Paper Tiger — Restaurant in Adelaide

This restaurant has been on my radar for a while , and as I was going through the city on a Saturday night, decided to try and see if I could get a seat . As a solo diner without a booking , it’s often a hit and miss affair , which I understand , especially on a Saturday evening, but the staff managed to get me a seat outside next to a toasty warm heater ( which I actually preferred anyway.) A choice between still and sparkling water is much appreciated- these little details make it more cosy . The severs were all extremely friendly on this night - I ended up asking for the recommendations as there were a lot of delicious sounding options- the duck was what I ended up choosing as one of the servers told me it was her favourite. The bird is dry aged aged for seven days and served with a creamy lychee sauce and charred baby cos . The duck was cooked to perfection and there was a nice crunch to the skin - absolutely loved the creamy lychee sauce , if it was bottled they could sell this . Vegetables are usually an afterthought, but I could have eaten a whole bowl of the charred baby cos , they had a special flavour of their own . I also had the green mango salad , with paw paw , peanuts, nam jim and dried shrimp - it was refreshing and spicy , with so much flavour and textures. This was quite a big dish and if you had two people it’s definitely something you could share. I had the mango cheesecake for dessert , which was served in a ball shape , coated in chocolate. It’s was served nicely and aesthetically pleasing, but didn’t have as much flavour as I was expecting , especially as the rest of the food was so appetizing. But it was quite delicious and a nice light end to the meal . A shout out to my main sever - she made recommendations and was amazingly friendly and helpful - this elevated the experience and made it...

We booked in for our anniversary dinner as it was advertised as a new restaurant similar to Chin Chin - but we found it extremely disappointing and nothing like Chin Chin or not even close to Golden Boy or even Gin Long.

It was very full and atmospheric- very cool, but no substance. We ordered the $65 tasting menu and all four entrees came at once which was too quick. It didn’t have the same feel as a regular tasting menu paced through the night.

The entrees were the highlight of meal - one nice oyster each, two scallops, a kingfish roll and some chicken wings. There were some nice flavours there but nothing I’d order again.

The main was a beef curry to share with rice and a side salad with a peanut sauce and tofu.

The beef curry was tough and fatty and a sweet sauce with lots of star anise and another strong flavours which were good but over powered but the sweetness of the sauce. The rice serving was small and lacking in fluffinesses. The salad was particularly bad - I’m not sure if it’s because we were dining at 8.30pm or if it’s also like that earlier but the tofu was extremely dry and tasteless.

I’m a real dessert person so I was looking forward to it - but I ended up eating only half as it was just bad.

It was a jackfruit stuffed with sticky rice and a coconut cream on the side. The jackfruit was tough, the coconut cream was too tart and the sticky rice was extremely gluggy and tasteless.

The whole meal was so disappointing. I did see some other nice dishes come out to other tables like the fried rice, roti and the pork bao - so maybe ordering al la carte might be more successful for others but we definitely left...

Stepping into Paper Tiger is like immersing yourself into a world of gastronomic wonder. We opted for the 6 course "FEED ME" option and it was nothing short of exceptional. Right from the get-go, we were asked for our dietary requirements, tailoring the dining experience to our preferences.

The Coffin Bay Oysters, served with coconut and green nam jim, were truly the pearls of the sea. The Grilled Scallops with Tom Yum were the showstoppers, presenting an explosion of taste that was absolutely delightful.

The restaurant has a comfortable, warm vibe, and the red neon lights - from the dumpling to the maneki-neko - add a quirky touch to the setting. Admittedly, the dimly lit atmosphere can take some getting used to, especially when trying to appreciate the visual aesthetics of the meals.

As for the service, it was prompt and courteous, but not without its minor hiccups - we were served sparkling water instead of still. Nevertheless, the servers were attentive and ensured a pleasant dining experience.

One point that could be improved is the seating arrangement. Tables were rather close to each other and a party of 6 at a table for 3 seemed a bit squeezed.

In terms of value, it's worth every penny. The price tag perfectly reflects the quality and experience that Paper Tiger offers.

In conclusion, if you're seeking a unique dining experience in Adelaide, Paper Tiger comes highly recommended. Despite a couple of minor areas for improvement, it provides an unforgettable culinary journey. And don’t miss out on their Ice Cream Sandwich – a photo of which will be accompanying...