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The amazing decor makes for an incredibly exciting restaurant, however we went for the food. Not surprisingly we were totally overwhelmed with all the amazing meals. Everything was expertly flavoured and the beef was perfectly cooked. My dear friend asked if it was even possible to ever have such a perfect piece of beef again, and we asked that they brought out another serve, but half the original portion size and all I can say is, “god damn” it was still perfect!
I’m not sure why everyone isn’t raving about the cauliflower more, it was sweet bro!
Sorry we won’t be coming back for a while, as we don’t live in SA and it makes no sense to fly our husbands over just to get the feed me meal. They loved it so much they ate our share as well and we had to buy our own extra serves. I’m glad we paid $300 for four serves of the feed me meal though! Definitely worth it!!!
Extra points to the incredible staff for dealing with a nearby table of extremely obnoxious and disrespectful assholes in a very professional manner. Allowing the rest of the diners to enjoy their evening.
Fuck yeah Africola!!
This was my third Afri-experience and continues to exceed expectations. Easy to understand why regularly rated one of the best restaurants in the country. Sensational food quality - course after course after course. Generous servings. Nails the sharing plate style elegantly. Perfectly-balanced wine list. Knockout cocktails. Buzzing yet unpretentious vibe. On song, on time wait staff. And you'll be most satisfied at the value - particularly if you suffer under Sydney or Melbourne "bill wank".
Book in advance. If only late is available: take it. If it is by the bar: definitely take it.
Grilled stone fruit with watermelon granita, pickled watermelon & peppermint/almond crumb - the dessert kept giving with its amazing flavours & textures! The tea sandwich was creatively delicious as well.
We thought this place was fabulous! We'd been treated to a gift voucher by my brother and sister in law from the UK. They booked it electronically!! Great gift. The welcome was extremely friendly but genuine. Our waitress was knowledgeable and chatty but not overbearing. All of the wines paired with our food were organic and tasty. Not necessarily what we would pick, so a great opportunity to try different varieties. Food was ace. Started with a crispy chicken fat sandwich with a dripping gravy. Sounds odd but was totally delicious. I had mussels, Hubs had a lamb curry with hummus and chick peas, served with a tasty soft flat bread, we had piri piri chicken, wood oven baked cauliflower and finally Adam had a smoked nectarine with melon and crumbly topping. All too yummy!!
We will definitely visit again. Bookings essential. Book online. Enjoy!!
Flavour's are on point! Amazing customer service � definitely the best food in Adelaide �
Everything I tried was amazing, but the cauliflower steak is one of the best things I've ever eaten. If you're in Adelaide and you don't go there, you're missing out on one of the best dining experiences in Australia.
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My daughter took me here for my birthday celebration. Unsure what to expect other than what she told me from previous visits. Even though I couldn't image cabbage and the cauliflower .
She ordered for us. I am gluten free and lactose free and the menu had plenty to choose from. We had first the baba ganaus (dip) for starters, delicious. My daughter had great looking flat flatbread straight from the oven and I had lettuce leaves which I though very creative and yummy and light with the dip.
After a glass or two of Pinot Gris which was delightful as it went perfect with the meal, he Main course included the roasted cabbage and the cauliflower with the most delicious sauces and their famous peri peri chicken.
The meal was ample for the two of us and takehome leftovers is available thank goodness as we are both small eaters.
Saying that we couldn't leave without the baked chocolate mouse, vegan as well and the most unusual ingredients tofu, coconut and chocolate yummy 😋.
Service was a delight, thoughtful and friendly, and atmosphere busy and full with conversation.
They have two sittings 6 and 8pm. The earlier suited a lot of people after work and we had plenty of time to eat at the earlier sitting.
It may not suit if you are a meat and 3 vegetable eater but we both enjoyed the different and unusual aspects of our dinner.
I enjoyed the mother daughter night and the food a bonus on top and I didn't have to pay the bill 😁
Thanks my darling girl for a wonderful night 😘❤️
I came in tonight with my wife and my dad and everything was just fantastic. The food, the service, the ambiance was perfect. I love my food, but it isnt often that I write reviews. However everything was just too good tonight not to say something. Our cocktails were delicious and well balanced, a wonderful start to the evening. We had the Tea Sandwiches as our entree which turned the humble sandwich into a tantalizing delicacy. This was then followed by the Goolwa Pipis with a delicious broth that we soaked up with the extra bread that we asked for and you gave us, no questions asked. The main course was the cauliflower , the chicken, and the lamb which was just beyond words, just out of this world with the flavours. Finally we managed to squeeze in dessert which didnt disappoint with just the right amount of decadence. So thanks very much for a fantastic evening, made my dads day. Adelaide is lucky to have such a fantasic place to dine.
Have just arrived home after an amazing feed at Africola. We had the Flanked steak, Roast Lamb, Peri Peri chicken with sides of baked cauliflower and carrots. Every dish was bloody tasty, highly recommend if you're in Adelaide and will definitely be back when I visit again ��
Excellent food, service and setting. Loved it - very upbeat! I am vegetarian and loved the Cauliflower Roast - the desserts are to die for too! My hubby loved the chicken.
