Adelaide — Restaurant in Salt Lake City

I have never written a review of my experience at a restaurant. I have rarely ever had cause to be more than slightly upset at a dining experience. For me to do this… I want you to understand how jarring my evening was.

I booked a 7 PM reservation for Adelaide on Valentine’s Day. It was $90 per person, for a 3-course meal with dessert. To be clear, this event had a limited menu. This is important context to the evening.

We arrived about 6:55 and were immediately seated. The restaurant wasn’t slammed, but they were easily busy. The dining area was loud and brightly lit. As a concession to the day, each table had a small vase with two roses, that was the only thing which marked the evening as something other than a Wednesday. Even the music was an eclectic offering that clearly had no thought placed into it.

It only took a couple minutes after being seated for our waiter to greet us, but it then took another 10 minutes to order cocktails and another 10 before we had them and were able to place our orders. The first course came out about 10 minutes after our order was placed, about 7:30, but was wrong and had to be corrected. The second course arrived promptly after we finished the first. At about 7:50 the server tried to give us the second course again, and we gently corrected him in that we were now awaiting our entrees. These finally arrived at 8:10, we quickly finished, and then we had dessert by about 8:25. Overall, it felt like we were left alone too much and the time between things was too long. Especially given that these were all small plates on a set menu. Also, by about 7:45 the restaurant was markedly less busy. Now to the food.

For the first course, my fiancé and I both chose the Louisiana Gulf Shrimp Bisque. It was bland and uninspired. Frankly, I’m not sure any salt was used at all. There were also bits of shrimp scales in the bisque. Someone apparently doesn’t know how to drain their stock.

The second course was Crab Cake Croquettes. These were pleasant enough, and to be fair not my favorite thing in the world in general, but I can’t complain about these.

For the third course my fiancé ordered Praline Crusted Halibut and I ordered a Petite Filet with Crab Maison. The halibut was clearly overcooked and tough. The petite filet was fine, but the Crab Maison…. I had to look it up when I got home. While there are many takes on this, they’re all a mayonnaise base with relish, scallions, capers, mustard, spices, etc., mixed with the crab meat. Mine was seemingly suspended in cool whipped butter and nothing else. I didn’t know what to expect, but suspected this was wrong. Needless to say, it wasn’t enjoyable.

Finally, dessert! We had Pecan Financiers, with pear coulis, honeycomb vanilla gelato, and meringue crips. The fanciers came adorned with what looked like whipped cream and the meringue crisps. I say looked like, because it was our old friend cool whipped butter once again! In this instance, I presume someone whipped the cream too long and forgot to add sugar.

After all of this, we also received a bag with two decorated heart shaped sugar cookies and a copy of the menu as a keepsake. In other circumstances I would have considered this a sweet memento, but the menu copy is stained by the oils from the cookies and another addition to the thoughtlessness of the evening. There was nothing about this night that was worth the $270 I paid for it, with the exception that I spent it with my fiancé.

TL;DR – The service was slow and confused. The food was bland, uninspired, and simply bad. This place has serious issues which need to...

I recently celebrated my birthday with a group of 8 friends at Adelaide restaurant. While there were some positive aspects of the evening, there were several disappointments that overshadowed our experience.

Firstly, when making the reservation online, I could only reserve a table for 8 people, despite noticing a large, unoccupied table in the same room throughout our visit. It would have been more accommodating to allow us to book the larger table in the first place.

The ambiance was another issue. The lighting was incredibly dim, making it challenging to see the menu and enjoy our meal fully. After attempting to turn on the table lamps, we realized they weren't working, so we resorted to opening all the curtains to bring in more light.

I must commend the restaurant on its friendly and attentive service; our server was excellent throughout the evening.

However, when it came to the food, there were significant areas for improvement. The prices seemed disproportionately high for the quality and quantity of the dishes. The charcuterie cheese board was a particular letdown. Priced at $32, it offered a meager amount of cheese and meat, accompanied by just one cracker. Even when we voiced our concerns to a manager, the additional cheese they brought was oddly cut and lacked flavor. The pear pieces were tiny and sour, further diminishing the experience.

I ordered the clam chowder, which I found to be quite enjoyable. Some of my friends opted for fish dishes, which were generally good, except for the swordfish, which was disappointingly dry. On a positive note, the lemon pie ice cream was a delightful ending to the meal.

What struck me the most was the final bill. At $96 per person, we felt it was excessively overpriced for what we received. For the same amount, we could have enjoyed a far more satisfying and exclusive dining experience at other establishments like Takashi.

While Adelaide has some positive aspects, there are clear areas that need attention, particularly regarding portion sizes, flavors, and pricing. Regrettably, I cannot recommend this restaurant and do not...

A Delightful Surprise: Adelaide at Le Méridien Review (from July 2024)

I must admit, hotel restaurants often leave me feeling underwhelmed. But Adelaide is a refreshing exception! Stepping into the restaurant is like being transported to the French Quarter of New Orleans, perfectly complementing the West Quarter's jazz theme. Chef Jackie Siao, a culinary star who graced prestigious JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton resorts, is a fantastic addition to downtown Salt Lake City. She even stopped by our table, and her enthusiasm for food was contagious! Must-Try Dishes: Appetizers: Fried Oysters with Caviar: The clear winner of the night. Shrimp with Peppers in Cream Sauce: A decadent and flavorful choice. Mains: Shrimp with white cheddar grits: Melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.

Arugula & Fennel Citrus supreme, granny smith apple, toasted almond, chevre, craisin, white balsamic vinaigrette. (Chèvre Goat Cheese. The spanish triple creme goat brie compliments the Salad.)

Dinner: Fully Prime Filet Mignon jalapeño bourbon butter, charred leeks, fricassee of mushrooms, demi. (PRO TIP: Add lump Crab meat and a balsalmic reduction glaze!)

Desserts: Bread Pudding: This might sound like a basic choice, but Chef Jackie's version was a revelation. Butter Croissants are the secret incredient to this “slap yo mama” dessert that took it to another level.

To "put a cherry on top", sommelier, Jacob Narayan, introduced us to a 7 wine degustation that perfectly complimented each course.

Overall Impression: Adelaide is a fantastic addition to Salt Lake City's dining scene. Chef Jacqueline and her kitchen perform culinary magic. In the Salt Lake City are where food is often ordinary, this venue offers the extraordinary! ADELAIDES New Orleans themed atmosphere is lively and yet unobtrusive, the food is beautifully presented and bursting with flavor, and should be highly considered for one's next dining choice! Special thanks to: General Manager, Mr. Scott Cochran for stopping by our table to say hello on a...