Pike & Joyce Wines — Attraction in Lenswood

A good rule of board game design is that the game should end before the players want it to end. You don't want the players to be looking at the clock and growing impatient. Rather, you want the end to almost take them by surprise, and leave them wanting more.

The same rule might be applied to a set menu experience. Perhaps you don't want your diners to feel like it ended prematurely, but you certainly don't want them to be twiddling their thumbs and wondering where their next course is.

Unfortunately, this was my experience at Pike & Joyce. My partner and I sat down for the Chef's Menu. About two and a half hours later we had been served too much food in too much time and we were more than ready to leave. I see from other reviews that we are not the first who had this experience.

So I will say — if you want to sit down with a group of friends, lounge in a restaurant catching up for hours, and if you haven't had breakfast or aren't planning on dinner, then the set menu could be right for you. For others, a la carte would be a much better option, and in hindsight this is what we should have done.

One piece of feedback is that they should improve communication about the Chef's Menu. For example, when I booked it said the sitting was for 2 hours — so that was the maximum time I was expecting. In fact, at around the 2.5 hour mark we were still waiting on dessert. The content of the Chef's Menu isn't immediately apparent on the menu either. They do have printed versions — my suggestion would be to distribute these with the a la carte menu and add a note along the lines of "Allow 3 hours".

More so, central to the idea of a set menu like this is that your needs as diners are noticed and anticipated. I feel that they did poorly on this front. More observant wait staff might have read our situation and sped up the service, or even been proactive enough to discuss what the Chef's Menu involved before we committed. In short, the staff did not do a good job of reading or responding to our cues.

In terms of the individual courses, there were some standouts, and if you do order a la carte, I can recommend these: -The house-baked bread with butter and pepper berry salt was remarkable. -The grilled asparagus and falafel entrée was very good. Actually my favourite dish, with a compelling blend of flavours and textures. -The harissa spiced chicken was quite tasty and very tender. The serving was too large for us, but in other circumstances this would be welcome — you could quite easily share it between two.

In other positives, it is a lovely setting with beautiful views. The eating space is spacious, light-filled, and pleasantly quiet. Wine pours were generous.

Overall, there are some great menu options but the Chef's Menu — which should offer the optimal dining experience — was off-kilter. They would benefit from refining the offering itself or, at the very least, improving the...

A Cellar Door Experience Beyond Compare at Pike & Joyce

Some wine experiences are pleasant, others memorable, but Pike & Joyce delivers something truly extraordinary. From the moment we stepped through the doors, just as they opened for the day, we were greeted with the kind of warmth and genuine hospitality that instantly made us feel less like visitors and more like long-lost friends. Mark, the gracious owner, welcomed us with a smile that set the tone for what would become an unforgettable journey.

Enter “Bones”, the maestro of the cellar door, whose encyclopedic knowledge and infectious enthusiasm transformed our tasting into an enthralling odyssey of flavour. Each pour was a revelation, showcasing the undeniable brilliance of Pike & Joyce’s winemaking craft. What was meant to be a quick visit effortlessly stretched into a leisurely two-and-a-half-hour immersion, so enthralling that we abandoned our plans for the rest of the day and surrendered to the allure of their restaurant.

Perched above the rolling vineyards of the Adelaide Hills, the dining room provided a picturesque setting for what was to come: a meal that effortlessly matched the high expectations set by the exceptional wines. Each dish was a masterclass in balance and execution, harmonising perfectly with the estate’s finest vintages. The service? Impeccable, attentive yet unobtrusive, elevating the experience to something truly sublime.

Forget the whirlwind tour of a dozen wineries. Instead, start at Pike & Joyce, settle in, and let the day unfold naturally, as you won’t want to leave. Our thanks to Mark, Bones, and the entire team for crafting an experience that was nothing short of a magical experience that topped-off our ‘stay-cation’ as locals from Adelaide.

Regards...

Below is a copy of the feedback I sent directly to Joyce & Pyke following there automated " please send us feedback" . I had no reply from them at all , hence me placing this review below here now and the star rating update , had a phone call after this review published, with apologies from the Pike & Joyce person, and promise to address the organizational issues (as another reviewer two months ago also mentioned)** Just some feedback on our luncheon the above date. Jan 5th] We arrived slightly late(I rang ahead to let you know)at 1pm and were greeted efficiently, seated and given some water and a wine list. After about 20 min we asked a passing staff if we could order wine as no one had returned. We then also gave our lunch order. The entrees arrived in a timely manner, then we ordered more wine. We started to wonder where the mains had got to (it was now after 3) and one of your staff came across and asked what we wanted for desert. We advised her we still hadn't got our mains. She appeared surprised and went to check, after about 15 min she came back with our meals , apologised saying the dockets weren't printing correctly in the kitchen. I will say the food was good, however for the whole afternoon we had to chase staff and if a person is assigned a table wouldn't they know the mains haven't arrived yet before asking about desert? All in all it was disappointing service at a venue we have been previously, especially as it was our wedding anniversary lunch celebration. The staff were friendly, however it seems to me there is an organisational issue that you wouldn't expect for a venue aiming to be seen at a...