Hardy's Verandah Restaurant
+61 8 8130 9292+ Add websiteWrite a ReviewImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Mon
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tue
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Wed
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Thu
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Fri
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sat
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
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Food and ambience
Local cuisine, British, Contemporary, Australian, Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options
Special Occasion Dining, Romantic, View, Groups
Is this a British restaurant?
Details
About
Mount Lofty House was built in 1852 for Arthur Hardy. It was his summer residence, but it also became a venue for the most lavish parties, where Arthur would take great delight in hosting Adelaide's high society. Today, the space has been transformed into Hardy's Verandah Restaurant - true to the refinement, elegance and opulence the guests of Arthur Hardy enjoyed 170 years ago. Overlooking the patchwork Piccadilly Valley, HVR diners are treated to magnificent views as an accompaniment to their culinary experience.
PRICE RANGE
$99.00 – $471.00
CUISINES
British, Contemporary, Australian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Free off-street parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, American Express, Mastercard, Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Gift Cards Available
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4.5
491 reviews
Excellent
403
Very good
47
Average
21
Poor
13
Terrible
7
Graham M
Trastevere28 contributions
July 2021 • none
We dined from the four course menu. Three choices for each course with a vegetarian option available. Have to say every dish was worthy of the fine dining moniker. We started with the Marron dish which was a very innovative way to preparing this freshwater delicacy. We then had different entres, the murray cod and the pork belly both wonderfully flavoured and well prepared. The highlight for me was the wagyu brisket main and the deserts were great too. The real value add though was the very engaging and professional staff who gave us good descriptions of the provenance of the food and the sommelier who gave us excellent matching wine recommendations. They always had time for our questions and we ended up have a great conversation with several staff as the restaurant got less busy, including a tour of the extensive wine cellar on the way out. Not just great food but a great dining experience in a very nice atmosphere with top quality service. Being winter we could not really enjoy the view which would add a another dimension in the summer months. Its not cheap but we were celebrating a family occasion and enjoyed a memorable experience.
Written 4 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shane n
Adelaide202 contributions
Feb 2020 • couples
Starting our dinner experience in the cellar with a glass of bubbles was the perfect beginning
The menu options provided something for everyone including a 7 course degustation option.
We chose, quail, duck, lamb, and every dish was presented perfectly and tasted as good as it looked.
A comprehensive wine list provided options galore with in- house experts to guide you.
A lovely dinner, expertly served and a location to match
Written 17 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cecilia
Brisbane30 contributions
June 2021 • none
My husband and I had dinner at Hardy's Verandah Restaurant as part of our stay at Mount Lofty House, where we had a $200 dining voucher as part of our booking. We both opted for the tasting menu which was an 8 course affair. Each ingredient was treated with care and the dishes were flavourful and well prepared. However, we both felt that nothing was exceptional or memorable, especially for a restaurant with three chef hats. Given that this was one of the more expensive fine dining restaurants we have eaten at, we left feeling slightly underwhelmed.
Staff were friendly, and service was adequate and attentive. We also had the opportunity to tour the restaurant during the day - there was a lovely view over the valley which we didn't get to appreciate during the winter evening.
Overall we had a nice experience at Hardy's Verandah Restaurant and would recommend it to others. However not sure if we would personally dine there again if we were paying the full price.
Written 25 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RodrigoM
4 contributions
Oct 2020 • couples
Its a pity Mount Lofty stay was tarnished by the food and service at HVR. The service was non existent, took us 40 minutes to get a glass of bubbly to celebrate our wedding anniversary even though we were the second table seated.
The squid was definatley on the nose and tasted just as bad. They had snapper on the menu but when they bought the dish out they apologised and told us they only had Mullway fish, surely they would have known this beforehand.
No apologies but just consistently bad service.
We poured our own drinks, tried to get the attention of the matre d, but just ended up walking out and finishing our glass of bubbly in our room.
We cancelled our reservation for the following night, thats how bad it was and decided to eat out. For a more detailed review please see google reviews as well.
3 chef hats i think not!
Written 19 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carrmie
Adelaide15 contributions
Feb 2020 • couples
This was our second time at Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant. Our first was 2 years ago, before they received 3 Chef’s Hats.
We tried their very yummy Sequoia wine which was exclusive to their cellar. We decided to have their 4 course menu each instead of their 7 so that we could try 8 different dishes between us.
We had:
Nori tartelette with Oscietra caviar, spring vegetables and umami cream
Kangaroo tataki, purple carrot, and black garlic
Suckling pig, smoked shiitake, baby gem heart
Tea smoked quail with preserved chilli caramel and Asian greens
Spiced lamb porter house, chickpeas, eggplant and goat cheese terrine
Smoked duck breast, white peaches, lavender, blueberry sauce
Peanut mousse, dulce de leche, milk ice cream
Strawberry with basil mousse and capsicum sorbet.
The lamb and duck breast were perfectly cooked with really complementary sides representing the summer night we were in. The mousse in the desserts were soft and exceeded expectations.
The food was the best aspect of our experience. The chef and his team did well in delivering wholesome, delicious flavors.