Food was spectacular and all the staff are so knowledgeable on all the food and wines. Great dining experience.. I like the bag hooks too..
So amazing! Thank you for such a fabulous dinner; the food was delicious and generous and the service was spot on too. And thank you for catering for my GF needs so well (including the waitress letting me know when a potential GF option had be fried in a shared frier - that really boosted my confidence in how seriously the needs of gut were being taken) and I wasn't left feeling like the annoying one at the table.
Fantabulous. Cannot say how incredibly tasty everything we ordered was! I want the pipis to be my last meal, they were that good. You must eat here!!
Whilst all the food was good it was kind of disappointing that they still aren’t doing the al a carte purely because the set menu is 80% vegetables :( In saying that everything was still nice and the service was amazing. Will be coming back but not until they’re offering their usual amazing menu
Africola was as good as takeaway as it is to eat in. Ordering was easy and it arrived as promised. Food was, as expected, delicious.
We visited Africola for dinner which is probably the coolest restaurant in South Australia and really reminded me of some of the fun eateries in London, turns out the owner is from the UK and has settled in Adelaide, lucky for us he’s brought an immaculately styled venue with a killer atmosphere.
Food wise my favourite was the peri peri chicken and the yummy carrot side (note the menu listed here is not current). The chicken skin sandwich is kind of a signature but I wasn’t a huge fan. If you can book into the open kitchen seating that would be a really cool experience also.
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Went to Africola to celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary.
Service was amazing! From the call to book (they accomodate our request for 6:30pm even when only having a spot for 6pm) to the girls that looked after us and were very friendly and attentive.
Great selection of wine- we couldn’t decide between two awesome wines so they allowed us to have a taste of both. That made my life easier lol
We had the Feed Me menu and were not disappointed! Food was delicious and good size portions- although to be honest, I didn’t like the sprouted lentil salad ☹️
Tea sandwich- 🤤 that crunchy skin chicken was yum!
Mussels to die for! The broth was another level!
Peri Peri Chicken and chargrilled padron were great! Dahl was delicious- one of my favourite! The big surprise for me was dessert, we had the custard (something I would have personally never ordered) but was a nice end to our night; custard was set and not overly sweet contrasting beautifully with the honey kataifi?.
Thanks for a great night with a fantastic flavours experience!
The food is unique and very tasty. Nothing will disappoint in the dishes made to share, comprising tender meat selections as well as thought-out vegetarian pleasers (loved the spicy chickpeas). The funky wait staff are professional, friendly and attentive. It’s also worth a visit to soak up the quirky decor of artwork adorning every wall space and the vibrant atmosphere set on picturesque East Terrace.
Even if the food at Africola was unremarkable, it would still be fun. The space is colourful and loud, the staff are happy and really know their shit. And then there’s the extensive choice of wines. The food is fabulous! Generous serves of tasty contemporary takes on anything and everything African. Worthy of the hype!
This place is great to go with a group of people and just share a whole bunch of dishes. They’ll offer you the banquet at $75 per person but it’s cheaper if you just order a bunch of dishes yourself.
Everything was delicious! HIGH RECOMMEND THE EGGPLANT DISH!!! Service was prompt and atmosphere was really cool.
Really enjoyed the experience on Saturday night. We were put at the bar because they were so busy but this was great. We started with a couple of delicious cocktails and then went on to order 2 x ‘feed me’ meals. My partner is vegetarian and we are often disappointed when eating out with the lack of selection. The cocktail waitress said we cater for all types of diets here and we’d love to do a vegetarian ‘feed me’. Let me just say it was almost more delicious than my non-veg. The flavors are fantastic. I said to my partner - this is an Adelaide chinchin. The final touch was a chocolate mousse dessert to die for. OMG! Are you serious?!!! Unbelievably delicious and I could just rock up next time for that. Thank you Africola. We can’t wait to come back.
Beautiful atmosphere,live kitchen,friendly and well informed staff.
Crispy tea sandwich is a much try!lentil salad was fresh and lemony,periperi chicken was just perfect spiced.
Will go again!!
Wow a great night out started with a fantastic meal at this hip atmosphere and great staff place.
We were introduced to Southern African food with a great vibe which was served by excellent staff.
No wonder it’s hard to get a booking, but well worth the effort.
Choose the Feed Me option and sit back to relax and watch the chefs do there thing with great skill.
Didn’t have to wait long for them to delivery the first meal.
We will be back!!!!
Full house on Tuesday for my birthday, I recommend booking in advance and requesting a table away from the door during chilly nights .
We declined the Feed Me menu in favour of a la carte dining which we were very happy with, and not too full! Our bill was $99 (1 beer, 1 glass of wine, cow tongue, iceberg salad, roasted eggplant, flat bread, and goolwa pipis).
Highly recommend trying the eggplant entree, very reminiscent of Parwana's version. As it was a cold and rainy night the pipi and spicy broth was an excellent combination.
Great staff, very helpful with pairing dishes, and we were served within about 15 minutes, which for the amount of food we ordered was the cherry on top. Thank you and looking forward to returning soon.
Made a reservation and came here on a week night with the partner.
We chose the "feed-me" option, which was very VERY generous (thankfully, the restaurant allows takeaway leftovers for no extra charge).
