SA’s best schnitzel winner: Parkside pub Earl of Leicester tops voting

We asked you to vote and now the results are in – here’s where you think the best schnitzel is in South Australia.

Earl of Leicester publican Piers Schmidt. The Parkside pub was victorious in Messenger’s best schnitzel poll. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

From hundreds of nominations and more than 1200 votes, the Earl of Leicester has taken the crown for the best schnitzel in South Australia.

And it’s of little surprise the Parkside pub has been voted the best in the state by readers in the latest Messenger “best of” poll.

Owner Piers Schmidt said the Earl puts out more than a staggering 1200 schnitzels a week to its eager diners.

“It’s definitely one of our most popular items. A lot of people come in specifically for our schnitzels,” he said.

“For the punters in the front bar, the schnitzel is always the ‘go-to’ option.”

Earl of Leicester at Parkside has won the vote of the best schnitzel in Adelaide – getting almost 20 per cent of the 1200 votes. Publican Piers Schmidt is pictured with one of his winning schnitties. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

This week’s win in the best schnitzel award is well-timed, as Mr Schmidt said the pub is bringing back the big schnitzel it’s known for this evening (Wednesday night).

Known as ‘The Earl’, the hefty schnitzel weighs in at 550 grams, compared to ‘the Baron’ at 350gm.

Mr Schmidt said with capacity restrictions still in place due to COVID-19, the pub had been operating with a smaller menu.

“When we first opened up again (after COVID shutdowns) everyone was understanding of why we went with a limited menu, but we have had a lot of questions on when the big schnitzel was coming back,” he said.

Mr Schmidt said with travel on hold due to COVID, a lot of people were venturing out to pubs.

“I think a lot of people realised how much they love going to their local (during shutdown),” he said.

As well as size options, another aspect that stands out about the Earl’s schnitzels is the choice of seven toppings, plus the usual parmigiana and gravies.

SA’s top 10 schnitzels

1. Earl of Leicester – Parkside

2. Broadway Hotel – Glenelg

3. Schnithouse – Adelaide

4. Birkenhead Tavern – Port Adelaide

5. Pepe Nero Pizzeria – St Clair

6. Parkside Hotel – Parkside

7. Sevenhill Hotel – Sevenhill

8. Coopers Alehouse – Gepps Cross

9. Macclesfield Hotel – Macclesfield

10. The Greenock – Greenock