The let down in our dining experience was the inattentive service in the restaurant.
Having dined at multiple 2-3 Chef Hat restaurants, we expected service to suit. Service at HVR was quite a let down. My fiancé didn’t manage to order his drink as the server just walked away the two times we tried to. No one offered to refill our glass of water, wine or offered tea before or after dessert. I felt like I was in a standard, non-hatted restaurant on a busy Friday night; alone and ignored.
Food at HVR was deserving of their reputation 3 Chef Hats. But their service was far below standard, rendering a bittersweet experience.
HVR should start looking at training their staff to be able to call themselves “the best fine dining experience in the Adelaide Hills”.
Written 8 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
544jessek
Hello Carrmie,
Thank you for taking the time to share online in regards to your experience in Hardy's Verandah. We pride ourselves on old fashioned hospitality - warm, welcoming, attentive and fun, yet knowledgeable service is our brand promise - I am so sorry that your experience didnt reflect this on the night you visited. I have reviewed your feedback with our Restaurant team and we are all so disappointed to have let you down on your visit. We would love to have you come back to experience our normal standard of service. I would also appreciate the opportunity to get further information on your experience so I can investigate and address the issues further at jesse.kornoff@mtloftyhouse.com.au.
Kind regards,
Jesse Kornoff
General Manager
Written 12 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tony and Eleonore
19 contributions
June 2022 • none
For a three hat fine dining restaurant we were unimpressed with the food on offer on the four course menu apart from the signature dish of the Wagyu brisket and Black Angus tenderloin which was delicious. The spring vegetable main course was miniscule but was supplemented with roti which compensated somewhat for the size of the serve. The majority of dishes lacked the wow factor expected from an award winning establishment both in flavour and presentation which was overall, disappointing.
We had to initiate conversation around food substitutes for two of our guests who had a nut allergy as a number of dishes contained nut ingredients. The waitperson and chef were accommodating but the restaurant had been informed when the booking was made so should have shown some initiative in this regard.
There were too many waitstaff which sounds silly but there was a lack of communication between them resulting in the wrong food being placed in front of diners on our table. Unacceptable. The explanations of dishes were rushed and difficult to understand. Somewhat disappointing. Having said that, the staff were friendly and engaging.
At the end of the four courses we expected to be asked to order coffee but after quite some time we went looking for someone to take our coffee orders and when they came we were told both flat whites were prepared with skim milk despite ordering only one with skim milk. No sugar or spoons were delivered with the coffees and once again we waited and waited until we finally left our table to find someone to attend to this oversight.
The ambience and location were good but we left disappointed with the overall dining experience, which fell far short of our expectations both in value and service.
Written 19 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Clement DEMARAIS
Dear AMED3422,
First of all, the team at Hardy’s Verandah and I would like to convey our sincerest apologies that we let you down on your recent visit. We pride ourselves on delivering amazing dining experiences in our beautiful heritage venue and I am sorry that this wasn’t your experience - this is unacceptable.
Please be rest assured that the food quality issues you encountered during your visit as well as our service standards have been taken extremely seriously, and addressed to ensure future guests do not experience these same issues.
I would appreciate it if you choose to contact me so I can organize your return visit here at Hardys Verandah so that I can personally take care of you during your stay. My direct contact details are clement.demarais@hardysverandah.com.au or 044 835 4164.
I remain at your service,
Clement Demarais
Restaurant Manager
Written 31 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Diana Pilkington
31 contributions
July 2020 • none
We loved everything about dining at Hardy's Verandah Restaurant! The setting is gorgeous, the house is beautifully restored with rich timbers and natural stone elements, and huge windows to showcase the sweeping views of the Piccadilly valley and beyond. Also important, very comfy chairs so you can sit for hours while you savour this experience! The staff are all friendly & knowledgeable, and service was very attentive without being too fussy. The food was amazing, after every course we all agreed that what we had just eaten was the best yet. The venison tartare was a standout. And the paired wines really added to the experience of the food. A lot of menus offer wine pairings which complement the meal but don't necessarily change your experience of the flavours of the food and wine together, but here the sommelier has found pairings which elevate one another. I can't recommend highly enough splurging on the wine pairings with the menu, its well worth it!
Written 12 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deferr J
12 contributions
Feb 2020 • couples
This beautiful place has changed so much since I was last here many moons ago. Hardy’s Restaurant is now on the fully enclosed balcony which is a brilliant move. Views of the valley are lovely unless you’re seated in front of one of the walled strips between windows as my partner was. Nonetheless every bit of the food was to die for. The lamb and the brisket beef melted in the mouth, entrees were super tasty and desserts delicious. We appreciated the complimentary starters also. And so many wines to choose from! As you would expect it was very pricey so I was very glad to have a voucher to contribute. 10/10 would recommend for a special dinner date!
Written 15 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike F
Adelaide497 contributions
Oct 2021 • couples
A birthday treat for my better half included an overnight stay at Mount Lofty House and a four course meal in the restaurant.
After an alcoholic welcome and house tour, (see my review of the hotel) we settled into a smallish separate dining room complete with warming fire, and a slight view through a window onto the Verandah (where the fortunate customers were seated).