We were graced with the Tea Sandwich, Goolwa Pipis, Salted Cabbage, Iceberg Lettuce, Tomato Salad, Wood-Oven Cauliflower, Lamb Kofta, Peri-Peri Chicken, and to finish it all off, the Genache Bar.
All meals had their unique spin on flavours and textures. All delicious. My favourite would be the chicken, as it was succulent and a good amount f heat.
Friendly and efficient service. Reasonable prices. Casual ambience.
Definitely an "experience."
Absolutely amazing food everytime we visit! Paired with quality customer service and fantastic wine selection, it's our favorite place to eat in Adelaide.
I have wanted to dine here for such a long time and booked ahead online for a birthday dinner. The decor is so cool and creative. We opted for the feed me option. Let me tell you for 2 people the servings were generous. Every dish and there were many was just stunning. A highlight was the Tea Sandwich. Out of this world so simple but jammed with amazing fresh flavours. The PERI-PERI CHICKEN is honestly boom! chakalaka. Amazing service. Amazing food. Amazing restaurant. I cannot wait to come back. Thank you so much for making a birthday dinner amazing and unforgettable.
I don’t know how Africola manages to make a simple sandwich with mayo and crispy chicken skin taste so good. Peri peri chicken was succulent and the spice levels were perfect. Portion sizes were pretty generous. Although understandable due to popularity, the only obvious let down was that we rushed out asap.
Oh yeah, where do i start... yum yum yum.
Capsicum with anchovies and bread, yum
Kingfish, yum
Ngeringa vegetable plate, yum
Periperi chicken, spicy hot but still yum
Wagyu rump, yummmmm
Ambience and service, first class
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After reading from the AFR, this is a place that got me to book a flight from Melbourne to Adelaide to try. And of my gosh, it is worthy of the flight to come and try this.
The first impression, this has to be one of the best restaurants in Australia. The wait staffs warmly welcomed us in and given it was a Friday night. The place was buzzing. There are people waiting by the bar for a table. Luckily we booked and it wasn't long that one of the waitress took us to our table.
The menu looks amazing and yes it is a seasonal menu. There are quite a lot of options. We ended up ordering - spicy lamb hummus, eggplant, fried cauliflower and smoked tongue.
The hummus and the eggplant came with bread. Everything is on point. The bread is warm, got that smoky flavour. Hummus was lovely. The spicy lamb complement it nicely. Oh that eggplant, yes it doesn't look much, but that chili and citrus bite that you get, I never thought eggplant can taste this good.
For main, we got the fried cauliflower and smoked tongue. The chili jam on the cauliflower, how this cauliflower is cooked, everything about it were amazing! Let's me explain it this way, even if you are not keen of it, you will eat it. It is crunchy, fresh and with the chili jam, you don't feel like you are eating cauliflower. The smoked tongue (sorry forgot to take a photo of that), it doesn't look much but each bite has that wood charcoal flavour and so tender.
I have to say the serving is actually quite generous. I was very full by the end of it. Oh did I also mention, all those good plus the 2 cocktails only came up just above $100 and this is from one of the top ten restaurants in Australia. Yes this is definitely worth the flight to come over to Adelaide for this meal. Thank you, Africola, for this totally magnificent meal. I will come back again!
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Headed to Africola recently with family for my birthday and all I am thinking about is when can I get back there and have that cauliflower!!! Had the best meal and night at Africola and our waitress Steph was exceptional. Been wanting to go here for awhile and my mum booked it for my birthday and was blown away by the food and service. We started with the lamb mince hummus and bread, both were super tasty and I love their bread! We each had an individual main and some veggies sides to share. I had the kingfish fillet which was cooked to perfection but the star was the cauliflower side. I don’t know what they do to it but it’s so morish and you wish you just had a main of that. We also had the broccolini side which was also very good. Mum had the peri peri chicken and raved about it, even still raving the next day eating the leftovers she took home. I was too full for dessert but Mum ordered the Turkish delight cheesecake. Low and behold with her dessert came out a bday dessert with sparkler for me. Thanks steph! Steph was so friendly and attentive, never had to go looking for her when we needed something and was great at answer all our queries. Even though I was super full I powered through and finished my beautiful chocolate dessert. Mum also was in love with her dessert which was light and flavorful. It’s a packed little restaurant with tables and bar seats but lots of personality and most importantly amazing food!
The four of us went along on a miserable Friday night, lucky we booked as the place was full.
With great service and exquisite food we had a great night.
The highlights for us would have to be the Kingfish sashimi, smoked leek for entree and for mains the pork neck with bagna cauda sauce and rump cap and we would return just for those.
But all the dishes we had very tasty and nicely presented.
We did not indulge in desserts so could not rate them.
Service was great and very welcoming.
Highly recommended.
Sat at the bar overlooking a very calm kitchen which was interesting. Had the "feed me" menu. The food was delicious and the service good. The number of plates coming out was very generous. The best dish of the night was the roasted capsicum in a tempura squid ink batter, just amazing. The wine list is limited however. Really enjoyed the night and keen to come back.
