Rob Roy Hotel — Restaurant in Adelaide

I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with the Rob Roy. A few years ago, when the place was pumping, they used to do incredible sharing platters that were great value and really good quality. As well as jugs of all your favourite cocktails at excellent prices. Unfortunately, this all changed, and the quality started to drop off. The last time I was there, I ordered a Margarita cocktail, and it was terrible, and I haven't been back since - a bad cocktail and you've lost me!

Since then, I've noticed a really rocky time for the Rob Roy. Many, MANY menu changes, delivery ideas, identity changes - like, 'Martha's Kitchen' or something? Nothing seemed to work, and it felt like they were pulling out all the stops to stay relevant... or alive!

Today, I dropped in to try their new Asian inspired lunch menu. Well, it's a winner! The first thing you'll notice are excellent prices for what you get. No other pub in the area does as good a lunch menu as the Rob Roy.

I decided on the dumpling laksa. It's not what I've experienced in the past. This laksa may have been more traditional, I'm not sure, but it had a distinctive smell that I could smell before it came to my table. The taste was initially fishy and over seasoned, possibly too much fish sauce, and I wasn't sure I'd made the right decision, however, it was delicious and filling. I feel I must describe the smell and taste, and it was basically the smell of an Asian grocer, that odd fermented, spicy, funky, 'museum-ey' smell. It wasn't unpleasant, just different, and after my initial shock, I enjoyed it.

Staff are friendly and attentive, with full table service a refreshing surprise. Chilled table water was promptly served, but I followed it up with a Margarita (to test) it was good!

It's definitely worth dropping in. They have all the old pub favourites, but the Asian menu is where it's at for me and I highly recommend giving it a try.

On paying the bill, I was given a coupon card for a complimentary glass of champagne, which was very much appreciated.

Good job, Rob...

Rob Roy by LLaw offers a delightful dining experience, perfect for celebratory occasions like birthdays. The ambience sets a charming tone, especially when seated outside, creating a more relaxed atmosphere than the function room where the buffet is served. With a friendly and accommodating staff, the evening started on a high note.

The buffet began with a surprising twist on a classic—freshly made vegetable spring rolls. Unlike the frozen versions often served elsewhere, these rolls were perfectly crispy, packed with flavor, and a hit with everyone at the table. Moving to the standout dish, the baked chicken rice was exceptional. With a cheesy crust and a rich, brown gravy, this dish was a showstopper—complete, satisfying, and utterly delicious.

The mixed fried noodle, featuring both chicken and prawns, was decent but didn’t quite steal the spotlight. However, the honey chicken offered a refreshing balance, its subtle sweetness keeping it from being overwhelming. The braised beef, however, was the undisputed star of the evening. Incredibly tender, the beef melted in the mouth, with a richly complex gravy that carried a whisper of Sichuan pepper, elevating the entire dish. It’s a must-try for any visitor.

The stir-fried vegetables rounded out the meal with a bright, fresh contrast to the heartier dishes. And though the famed Singapore chili crab wasn’t on the buffet menu, the sight of it inside the restaurant promises a future visit.

To top off the celebration, Rob Roy graciously provided serving plates for our birthday cake without any additional charge—a lovely touch that speaks to their excellent customer service. Overall, it was a memorable dining experience, and I’ll be eagerly returning for the chili crab. Well...

Highly don't recommend. Do not visit if you have food allergies. Had my wedding reception here, and it felt like one thing after another. 3 new owners in the 5 months that I started to plan everything with them. Terrible communication and lack of following up on emails after meetings. The day before when we showed up to set up the room, nothing was set up or organised. Tables were at a different venue and had to get picked up. Bridesmaids were vaccuumming the floors as guest were arriving on the wedding day. We were given dirty table clothes and so we had to source some ourselves from a hire shop, and I could keep going. Guests were waiting at the bar for 10 minutes minimum to be served for a drink as the workers would just disappear from the function room. Most importantly, I had an anaphalactic guest, and it was discussed that we would have satay skewers but the flavour would be made without the nuts. On my wedding day they made the decision themselves to put a peanut satay sauce dish in the middle of the skewers on a finger food table. Lucky I was able to pick this up before anyone had gotten to it and potentially contaminated other foods, which could have caused my guest to be seriously injured. We were also meant to have Gluten free and lactose free alternatives for a couple guests, and these were never served on the night.

I refused to pay full price for the bill and pretty sure they've given my number to someone who has been harassing me since, continuously calling me behind a private number. Highly...