Local Crowd — Restaurant in Adelaide

Coffee wasn't bad but the owner left us feeling intimidated, humiliated and physically shaken. When we arrived there were several unoccupied tables outside, so I sat down with my 3 year old grandson and his younger sister who was asleep in the pram, while my daughter went in to place our order. We had planned to enjoy a coffee while the baby was asleep, and figured it would not be long before she would wake to breastfeed. My daughter ordered 2 coffees, a juice and a biscuit. She asked for takeaway which is our usual habit, so that should the children become unsettled before we finish we are able to leave rather than disturbing other patrons. There were no written notices, nor any verbal indicators from staff to alert us that ordering food and drink in takeaway form would restrict us from sitting at a table (This is given in some countries, but not in Australia). Before our order had arrived a man who later identified himself as the owner approached us. informing us that we would need to ''move on'' (his words) as we had made a take away order. We attempted to explain that we had only ordered in take away cups due to our plan to leave should the children become unsettled, and my daughter even offered to change our order to eat in. This apparently was not acceptable, he became increasingly aggressive and intimidating in his response, loudly postulating about his role as 'Covid Marshall', and how much it had cost him to become one (15K I believe he said). As a front line health worker who is very much aware of restrictions and need for social distancing I failed to see the relevance of his role in connection with our situation, we were not in any way breaching Covid 19 advice. Our communications with this person were polite but assertive, we politely declined to move. He then became ever more aggressive, proceeding to demand that we move the pram and stand on the curb to finish our drinks (with a toddler?.... on the kerb?!) The situation was so unpleasant by then, (and I am sure very uncomfortable for everyone around us), that we elected to leave. The baby woke as we were walking away, and my daughter was forced to sit on the car park kerb at the local RSL to feed the baby. I am furious that this horrible man used Covid 19 as some kind of power play to intimidate us. I am also wondering why (particularly as the Covid Marshall) he thought it was acceptable for him to make physical contact with my daughter (touching her upper arm). We felt humiliated and embarrassed that other patrons may have assumed we had somehow breached a Covid protocol, which was certainly not the case. I note that I am not the first reviewer to comment on this man's rudeness. He has lost the business of at least two locals today, and he will surely lose many more if he continues in this manner. I cannot wait to share my experience with the rest of my large extended family...

Checkered history of operation and ownership – now a thriving little social spot. The girls ventured here one brunch time recently.

Ambiance: 2 / 10 Cold, dark and stark is the first impression and that pervades throughout the whole encounter. Food comes out cold too but, we’ll get to that later. The demographic of the area is one of young nouveau professionals who don’t seem to have many manners, are loud and let their children run amuck The cacophony on a Sunday morning from uncontrolled brats is appalling! DON”T GO anywhere near this place if you’ve had a big Saturday night and want a peaceful Sunday breakfast or brunch. The boss, presumably the boss and/or owner, barks at his staff whilst dripping with smarmy commentary to the customers; us girls are no psychologists but it’s the best case of a sycophant we’ve seen. We even heard him chewing out a poor Sales Rep in the middle of the restaurant that brought everyone in the place to silence.

Winelist: 2 / 10 What can I say “boring”! There’s 2 or 3 up on a blackboard of obscure stuff. That’s it!! Nothing that went with brunch and NO FIZZ!!

Service: 8 / 10 Well, this is excellent. The only redeeming factor but, we mussed on this extensively and concluded that the staff must be so good because they’re on a very short leash.

Cuisine: 5 / 10 The weird Toasty combinations are quite intriguing and tasty but, the consensus from all but one of the girls was that meals were cold to luke warm. Why don’t these café’s warm the damn plates??? We didn’t order cold collations. Rumour has it that said owner/boss/manager barks at his chef or cooks; that doesn’t inspire passion or soul in what comes from the kitchen.

Value for what you get: 4 / 10. The ambiance was the biggest letdown followed by the wines. Everything else was average, we were honestly surprised why the place was so crowded. Perhaps this younger demographic need a bit more experience in what’s good and what’s not?

The deal maker or breaker; would we go back? No. Much better...

First things first - the food is delicious. The fermented chilli - sensational. The staff are friendly and obliging, and the art on the walls is really something. Atmosphere-wise, this place nails it on many levels.

Now, for some downsides. Four meals + 3 coffees ran about $105. If you left the place well fed, that would be a reasonable proposition, but the portions are probably as small as you could make them without it becoming farcical, given the price point. It is delicious and beautifully presented? - definitely - but if I leave a brunch place wanting a snack I think that something has probably gone a little sideways.

Just to comment on two specific dishes - the fried gnocchi is up there with the best gnocchi I've ever had in my life. Tender in a way that makes you wonder how it's all staying together. The pumpkin and corn fritters taste fantastic - but they're not fritters. You'd expect those two ingredients to result in a very moist product, but it's pile of an almost shard-like tempura-style product, with thin strands of what must be shredded pumpkin. It's smart because you get a lot of height on the plate, but it's sort of like the tentpoles on a tent - the interior of the dish is mainly blank space.

There was a cake case there that I did not get to try and frankly might bring me back, but because the bill had already hit triple figures I didn't feel I could hit it. If the prices were slightly reduced or the portions a little more generous it would be right on the mark, and I hope they keep striving to find the...