What a wonderful celebration of vegetables and soul food! It was so refreshing to go somewhere where there was so much veggie selection and decent servings of them. The eggplant was to die for. Wagyu beef chargrilled to perfection 👌 Mussels, sashimi all cooked well and well seasoned. The peri peri chicken was a bit too spicy for most of us. A little overpowering with perhaps too much going on in terms of flavour, but again cooked really well. Desserts: the choc mousse was yum with the mango sorbet, the traditional “balls” went down a treat with the brandy prunes and the apple pie was demolished, although personally I prefer the apples to be more cooked, as there were big chunks of crunchy apple throughout. Crust was lovely. All in all the service was exceptional, they went above and beyond to accommodate for allergy and food intolerances. I’ve never felt so accomodated as I did here and for that reason, as well as the fact the food is delicious, I shall be back!
Africola - Wow..wow...wow
I'd been putting off going to Africola for quite a long time. I knew it was Good but the food seemed "foreign" to me, in the meantime I 'd check their menu every so often. I'd read the quotes on their website by serious reviewers however, I don't pay attention to reviews other writers had given. Their piece of writing was their personal art and their interpretation of the dishes they'd eaten. Everyone's experience will be extremely different, like a fingerprint, no two will be the same.
So here we were, the night of our Africola food journey. We arrived rather early, thought it would be difficult to find a park, however we managed to score one right out front. #lifegoals As we were meeting friends, we had some time, I thought a snack was the go. I requested the ......To read the rest of my review, click on the link below
Everything was spot on when we visited Africola! Great service and great food.
I’d go back again for the Tea sandwich and the grilled chicken.
Loved sitting at the bar and watching the kitchen team do their thing!!
Afriola has been on my list of restaurants to try for a long while, and since eating there I am sad that it took me so long to try it! I would highly recommend this restaurant in all aspects; food, service and atmosphere.
My partner and I sat at the bar, and were served by a friendly blonde lady working behind the bar. She had great knowledge of the wine list, and was attentive but not overly so.
The food was great - best falafel I have ever tried! We also had the cauliflower and the lamb neck, which were both delicious - 4/5.
To summarise, my partner said 'that was the best meal I have eaten in a very, very long time!'
We managed to sneak into Africola without booking on a cold Thursday night and were so glad we did. Firstly the waitress was really welcoming and had a great knowledge of the food and gave us some great recommendations. The tea sandwiches with dripping were crispy and oozing with flavour. The Falafels were also really tasty and more importantly not dry at all. If we went again/when we will definitely get the cauliflower steak- it looked amazing!
honestly the best meal i had in adelaide, the peri peri chicken is cooked to absolute perfection and the lemon meringue is super tasty! Highly Recommended!
cool vibes, retro decor, open kitchen, interesting food. cauliflower steak is quite filling and a flavour explosion.
might pass on the smoked leek and chicken skin sandwich next time though.
Africola was nothing like I had munched on before. The selection is awesome. The flavours smack you in the face but then kiss you all better. Ordered all the meats to be shared, plus about 3 veggie sides. Dip the flatbread in everything - trust me. Service was amazing - genuinely happy team and kitchen.
A truly delicious culinary experience. Such unique flavours and generous portions. My favourite was the eggplant (which can also pass for a dessert with its sweetness and ricotta) and the smoked peri peri chicken. Reminded me a bit of pintxos at San Sebastián. Bonus points for such wonderful thoughtful staff.
Had heard that chef Duncan Welgemoed had been serving up some deliciously tasty treats from Africola for some time now, so decided to go check and see if the hype was true!
First up I'd recommend booking a seat where you'll have the kitchen in full view, so you can watch these guys work their magic.
All the food was delicious, the staff friendly and the place has a great atmosphere. Don't skip the tea sandwich or the califlour steak, and be sure to book well ahead!
Do you yourself a favour and book a table. We sat outside adjacent to the grape vines and ordered the "feed me". There were 9 courses between us and we got to try the famous crispy chicken sandwiches (with dripping). The food was fun and had great mix of flavours (smoked, tangy, sweet & salty). It was a good mix of meaty and veggie too. The service was friendly and quick. The SA winelist includes natural local wine and we had a little impromptu taste test with our waitress. I loved the fancy low brow interior. But I really loved the inventive food.
Decided to visit africola thinking it served African food. Well its more Spanish in my opinion. The food was good nothing special or outstanding. Peri peri chicken was filled with flavour and so was the stuffed eggplant. Had the black flying cod roe which was jus deep fried capsium nothing interesting. Make sure u do an advance booking if u wanna try the food. Be mindful the wait staffs can be snappy.
We had heard so many good things about Africola so we were super excited to go for dinner. Food was tasty but nothing was super outstanding. The portion size of the squid was not substantial enough and the dessert of the fruit tart was very basic, expensive for what it was and a bit disappointing. However the Peri Peri chicken was flavoursome as was the celery heart with potato and walnut paste. Loved the colour and fun of the place but thought I was going to be wowed by the food, but I was just satisfied.
Yummo! Went here on Sat night, great atmosphere and really friendly service, without being pushy. We ordered the ground beef with hummus, crispy eggplant, mussels and smashed potatoes - everything looked and tasted amazing. Particularly loved the hummus dish, was served with yummy stretchy flatbread, very moreish! Overall a delicious dinner and great dining experience, we will definitely be back!
