It was my wife’s 50th birthday last week and so we decided, seeing as how it was a momentous occasion, we would celebrate it in style. That being the case we decided on the Riverside Restaurant which just happens to be one of Adelaide’s favorite buffet restaurants. I didn’t realize how sumptuous Riverside’s buffet selection really was until we rocked up on the night.

Even though I’m not a seafood fan, my wife is and it is her night after all, and it just so happened that the Riverside features a great range incorporating the best of local seafood and produce, as well as a range of decadent desserts, and I have to admit the desert was to die for.

Like I said I’m not into seafood but Anna and the guests were and they absolutely loved it. It consisted of fresh prawns, oysters and crabs. As can be seen from the following photo the presentation was superb.

Next is a photo of some of the selection of salads and stuff.

What I really liked was the roasts and desserts, and the fact that the service was impeccable. They were even nice enough to organize a small section of the room just for us. This photo is a view of the restaurant from our little special spot.

As I said they supplied great service which included this margarita just for Anna.

It was a great night and the family had a great time. You’re all wondering about the price. Well the buffet itself was $65 per head which I though was more than reasonable. They had a nice selection of wine, of which the guests chose Lehman Shiraz at $45 per bottle and Kalleske Clarry’s Grenache Shiraz at $46 a bottle, both which was dearer than what you would pay in a bottle shop but withing reason for a restaurant of this type.

Beers included Coronas, James Boags and Crown Lager which were $10.50 and $9.50 respectively, and Hahn Light at $7 a pop. The only thing that knocked me for a six was that they charged $10 for every bottle of water (Santa V Still) which I thought a bit rich.

Anyway, like I said, it was a great night and well worth the money spent. The Riverside Restaurant is located at North Terrace in Adelaide and if your interested in more details about this Restaurant please phone them on (08) 8238 2384.

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I had some time to kill the other day, a four hour wait whilst my Honda Civic was getting serviced, so I figured I would take my camera for a walk. It was a nice enough day so I wandered down the River Torrens towards Cafe Lago. I’ve been to Cafe Lago a couple of times and I was always impressed with it’s menu. In those days the menu had a Tuscan flavor to it which was probably one of the reasons it appealed to me so much. That and the picturesque view of the city while I dined.

To my surprise Cafe Lago was no more as it is now known as the River Cafe. I went inside to ask if I could take some pictures of the city from the outside deck area and the manager graciously gave me his permission. Once on the deck I was presented with a great shot of Adelaide’s business district. From memory it was even more stunning at night, especially if the Torrens was very calm.

I’ve never actually had a meal on the deck, but I reckon if you wanted to have a meal whilst having the City of Adelaide as a backdrop, then the deck area would have to be the perfect spot. I also noticed the soothing sound of running water from a pond somewhere on the left which would only add to the whole eating experience.

This next shot was taken from the dining area which is down a few steps from the bar area, but not to worry as a small lift was installed to help the wheelchair bound diner.

The River Cafe is only part of the dining experience as it is, as was Cafe Lago, associated with the Red Ochre Restaurant, located upstairs, which also has stunning views. I must admit that I have never really tried ‘contemporary Australian Cuisine’ and this restaurant is touted to have innovative Australian food with a native influence. Perhaps it is time that I checked both out, the River Cafe to see how it stacks up against Cafe Lago, and the Red Ochre Restaurant to finally sample some traditional Aussie cuisine.

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I took this shot while I was at American River which is located on Kangaroo Island. I was actually surprised to see the black swan there. While it was quite awhile ago, the only thing that I remember about American River was the peace and tranquility of the place and the fact that there wasn’t much to eat there except fish and chips.

If you are heading that way perhaps you would like to stay at the Golden Chain Motels where I hear that the restaurant serves a whole lot more than just fish-n-chips!

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