Here are 25 of Adelaide’s best meal deals — in the city as well as the north, south, east and west
SUFFERING a long-weekend withdrawal? Easter may be over but there’s no reason you can’t kick back and relax with a cold ale and a hearty meal. Here are 25 top deals.
Local
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- The Source SA — Adelaide’s food, wine and lifestyle website
- Here are 25 pizzas with pizzazz
- Adelaide’s top 25 pies, from the city to the sea
- We reveal Adelaide’s top 25 yiros shops
- Here’s Adelaide’s top 10 best burgers
SUFFERING from a long-weekend withdrawal? Easter may be over but that doesn’t mean you’ve no excuse to just kick back and relax with a cold ale and a hearty meal.
Our local reporters have headed out and about across the metropolitan area to find you 25 of the best meal deals — whether you’re planning a night out with a few mates or dinner with the kids, we reckon you’ll find something on this list to appeal wherever you are in Adelaide.
Don’t forget to tell us below your favourite — or any we may have missed.
In the city
Compiled by Sophie Perri
Coopers Alehouse — Schnitty Thursdays and more
SCHNITTY Thursday goes off at the Alehouse. On this special day, you can snag a 300g schnitzel for $10 — a saving of $8.90.
Pepper, gravy, Diane or mushroom sauce is included in the price, but those wanting to upgrade to a parmi or something fancier such as the Mexicana will have to pay an extra $5-$8.
Still, it’s a saving. General manager Nick Sando says about 200 schnitzels are churned out each Thursday.
Supersized Sunday is also popular, where diners can get a 600g schnitzel for $15, usually priced at $22.90.
The specials don’t stop there. The Coopers team gives deals out each day like Oprah gives away cars.
There’s Classic Monday where everything from the $19.90-$30 classic pub menu is priced at $15, Tuesday Ribs and Bibs, where you can score a rack of ribs, chips and salad for $20, Woodfired Wednesdays — because everyone loves a bit of alliteration ... and $12 pizzas — and Oyster Friday, where you can get a dozen oysters for $18.90.
Coopers Alehouse, 316 Pulteney St
Belgian Beer Cafe — Cheap as chips Wednesday
WEDNESDAY is “cheap as chips” day at this Belgian-style pub in the “oostende” of Rundle St.
Here, chips (or pommes frites) come in a cone and are served with traditional, housemade mayo, just like in Belgium.
Cones are $5 each. Monday is devoted to half price mussels ($14.95 for 1kg, served with chips) while on Tuesday, diners can score two restaurant meals for the price of one — just book in advance.
Anyone who signs up to the venue’s free Carrot Club can take advantage of the $10 lunch menu from Monday to Thursday. The regular menu starts at $12.90.
Belgian Beer Cafe, Ebenezer Place
Bank Street Social — pizza specials
WHAT is it about Wednesday and pizza? Freshly-made, stone-cooked pizzas are served up for $10 each Wednesday, and $12 each on Thursday, 5pm-10pm.
The price jumps back to the usual $15-$17 range on all other nights.
Flavours are all inspired by SA regions, such as The Barossa (Roast Barossa chicken, German-style prosciutto, capsicum, feta, tomato sugo and mozzarella) and The Hills (Mt. Barker chorizo, Hills potato, mozzarella, parmesan and fresh rocket on a pesto base).
Bank Street Social, 48 Hindley St
Brunelli — dinner and a movie
ANYONE hopping along Rundle St for dinner and a movie can score an $11 Palace Nova ticket (usually $19.50) by purchasing a meal from Brunelli’s al-carte menu.
Tickets are purchased from the restaurant and can be bought on any day.
With dishes ranging from burger and risotto to souvlaki and garfish, Brunelli’s has one of the most extensive menus around. Try the spinach and ricotta ravioli.
Brunelli, 187 Rundle St
Rob Roy Hotel — free pizza Fridays
FORGET salted peanuts and chips. Free pizza slices are handed out as bar snacks to those enjoying Happy Hour tipples on Friday nights, 5pm-7pm.
The pizzas are made in-house, and handed around every 15 to 20 minutes.
The guys behind the Taxpayer, Kristian Livolsi and Frank Vounassis, have taken ownership of the pub so look out for some big changes, including a new fitout and rooftop bar due to open in September.
Rob Roy Hotel, 106 Halifax St
In the west
By Eleanor Miller
Liquid Espresso — $10 pasta night
YOU’LL need to book if you’re heading to this Mediterranean restaurant’s Wednesday $10 pasta night.
It’s popular with families, and big groups and you’ll more than likely encounter a birthday bash along the way.
“We’re always full,” owner Lilly Hatzimanolis says.
You can pick up a full size pasta serve, normally priced between $17 and $21, for $10.
Lilly says the most popular choice is spaghetti tutto mare (muscles, prawns, squid, fresh tomato and parsley).
A few of the other six pasta options, are spaghetti chilli crab, linguine pesto, and gnocchi ragout handmade by Lilly’s mother.
“We play Italian music and turn it into as much fun as humanly possible, ” she says.