Just fabulous! Had our staff end of year dinner here. The feed me option was fantastic for a vegetarian- not just dishes where veggies replaced the meat, but made the star! Attentive, lovely service, great vibes, great decor, fun and delicious food. Awesome place in the CBD.
Had the potential to be a perfect 5. Food was super tasty rare to find such well prepared food. However the total focus of staff to get to get you out in the 2 hour setting dampened the experience as did the lack of a smile. I am a customer paying good money provide me the experience not the crappy hipster attitude.
I also question the value of some dishes. Whilst well prepared they almost lack integrity asking the price they do. Stay away from the flank steak, cheap cut of meat, four slices, tough $28 and lamb dish which really was a hummus dip with lamb crumble garnish, poor form!
Oh my! Incredible! Africola lived up to its reputation and more. Amazing decor, great layout with the open kitchen along with delicious smells creates a really awesome vibe the minute you walk in. All the dishes were devine with my favourite being the fried eggplant. Great menu, great flavours, great cooking!!
The Africola menu serves up deliciously humble yet totally innovative dishes that seem like they have been part of a food culture for eons. Go, be fed well, enjoy. An instant classic.
We happened to have just booked a weekend getaway to Adelaide when we saw Africola pop up as #29 on the AFR’s Top 100 Australian restaurants list for 2017 – great timing for us to lock in a dinner reservation while we were in town. . As its name suggests, the restaurant serves up contemporary African cuisine led by a South African chef and co-owner. Everything about this restaurant is infused with an eclectic zing, from the funky decor, to the friendly service and the playful menu that features African inspired flavours.
I never went to Africola before they shifted their focus to North African food. I won’t even pretend to know what South and North African food is. All I know is the chef is good and the BBQ game is strong here. In fact this year they ranked 29 in the top 100 Restaurants in Australia. I was excited.
Wow what a great place! Flavours were amazing, went with the chefs choice and didn't disappoint at all! I would suggest making a booking in advance and when you do choose the table nearest to the kitchen, gets more attention and chef describes with you how he cooks etc... place is a bit pricey but worth it, bit small but cosy, take cash in case eftpos is done as it has been before.
I don't often give a place a five star rating, but Africola really did it for me. Everything was on point: the food was delicious, the staff were both knowledgable and attentive, and the vibe was spot on. Each dish was perfectly balanced, flavourful and more-ish - my dining partner warned me that the eggplant dish was like crack and she was right. I'm still thinking about it days later. We had an entirely vegetarian meal: smoky eggplant dip with freshly baked flatbread, half a head of roast cauliflower with labne and honey, falafels that revealed a bright green interior on first bite, and the afore mentioned crack-like eggplant. The wine was great, the sticky date pudding was to die for, and I was left one very happy camper. I don't live in Adelaide but I'm tempted to book another flight just so I can have another meal here.
This gem offers some of the most amazing food I have ever had. The staff were friendly and excellent at helping when it came to the menu. They were great and polite about dietary requirements. Overall great atmosphere, friendly staff, excellent food and not overalls expensive.
t’s great to be back in Adelaide. It’s a hot and dry day and I’m on my way to Africola for the first time. I rarely have high expectations when I don’t really know what to expect, but that is the case tonight.
Having never looked at their menu, and only having walked past briefly some time ago, how could I have such high expectations? It comes completely down to the hype surrounding this establishment. Relating this back to Melbourne the hype is Chin Chin-esque.
The restaurant is wide-fronted and has a wide entrance giving that casual breezy feel, especially when it is still over 30 degrees. There is plenty of staff, all on the hipster side of the ledger. They are enthusiastic and knowledgeable throughout, but they are also not passive on the upsell.
OMG all I can say is go to this place! I haven't had this much joy in eating for a while. All sorts of flavours put together and just mouthwatering. We shared the hummus with lamb, the squid salad, the mussels, the marinated feta and finished with the quince dessert. The place was packed and had an awesome atmosphere. Staff really friendly and passionate about food. Would fly to Adelaide just to go back there.
OMG food pack full of flavours , never tasted food this good when I was in Africa last time. Must order the tea sandwich and deep fried egg plant. The baba ganoush and the accompanying flat bread were too die for
Must must must visit when in Adelaide. The fit out was so unique and well executed with a beautiful open kitchen and service area, which carried the vibe throughout the restaurant even to the outside tables where we were sitting. Staff and food were both impeccable as well - could not fault, amazing work and hats off to the design team behind this one.
I had a great dinner here. Such good food and service, and a the place just has a really good vibe. I'm already looking forward to coming here again!
East terrace stars Africola!
A spectacular, tasteful night was had at this buzzing little restaurant. Africola is currently featuring and highlighting food that can be found in the southern part of Africa. Every two years this restaurant closes and reopens, focusing on a different part of Africa.
We saw a fusion of west meets Africa as our flank steak with stuffed leek and baba ganouj with hot flat bread came out.
After this, we managed to devour the octopus and the cauliflower. My favourite part of the meal, dessert of course, finished off the meal perfectly. I was more than pleasantly surprised by the Turkish wedding cake and baked figs. Please visit Africola- you will not be disappointed!
