Images via Comida
A family run restaurant in the Adelaide Hills has been voted the Australian Good Food Guide (AGFG) People’s Choice Winner for SA Best Spanish Restaurant.
Surrounded by the greenery of the Adelaide Hills, Comida is known for its giant pans of paella, share-style tapas, cocktails and sprawling beer garden.
Comida was founded by chef Brad Sappenberghs and his wife Fiona in 2014, beginning as a home-based catering business before becoming a popular Adelaide Central Market stall.
The couple opened the sprawling Hahndorf restaurant in 2020, before Brad and Brianna McAvaney took over in 2024 and are who customers see behind the venue doors today.
Venue manager Kiara Black said the whole team was ecstatic at the news, which was first shared by Brianna, doing admin in the early hours of the morning.
“It was unexpected at first, but it is wonderful to hear,” she said.
“We originally started at the Adelaide Central Market before moving up to the Hills and operating the one venue here.”
Kiara said the restaurant’s cosy setting, welcoming atmosphere and distinctly Adelaide Hills feel were among the qualities customers regularly praised.
Comida offers a broad Spanish-inspired menu, with breakfast served until 11.30am and tapas including mushroom fritters and salted cod and potato empanadillas.
“Being a Spanish-inspired restaurant, we encourage sharing, particularly among larger groups, so people can have the best tasting experience,” Kiara said.
“There are so many different flavour options on the menu, so having small plates to share among friends is always a crowd-pleaser.”
Share plates include seared chicken breast, confit pork belly and braised lamb medallions wrapped in jamón and served with quince and pickled fennel salad.
However, the restaurant’s best-known dish dates back to its Adelaide Central Market days. Comida serves three varieties of paella, with large pans regularly prepared on weekends and for functions.
“We have been told numerous times that our paella is just as authentic as paella some of our patrons have eaten while travelling.”
The drinks list combines South Australian favourites with products sourced directly from Spain, including Spanish beer on tap and wines available by the glass.
“We always try to introduce a few different recipes… we also change our drinks list and offer monthly cocktail specials.”
Tucked towards the end of Hahndorf’s bustling main street, Comida has far more space than its frontage suggests.
“We have one of the biggest garden spaces in Hahndorf, which is very deceiving from the front,” Kiara said.
“I always encourage people to come in and walk through because everyone is speechless when they see how much space we have.”
The garden is often host to events and weddings, with the garden holding up to 200 guests it’s a space with not only good food but great atmosphere.
“Whether we have a small party of 10 or a large wedding of 200 people, the venue still has a family feel, which I personally love,” Kiara said.
Whether it’s for the paella, cocktails or tapas, this may have to be one to add to the ‘to visit’ list.
Comida
Where: 100C Mount Barker Road, Hahndorf SA
For more, click here.
