Monkey Nut Café - Barossa Valley — Restaurant in South Australia

March 2023 visit

Very unpleasant experience unfortunately.. This was a last minute change to a wine tour itinerary for lunch and tasting, and was honestly pretty bad. Firstly, there was a seat missing from our group tables (which weren’t really next to each other), and it seemed like an inconvenience for this to be rectified. At first, the lady was just going to put a chair at the end (which would have been uncomfortable and squashed). I suggested an extra table at the end, to which she obliged but seemed a bit annoyed at. Secondly, we asked if the chicken in one of the dishes was breast and was advised it was. With limited options, a lot of us opted for this. The chicken was not only clearly thigh (brown/pink meat), but also tough, fatty/grisly and basically inedible. Most of us left our meals hardly touched. When we told and showed the waitress, she advised the chef, who still insisted it was breast chicken…that was definitely concerning that they could still claim that when it clearly wasn’t true. The waitress did offer those who spoke up replacements, which only one person accepted though, due to the most being put off. A couple of others opted for a dessert instead, while the rest just went outside for the remainder of our time there. The fish and chips was described as ‘basically two fish fingers’ and looked & tasted like the packet ones from the supermarket - not nice at all for such a simple dish. Chips were mostly overcooked and also not nice. Again, another unpleasant meal which the other half of the group unfortunately opted for. Lastly, the tasting wasn’t actually a tasting but a bottle of wine on each table (not what we were expecting). This place really needs to lift its game, as the food is quite terrible. Hopefully they take in this critical yet honest feedback...

We went here on a Monday, 10th of July 2023, for lunch, before we headed to Barossa Valley for some wine tasting. It was a busy time for the ladies at Monkey Nut Café. There were many visitors. We waited a few minutes, but were able to get it and be seated. The staff are very friendly and made sure we had a great time. Meanwhile, while waiting for our food, we went out and took pictures of the corella birds congregating in the garden. They were so lovely to watch, although we know they are known as pests in the area. At the parking lot, they have vines of shiraz, where you can take photos and even pick and taste them. They're sweet. But beware! They'll make your teeth, gums and tongue purplish black! They easily get squished. Back to the café. Their food is amazing! I'd wanna dine there again. Just thinking about it makes me salivate. 🤤 If you're going to Barossa Valley, include this in your itinerary. Also, they have a...

I had a lovely lunch break at Monkey Nut Cafe, a place I’ve visited a few times, and it's easily one of the better cafes in the area. Their beautiful selection of teas and wines is always a highlight, and I love taking some home. The service is warm and welcoming, and this time, I tried the drunken chicken. The chicken was cooked perfectly—juicy and tender—and I appreciated that it was served with fresh greens, making it a healthy meal. However, the greens did absorb a lot of the chicken flavor, and I found myself wishing for a refreshing element, like a touch of orange or pink grapefruit segments, to add some acidity and balance the dish. Overall, it was still very tasty. The cafe itself is a lovely spot with plenty of seating, whether you're looking to sit indoors on a cozy winter's day or enjoy the outdoor space...