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Appellation
Review
About
Open to visitors for dinner, Appellation restaurant is recognised as South Australia’s world-class regional dining destination. Window seats and private dining nooks nestle guests as they indulge in a culinary journey of Barossa a la mode. A considered degustation menu reflects the region’s community of winemakers, farmers and growers with fresh produce. The Appellation team presents each dish with its paired wine, creating an overarching, very Barossan culinary story.
Features
CUISINES
French, International, Australian
Meal types
Dinner
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Accepts Credit Cards
Free Wifi
Full Bar
Outdoor Seating
Parking Available
Reservations
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Wheelchair Accessible
Location
Parking Available
Is this a French restaurant?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Closed now
• Opens at 6:00 PM
Sunday
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Monday
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Tuesday
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Wednesday
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Thursday
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Friday
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Saturday
6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
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4.5
491 reviews
Excellent
328
Good
96
Average
39
Poor
20
Terrible
8
Mandy L
Greater Adelaide50 contributions
Mar 2025 • couples
This was a fine dining experience that we had planned for some time. A pure indulgence on our behalf but an experience we will forever be grateful for. Food spectacular, wine pairing sensational, view incredible, service unparalleled, especially Mel, beautiful, friendly, unassuming and knowledgeable about the food, the wine and this magnificent region that she has such first hand knowledge of. Chef Nick, thank you for overseeing such a delicious experience ..
Written 3 March 2025
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.
jennifer D
Normanville54 contributions
Apr 2022 • none
We were on the waiting list to get in on a Friday evening and were lucky to be called at 3 in the afternoon to confirm a table for two.
On our arrival we were greeted by a charming gentleman and shown to our table just in time to see the sun setting.
We were informed by our young waitress that they did not produce a menu unless requested as they liked an element of surprise. We thought what the heck and ordered a bottle of Deviation Road bubbles. We were told that the meal set at $125 per hour could have an additional first course, or last course. We choose the first course and had savoury madelines with sourcream and chives and sturgeon caviar. To be honest I don't know which was our favourite... every bite was exquisite. Certainly the food pairings were completely at odds of every day food but the chef must have a very refined palate as nothing we have had compares to what sublime food we tasted. At $125 a head it is more than a fair price the only surprise being that the madelines were $30 per serve. Could not fault one thing. Congratulations to the whole team
Written 2 April 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.
JudgeDreadd
Melbourne75 contributions
Nov 2021 • family
Delicious food but also with exceptional serving staff- friendly, efficient and professional.
From when you enter the front door and get greeted excitedly by the first gentleman to the serving staff welcoming you with big smiles at the restaurant.
This is well appreciated when you are about to spend $200 a head. Yes its not cheap but top quality comes at a price.
The waitresses were phenomenal and the sommelier very knowledgeable. At first glance the menu did not look like much but the snacks we started with indicated that we were in for a lovely evening. Each dish was very tasty and the wine pairing well worth it. I would have preferred the extra 3 x servings caviar at $30 each to be served on individual plates.
It was very tasty and the madelines served with it a great idea. As can be expected it is all small portions but guaranteed you will leave very full ! It was a wonderful evening out.
Five stars !!
Written 26 November 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.
Katie C
88 contributions
July 2024 • couples
We visited for dinner on our honeymoon. We got the tasting menu and wine pairings. The first few dishes were amazing, but The lobster dish was very disappointing. And small. We’ve included in quite a few tasting menus and always left full. This was not the case at Apellation.
While I appreciate our servers explanations of each dish/wine, the service was poor. We waited long periods between each dish. And the table next to us who was served at the same time was given both desserts and left before we even got our first dessert. We were the last in the restaurant and had to go find our check- we waited for it to come to our table with no success.
It took over 3 hours to eat 6 small plates, left hungry, and paid a lot.
There was no bread service. We were not offered coffee.
Go elsewhere
Written 28 August 2024
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.
Ralph S
Melbourne7 contributions
Apr 2022 • couples
This restaurant promises a lot and almost delivers but, on our visit at least, the experience was let down by some disappointments.
THE PROS: Really interesting and inventive menu that mostly succeeds in being delicious as well. My partner has some dietary restrictions and the kitchen subtly modified some of the courses to accommodate these without compromising the dish in any way - probably the best response we've ever experienced. Elegant dining room with high quality tableware and Riedel glassware.
THE CONS: The serving sizes were pretty small - I'm not one of these people who usually complains about not enough to eat in a degustation menu, but here I could imagine many people leaving unsatisfied - I sort of did. Also for me, two of the five courses were not that delicious, which was disappointing since the rest were sensational.
THE BIGGEST CON: I know that restaurants are going through staffing issues post pandemic, but the absence of a Sommelier on the night we went really let down the experience. The wait staff were very friendly and knowledgeable about the food courses but could offer no help whatsoever with the comprehensive wine list. We were left floundering and trying to make uninformed choices which we mostly succeeded in doing, but one of the glasses we chose was really unsuitable for the meal, meaning we ordered an alternative immediately. The wait staff couldn't have been less interested in our error, but I guess that isn't their job. Too bad there was no one on the floor doing the job of Sommelier. At a restaurant of this calliber, this is a disappointing omission and seriously diminished what would otherwise have been a 5 star experience.
Written 10 April 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.
LisaMDL
Adelaide3460 contributions
Sept 2021 • none
Having not been to Appellation since we stayed at The Louise 10 years ago, we had no idea what to expect ‘these days’. Any expectations we might have had would have been well exceeded in any case!
$125 for the menu was extremely reasonable we thought.
