Booked a table for 6 online, mid-week for 7pm. We were seated in a u-shape upholstered booth which was comfy and ideal as it enabled us to all to talk easily and it felt quite intimate. The design and space in the upstairs restaurant was appealing. You have two flights of stairs to get to the upstairs section. The ground level of the restaurant has many shared table options (large long tables and seating). The menu was a bit difficult to read under the dim light, so we used the website instead. The menu seemed very non-vegetarian at first glance however we ordered two non vegetarian options and both very delicious.
Entrees chosen - The pigs ears were tasteless and just pure fried batter with an overpowering five spice dipping sauce. The veal croquettes were decent but lacked flavour. The mini burgers looked cute but were dry needing more of the Kewpie mayonnaise promised on the menu. The quinoa salad was very delicious and fresh.
Mains chosen - The crumbed sweetbreads with cauliflower purée were overpowered by the honey roasted sauce. The mushroom pithivier was a winner, very delicious. The other guests enjoyed all meals from the wood grill (2 steaks and chicken). The chicken dish was too large and could satisfy 3-4 people with maybe a side. Our side of sautéed greens was welcoming and tasty.
The real down fall was the service - a bit awkward, disjointed, pushy and rushing us. We asked a passing waitress "Is the loo this way?" to receive this reply "Just one moment please" whilst she waited for customers to climb the stairs. She wasn't taking a table of orders, she wasn't carrying food or drinks, she was waiting at the top of the stairwell. We found the female loo ourselves, which opens directly onto the whole restaurant. This would not be pleasant for the tables dining directly nearby. We had 3 wait staff serving our table to begin with. Asking for our food order before being offered a drink. Then trying to order drinks and actually catching someone's eye was difficult. Food removed from the table whilst we were still eating, then returned the food saying "did you want to finish this?" One of our guests struggled to eat the chicken dish and commented that it was a large serve. The waiter replied "I should have mentioned it was large when you ordered it". Lastly serving boiling hot tea in a glass without a handle is dangerous and silly.
The sommelier did assist us with a change in wine choice and and we enjoyed an amazing bottle of white wine or two. Well done!
Overall the food was good but the service ruined our experience. Was it the kitchen pushing the staff to get orders through? Was it that typical Adelaide attitude to customer service shining through? Did those working here just want to go home on a cold Thursday evening? Mmmmm?