Kent Town Hotel — Restaurant in Adelaide

A not so happy night! I chose the Kent Town Hotel for my husband's birthday dinner and invited our friends to join us. We were greeted by Georgia who was fantastic. She was always professional, polite and always had a smile on her face. However, Georgia could only take the drinks order, so we had the displeasure of being served by Taz, who didn't introduce himself and proceeded to enquire, and not ask, if we were ready to order. Instead of setting up the expectations of what the “house rules” were as far as ordering, he was very rude to my guests multiple times, making faces and rolling his eyes whenever something was to his liking. I never regretted going somewhere as much as I did that night. I was upset and disappointed with the service and the way we were treated! I told Taz that I wasn’t happy with his service and that I didn't feel comfortable with him there as he was ruining what should have been a special night for my husband. He wouldn't let me talk, and his argument was that he was too busy. Being busy doesn't justify being rude! There are ways of communicating things and that’s something he really doesn't know how to do. I asked if Georgia would continue serving us from that point on, but he said she could only take drink orders. After that, he proceeded to take my guest's orders, three of them weren't going to dinner and he seemed pretty upset about it. To my surprise someone approached the table, who I can only assume was some sort of manager as they also didn’t introduce themselves in any way, looking quite annoyed and saying the dinner service would only be delivered if everyone ordered together. It was then explained to him that everyone at the table had already ordered. A couple minutes later, that same person came back full of attitude saying there were 12 people at the table but only 9 orders so I had to explain once again that three of our guests wouldn’t eat so there was only need for 9 orders. I understand that restaurants have their own ways of managing the kitchen so that things flow quickly and without confusion, but this must be communicated to the customer in a polite and clear way, which was not done. All we heard from Taz while addressing one of my guests was: order all at once because you're confusing the kitchen. I've worked as a waitress (same as half of my guests), I've been a people manager and in everything I do I try to be polite, explain the situation and always have a smile on my face to give my best service. I have a clear conscience that neither I nor any of my guests have ever been as rude and disrespectful to anyone as they have been to us. I really would not recommend this place to my friends and acquaintances. It’s unconceivable to me that a “manager” would approach us wanting to argue and “looking for a fight” instead of trying to de-escalate a situation and trying to make a customer feel more comfortable. The only thing that prevented this experience from being a total disaster was the aid of Georgia, who jumped in and looked after us for the rest of the evening, making us more comfortable...

I visited Kent Town Hotel in February 2024 for a friend’s 40th birthday party, which was held upstairs at the venue. We travelled from Melbourne and drove in with a local friend. Parking was a bit of a challenge, likely due to a nearby festival, but we eventually found a spot about ten minutes away. Fully costumed for the party, we took the opportunity to snap a few photos in the alleys on the way there. While driving is probably the easiest option, there’s also a bus stop nearby, as Adelaide’s public transport in the area is mainly bus based.

The hotel was easy to find, it sits on the corner across from Bunnings, with a beautiful brick exterior draped in vibrant greenery and plenty of outdoor seating. The venue’s exterior charm is just the beginning.

Downstairs, the space is stunning. There are multiple dining areas with a modern man-cave feel, think plush couches in front of fireplaces, large TVs, wine displays, pool tables, and animal head décor adding a quirky touch. The bar was well stocked and lively, with plenty of weekend patrons enjoying the space.

Upstairs, the function area was equally impressive. The space had been cleared to allow room for mingling and photos, and a photo backdrop had been set up for the occasion. The bar staff were absolutely lovely, taking care of us all night and crafting some exceptional cocktails. The mojitos were a standout for me, my partner loved her drinks, and our friend couldn’t stop raving about the passionfruit mocktail. The selection of beer, wine, and champagne was extensive and enjoyed by all.

We didn’t order food directly, as it was catered by the venue for the event, but everything served was delicious, flavourful, fresh, and beautifully presented. If the food on the menu matches the catering quality, I’d absolutely recommend coming back for a proper meal.

We made great use of the upstairs verandah, which wraps around the building and is fitted with covered booths and barstool seating. The abundance of greenery throughout the venue gives it a vibrant, inviting atmosphere. One highlight was a room near the upstairs bathrooms with a glowing “VOGUE” sign which was the perfect backdrop for some fun party photos!

The event was well supported by staff, who even helped set up the upstairs TV to showcase a video presentation for the birthday couple. The space comfortably accommodated the 50+ guests, and the energy throughout the night was joyful and relaxed. Some guests even kicked on to karaoke afterwards as it’s clearly a great starting point for a night out in Adelaide. I absolutely loved the vibe of Kent Town Hotel, full of charm, character, and thoughtful service. It’s a fantastic space for events or a casual meal and drink, and I’d happily return next time I’m...

Came for a family birthday, was a great time, but marred by food and service miscommunication.

For parents, this is a must. Giant slide in the middle of the restaurant, and big kids-play area including consoles, TV, and giant blackboard. Well decorated with jungle themes.

Was pretty quiet for a Friday night, which was surprising, especially with the Clipsal around the corner. Even so, the 'thrum' of background conversation was prevalent, with little baffling to mollify. Despite this, it wasn't terribly loud, and the background 'thrum' could easily be broken by some well-placed white noise; say, tropical birds to suit the theme.

Food was limited to a la carte, but varied in quality per plate. Sampling from several, the meals ranged from superb (the prawn noodle "jungle master" dish and the MSA steak), to terrible (the rump cap and duck), with salt drowning the flavour into brine. Several meals were missing requests, the quinoa salad had no avocado, a brownie finger dessert had no chocolate flakes, and an order of cheese balls never arrived.

Compounding that, confusion and crossed communication between servers led to an understanding at one end of the table that entrees/starters would be served at the same time as mains, discouraging such orders. In the end, one side of the table got starters, while the other side waited for an hour and a half to eat. Thankfully, the kids meals arrived with starters, or we may have had to head out earlier. This isn't just a concern for customers, that mistake meant a loss of at least two share platters between four of us. That's $60 sales lost.

Staff were extremely friendly and helpful, aside from that, and quite accommodating to demands from the very young. It was easy to find staff members, other than in the upstairs bar, where there was a single face to tend to the room, which led to some longer delays. Wasn't overwhelming, though.

Drinks were really good, the ginger beer was amazing, robust flavour without an overbearing sharpness. The double baileys was poured well, but the bar kept running out of milk. Drinks servings included an ale/cider tasting platter, which was extremely tempting. Coffee was pretty quick to serve, and staff were happy to use my cup.

Male toilets were in terrible condition, with broken stall doors, and a hole in the ceiling (?!). ATM was from a small independent bank, charging $2.50 per transaction. Parking and taxis were both in great availability, with a free parking garage for patrons and numerous taxis heading by.

Overall, worth it. Won't be ordering any of the salt-drenched foods again, however, and don't be afraid to bring up...