Cheers,
;-)
Straight up the best eatery in Adelaide. Tasty. Creative. Way ahead of its time. The fit out is incredible. The staff are brilliant - knowledgeable, friendly, attentive. Chef Duncan is a prodigy. Make Africola your next (/every) night out on the town. The best.
Outstanding. Food and flavours are all so unique, a must eat at place in Adelaide for locals and travellers alike. I took my staff here as a thank you after Christmas, chose the feed me menu with paired drinks. Wow so much food and beautiful drinks. Everyone of us thought it was outstanding!
Delicious food, excellent service and lovely atmosphere. It is quite pricey but the dishes were filling. Interesting flavours and combinations in the dishes was fantastic.
Great vibe on a Saturday night. Everything was really nice but portions were on the small side. My fave was the eggplant which was surprising!!
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Quiet and dreamy Adelaide has its share of restaurants, but it can be difficult to find something special that stands out from the rest. Maybe this is because as a travelling Melburnian there's a certain vibe that is being looked for, but I digress from the blatant jibe at Adelaide as that special something has been found.
Meet Africola.
Tucked away on the north eastern corner of the CBD is this little pocket of excitement that offers a taste of South Africa. From the moment you walk in the door, it's hard not to notice the colourful mismatched interior filled with random nick-nacks and snippets of local slang plastered across walls, modelled off a typical African shebeen (illegal bar). The website is just as nuts and worth a visit in it's own right. Perfection is out, crazy is in.
Seating is a mixture of small tables and bar seating. The kitchen bar shows off all of the action and excitement of the food preparation and the star of the show - the wood grill. If you're sitting close by, expect the distinct lingering smell of smoke on your clothes by the end of the night.
The craziness extends to the menu, again with a colourful cover that exhibits a retro pink desk fan because...why not. It is divided into a few simple sections; snacks, starters, vegetables and meat. Descriptions of dishes are riddled with South African slang and local names, so some sneaky Googling may be needed to understand what you're ordering; try guessing what the "Cooring Angus onglet with pap and sheba" is going to be.
There's a little bit of everything with dishes including Boerewors sausages, curried lamb buns, charred octopus and various meats (available as mixed platters) cooked on the wood grill. The highlights are the "proper" peri peri chicken and the slow roasted cow's head. Many of the dishes are designed for sharing, so ideally bring a friend. There is also a six course tasting menu option with a random selection of dishes for those that can't decide.
The dishes all make you feel like your having something at home in Africa even though there's a touch of styled presentation. It's hard to describe many of the exquisite flavour combinations and so the advice is to simply have an open mind and just choose something unusual sounding from the menu.
Drinks are a modest selection of wines and beers with a mixture of Australian and imported South African varieties on offer. There is also a number of creative cocktails; one is named the "Cheerz Akubekuhle!" and consists of pig fat-washed whisky, Mpumalanga fire and an Africola pickle.
Africola is a unique and fun experience and to quote a line from the menu, go visit and have a "supa hepi time"!
Amazing! Great service and the most amazing food to eat. I never knew vegetables could taste so great. We got to sit right by the kitchen and watch the chefs do there magic - it was so much fun to watch. The place has lovely relaxed yet vibrant feeling. We are definitely going back there to try out more things from the menu.
Africola at 4 East Tce, Adelaide has been on our list of places to visit for a very long time. As soon as we walked in, we noticed the funky and eclectic decor and could feel and see the homage to South Africa. The ambience has a feel of homely casualness with hints of superiority. An exciting mix and something that sits well within the Adelaide dining scene.
Sometimes you eat at a restaurant and while the food was very interesting, you have absolutely no desire to return. Africola is not like that. They have created an accessible and clever menu that very gently pushes the boundaries. You could get a meal here that is essentially meat and 3 veg and while the flavours would be subtly different, I feel more conservative diners would still be very happy. The restaurant fit out also deserves a mention. Being the shallow person that I am, it was actually one of the main reasons I wanted to dine here! Having said that though, I am starting to wish the lighting in these places wasn't so dim! Definitely worth checking out.
This was at the top of my need to try places and in atmosphere, quirkiness and vibe it hit the spot. The beverage menu is a small array of well selected concoctions expertly mixed and fun to drink. A great local wine selection including Touriga by Vinteloper on pour and I love the use of Coopers Artisan ale it goes so well with so many of their dishes. The food....I couldn't fault the flavours. It was all so deliciously tasty but the portion to price ratio again lagged!! It's the sort of place I'd go after a meal for late night supper. Disappointingly no sign of a potato/root vegetable or any form of 'bread' like side to accompany saucier mains. Not ideal if you like to share the portions too small.
Do like the food at Africola. The smell of Braii style BBQ gets your stomach grumbling as soon as you walk through the door. Old mate Chef Duncan knows what's up when it comes good grub so I wasn't surprised after a proper tasty 5 course deg. It was yummy AF. As expected. However, service from the young lass who was waiting our table fell short, just didn't have much insight to what was on the drinks list and made the experience a bit uncomfortable and awkward. That's the only reason this ain't a perfect score. I'll be back for sure though coz damn am I craving some more of them beef ribs and peri style chickin!
