Restaurant: The Grosvener Hotel

Restaurant: The Grosvenor Hotel

Ocean Street

Victor Harbor

http://www.grosvenorvictor.com.au/index.html

(photos above from their website)

This old hotel in Victor Harbor is one of a few hotels in the small seaside town, and is argueabley the most enduring. The 100 year old building has located on the corner of Ocean St brings character on the busy tourist street.

The staff are generally very friendly here. A couple in particular are very attentive. I think the place suffers from the transient staff issue that most small town pubs contend with. Old wooden door fridges behind the bar are just fabulous. I would love to have them in my home. Beyond that however, the decor is pretty boring. A unique thing about the place, is its famous electric train that traces around the edge of the ceiling through the restaurant and bar. Kids have always talked about that train, but unfortunately it more often than not not running.

The menu is basic pub food.. but its good. I have always had a good steak here, and the cheap steak nights make it worth while.

The Grosvenor's claim to fame is having the best Chicken Parmigiana in town. It isn't the usual thing I would order, but by all accounts it is really good

The veggie bar is generally good, and is mostly well stocked.

The Grosvenor is just your basic town pub. Victor really lacks in the dining seen particularly with the competition a short drive away in nearby Port Elliot. They have developed a beer garden round the side, which is a fantastic addition and is getting a lot of use with interesting functions. It may be the highlight of the place.

Restaurant:The Star of Greece Cafe

Restaurant: The Star of Greece Cafe

1 The Esplanade

Port Willunga

Overlooking the stunning waters at Port Willunga sits the iconic restaurant, The Star of Greece. A very popular leisurely lunch spot, this would have to be one of my favourite restaurants of all time. I have been lucky enough to not once have a bad meal here. A credit to the management and the chefs they choose.

The name can confuse, as this is NOT a Greek restaurant. It is named after a ship of the same name that hit bottom here in 1888. The ship was a solid, three masted iron ship, that couldn't fight the "once in a hundred year storm". It is hard to imagine that 18 men died as the remains of the ship lie not too far off shore. She ran aground at 3am however, and it wasn't until dawn that she was spotted. A rescue attempt didn't even get started until late afternoon. Over a hundred years have passed, and the wreck is now a popular dive site, being one of the easiest wrecks to access in the state. Check out this web site for photos of the wreck: http://www.staugustinelighthouse.com/blog/lamposts/diving_on_the_star_of_greece.php

A beautiful summer day and a visit from my Grandma from Canada brought us to The Star of Greece for lunch. The scenery was breath taking. It was a perfect summer day with the sun sparkling on the different hues of the ocean. Like a postcard. The restaurant itself doesn't look anything spectacular, almost like a shack on the edge of the cliffs. Inside is quaint and cosy. Wine bottles from various special occasions line the the perimeter shelving and tables are crammed in as tight as they can be! Mismatched chairs and crockery set the scene for a casual feeling lunch.

We were lucky enough to be there the first day of their new menu. I haven't found the new menu online, but trust me... its amazing. I had a very hard time to choose what to eat. After having some bread to start with the most amazing olive oil (so fresh and no rancid after taste at all), we had the Poached Prawn, salmon roe, avocado mousse, tomato jelly and dandelion leaves ($19).

What a pretty dish! The flavours were so delicate and subtle. Just wonderful particularly on a hot summer day. The textures were spot-on. The chewy prawns, crunchy lettuce, the smooth jelly and avocado...perfect. The bowl they came in was really neat, very shallow, almost like a plate with a really wide rim that sloped downwards. Have to get me some of those!

To accompany our amazing food, I had a Shaw and Smith Sauv Blanc ($9) and Grandma settled on a lovely sparkling. Hesketh "The Proposition". Grandma loves her bubbles.

At this point we were entirely happy with our lunch. Everything was perfect. The staff were great, view fantastic, food amazing. We were served our drinks, bread and entre relatively quickly, and then to our disappointment, our main took a very long time to come out. Fair enough a large Xmas party table was seated in that time, but it got to the point where I had to ask about our next course. Despite this .... what eventually DID come was just amazing.