What a GREAT combination of skilled and serious but also some 'fun' food, delivered with very special service, especially by a lady we came to learn was from Kenya. She was great! It all seemed effortless!
The beef was sublime but actually what grabbed us was the purple yam that was served with it. That was one of the ‘fun’ aspects of the menu, but the fire bread was definitely another – it was incredible!!!! I never touch the bread at restaurants but this was impossible not to devour. The Jerusalem artichoke dessert was clever and surprising actually because so often in fine dining/degustation menus, we find the attempts at combining savoury ingredients into the sweets dishes rarely pay off. This was a different story.
Unfortunately, the only dish and flavour combination of the night that didn’t work at all was the whiting in a lemongrass sauce. It was hugely overpowering for the fish – the poor little drenched and washed out whiting!!!! This dish actually made us wonder more broadly why in fact there were not at least a few Barossan ‘hints’ on the menu?
Anyway, not to end on a ‘sour’ note, we absolutely wouldn’t hesitate to return – and hopefully sooner than 10 more years!
Written 24 September 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.
Teddy R
Brisbane109 contributions
Apr 2022 • couples
We dined here during our honeymoon stay at the Louise. We had the degustation and premium wine pairing, both of which were delicious.
The only thing that could be improved here Is a little more training for the staff. The young lady who served us was trying her absolute best, but yelling what food was on our plate at us so that everyone in the restaurant was turning to us (honestly - it was quite funny as she was sweet but my goodness)!
The sommelier/wine pairer wasn’t overly engaged and didn’t seem to be overly enthused about our presence. May just be a bit shy.
Written 5 April 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.
galavanterAust
Australia790 contributions
Jan 2022 • couples
A weeks holiday exploring the Barossa Valley ended with an amazing meal experience at Appellation. Escorted to a window seat in the stylish dining room we enjoyed dinner overlooking the vineyards and watched the many colours of the night sky as the sun went down . Service was impeccable and the multiple courses which comprised the degustation were stunning, all filled with flavours that reflected produce found in the Barossa. Recommended
Written 18 February 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.
Rachaell S
4 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
We were staying at the Louise so dinner was included each night and you can do the matching wine.
The staff were so attentive and friendly, looking out over the vines as the sun went down was amazing.
The food changes every night and it was exceptional. Can't wait to go back.
Written 22 October 2023
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.
Baillie Lodges
HI Rachel,
Thank you for your wonderful review! We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back soon.
Kind regards,
Team Louise
Written 24 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Emanpee
Sydney2709 contributions
May 2022 • none
An excellent multi course degustation with plenty of variety, properly spaced and ‘just right’ serve portions. Matching local wines well chosen. Tables nicely spaced and located to provide something for every diner. Comes at a price but worth the investment.
Written 21 May 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.
Maggie B
1 contribution
Dec 2021 • couples
We came to Appellation for a birthday treat and were not disappointed. The service, setting, and views were 10/10. The food was such a delight and we enjoyed every moment. If you’re looking for a place to sit and enjoy a wonderful culinary experience with family or friends, look no further. Well done and thank you to the team for such a lovely evening, we will definitely be returning.
Tess and all the team were also very helpful in catering for a quite unusual dietary requirement, which was very much appreciated.
Written 6 December 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.
Steve W
Sydney3 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
Looking to spoil yourself? Then go to Appellation. We had the set menu with matching wine which seems expensive at first until you realise the quality of food served and matching wine is truly 5 star quality. For myself, the duck with matching pinot was the highlight. The Chef's complementary appetisers and local gin & tonic was a welcome and very tasty surprise. Perfect in every way.
Written 13 January 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.
Experience633518
3 contributions
May 2021 • couples
Left us thinking that a budget was underpinning the menu, quality and quantity or that the Chef may have left the kitchen!! Two servings were inedible. No, they weren’t exotic, unusual ... like a baked fish eye or something.. they were drowning it what we imagined incense would taste like!
In general, great presentations, creative flair, but lost as flavors overpowered / were unbalanced or were simply lacking (eg. crab meat ). Can say the bread and meat (the no brainer dishes for top end restaurants) were really good!
The couple at our table had eaten here several times before and were equally shocked at how far it all fell from their previous experiences.
Hope it was a case of trying too hard that you get it so wrong and there is an overhaul in sight. Meantime, not worth it. There are exquisite alternatives nearby.
Written 17 May 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.
NinaWilli79
Barossa Valley246 contributions
Feb 2021 • couples
We went to Appellation for Valentines Day dinner and had the degustation menu with wine pairing. Amazing. We started with a cocktail in the lounge and then were shown to our table overlooking the fabulous view of the valley. The service was exceptional and the experience felt intimate, the knowledge the staff had of the food and wines was very generous. Each course was a treat and the wines were paired beautifully. The blue swimmer crab was a stand out dish as was the pork. In fact everything on the menu made us lose track of the time and concentrate on the dishes we were presented with, so there’s no photos because we didn’t touch our phones all night! Just amazing!
Written 23 February 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.
Maggie B
7 contributions
Oct 2020 • none
I'm not sure what I was expecting but from reading all the reviews I was expecting a wow moment that just didn't happen. The restaurant is nice and we had a lovely window seat, that overlooked the vineyards and overgrown and unkept raised vegetable garden beds. The complimentary taster, wood oven charcoal bread and duck pate was amazing, but as the waiter said it's all downhill from here' and he was right.
The food was ok but not amazing like I was hoping for and while the accompanying wines were nice I was hoping for a bit more than the taste we received.
The waiting staff were lovely and very attentive and it was lovely to meet the owner who came around to each table at the end of the evening to say hello.
Written 10 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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