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This was a long time coming. Africola has been recommended to me on several occasions since it's opening. Curiosity finally killed the cat, so I decided to delve into my 2nd South African dining experience, the other being home cooked. This experience however was unlike anything else I've come across. Seated at the kitchen bar we had front row seats to the chaos that unfolds within a capacity restaurant during peak hour, all good though, I wasn't driving.One must automatically expect delays during peak hour traffic, peak hour coffee, peak hour gym and believe it or not, peak hour dinner! The staff were wise to this fact and recommended some small plates to get the ball rolling, as mains were some time off. Good call waitress lady, because we waited an hour and a bottle of wine for mains - understandably so, the kitchen could simply not churn out the dishes fast enough to keep up with demand. Not that they weren't trying, it was an impressive sight to see so much food being cooked so well in such a traditional way - wood fire, open coals, brick ovens. Outstanding stuff and compliments to the chefs.The lamb, the peri-peri chicken and cauliflower consumed, thoroughly enjoyed. Cooked to perfection. The staff were very knowledgeable of the cuisine and wine list, they were friendly, courteous, well mannered and very busy, showing composure and good nature whilst under great pressure. Signs of a well run business and culture within their ranks.I'll recommend and return with great haste as I wish to try the degustation for 75 (120 with drinks). A most enjoyable night, if it's busy grab a few small plates to start with and enjoy the ambience of this well decorated, warm and inviting establishment.
Outstanding!! Let them feed you with five courses for $75. Service is great, food is great, ambiance is cool. Sit at the bar and watch the chiefs make your dinner. That's all I have to say.....
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I have been telling people about this place for the longest time but haven't had the chance to go there myself. Also I have been referring to it as the "place that Katy Perry dined when she came to Adelaide".
Suffice to say I was not let down. The decor when you step in immediately welcomes you and transports you to another part of the world with its bright colours. The open kitchen/bar is such a lovely touch, and the open doors brought in the wonderful smell of rain and grass. Perfect location I think, to be in the whole East Terrace precinct.
Service was great, the girls that were serving us knew their stuff and were attentive, courteous and had a great sense of humour. I love waiting staff who clearly care about their job and their customers. Give them a pay raise!
As for the food... It was amazing. I have nothing too bad to say about it. We got for entrée the ceviché fish (which could've been bigger) and the charred leek (which could've been bigger). The mains were the peri peri chicken (yes), the snapper (uhh yes) and the scotch fillet (heaven). Because the food was so pleasing we got dessert as well which was the hot cake with pistachio ice cream. Also worth mentioning was the cocktail which was a passionfruit and vodka (?) concoction in the biggest wine glass ever. A+.
Overall, I will definitely return. Africola, keep it up. I don't usually give a 5/5 for restaurants but this was just too good.
(Side note to Africola, your website interface and design is a bit dodge...)
Can't Be Bothered To Cook
+4.5
Interesting, vibrant, engaging .... it's good to have places that stretch our culinary knowledge which Africola does to an extent - I've never been to South Africa so can't comment on authenticity but all in all a fun experience
Recommend the clams (not very Sth Africsn perhaps) but served with a fab spicy sauce - needed firmer bread to soak it up or you could just drink it from the bowl (who cares about being ladylike?) :-)
Fish dishes beautifully cooked and presented and Peri Peri chicken was delicious (moist) and thankfully nothing like the tripe served up in certain faster food establishments
Friendly and knowledgeable staff and great atmosphere .... it's a bit noisy as smallish place with lots of people - diners + staff - good to sit at the counter and watch the open kitchen in diction, though this does add to the noise levels. Fun with a crowd but may not be suitable for romantic dinner a deux unless you don't mind yelling the endearments :-)
I really enjoy restaurants like this. Casual atmosphere with great food - exciting and full of flavour. Be adventurous - you won't be disappointed. This is in my top 5 places in Adelaide.
Had an enjoyable but puzzling meal here. Opted for the 'let us feed you', so I assume we got the kind of impression they wanted us to have. It was definitely a meal of two parts. The first part consisted of a succession of three delicate miniatures (kingfish, smoked mussel, eel), subtle and refined. The second part consisted of a huge slab of pork loin, which while delicious was entirely out of keeping with the first part of the meal. I liked the food, but I found it hard to understand what the overall message was supposed to be. Also worth mentioning perhaps that service during our meal was very leisurely: no one likes to be rushed, but 3+ hours for 5 courses was tilting seriously the other way.
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You little sneakies! Don't think I haven't noticed that your portions have literally halved since you opened!
That being said, the food is so delicious that I'm still willing to pay for meals that are a fraction of the size of the ones I was teased with on my first visit. I'll just sob quietly into my half cauliflower head that was once a WHOLE HEAD.
Vegetarians get really hungry, guys! Feed us proper!
UPDATE! Africola has changed their menu completely again! They've abandoned the snouts and entrails of South African food and moved up north, where the cuisine is a little more familiar and palatable. My vegetarian bias means I'm in favour of the change, since it's less animal-centric. But I don't know why they changed the interior! It's more subdued now and decidedly less fun. Also the wait staff: I know some customers are useless at ordering and need their hand held, but for those of us who know what we want, please don't make things difficult by being forceful with your suggestions. Just take the order and if we've selected poorly, be it on our heads.
