If you can’t be in Europe with the rest world this holiday season—soaking up the summer rays, sipping on Aperols and feasting on endless bowls of pasta—then we may have found the next best thing. And although it may not ease your travel envy (sigh), it will definitely satisfy your food cravings.
Welcome to Mariners Ristorante, the newest addition to Adelaide’s food scene, an Italian-inspired restaurant opening today in the beachside suburb of North Haven.
This exclusive, oceanic-themed restaurant, brought to you by the Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, offers a refined yet casual atmosphere that will transport you to the shores of Italy with every bite, in a sophisticated setting that seats an intimate group of 32 people and with a picturesque view of the world-class marina.
Orlando Bagnara, the restaurant’s host and restaurant manager, is proud to share what both he and head chef Camillo Crugnale have been working on for over a year. ‘Camillo and I wanted to offer something new in the Italian fine dining space, along the coastal outskirts and with an idyllic setting, and we felt that something of this calibre, with this level of dining experience, is a little more limited here in South Australia,’ says Orlando.
With a menu that pays homage to authentic Italian heritage, the restaurant offers a full a la carte dining experience along with the chef’s selection of exclusive two-three course tasting menus featuring the freshest seasonal produce and seafood. ‘The menu is extensive and has quite a seafood focus,’ says Orlando, ‘but in saying that, you will also get dishes highlighting ingredients like quail, lamb and wagyu beef, along with traditional Italian flavours.’
There’s the pre-dinner snack menu with starters to tantalise your tastebuds, and then a selection of both hot and cold entree dishes, including Capesante Gratinate Con Fungi Trifolati (sea scallops with mushrooms and pea pesto) and Vitello Tonnato, a dish of roasted veal slices with yellowfin tuna, black olives caviar, white anchovies and caper sauce.
The main dishes at Mariners Ristorante include various pastas, risottos and meat/seafood dishes, with favourites including Pasta Con Vongole (spaghetti with clams), Risotto Ai Frutti Di Mare (risotto with pan-fried king prawns, clams and Port Lincoln Flat Head) and Manzo Con Zucca Arrostito, an aged wagyu rump with orange-scented butternut pumpkin.
‘Camillo’s inspiration behind this menu, and all of his food, stem from his mother’s home cooking,’ says Orlando. ‘He was taught the basics as a child in the family kitchen, and over the past 40 years, has been refining his skills and flavours to bring us the high-quality dishes we get to experience today.’
Camillo’s mum even features on the Mariners Ristorante menu, with her traditional Italian Biscotti amongst the various mouth-watering desserts—all guaranteed to cap off an amazing Italian feast and satisfy any post-dinner sweet tooth cravings.
Orlando and Camillo are no strangers to the Italian dining scene and have been collaborating for many years, first working together at the Italian club Enoteca Cucina and then having great success together at the well-known Hyde Park restaurant Assaggio Ristorante.
‘We worked together at Assaggio Ristorante for a good 10 years, with Camillo as head chef and myself as the restaurant manager,’ says Orlando. ‘We were not only the leading Italian restaurant in South Australia during that time, but we gained a lot of notoriety, hosting a lot of high-profile celebs, international guests, politicians and sporting identities—including Mick Jagger on his first day in the city.’
Both Orlando and Camillo are hoping to recreate that taste and experience of Assaggio in this newly renovated space that is Mariners Ristorante. ‘We want people to have an Italian dining experience that is well cared for—that starts from the kitchen and moves right through to our exceptional table service,’ says Orlando. ‘We’re hoping that everyone who visits us leaves feeling as though they’ve just enjoyed an exceptional Italian menu and had one of the best dining experiences in Adelaide.’
Open for lunch on Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am and dinner on Friday and Saturday from 5:30 pm, Mariners Ristorante is also available for private bookings and events for groups of 16 people or more. The restaurant welcomes children 12 years and older, but if you’re looking for an excuse for an intimate date night or adults-only long lunch or dinner, then this is it!
With an expansive wine list to accompany your meal, there’s also the option of BYO, and if you have special dietary needs or preferences, Mariners Ristorante tasting menu can accommodate—but be sure to let them know at your time of booking.
Whether you’re a food enthusiast, a lover of Italian cuisine, or simply seeking a sophisticated and exceptional dining experience, Mariners Ristorante promises to exceed your expectations. Gather your loved ones, make a reservation, and prepare to embark on a journey into fine Italian cuisine.
Where: Mariners Ristorante, Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia, enter via Gate 1 off Lady Gowrie Drive, North Haven, SA 5018
When: Lunch, Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 11.30 am
Dinner, Friday and Saturday evenings from 5.30 pm
More info: Click here
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