quirky eatery keeps a loyal following happy with cooking that gives some of the state’s favourite ingredients a Cajun twist.
Locally caught prawns and Hahndorf chorizo get together in a gumbo-style stew, while Coorong beef cheeks are braised in a smoked and spiced sauce. Entropy is housed at the far end of a former railway shed and its lofty dimensions, well-spaced tables and outlook over the Torrens keep the mood relaxed, even when there is a line-up at weekends. The mood kicks up a notch on Friday nights for the Char Bar, with themed nights and live music.
37 Little Queen St (enter via Queen St), Thebarton, 8443 5083, entropysa.com.au
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10. Lawash Bakery
The charcoal grill, where spears loaded with spice-coated chicken and lamb smoke and hiss over the flames, is only half of the story at this South Rd institution, run by the same extended Afghani family for more than 10 years.
Hidden from view in a room out the back, more than 800 pieces of puffed and lightly singed flatbread are pulled from a pair of round furnaces each day. It’s a timeless scene as two experienced hands stretch a ball of dough, lay it over a cushion-like pad and slap it on to the wall of the oven. The bread bakes there for about three minutes before it is lifted out with a pair of thin metal rods, ready to load into bags or wrap around the kebabs that are served up with a small salad and dipping sauces of yoghurt and chilli.
The mixed kebab ($12) is recommended but the best value is the “al fam”: half a wonderfully spicy chicken for only $10. For the full Afghan experience, accompany it with “dooug”, a drink of yoghurt and dried mint. Grillman Mehdi Ahmedi says the family will soon be involved in a new project: the Bamyan Hotel restaurant and guesthouse, in Port Adelaide.
115 South Rd, Thebarton, 8354 0707
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DINING
11. Enzo’s Ristorante and Pizzeria
People skills are just as important as what’s going on in the kitchen when explaining the popularity of this landmark restaurant, at the front of the Entertainment Centre.
From the large dining room, owner/chef Enzo Fazzari and his team can be seen behind the glass wall. The house-made pasta is good and the boned quail wrapped in prosciutto highly recommended.
For more casual meals, try the adjacent pizzeria or Enzo’s at Home down the road, which offers ready-made meals to eat in or take away and has a wide range of gluten-free offerings.
46 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, 8346 2786, pizzeria 8340 3392, enzosristorante.com.au ; Enzo’s at Home, 302 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, 8346 2787, enzosathome.com.au
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12. New Local Eatery
Young couple Daniel Blencowe and Amy Zammit take diners on a quick world tour with a menu of favourite dishes they’ve discovered on their travels — from Jaipuri baked eggplant to aromatic Laotian duck larb to a chicken tagine.
New Local Eatery is handily next to the Entertainment Centre and open for lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch — try the nasi goreng or fried Coorong mullet with fresh harissa and poached eggs — and special pre-show bookings.
120 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, 8340 4915, newlocaleatery.com.au
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13. Parwana
We’ve strayed out of the zone, a few blocks down Henley Beach Rd, to fit in a few favourite eating experiences.
How could we leave out Parwana, for instance, the family-run Afghan restaurant where Farida Ayubi’s cooking nourishes the soul as well as the belly. Her rice pilaf and eggplant have cult status but the mantu (steamed vegetable dumplings topped with lamb mince and yoghurt), are divine.
124b Henley Beach Rd, Torrensville, 8443 9001, parwana.com.au
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14 Napoli Pizzeria
It’s all about the pizza — a contender for the best in Adelaide — at Napoli, where Ettore Bertonati uses a slowly proved dough and wood oven to produce the most delicious, chewy bases. Go for the Diavola, with salami, fior di latte and a sprinkle of chilli, or a simple margherita to fully appreciate this genius. Blackboard specials of goat or rabbit are worth a look and the service will give you a good sense of genuine Italian hospitality.
2/127 Henley Beach Rd, Mile End, 8443 7983, napolipizzeria.com.au
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15. Tongue Thai’d
The signature dish of crispy eggplant with minced chicken stands out from an otherwise standard selection of Thai curries, stir-fries and other dishes at this longstanding restaurant, a few minutes from the city. Takeaway and delivery service available.
54 Henley Beach Rd, Mile End, 8234 6884, tonguethaidcafe.com.au
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16. Houda’s Kitchen
The name is a tribute to the mum of owner Doumit Awkar, who learnt how to cook from her growing up in Lebanon.
Expect plenty of traditional, homespun flavours in everything from the dips to the kibbi nayee (raw lamb) to the whole butterflied chicken cooked over charcoal.
A belly dancer performs every Saturday and a range of wood-fired pizzas means there is something for everyone.
218 Port Rd, Hindmarsh, 8340 2866, houdaskitchen.net
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SWEETS
17. Creperie Bruxelles
A favourite among late-night dessert hunters, this spacious cafe is Adelaide’s first Belgian creperie. There are waffles, poffertjes and, of course, crepes. The apple crumble crepes are delish, served with braised cinnamon apples and a housemade crumble and ice cream.
70 Henley Beach Rd, Mile End, 8354 3617, facebook.com/CreperieBruxelles
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DRINKS
18. Wheatsheaf Hotel
A shining gem secured safely in the social fabric of its Thebarton industrial cult neighbourhood, the Wheaty established itself as a beacon of grace and independence 13 years ago. When co-owners Liz O’Dea, Emily Trott and Jade Flavell took over, they said “no” to pokies, “yes” to Adelaide’s struggling live music scene and coined the catchphrase “No Crap On Tap”.
The pub as a venue has become a close second only to The Gov just up the road and it champions the cause of food trucks out front.
39 George St, Thebarton, 8443 4546, wheatsheafhotel.com.au
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19. Pirate Life Brewery
They arrived in a well-documented cloud of dust from across the Nullarbor. With the poise of formidable beer pioneers the brewers and backers concurred: Adelaide was an agreeable middle ground to launch a national-scaled beer empire.
In just 18 months Jack Cameron and Red Proudfoot have established their youthful perspective on craft brewing with an emphasis on hops and cans. They’ve collaborated on a beard balm, made a beer for the Hilltop Hoods’ label and have aged black lager on tempranillo wine barrels. Call in and sit at the bar.
89 South Rd, Hindmarsh, 8340 1447, piratelife.com.au
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20. West End Brewery
Standing tall through changes of ownership and drinks fashion, the West End Brewery remains a landmark for South Australians.
See how that brew comes together, and taste the surprisingly large range of styles made, in a 90-minute tour available for both groups and individuals ($27 a head).
107 Port Rd, Thebarton, westenddraught.com.au
Additional reporting by Mike Gribble and Jessica Galletly