Rob Roy Hotel

http://www.robroyhotel.com.au/

A Scottish pub, hey? Something a little bit different, but it seemed worth a shot. We made a rookie error by not doing our homework beforehand, and ended up missing out on Thursday $10 schnitzel night (well, somebody else organised the event and we were just tagging along, but I digress). The offer of half price pizzas was no consolation for me – it was always gonna be a schnitzel or nothing. Matt decided to do something out of left field and order a haggis, while I stuck with the tried and true chicken schnitty with gravy. So often a winner, so rarely a let-down.

Probably fair to say that today it was neither. Size was ok – decent thickness, although nothing incredible. The meat was fairly dry although not without a satisfying peppery flavour, which I assume must have been in the gravy. Sides were a bit of a let-down – there would have been no more than ten chips on my plate, and the salad was ok without being exceptional. For $15.90, it was pretty reasonable all things considered.

The restaurant itself had a pretty casual atmosphere, as I guess most places do on a Tuesday night. I can imagine it might be a bit of a seedy place on a busier night, though. Service was pretty friendly, although the meals took a fair while to come.

Don’t know if I’d recommend the pizzas… they didn’t look amazing. As for the haggis – well, Matt could have bought two schnitzels for the money he paid to eat a sheep’s stomach. What was he thinking?

The Verdict: A bit dry, but a satisfying feed nonetheless.

Taste 3.5/5, Size 3/5, Value 3.5/5, Sides 3/5, Experience 3.5/5
Total 66%

The Dog & Duck

http://www.dogandduck.com.au/

As diamond-in-the-rough stories go, this surely rates as one of the most delicious. With rumbly tummies and half an hour to kill on Hindley Street, Matt and I were looking for a feed. We contemplated the Woolshed, then thought better of it and decided to chance the Dog and Duck. After all, what did we have to lose? Well, eighteen dollars – not too bad a price, particularly considering that choosing the parmi incurred no extra charge. The restaurant was pretty quiet on a Wednesday night – aside from the friendly staff and a couple of people in the bar, we pretty much had the place to ourselves.

I had time for about one sip of my drink before our meals arrived – talk about express delivery! The salad was nicely presented, with the inclusion of cherry tomatoes a definite bonus. The chips were of excellent texture, salted and peppered to perfection, and of sufficient quantity. And the schnitzel – well, it was something to behold. A generous thickness, real chicken breast inside (none of that processed stuff), a crisp coating… this was what a schnitzel was supposed to be. Matt’s parmi looked an absolute treat, adorned with a veritable mountain of cheese. With each mouthful, the two of us knew that history was beckoning. Nothing else we had seen on our quest compared with what we were eating that night. It took immense restraint for me not to make my way into the kitchen and shake the chef’s hand, telling him that he had changed my life. And to think we almost went for the ten dollar Woolshed schnitty. How fortuitous that we had chosen to eat here.

The Verdict: Drop everything. Go to the Dog and Duck. Right now. Order the schnitty. Thank us later.

Taste 5/5, Size 4/5, Sides 4.5/5, Value 4/5, Experience 4/5
Total 86%

The Tonsley

http://www.tonsleyhotel.com.au/

The 350g chicken schnitzel and 400g porterhouse beef schnitzel listed on the menu sounded impressive. I decided I would go the beef today, lured by the extra 50g on offer. The restaurant itself was quite classy to behold, with friendly staff behind the counter, and bread rolls already on the counter when we arrived. I had taken the first bite of my roll when bam, my meal was on the table before me. I was immediately suspicious. That was much too fast. How long had that schnitty been sitting in the kitchen, waiting for someone to order it? But hunger overpowers suspicion every time, and so I dug in. Despite what the menu said, my beef schnitzel looked significantly smaller than Ash’s chicken parmi, even taking volume of cheese into account. I realised then and there that, somehow, a 400g schnitzel is far less impressive than a 400g steak. But it tasted ok, despite being a little thin, and at $17 I certainly didn’t feel ripped off. Ash reported that his chicken schnitzel was quite tasty as well. The chips were of decent quality, although the salad was predominantly lettuce. The restaurant itself would be an ideal place for a quiet meal with a smaller group. Peaceful and classy, with nice interior and exterior architecture.

The Verdict: Worth a visit if you happen to be in the area. The schnitties are nice, but aren’t exactly going to win awards any time soon. This would be an ideal place for a Sunday lunch with the folks, maybe for Dad’s birthday.