Liquid Espresso, 181 Findon Rd, Grange
British Raj — meal deal for two
FANCY a night chilling out in front of the TV, eating curry in your trackies? This restaurant, famous for feeding the Indian cricket team when it visits Adelaide, offers a special $36 nightly takeaway meal deal.
It includes two mains, a veggie dish, large rice, two plain naan and a serve of papadams. It would normally come to about $45- $50.
You can even organise home delivery if you’re feeling particularly lazy.
British Raj, 170 Henley Beach Rd, Torrensville
Caffe Primo — kids eat free
WE’VE all heard of Primo — it’s part of a big franchise that does all your standard pizza and pasta variations.
But the thing that sets the Marion store apart is its internal playground. Bring the family out for dinner on Wednesday and the kids will eat free.
They can choose from 12 popular dishes, including nuggets, pasta and fish, which would normally set you back $9 a piece.
The free meals come with a side of either chips and salad or potato and vegetables plus a drink.
Caffe Primo, Westfield Marion Shopping Centre, Oaklands Park
Seacliff Hotel — $30 for two schnitzels and a jug
RIGHT on the beachfront, this hotel would have to have one of Adelaide’s best sea views, with a laid-back vibe to boot.
Come in for lunch or dinner on a Thursday and you can pick up two chicken or beef schnitzels, served with chips, salad and your choice or sauce (excluding parmies) as well as a 1140ml jug of Cricketers Arms larger, pale ale, or Sommersby apple cider for $30.
A schnitzel would normally set you back $21 and a jug of cider $21.40.
Seacliff Hotel, 221 Esplanade, Seacliff
Palais Hotel
TUESDAY is the night to get a big group together and tuck into pork, steak and chicken dishes at the Semaphore’s Palais Hotel — it’s 25 per cent off all food night. You can choose any dish on this seaside bistro’s menu, from pasta to schnittys, and fish and chips, steaks and desserts from the cake bar and the discount. Normally you’d be paying about $23 to $28 for a most mains or $34- $36 for a steak. In this case, the bigger your group and the more expensive your taste in food, and the more you will save. Don’t forget to book!
Palais Hotel, Esplanade, Semaphore
In the east
By James Gratton
Grill’d Norwood — kids’ deal
CHILDREN of all ages are saving their pocket money for Grill’d Norwood’s ever-popular Mini Me deal ($7.90), which includes a burger, fries and a drink.
Perfect for a quick snack, the meal deal is good value, given other burgers on the menu start at $11.
And while the deal may be aimed at the younger members of the family, owner Tom McClure says children are not the only ones buying the Mini Me — many adults enjoy it as a cheap, lunch-time meal.
Grilled Norwood, corner of The Parade & George St, Norwood
The Maid — steak and drink special
PROUDLY showing off its newly completed mural of the late David Bowie, every Monday and Wednesday, from noon-9pm, The Maid offers a porterhouse steak served with a glass of wine or beer for $18.
This crowd favourite would normally cost upwards of $40 from the Stepney hotel’s bistro menu.
Head chef Jeremy Smart says the deal draws in plenty of people looking for a decent meal without breaking the bank.
The Maid, 1 Magill Rd, Stepney
Sorelle — two dishes and a bottle of wine
EVERY Tuesday, Sorelle is the place to be for a taste of Italian.
The Magill Rd restaurant offers a choice of two dishes, either pasta or a woodoven pizza, with a local bottle of wine for $40.
Owner Brad Johanson says customers are always left satisfied with their authentic Italian cuisine, which would normally cost well over $80 for a similar meal.
Sorelle, 613 Magill Rd, Magill
In the north
By Sarah Rohweder
Mawson Lakes Hotel — mega schnitzel challenge
MAWSON Lakes Hotel’s Mega Schnitzel Challenge is a one-of-a-kind meal deal that is certainly not for the faint hearted.
The dish comes with a beef or chicken schnitzel double the size of a standard portion, accompanied by chunky chips and topped with your choice rich brown gravy, pepper, Dianne or mushrooms sauce.
If you complete the challenge, a free schooner of beer or soft drink and a stubby cooler is yours to take home.
Mawson Lakes Hotel is on Main St, Mawson Lakes
Slug and Lettuce — roast Sundays
PARAFIELD Gardens’ Slug and Lettuce has a ripper meal deal on it’s the roast of the day each Sunday.
The hotel offers a plate of roast meat accompanied by roast potato and pumpkin, steamed seasonal vegetables and Yorkshire pudding for just $12.90.
It compares with the pub’s usual daily price of $16.90.
The Slug and Lettuce is at 130 Martins Rd, Parafield Gardens
Eureka Tavern — free feed for kids
EUREKA Tavern is the perfect place to go if you really can’t be bothered cooking for the family on a Saturday.
The Salisbury hotel offers a cheap meal deal for families whereby a kids meal is free if you buy a regular meal.
The kids menu comprises fish and chips, chicken burgers, mini schnitzels, spaghetti bolognaise, pizza and much more. Each meal comes with chips and salad or roast potato and vegetables. It will save you $9.
