Jacqui Lim is a passionate, active advocate of the food and wine industry. Besides eating and drinking a lot, she sees her role to be connecting people with, and through, good food whether it be organising food and wine events, sharing her experiences on Instagram @jacquisfoodfetish, recommending restaurants or simply bringing friends together to enjoy a meal.
Tunki
Snacks $7 – $26, Mains $42 – $166, Feed Me $80 – $120pp
What do you get when you cross Japanese and Peruvian ingredients? You get Tunki (named after the national bird of Peru), serving Nikkei cuisine – an explosion of colour, freshness and vibrant flavours. The menu is designed for sharing and features a selection of ceviche, sashimi and skewers, plus larger seafood and meat dishes. Make sure you include the signature ‘Guacamole Tunki-Style’, and the Piscorita cocktail certainly packs a punch! It’s a fun way to dine and situated right on the lake.
141 Brebner Drive, West Lakes
@tunki.adl
Botanic Lodge
Light $14 – $28, Larger $24 – $68, Chef’s Selection $69pp
There’s something to please all tastes at Botanic Lodge, situated in the Adelaide Botanic Garden where the old kiosk resided. The menu features more casual dishes like a garden greens pasty and a vegetable quiche, to the more sophisticated Barramundi with citrus and coastal greens, or Roast chicken with lemon thyme gravy. The food embraces native ingredients, seasonality, locality and, of course, the surrounding terroir. Enjoy the garden and main lake views complete with friendly birds and tortoises.
Adelaide Botanic Garden, Plane Tree Drive, Adelaide
@thelodge_adl
Ding Hao
Starters $7 – $24, Mains $17 – $69, Banquet options
One of my favourite places for a good Chinese chow down. Well priced and plenty of dishes to choose from. There’s everything from the old staple Beef with Black Bean Sauce through to the luxurious lobster with egg noodles. They have great siu mai (my fave), and the best Combination Crispy Noodles I’ve found in Adelaide thus far – my ultimate comfort dish that would definitely feature on my ’execution meal’ menu. The large space means you’re sure to get a seat.
36 Wright St, Adelaide
@dinghaorestaurant
Station Road
Entrees $28 – $58, Mains $36 – $120
Station Road at Festival Plaza is an exciting world class culinary and wine destination offering an elevated casual dining experience. Here you can expect fine food and service excellence. It’s relaxed but with all the trimmings, including Champagne and cheese trolleys. It’s the perfect spot for that dinner date, a special occasion, or a business lunch or dinner. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the Game Farm quail ballotine, with pancetta, mushroom, and currants continues to feature on the menu.
1 Station Road, Adelaide
@stationroadadelaide
Leigh Street Wine Room
Snacks and share plates $6 – $45, Chef’s Selection $85pp
This long narrow wine bar in the Adelaide bar hub is always abuzz with the sound of convivial chatter. The food is about sharing – tasty dishes that are perfect for either snacking while drinking, or enjoy a full meal. If there’s only a couple of you it’s always fun to sit up at the bar and have a chat with the friendly staff if you’re in the mood. It’s all about minimal intervention wines here, but they also make a mean martini.
9 Leigh Street, Adelaide
@leighstreetwineroom
Follow @jacquisfoodfetish for more insights into the dining plates of Australia’s best restaurant.