Some small chef’s tasters were an indication of the variety of flavours to come, but we waited so long for the starter that we were approached three times with apologies and the offer of a couple of free drinks. As my wife doesn’t drink, they were declined.
However, I cannot fault the food (when it arrived), knowledgable serving staff or furnishings.
The room seemed to be a main thoroughfare for waiters getting drinks from the bar, which meant that the poor couple sitting in the centre of the room (and nearest the fire) were bypassed by staff every five minutes or so.
For the cost and expectations, this was poor planning, surely it could be avoided.
They certainly have a lot of staff, and it’s nice to see some diversity amongst them. They boast a staff member to every three customers,but the constant change of faces through service made it difficult to develop a service relationship with one member of staff.
So, back to the food.
The website was still displaying a menu that had recently been changed so I was unable to order the pork that I had been looking forward to.
However, it was all very good to excellent and the ‘Happy Birthday’ plate was a nice touch at the end of the meal.
If you eat red meat, do not miss out on the Wagyu, it’s sublime.
Written 11 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Adeline
Adelaide7 contributions
June 2020 • friends
We dined in Hardy’s Verandah restaurant last night and had a beautiful meal. The food was delicious, textured and fresh with a lovely twist and amalgamation of flavours. The service was impeccable and the sommelier was very knowledgeable about the wines on offer . A fine dining restaurant that should be experienced.
Written 19 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LisaMDL
Adelaide3336 contributions
June 2020 • none
Hopefully the photos here show the superiority of HVR! We agree wholeheartedly with the Three Chef’s Hats.
Start to finish, this birthday celebratory dinner was gorgeous. Although when we arrived our table was not ready, we actually could not have been happier waiting! We were immediately offered a glass of bubbles and a nice spot in the bar to wait and then we were entertained with some chit chat and ‘lingering’ down in the cellar until our table become available. We had swept swiftly through the cellar on the House’s history tour earlier that day but it was nice to get a little time to look more closely at some of the collection.
We dined from the four course option, choosing two different dishes from each course to share between us – except for main, as how can you share a divine piece of wagyu brisket! Two of those please! We were impressed by each dish in its own right but we must single out the crab appetiser with its coconut flavouring as we think that was the taste sensation of the night……that’s taking the beef dish out of the equation and not even bothering to rate it because Mayura Station produce (in this case the brisket) will always be to die for and top marks!!!!!
Service flowed at exactly the right pace. The evening was perfect.
We feel like Mount Lofty House almost has a monopoly on the excellent staff of Adelaide at the moment!! Every server/staff member we encountered was to be commended. A real credit to them.
Written 26 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BPJ7
Melbourne8 contributions
July 2020 • none
It was an amazing experience. It was a romantic place with beautiful decor paired with the fine dining experience. The staff were very friendly and service was great whereby they explained The content of each dish and in death explanation of the wine, where it originated, the contents and Flavours.
Written 10 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FamilyLove
Adelaide177 contributions
Aug 2020 • business
I recently dined with some work colleagues for a meeting / dinner in what we expected to be fine dining 4 course meal, unfortunately we found the food tasteless and very uninviting and most definitely not worth the price tag, the only thing that was yummy was the bread. I went in with much better expectations from such a quality restaurant and left feeling very disappointed.
Most of the staff on the night were great apart from one who was arrogant and rude, all other stuff members were attentive and friendly.
The wine was great and they have a wonderful selection of both spirits and wine.
Accommodation on another review with even better staff members- definitely stay for accommodation purposes again but unfortunately never waste the $ at hardys again.
Written 17 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DfromOz
21 contributions
June 2020 • none
We have dined a number of times at HVR and we still love it. On this occasion, we enjoyed the 4 course menu. We each chose different dishes and they were all beautifully presented and delicious. The service is professional and attentive. They have the right balance of engaging with their diners to ensure you feel like a welcome guest.
Written 29 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robin D
3 contributions
Sept 2020 • none
My wife and I stayed at Mt Lofty House for two nights. The welcoming staff, the accomodation, breakfast in the Picadilly room could not be faulted. However the dining experience of Hardy's Verandah Restaurant left much to be desired. We were joined by another couple and had the 4 course dinner. Unfortunately the memorable parts of the meal were negatives. While I understand that Chefs/Restauarants may try to save me from myself by not putting salt on the table, it should not take three different waiting staff 20 minutes to finally bring salt to the table. The first waiter went off, and forgot my request, the next quite promptly bought me a salt cellar, which contained no salt, and the third waiter finally bought me some salt after being reminded that I had asked for salt. My two Kipfler potatoes were cold by this time. Dessert was extremely dissapointing, sounded so good on the menu...Creme Brulee... When it was served, it was smaller than a dessert spoon standing about 2cm tall. It was hard to find any evidence of the brulee, certainly no crunch. I have had more enjoyable creme brulees in a chinese restaurant. We at least had a pleasant room to retire to, but our two guests faced a long drive back to Mannum, and they were still hungry after four courses.
Written 15 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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