Eureka Tavern is on Park Tce, Salisbury
Modbury Plaza — meal and movies
WANTING to head to the movies after a good pub meal? Well, head on over to the Modbury Plaza Hotel where you can get a roast of the day, barbecue pork ribs, porterhouse steak with chips and your choice of sauce, chicken or beef schnitzel with house chips, or fish and chips and a single movie ticket for just $28 per person.
And Tea Tree Plaza’s Hoyts Cinema is a short five-minute walking distance from the hotel.
Modbury Plaza is on North East Rd, Modbury
Elizabeth Tavern — devil wings and drink deal
A KILO of sweet and spicy marinated devil wings or honey glazed beef ribs with chips and slaw, paired with a glass of one of five Jim Beam drinks sounds like a pretty sweet deal, right?
Well, if you pop into Elizabeth Tavern’s sports bar, you will be able to get your hands on one. The tavern is offering the scrumptious meal with one drink — your choice of Jim Beam white, black cherry, honey, black or devil’s cut — for just $15 per person. The deal is on offer for a limited time only, so head down to the pub at Elizabeth City Centre on Elizabeth Way, Elizabeth.
In the south
By Jess Brown
Torrens Arms Hotel — Schnitty Tuesdays
IF schnitzels are your thing, head to the Torrens Arms Hotel which offers beef and chicken schnitties with a choice of toppings every Tuesday for $10.
Manager Tom Marshall says the crowd favourites, which are $20 other times of the week, are hard to look past for those looking for a cheap, mid-week meal.
Torrens Arms Hotel, 95 Belair Rd, Kingswood
The Goody — pizza Thursdays
IF are after a family-friendly pub meal during the week, The Goody Hotel just past the showgrounds is the place to go.
Offering weekly specials including schnitzels and steak, managing director Matt Rogers says the meal with the biggest bang for your buck is its $14 homemade pizzas offered on Thursdays.
If you are after a weekend treat, it also offers craft beer and ciders for $6 and burgers for $12 on Sundays.
The Goody, 75 Goodwood Rd, Goodwood
Beach Hotel — pizza and cider deal
FOODIES with a soft spot for pizza can sink their teeth into one of the most satisfying deals the Beach Hotel has to offer.
Settle into a seat at the Seaford pub’s beer garden or bar on Thursday and enjoy its $10 pizzas, which are usually $14-$16, and a $12 jug of cider, which is usually $20, to wash it down. Whether it is the gourmet options like potato, rosemary and parmesan, or if you prefer traditional flavours like ham and pineapple, there is a pizza for everyone.
The hotel also offers schnitzels for $14 on Thursdays, compared to the usual $21.
Beach Hotel, corner of Commercial Rd and Griffiths Drive, Seaford
Colonnades Tavern — specials nights
HEADING to the pub for a quick and easy bite to eat on the way home from work can prove expensive on a regular basis.
The Colonnades Tavern offers a range of pub meals that will not burn a hole in your pocket. Steaks are $15 on Wednesday night, compared to $20 or more throughout the week, and schnitzels are $11 on Thursday and Sunday nights, compared to the usual $17.
Colonnades Shopping Complex, Beach Rd, Noarlunga Centre
Fasta Pasta, Christies Beach — movie meal deal
PLANNING a trip to the cinema? Make sure you visit Fasta Pasta at Christies Beach first and take advantage of the restaurant’s movie meal deal with Wallis Cinema at Noarlunga.
Choose any entree, pizza or pasta dish, which range from $7-$19, and get a soft drink, serve of garlic bread and movie ticket for $25. The deal is available for lunch and dinner.
Fasta Pasta is at 62-76 Beach Rd, Christies Beach
Flagstaff Hotel — seniors/kids deals
THE Flagstaff Hotel, known for its family-friendly atmosphere, offers deals for seniors and children.
Seniors can dig in to a three-course lunch for just $20 or get 10 per cent off their main meal, while children’s meals are under $10 and come with an activity book and soft drink.
There is also a play area for children, who eat free Sunday to Wednesday, between 5.30pm-6.30pm. Flagstaff Hotel 1497-1503 South Rd, Darlington
Pizza Pan — cheap Tuesdays
FEEL like spending a night on the couch watching Netflix in trackies?
Pizza Pan has you covered. The Hackham-based takeaway store’s Tight Tuesday special offers some large pizzas, which can be up to $15, for under $10.
But you don’t have to be restricted to Tuesday — it also offers a range of pick-up and delivery deals including two family pizzas for $31.90 pick up, saving up to $12. Save the extra cash or invest it in garlic bread.
Pizza Pan, 5/109 Penneys Hill Rd, Hackham
‘Don’t require suspensions’: Unique neurodiversity approach in SA schools
The mother of a 13-year-old boy with autism and ADHD, who has been suspended multiple times, has high hopes a new pilot program in SA schools will help neurodiverse students.
More new homes up for grabs at $80m development
Dozens of new homes have been announced for a booming $80m housing development in Adelaide’s inner-north.