Taste 3.5/5, Size 3.5/5, Value 3/5, Sides 3.5/5, Experience 4/5.
Total = 70%

Goodwood Hotel

http://www.thegoody.com.au/

Once again, the lure of a ten dollar schnitzel proved deliciously and economically irresistible. And for such a cheap schnitzel, the quality was surprisingly high. For that sort of price, the size and quality are never going to be jaw-dropping, but I was very happy with the value for money here on the Goody’s schnitzel nights (Monday and Tuesday). My beef schnitty with gravy was far from the worst I’ve had (I paid double at the Ox, didn’t get gravy, and received something of much lesser quality), and Nathan’s beef Kilpatrick smelt so good I was worried it would distract passing motorists. The chips and salad were also much better than I would have expected for such a small price.

This establishment offers a classy dining room, a tasteful front bar with plenty of seating, and a spacious beer garden on Goodwood Road. I’ll definitely be back.

Taste 4/5, Size 3/5, Value 4/5, Sides 3.5/5, Experience 4/5.
Total 74%

Earl of Leicester

The words “big”, “schnitzel” and “Adelaide” are inevitably followed by the word “Alehouse”, with the word “Leicester” not too far behind. The schnitties here are almost as legendary as their famed cousin on Carrington Street. I heard somewhere that the same chef has worked at both restaurants, which would make sense, as both establishments serve up renowned plate-hangers. So it was with eager anticipation that I took my seat in the bar and waited for my feast to arrive. The bar itself is a bit cramped, not the nicest place to eat. The restaurant, it must be said, is a lot better. From memory, it also boasts a small salad bar. The range of schnitzel toppings on the menu here is very impressive – from a plain schnitty with gravy, to any combination of Napoli sauce, cheese, salami, ham, pineapple, chorizo, bacon, avocado, bacon and sour cream adorning your meal. Spoilt for choice, to say the least. The service aspect was a little disappointing. We were given electronic buzzers when we ordered, which went off when our meals were ready. It was then our responsibility to get up, walk into the restaurant section and ask for our meal. A bit average, I thought. The chips were also very disappointing – they were clearly just oven fries out of the frozen section at Coles, reheated and plonked in a side dish. Salad cost extra, so I didn’t even bother.

Size-wise though, the Earl did not disappoint. Nobody finishes one of those schnitzels still feeling hungry, and I certainly walked out of the pub feeling satisfied. The actual quality was pretty good, although with a schnitzel that size, you know that it can’t be pure breast chicken that you’re eating. At $18.50, with additional charges for salad, sauces and toppings, the price was certainly at the higher end of the spectrum. But I guess such a sheer quantity of food costs money to make. The overall grade was probably diminished by the quality of sides as well as the general dining experience, but make no mistake, you can’t find too many faults with the schnitties that get served up here. It comes down to whether you prefer a quality chicken breast crumbed and fried to perfection, or whether you’re just after a monster feed. I’m happy with either, and I certainly got the latter.

Note: Smaller schnitzels are available for around $15 for the less manly man, or his lady friend.

The Verdict: That should fill me up for a while.
Taste 4/5, Size 4.5/5, Value 4.5/5, Sides 1.5/5, Experience 4/5
Total 74%

Daniel O’Connell

http://www.danieloconnell.com.au/

The Dan O’ Connell was a bit of a surprise packet, I must say. An Irish pub in North Adelaide that I had heard the odd bit about, but had never been tempted to visit. The main dining area has a genuine Irish feel to it, with the furniture, whisky bottles and books in the bookshelf giving it a very 1800s Irish atmosphere. Oh, and the Irish music in the background probably helped as well. The service was friendly and efficient, and the schnitzels themselves were outstanding. I don’t know how I could fault the meal that I ate there. It just ticked every box. I cannot remember a chicken schnitzel ever being so moist on the inside. Very flavoursome as well, and surprisingly thick. This breast certainly hadn’t been battered to a pulp before it was cooked. The texture, taste and thickness were all very much to my liking. The sides were impressive as well. A very different schnitzel to the alehouse plate-hangers but, for someone who enjoys food of a high quality, this place is well worth a visit.

The Verdict: Definitely a winner. Taste 4.5/5, Size 4/5, Value 4/5, Sides 3.5/5, Experience 4/5. Total 80%.