The Astor Hotel

http://www.theastor.com.au/

Friday $10 (plus $1.50 for gravy, $2 for parmi) schnitzels at the Astor… it was only going to be a matter of time before I caved in, and tonight was the night. And I gotta say, I was certainly impressed. The pub itself is quite well presented, with a big screen tv downstairs to watch sport, outdoor seating and upstairs function rooms. Surprisingly it was very quiet when we were there – how can people resist the lure of a ten dollar schnitty?

And the schnitzel itself really hit the spot. At that sort of price I have learned not to get my hopes up too much, but tonight any optimism on my part was certainly justified. The schnitzel was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It actually seemed to be real breast chicken in there, not processed or over-tenderised. The crumb-to-meat ratio was perhaps a tad high, but overall it was a very tasty feed. And at that price, I was tempted to order another one.

There was a decent serving of chips, which were of good quality, with the meal. Considering that I paid mere coinage for my dinner, the salad was also nothing to sneeze at.

Any hotel across the road from the alehouse is gonna struggle to sell a lot of schnitzels, but there’s no reason I wouldn’t want to go back to the Astor. It was a decent that didn’t leave my stomach too full or my wallet too empty. While a schnitzel at the alehouse is something I would save for a special occasion, something like this I could do every week.

The Verdict: You’re never gonna get something truly amazing for ten dollars, but Friday nights here are well worth it.

Taste 4/5, Size 3/5, Value 4.5/5, Sides 3.5/5, Experience 4/5
Total 76%

The Rosemont

http://www.rosemonthotel.com.au/

The least classy establishment on the least classy street in all of Adelaide, but the lure of a twelve dollar schnitzel got me through the doors. There really wasn’t a lot to rave about – the schnitty was pretty good for the small sum of money I paid, but I suppose that at the end of the day, you get what you pay for. And I didn’t pay for a lot. In terms of size, quality, taste, texture etc, the schnitty certainly achieved a pass mark, without being anything fancy. The chips were thin and unsatisfactory, although the staff were quite friendly, even giving me a free hot chocolate.

The Verdict: This is a place to get hammered and watch horse-racing. Don’t expect an amazing schnitzel. But expect to pay a fair price for an average one.

Taste 3/5, Size 3/5, Value 4/5, Sides 3/5, Experience 3/5
Total 64%