Fine Dining
Dinner Review
Festival of Food
The Festival of Food concluded on the 9th of November, but before it did I took the opportunity to visit what I regard as one of the most amazing dining views in Adelaide, Windy Point Restaurant. This iconic venue is nestled amongst the gum trees at the top of Belair road in the Adelaide Hills. With a sweeping convex full length window the skyline is a picturesque masterpiece that, with the right weather conditions, offers diners majestic sunsets and apparently one of only two cities in the world with a street light grid pattern that has a shimmering flicker.
As Alana and I entered the restaurant we were greeted with a gleaming smile and shown to our window side table. With a bottle of 2009 Colonial Estate Exile Shiraz in hand, I requested the wine be decanted to ensure the bold burgundy could breathe in time for mains. We were taken through the Festival of Food structure and specials for the evening.
Studying the menu, we both found it difficult to choose due so many enticing options catching our eye. As we sipped on our pre-dinner drinks for inspiration, we finally came to the following decision:
Alana: Tasmanian Huon salmon fillet with smoked croqueta and apple, celery, walnut and grape salad and chardonnay mayonnaise dressing.
Myself: 350g Chateaubriand of beef (roasted Clare Valley Gold export grade grain fed beef fillet), served with three sauces (BBQ, béarnaise and horseradish cream), creamed spinach and hand cut fat chips.
The entree tasting plate was served swiftly and presented with eye-catching accuracy to ensure it wouldn’t be outdone by the stunning cityscape. The smoked salmon and potato salad with capers was fresh and light which kick started the tastebuds. The braised pork on spiced chopped egg dressing stepped it up a notch, driving home some powerful flavours that complimented each other well, melting in your mouth and leaving you wanting more. To finish we had the cauliflower, fennel and roasted garlic soup which took me by surprise; the creamy smokiness gave off a more intense flavour than expected which left you wanting to drain every last drop.
As the orange glow of the sun descended over the horizon, the tinted blinds went up to allow the true essence of the visual spectacle to be appreciated. The wine was poured into our oversized Syrah glasses just prior to mains service. It had settled perfectly with its bold complexity coming through. With our meals arriving, we both agreed there aren’t too many better settings to enjoy a meal.
Alana’s salmon was well presented with a crispy skin and perfectly cooked flesh. The portion of salmon could possibly have been more generously proportioned however in this case quality over quantity reigned. My Chateaubriand was delivered just as ordered, medium-rare. The well seasoned outer crust presented only minute resistance as the knife effortlessly glided through the tender ruby, glowing cut of beef. The flavour was drool worthy and the accompaniments were well balanced and not overpowering in their variety. The hand cut fat chips otherwise known as ‘Fatso’s’ had a crisp outer shell with a soft inside - enticing Alana to devour one.
Our plates were cleared in a timely manner and we were offered dessert. Looking to make the most of the experience we browsed the menu and decided that it was only fitting that we continue the culinary journey into a third course and enjoy the tranquil surroundings. With little hesitation we both chose our closing devilish delights:
Alana: Poached apple and Middle Eastern fruits in filo pastry on vanilla custard, Dubonnet jelly and rose water syrup.
Myself: Sorbet (coconut, passionfruit and mango) and seasonal fruits with coconut tagliatelle.
Alana’s eyes lit up as the serve of 3 well sized filo rolls was placed in front of her and the crunching sound of the fork piercing the pastry was pleasantly deafening. My sorbets were bursting with flavour which made for a refreshing closing dish that didn’t leave me feeling bloated. With nothing left to do except sit back and enjoy the views and company the staff were very accommodating, making only brief appearances to refill our glasses and ensure that we didn’t require anything further.
As the dinner came to an end, we both commented on the impeccable friendly service, spectacular scenery and extraordinary ensemble of food. Windy Point Restaurant remains an exemplary case of what fine dining should be. If you have not yet been, or it has been some time since your last visit to Adelaide’s restaurant in the sky, I highly recommend you do soon.
Darren Richards
(AKA Dougal McFuzzlebutt)
Average Menu Pricing
Entree $3.50 - $36.50
Main $31.50 - $47.50
Side Dishes $10.50
Dessert $15.50 - $33.90
Where: Windy Point Lookout Belair Rd Belair 5052
Trading: Dinner Monday to Saturday 6:00pm - close
Website: windypoint.com.au
Contact: (08) 8278 8255
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
