These last few years in the hospitality industry have been tough. We have all seen the toll that the pandemic has had on the service industry. So it is so important to back these establishments that have gone through such a treacherous times.
Although, the tide is turning with Adelaide’s emerging food scene that has had some wonderful culinary additions. With a new wave of chefs breathing life back into the Adelaide food scene, there is no denying that we are starting to see a shift in Adelaide’s restaurant offerings.
Adelaide is a buzz ,with heralded chefs deciding to take you on a food journey that starts right on your doorstep. Here are some of those chefs to take note of.
Jake Kellie and arkhé
Image credit: Duy Dash
Michelin-star chef Jake Kellie is firmly planting his roots in Adelaide, opening the city’s first fully open-flame restaurant, arkhé, in November last year.
Partnering with Palmer Hospitality, the talented team behind 2KW, Fishbank and Paloma Bar & Restaurant, arhké has breathed new life into the iconic heritage-listed building at 127, The Parade, Norwood.
Having secured the freehold on the heritage-listed building, the opening has marked an exciting move towards high street dining and a truly authentic style of cooking.
The fully renovated space offers diners a truly immersive experience. With no gas or electricity used in the kitchen – the heart and soul of the venue – arkhé is much about the food as it will be about feeling like you are part of the action.
Find arkhé at 127 The Parade, Norwood SA 5067.
Tom Tilbury and Press* Food & Wine
After taking on Coriole in McLaren Vale, Tom Tilbury is tackling the Adelaide CBD with his new appointment as executive chef at the iconic Waymouth Street restaurant, Press* Food & Wine.
In a move that surprised even Tilbury, the talented chef gathers himself and has prepared to share his passion for produce and sustainability with the restaurant that has a sterling reputation across Adelaide diners.
With a brand new menu, new look and new culinary appointment, Press* is raising the bar for food experiences and looks forward to delighting diners with a slightly new direction.
Well renowned for its nose-to-tail approach to food, Tilbury is looking forward to honouring the roots of the 11 year old restaurant and incorporating his vegetable focused approach into the menu.
Taking over from long-serving chef-owner Andy Davies, Tilbury has focused on local and sustainable produce sourced from his long standing list of suppliers including Ngeringa in Mount Barker, Choice Mushrooms, Nomad Farms and The Dairyman Barossa.
Find Press* Food & Wine at 40 Waymouth St, Adelaide SA 5000.
Peter Orr and Leigh Street Wine Room
Announced only a couple months ago, Peter Orr is now the new Executive Chef of Leigh Street Wine Room. The Adelaide-born chef with Michelin-star cred has come back full circle after 16 years of working in esteemed restaurants in London and Paris.
After landing back home, he reunited with Sappenberghs for a stint at Comida while he found his feet in Adelaide.
The menu was highly anticipated and was the subject of much talk. Orr has already made his mark with initial dishes such as oozy burrata with heritage tomatoes and red-wine dressing; a picture-perfect baby-beetroot tart with Persian feta and hazelnut; raw scallops with green tomato, finger lime and yoghurt dressing; spatchcock quail coated in peanut sauce and crispy shallots; and Kerwee Wagyu rib eye with star anise-braised carrots.
So if you woke up on the boujee side of the bed this morning, it might be the day to check out this restaurant and see what this star studded chefs menu has to offer.
Find Leight Street Wine Room at 9 Leigh St, Adelaide SA 5000.
Justin James and Restaurant Botanic
Nestled in a landscape of lush greenery beside the calming stillness of the Kainka Wirra Main Lake, a new season is blossoming in the Restaurant Botanic. It’s a season born from sustainability, local produce and an international palette to tantalise the senses.
Executive Chef Justin James is the new custodian of the Restaurant Botanic, bringing almost 20 years of experience and a clear vision of what makes for fine dining and an exceptional customer experience.
“When you’re cooking,” he says, “you can have blinders on. But it doesn’t matter how good the food is, if it’s the worst service, you’re not going back to that restaurant.”
James describes the Botanic Gardens itself as “a living museum of plants and trees” that also provides a wealth of beautiful produce for the restaurant. It’s a relationship that he’s keen to nurture and explore.
“Having a world class restaurant that also helps the Gardens… I don’t think there are any others in the world. We can help each other out, like learning how to take things off the plants and trees the right way, and so when I am talking to farmers, I know more. There’s some premium restaurants in Adelaide but we’ve got something really unique here in the Botanic Gardens. This is a free-standing restaurant so I see an opportunity to come in and be the champion of a really unique cuisine that competes on an international level.”
The Gardens are also a large part of the overarching customer experience that James is striving for, blending his food with the environment for a lasting impression.
The stretched bar will serve up an all-Australian wine list along with champagne from France – it invites you to stop off at and have a drink before making your way to your table for a delicate feast.
Find the Restaurant Botanic at Plane Tree Dr, Adelaide SA 5000.
Georgina Fehring and Two-Pot Screamer
Former Magill Estate Restaurant chef, Georgina Fehring is the head chef of Two-Pot Screamer cooking up bistro-style food with a fine dining element.
The menu is perfect for sharing as it reinvents nostalgic Australian dishes in a unique way. Star dishes include the Chikko roll with barley, cabbage and curry; yabbies with whipped brow butter and pork snitty with pickles and gravy.
The experience you have at Two-Pot Screamer all starts from which entrance you take. Enter from ground level, and you will be transported back in time to a place of nostalgia with the 70s inspired ‘hero’ restaurant and fine dining experience. The restaurant represents Australian food and culture in a fun and laidback way while paying homage to 285 Rundle Street’s past venues and pulling 70s cues in its design.
The emerald walls envelope what will soon be one of Adelaide’s coolest places to dine. The elevated exposed concrete ceiling brings a rawness to the space, mirroring the authenticity that Two-Pot Screamer brings.
Find Two-Pot Screamer at 285 Rundle St, Adelaide SA 5000.
