Pearl — Restaurant in Adelaide

I was really disappointed with the service that was given to me today.. I had my two children with me and wanted to order some chips and coffee to take away but the kids needed to go toilet, no staff wanted to greet me so I went up to one of the staff if it was alright if we use their bathroom first before we order, she looked me up and down as if she was judging me and basically said “you can use the public bathroom which is outside over there” 👉

I was not given a warm welcome like everyone else as I am a revert muslim and wears a hijab so I was treated less than a dog, there was no “hi how are you?” or “can I help you with anything today?”, nothing but judgment and disrespect.

Anyways, I then returned to the establishment after I had used the “public bathroom” because the kids really wanted their chips and juice even though I did not want to spend a cent on this restaurant. I was then again ignored, so I went up to another staff and explained to her how I felt and told her why it was alright for other customer to use their bathroom, she basically said “oh we just cleaned it that’s why?” instead of just apologising she went and tried to gaslight me.. even though I saw someone came out of it as I was walked in. Then I asked “if it was alright for me to order or am I not allowed to either?” At this point I was already upset but did not want to cause a scene.. so I ordered what I wanted and sat down on the table..

While I was waiting I could see all the staff whispering and talking to one another while looking at me..

Then the first staff that told me to use the public toilet, came and apologised and said that she could not hear me and said that she didn’t think I was going to order anything.. “wow..” and afterwards the earlier staff came up and said “oh if you need to use our bathroom now you can”, I basically told them it’s all good I already went to the “public” one.

I won’t recommend anyone here, their food is trash, their coffee sucks (as a Melbournian I know), their customer service is nonexistent and the prices are just ridiculously expensive for something basic.

In conclusion, I have never been treated this badly by restaurant staff in my life. These girls are so rude, uptight and disrespectful.. I could say they’re islamaphobic and racist too. They pick and choose who they want to serve, they judge people based on how they look. If you don’t know how to do customer service then don’t bother getting a job in that industry. I hope you guys hire genuine staff in the future so your business don’t fail...

We heard about their Friday dinner with a tasting menu, and we had to try it out! Pearl focuses on locally and sustainably sourced seafood, which was absolutely delicious. Overall the food was excellent, and the choice of drinks was fairly extensive, but the food came out a little bit slowly. The 7 course meal took almost 4 hours to complete, which wasn't a big issue, as we didn't really have anything else planned for after. But just be aware that it will take a long time if you are planning to do other things after dinner. That's the only reason not to give it 5 stars. . Olives: we don't normally like olives, but these were really tasty! Not too salty or overwhelming. . Spencer Gulf Kingfish crudo: super fresh! Really loved the texture of the fish, which was tender yet firm. Delicious ingredients! . Crispy fried school prawns: Loved these prawns! They were really nicely fried, tender, and full of flavours. . Baharat lentil salad: This was a Middle Eastern themed dish that was very nicely done. Didn't expect a vegetarian dish in the middle of a seafood dinner, but this was quite refreshing! Very yummy! . Port Lincoln mussels & Goolwa pipis: omgggg we loved this dish! The mussels and pipis were sooooo delicious! The sauce was amazing as well, which was excellent for dipping the bread in. Favourite dish of the night! . Cape Jervis calamari: This was a chargrilled whole squid that was perfectly done. It was full of smokey flavours, and was just super tasty! The squid was nice and tender, and didn't have a single bit that was chewy. Overall fantastic dish. . Baklava cheesecake: this was a twist on a classic sweet dish, and it was very yummy! The cheesecake itself was not too heavy, and the baklava was not overly sweet. The pastry was nice and flaky. Just a great way to...

While the setting of this restaurant is undeniably beautiful—a true gem and a remarkable attraction in its environment—I believe that even the most breathtaking location cannot compensate for fundamental mistakes in food preparation. We began our meal with scallops as an appetizer. The presentation was excellent, and the ingredients were clearly fresh. Although I was initially surprised by the combination of dill and lobster oil, which somewhat overpowered the natural sweetness of the scallops, the overall flavor profile remained balanced and enjoyable. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the main course - claypot. The dish lacked harmony and was significantly over-seasoned. When a dish is excessively salty or acidic, it does a disservice to the quality seafood used—fish, crab, mussels—all of which deserve to be treated with respect and care. What was described as seafood in a tomato sauce turned out to be seafood overwhelmed by a harshly sour red sauce, likely due to an overuse of lemon or lime. This approach stripped the dish of its character and made it difficult to enjoy. I would strongly recommend simplifying the menu and focusing on preserving the natural flavors of the ingredients rather than masking them with overpowering elements. If today’s execution was the result of an inexperienced chef, that is understandable—but in that case, the kitchen should ensure that dishes are reviewed by someone with a more refined palate before they are served. The potential of this restaurant is great, but the culinary experience must match the beauty of the location. I hope to return in the future to see that standard...