You know when you have one of those dishes that you reflect on, and remember forever as the "perfect" this or that.... well this is it. The perfect salad. Hands down the BEST salad I have EVER had. Ruby Red Salad- beeroot, watermelon,raspberry,red cabbage, goats curd and maple dressing ($17). I don't even know were to begin with this..... first of all if you have read my other posts, you would know I LOVE goats curd. I also love beetroot and the combination of the two is a match made in heaven. Watermelon in salad is the surprise ingredient of all my favourite summer salads and raspberries are my all-time favourite fruit. It was like chef Harley Ireland made this salad just for me! Again, the textures were varied with the crunchy cabbage to the smooth goats curd. The tart raspberries cut through the sweetness of the maple dressing perfectly. I can't find one thing wrong with this salad.

The new menu at the Star of Greece is one of the best menus I have seen. There is a strong focus on South Australian food from KI Haloumi, to Port Willunga Squid, Coffin Bay Oysters, King George Whiting....it goes on.

Our food was amazing. I don't know the chef's history (however google is going to get a work-out on that) but the attention to detail in colours, flavours and textures is incredible. I can't wait to go back.

Restaurant: The Hahndorf Inn

Restaurant: The Hahndorf Inn

35 Main Road

Hahndorf, SA

http://www.hahndorfinn.com.au/The_Hahndorf_Inn_Hotel/Home.html

There is nothing better to say good-bye to a diet than German food. Losing those 5 kilos before Christmas, just had to go on hold for a day in Hahndorf!

Hahndorf is quaint historical town in the Adelaide Hills which was settled by Germans in the mid 1800s. "The history of the Hahndorf Inn goes back to 1853 when Gottlob Schuetze established the Australian Arms in a long fachwerk building at No. 46 Main Street. Mr Shuetze transferred his hotel to a single storied stone building over the road and changed the name to the Union Hotel in 1863. For many years, the Union Hotel was the scene of rollicking weddings, parties and musical evenings. Plays and learned lectures ranging from "Ancient Teutonic History" and "How to Make a Home Happy" added to the intellectual life of the conservative rural community. Many years later, when the South Eastern Freeway reached the village in 1972, it became the dining room of the renovated newly named The Hahndorf Inn"

(from: http://www.hahndorfinn.com.au/The_Hahndorf_Inn_Hotel/History.html, Inn).

Whenever in Hahndorf, I always eat at the Hahndorf Inn. I love the atmosphere, and the fact that the owner plays his accordian around the tables. I also appreciate and support the fact that the owner refuses to put pokies in his pub. GREAT DECISION!!! I wouldn't go here however if I didn't enjoy the food as well! Great simple German fare and cold frothy German beer on tap! Heaven!

Kassler Chop with Saurkraut and a pretzel

Most of the time I order kranskys and this visit, I ordered the chilli cheese kranskys with saurkraut, rhine potatoes and a pretzel with assorted mustards ($20.90). Huge amounts of food for around $20. I love cheese kranskys, and these were just wonderful. The saurkraut is really mild, so even those hesitant in the pickled cabbage would be able to stomach it. The assorted mustards used to be served in jars at the table, but now you dish some up on a plate from a side serving table. I liked having the Beerenburg jars brought the table... I am not sure why they changed it, perhaps people were messing up the jars, or even taking them... who knows.

There are 4 (I think) different German beers on tap. I had the lager as per usual. Light, but still 5.1% alcohol. The heavier beers go over 7%. I do not profess to know a whole lot about beer so I will leave my tasting notes to a simple, very cold very good beer!

The meals are simple, great value for money with no bells and whistles. You always know what you are going to get. Lunch has changed to bar service, but I don't actually miss the table service that much. There is a kids room which is great for the little ones, and the location is great for some before and after lunch browsing in the local shops. Just don't expect a "light" meal.... ..