Quiet and dreamy Adelaide has its share of restaurants, but it can be difficult to find something special that stands out from the rest. Maybe this is because as a travelling Melburnian there’s a certain vibe that is being looked for, but I digress from the blatant jibe at Adelaide as that special something has been found.
Meet Africola.
Tucked away on the north eastern corner of the CBD is this little pocket of excitement that offers a taste of South Africa. From the moment you walk in the door, it’s hard not to notice the colourful mismatched interior filled with random nick-nacks and snippets of local slang plastered across walls, modelled off a typical African shebeen (illegal bar). The website is just as nuts and worth a visit in it’s own right. Perfection is out, crazy is in.
Seating is a mixture of small tables and bar seating. The kitchen bar shows off all of the action and excitement of the food preparation and the star of the show – the wood grill. If you’re sitting close by, expect the distinct lingering smell of smoke on your clothes by the end of the night.
The craziness extends to the menu, again with a colourful cover that exhibits a retro pink desk fan because…why not. It is divided into a few simple sections; snacks, starters, vegetables and meat. Descriptions of dishes are riddled with South African slang and local names, so some sneaky Googling may be needed to understand what you’re ordering; try guessing what the “Cooring Angus onglet with pap and sheba” is going to be.
There’s a little bit of everything with dishes including Boerewors sausages, curried lamb buns, charred octopus and various meats (available as mixed platters) cooked on the wood grill. The highlights are the “proper” peri peri chicken and the slow roasted cow’s head. Many of the dishes are designed for sharing, so ideally bring a friend. There is also a six course tasting menu option with a random selection of dishes for those that can’t decide.
The dishes all make you feel like your having something at home in Africa even though there’s a touch of styled presentation. It’s hard to describe many of the exquisite flavour combinations and so the advice is to simply have an open mind and just choose something unusual sounding from the menu.
Drinks are a modest selection of wines and beers with a mixture of Australian and imported South African varieties on offer. There is also a number of creative cocktails; one is named the “Cheerz Akubekuhle!” and consists of pig fat-washed whisky, Mpumalanga fire and an Africola pickle.
Africola is a unique and fun experience and to quote a line from the menu, go visit and have a “supa hepi time”!
Africola
4 East Terrace, Adelaide
08 8223 3885
http://africola.com.au