Secrets by the Sea — Restaurant in Adelaide

Good food and Good Service Dined on a Sunday evening with my wife and son as a quiet birthday dinner for me, ticking the local and seafood boxes. Reservation are made easy via the web and confirmation is prompt. It was a reasonably cold evening but the heating was just right making the room temperature perfect and found it quiet with only about 5 or 6 tables booked at the time so service was sure to be attentive. The menu is well balanced, with the focus on seafood and am sure would satisfy a wide range of diners. As a starter we chose the Oysters Kilpatrick and shared a dozen between 2 of us, with King George Whiting, Blue Swimmer Crab Linguine for our main meal with my son (11) having a scaled down version of the Salt & Pepper Calamari (We didn't choose the kids Fish & chips that are on the Menu) The Oysters were of the Coffin Bay origin (oddly served with blue rock salt rather than the usual white and some salad laid over that) They were as tasty as ever but found a few of the oysters quite small and for $35/dozen would have thought they would have been more generous. The whiting was excellent with a delightful batter, chips and a generous serve of Salad (They did forget the sauce, but was provided on asking). The blue Swimmer Linguini was cooked well, seafood content adequate but could have benefited from perhaps some course cracked pepper and a small amount of parmesan added on service My only gripe was the "scaled down version" of the Salt & Pepper Calamari that my son was given. although the pieces were larger than average, there were only 3 (we chose the scaled down version simply as it was a kids meal) but the bowl was mainly filled with salad and chips and my son would happily have eaten more if we had known (The question was asked and were told the main meal was larger than a child would normally eat.) We did not order any dessert but the menu carries a reasonable choice Overall I found the evening pleasant, the wine was reasonable and the food good. The service provided by the staff was excellent. The Happy Birthday Gesture at the end of the night was very...

Some good, some bad, but mostly disappointing. I booked online and requested a window seat so we could watch the sun set, and advised it was my partners birthday. When we arrived we were seated in the middle of the restaurant and there were 3 vacant tables by the windows. Advised staff that I had requested a window seat but they wouldn’t budge. The other parties arrived approx an hour and a half later when it was pitch black dark. We accepted our seats and it was freezing. We were so cold and asked if we could move. They were booked out so we asked if they could turn the aircon down but they wouldn’t. Later a party of 4 ladies arrived and sat at the table next to us. The first thing they did was complain it was too cold and asked them to turn aircon down. The food- the oysters were big and delicious, the scallops were also cooked well and delicious. The kingfish sashimi was a rip off. I had seen it on their website and knew I was going to order it, however it was one quarter of the size of the image on their website. The worst part was we ordered the 300g scotch fillet with seafood sauce. Both of our steaks were tough and difficult to cut through. Very disappointing as we expected it to be tender for the price point. Unfortunately we’ve had better steaks at common pubs. We didn’t bother complaining because our other concerns had gone unheard. Disappointed after spending a few hundred dollars on a bad meal and uncomfortable atmosphere.

Response to owner ~ it was absolutely cold in the seats we were in and 4 other people who were unknown to us, complained also. I also see this has been raised in previous reviews. The kingfish was not the same grams as you have on your website. The pic I took unequivocally shows that. The steaks, I can only imagine were budget scotch. Sour grapes? Absolutely! I expected better than we received. Not getting a window seat, I completely understand but it would have been nice to know. Unfortunately from any of the previous negative reviews posted, it’s obvious that you never take accountability for mistakes or poor...

Went here for a Saturday lunch. Only 3 tables taken for the period we were there. Salmon undercooked with multiple pin-bones. But was informed that ‘that happens’. They obviously rushed out some replacement garlic prawns, as these were JUST barely set & translucent also. Battered whiting on the Seafood Trio came out with soggy batter. Good size serving, but underwhelming flavours. Not what I would expect from a seafood specialty restaurant by any means. Staff were cordial, but not experienced.

In response to the owner’s reply; A few corrections if I may, The odd pin bone, is understandable, but 4 pin bones in a 180gm salmon fillet is not ‘trying’ if it is, I would suggest trying harder. I stated I have worked in hospitality for 30 years, & understand food service, not “eating out for 30years & know all about seafood” as you protest. If you’d spoken to us at the table rather than hiding behind the bar, it could have been addressed amicably. The communication between you & your staff is obviously as clear as it was with us at the table. ‘Atlantic’ salmon is pink, you are correct, we were never asked if we’d like it cooked further, & the middle of the fillet was mush, not set protein as it should be, even if it was pink. It was borderline raw. If you looked, you would have seen for yourself. If they are your best sellers, there shouldn’t be room for complaint, but you left that door WIIIDE open. I wouldn’t class asking for wine glasses with our wine, rather than the dirty sparkling glasses we had on the table as ‘whinging’, nor asking for the empty glasses to be cleared as ‘whinging’, nor repeating our mains order to the water, nor repeating our wine order to the waitress when they forgot those either.

I’m absolutely shocked that 110 on a Saturday night is fully booked for you. I’m sure your venue would struggle with more & you’d still be hiding behind the bar. This is far from the first negative review you’ve received. Maybe take the feedback from your reviews on board, rather than just sniping...