Restaurants in North Adelaide (Adelaide)

The Red Ochre

Red Ochre has long been recognized for its innovative treatment of native produce, and chef Andrew Fielke has been one of the main instigators in growing and experimenting with bush herbs and fruits. The food here is fresh and the creations are contemporary, with a unique approach to flavoring and seasoning. If you are lucky the succulent and tender Wagyu beef will be on the menu, or perhaps the sweet and sought-after freshwater marron. The venue is a delight, overlooking Torrens Lake. The restaurant is open from Monday to Sunday for dinner.

The Royal Oak

The Royal Oak is one of North Adelaide's most popular pubs, with a fabulous, friendly atmosphere. Well-dressed locals enjoy the relaxed ambiance and live music. The pub exudes a "retro" flavour throughout, with a black-and-white television, a complete collection of flying ducks and enameled scallops - plus well-loved musical instruments suspended from the walls. The dining area features authentic laminated tables and kitchen chairs from the 1960s. Alternatively, go alfresco at the beautiful mosaic tables on the front pavement. Fresh, local cuisine is featured daily. Specialties include vegetables wrapped and steamed in paperbark.

Cibo Ristorante Pasticceria

Cibo Ristorante Pasticceria is famous for its wood-oven pizza, great coffee, extensive wine list and gelati made on the premises. Cibo exudes classic Italian elegance, from the heavy, iron door-handles to the Mediterranean-feel, tiered courtyard strung with dainty fairy-lights. Inside you will find dark wood, crisp, white tablecloths and mood-lighting throughout. Pizza favorites include smoked salmon, mascarpone cream cheese and rocket. Regular diners clamour for the Linguine Lillo Scoglio, mussels, cockles, oysters, prawns and calamari, cooked in their own juices with garlic, Italian parsley, chili and extra virgin olive oil.

Najjars Café

The owners of Najjars Café have bought Lebanese "know how" to North Adelaide. While there is not much to the décor, the atmosphere is casual and friendly, and the food proves well worth the visit. The menu has a Mediterranean flavor, from traditional Lebanese and pasta to Asian. Regulars swear by the good quality coffee and favorites like the Kibbi roll, cooked lamb mince, cracked wheat and spices with tabouli, lettuce and hummus in Phoenician bread. Mouth-watering cakes, biscuits and Lebanese sweets are on display: it is impossible to resist the banana caramel cake! The space can also be used to host corporate and private events. Check website for more details.

The Lion Restaurant

The Lion was once a hotel, but is now, in the management's own words, a "sophisticated restaurant, entertainment and functions complex". Few people have grown up in Adelaide and are yet to visit this city landmark. The eatery has won several awards, including the Australian Hotels' Association "Best Restaurant" title in 1999 and 2001, and was bestowed the AHA's "National Award for Excellence-Best Restaurant Australia" in 2002. There's also a gaming area where you can try your luck while nibbling on complimentary snacks. What's more, you can book meetings, functions and parties in their various private rooms, and grab the lion's share of votes as the host with the most!

The Wellington Hotel

Allow the Howells to accommodate you into a friendly bar and grill that has 60 beers on tap. A quaint little stop on Wellington Square, the place offers schnitzels, burgers, salads, bar snacks, breads, desserts and other grill items. Menus for kids, Christmas, functions, cocktail parties are available as is a Melbourne Cup Lunch. So next time you're in Adelaide skip into Welly-as it's fondly known.

The Oxford Banque

The Oxford Banque is a favourite for a long lunch of modern Australian cuisine. A busy hotel and dining room share an open-plan kitchen that circles through the building. With starched white linen, sparkling glasses and dramatic flower displays, presentation is everything. Style and reputation have kept this restaurant popular with local business people and other clients. The menu is modern Australian and emphasizes on local market produce. Try the duck rilletes with foie gras, candied figs and sea-salted water crackers, or chargrilled fillet of beef with onion jam, baby spinach, pate and potato rosti.

Amarin Thai Restaurant

Visit the Amarin Thai Restaurant for a feast of delicate flavors such as basil and ginger that make your dining experience a memorable one. There is a surprisingly unattractive concrete dining area, with a courtyard providing extra space. However, the friendly service gives the place congeniality, and an enjoyable cosiness in the evenings. The menu is large, but many regulars do not get past the Larb Barrumundi. The fish is de-boned and deep-fried whole, served with a delicious, fragrant coriander and shallot sauce. The daily specials are innovative and the wine list complements the cuisine nicely.

Himeji Japanese Restaurant

Himeji Japanese Restaurant offers a great range of traditional Japanese dishes. You will find a wide range of cooking styles, covering dishes from sushi and sashimi to teriyaki and tempura. A specialty is the nabemono style of cooking selections of meat and vegetables cooked in a pot at your table. A banquet is an inexpensive way to try several dishes at once and great fun if you are dining with friends.

Zapata Mexican Restaurant

Visit this establishment for great authentic Mexican and early American cuisine. Zapata's offers a relaxed atmosphere in an old hacienda with lots of timber and some cozy alcoves for intimate dining. Worth a look are the photographic prints with fascinating vignettes of Mexican life in earlier times. Hearty meals feature all the Mexican favorites like enchiladas and tacos, plus lots more. The fajitas here are particularly good and fun to share. Please check the website for exact timings.

Caffe Buongiorno Tea Tree Plus

Whatever the time of day this restaurant is busy, and not just for the pizzas:the atmosphere is terrific. Caffe Buongiorno Tea Tree Plus is cozy and remains busy at all times of the day. Be at ease with just a newspaper as you make small talk with friends. The open kitchen sends out tantalizing wafts of freshly cooked dishes. The specialty of the house is delicious risotto, mouthwatering pastas and pizzas. Try either with accompanying vegetables and a glass of wine. Come, indulge yourself in a true Italian meal! Open from 8.30 a daily; check website for more details.

The Brompton

Located on First Street, the Hotel Brompton is something new to the city. Locals come here to chill out at the bar, some come down to indulge in gaming while there are others who come here to grab a great meal with family, friends or that someone special. The crowds who come in are generally in their early thirties, the attire and clothing is casual  making the atmosphere relaxed and fun filled. The Brasserie which is the in-house restaurant is more sophisticated with a bit more of class has a two-fold menu which is mainly made up of traditional foods & pub grub. Patrons can also try the a la carte menu which is pre fixed for the day. The bar stocks a wide selections of wines and alcoholic beverages. They also have a huge courtyard where diners can sit and relax under the stars. Parking is also easily available here. Word is that a number of top celebrities have made their appearances here, so the next time you head down to the Brompton Hotel you may just bump into one.