 | Adelaide Restaurants | Tips 1 - 10 of 102 |  |
 | |  |  | Nonya Bistro-Wine Bar: Heavenly Chicken Rendang | Tip Rating:   Satisfaction:  |  |  | |  |
The Nonya Bistro-Wine Bar features cooking drawn from dozens of cultures and takes great pride in celebrating (and cooking) Adelaide's diversity. The main focus is probably Malay cuisine, with a nod towards neighbor Thailand. The name "Nonya" comes from a malay-chinese term denoting a woman of prominent or social standing.
This is a small little establishment, and you'll feel more like you're at a small dinner gathering rather than "going out to eat", per se. In fact, the menu states that visitors should "savour the exquisite flavours and enjoy the relaxed ambience". That's pretty much a perfect line to describe an evening at Nonya. The menu adds "Nonya is the place for you to meet, chat, eat, drink, entertain and celebrate". I agree.
Our experience was particularly enhanced by the services of a terrific and attentive young waiter. When I told him that we were somewhat unfamiliar with Malaysian food, our server took it upon himself to insure a terrific experience, offering advice and guidance based upon a careful review of the preferences we shared with him.
Let's just share some menu items...
For starters, Nonya 's selection includes..
veggie spring rolls with dipping sauce of rice wine vinegar, gula melaka and
fresh chili (A$5)
wrap of chinese roast duck (with avocado, cucumber, julienne snow peas, toasted
sesame seed and a light hoi sin sauce) (A$10)
penang coconut milk and fish laksa (in a rempah of chili, turmeric, blue ginger, lemon
grass, coconut milk, lime leaves, tarmarind skinds and pineapple) (A$15)
Nonya features their curry dishes. The menu includes the following gem of curry wisdom: "curry in a hurry, there's never a good curry made in a hurry" Nonya also adds that their masterpiece is "not your average onion and capsicum sauce curry". The menu also WARNS that curry dishes are "on the menu until we sell out", so you'd best "be early if you want to curry it home".
Nonya Curry Dishes, all A$18
Penang Lime Leaf Chicken (with chili, turmeric, lemon grass and blue ginger)
Gulai Ayam Kapitan (captain's curry of chicken with candlenuts and tamarind)
Kurmah of Chicken (with blue poppyseeds, cloves, star anise and cinnamon)
Penang Nonay Chicken (highly spiced with potatoes and coconum milk)
Malay Chicken Rendang (lightly spiced...not a "wet" curry. A true Malay classic)
(We enjoyed the Chicken Rendang)
Malay Braised Beef Shin (with chili, cloves, star anise, cinnamon, curry leaves, tamarind)
(another dish we loved)
Other entrees include
Red Curry of Roast Duck (with blue ginger, lemon grass, chili, coconut milk, lychees) A$20
Char-grilled kangaroo (with bubble & squeak root veggie puree and onions,
caramelized in balsamic vinegar) A$20
Compote of Prawns (with sliced onions, lemon grass, blue ginger, chili, lime leaf,
turmeric and caramelized pineapple) A$23
Want dessert? (all are A$10)
Warm pineapple tart (with sago gula melaka and passionfruit)
coconut carmel custard (with black rice and a spiced fruit combinations of figs, pears
bananas and orange)
pears poached in red wine (and burnt caramel)
carmelized pineapple (with caramel ice cream) Leave a Comment Theme: Pan-Asian and Pacific RimPrice: US$31-40 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: Shop 5, 242 Hutt Street, Adelaide 5000Phone: 08 8232 0944 (phone and fax)Directions: Nonya's is on the outside (relative to downtown) edge of Hutt Street, right at the intersection with Gilles Street.
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| | | | Astor Hotel: A steak place, but they've got great fish 'n chips | Tip Rating:  Satisfaction:  | | | | |
They call this place "The Astor Hotel", but I don't really think they rent overnight rooms anymore. It's more a series of bars and restaurant rooms. We had dinner in the pub, as we were looking for simple pub fare on a cold and rainy Adelaide evening. The Astor did not disappoint.
I noticed that they seem to have a special function on every night of the week. The night that we were there, it was "steak dinner for two" for something like A$35. We were in the mood for something else, so we passed on the steak, opting for fish 'n chips. And, they had a nice selection of local cold beers on tap, which really hit the spot with the FNC. We also enjoyed talking with the bartender and waitress. In fact, the bartender gave me the name of "one of his mates" to contact when we traveled on to Alice Springs. He said "he'll take good care of you". Unfortunately, his mate was on holiday when we got to the Alice. But you get the idea... the Astor is a friendly, comfortable, local place where one can get a good meal and nice pint or two in Adelaide.
HAPPY HOUR is 5.30 - 6.30 Monday-Friday
And, on Fridays... all "by the glass" wines are A$4 per glass.
We had the fish 'n chips and beer. Terrific... nice and fresh, lightly breaded with hot, sizzling chips. And the beer was fair dinkum, too.
Here are some other menu items and costs...
Starters...
Veggie spring rolls, A$7
Indian Fried Chicken Shashliks, A$8.50
Salt and Pepper Squid, with salad garnish, A$9
They have a nice selection of pizza, including the "Astor Special", which is A$14. The special includes salami, bacon, roast capsicum, mushrooms, onions, olives, cheese and tomato sauce
Mains
Astor burger with chips, A$11
Beer-battered fish and chips, with tartare sauce and lemon, A$13. (VERY GOOD)
Middle Eastern spiced chicken, in zesty tomato sauce on jasmine rice, A$17
Beef or chicken schnitzel with chips and choice of sauces, A$12
Steaks
The T-Bone, served on creamy mash (mashed potatoes), with a choice of sauce, A$16
The Drunken Rump, a slad of rump marinated in red wine and herbs, served
with mash and a salad, A$17
BTW, the "choice of sauces" includes mushroom, pepper, Dianne and "gravy"
The Astor Pub has a modest list of red, white and sparkling wines, many available by the glass. Leave a Comment Theme: LocalPrice: US$11-20 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 437 Pulteney Str, Adelaide, South Australia 5000Phone: 08 8223 2442/ 8232 3020 (fax)Directions: From the Gilles-Hutt Street intersection, turn TOWARDs Adelaide downtown. After about four blocks, you'll see the Astor on the right upper corner.Website: www.theastor.com.au Other Contact: john@theastor.com.au
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| | | | Hahdorf Tips: German Atmosphere | Tip Rating: | | | | |
This is a great, German looking pub (especially inside). When I was there a few years ago, the staff were even dressed in Bavarian German attire, and a good pianist was provided for soft dinner entertainment.
Good for a place to get a good German beer. Very nice food also, but these days prices have gone up quite a bit and you pay more for the atmosphere, etc.
The building is quite old, dating back to 1839, with heavy dark 500 year old wood exposed ceiling beams and pillars which were salvaged from an old wool store in Adelaide and incorporated into the renovations done on the hotel in 1990. Even the tables have been made from this recycled timber.
When I was there, the menu was smorgasbord, and I remember there was plenty of selection. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherPrice: US$21-30 » Currency ConverterComparison: more expensive than averageAddress: Main Street, HahndorfDirections: Hahndorf, in the Adelaide Hills (close to Mt Barker on the map)
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on June 19, 2004
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