Adventures In Winterland
+4.5
I finally made it to Africola! I was super excited to try South African food for the first time! We booked on a Friday night and were allocated outdoor seating, but we certainly weren’t neglected despite seating in front of Botanic Bar. I started with the Bluna cocktail – gin, orange wine, gooseberry and Rooibos cola combined into a light and lolly-sweet mix (yum!). Meals come with a complimentary serve of house-made flatbread and smoky goat’s curd – a perfect way to whet the appetite. Dish one was the charcoal marron served with a seaweed dressing. The marron was tender and soft and I mopped up all of the seaweed dressing – it was like the best nori in oil with a great salty hit. This dish was a real winner for flavour, but when they say entree size, they mean it. Entree two was the raw kingfish with mandarin segments, mandarin gel and goat’s curd. For me, the kingfish was the only thing that didn’t work – when I order fish I want to taste it, instead all I got was mandarin with the texture of fish, which was a bit odd. Overall I felt like the entrees were trying a bit too hard to be ‘chefy’. Finally the main game – the peri peri 1/2 chicken. Oh my. Next time I’d skip the entree and just have this baby. Hello spice, hello flavour! The chicken was perfectly cooked and the (boom) chakalaka spicy leaves on top were so tasty. I loved the little pickled root vegetables and the crunch from the toasted
pepitas. The chicken livers and hearts were deliciously rich and there was a fabulously spicy sauce coating the whole lot. A pot of polenta-like something came out with a lovely tomato sauce through it, which meant there was no way we
were leaving hungry. We’d also ordered a plate of the yoghurt-baked carrots (also served with goat’s curd) and these were to die for. They were perfectly roasted and the flavours were so well-balanced! They also helped to cool down
the spice from the chicken. Whilst the entrees felt ‘chefy’, the main was exactly what you would imagine South African food to be – hearty, jam-packed full of flavour and perfect for sharing. The wait staff were amazing, getting us fed in the one hour we had and regularly checking on the gas heaters and refilling our water. I’ll book for inside next time, because the vibe was amazing, but I’m glad I got to experience that chicken. I will be back for sure.
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I've been to Africola a few times now and every time I've been the experience has gotten better and better. The most recent visit was an absolute pleasure.
The first time was back when it first opened - I went with a big group of friends. We chose to let the kitchen feed us and whilst we had a great time we were a little bit disappointed with what we got for the price. The second time was a few months ago with my girlfriend. We enjoyed ourselves and the food was great. However, last night we returned for dinner and I was grinning with joy from ear to ear.
Food:
The food is generally very impressive. It's delicious, it's cooked well and for the most part it's presented well too. Last night we enjoyed the clams, a couple of oysters, the cauliflower and the lamb spit. Every element of every dish we had was spot on - cooked to perfection and well balanced flavours - even down to the slightly pickled zucchini slices which could almost go unnoticed if they weren't so delicious. We were so impressed that we even ordered two desserts, despite not being the slightest bit hungry and despite the fact that I generally don't even really enjoy dessert. We had the short cake and the hazelnut ice cream. I wasn't a huge fan of either, but that could possibly say more about my palette than the kitchen at Africola. I just found that the lemon cream way overpowered the hazelnut ice cream and the short cake was cooked really nicely - I just don't get along with cooked apple that well.
Service:
The staff seem pretty friendly and accommodating. The food comes out in good increments and they certainly don't seem to judge you for over-ordering (which is a pet peeve of mine). In fact, they seem to encourage it!
Ambience:
Personally I love the look of this place. It's colourful and warm and conjures a sense of relaxation and comfort. Be warned though, it can get very warm inside and you will probably smell like wood oven at the end of the night.
Dish to look out for:
The clams were insanely delicious, could have eaten them for days.
Africola at 4 East Tce, Adelaide has been on our list of places to visit for a very long time. As soon as we walked in, we noticed the funky and eclectic decor and could feel and see the homage to South Africa. The ambience has a feel of homely casualness with hints of superiority. An exciting mix and something that sits well within the Adelaide dining scene.
Jacqui's Food Fetish
+4.5
From the moment you reach the door at Africola, you know you’re in for a good night with its colourful and quirky interior, open kitchen and welcoming staff. Add to that the well-stocked bar and smiling drinkers and diners. Africola is Duncan Welgemoed’s (of Bistro Dom) new venture, based on the food and vibe of South Africa.
Jacqui's Food Fetish
+4.5
From the moment you reach the door at Africola, you know you’re in for a good night with its colourful and quirky interior, open kitchen and welcoming staff. Add to that the well-stocked bar and smiling drinkers and diners. Africola is Duncan Welgemoed’s (of Bistro Dom) new venture, based on the food and vibe of South Africa.
Jacqui's Food Fetish
+4.5
From the moment you reach the door at Africola, you know you’re in for a good night with its colourful and quirky interior, open kitchen and welcoming staff. Add to that the well-stocked bar and smiling drinkers and diners. Africola is Duncan Welgemoed’s (of Bistro Dom) new venture, based on the food and vibe of South Africa.
Jacqui's Food Fetish
+4.5
From the moment you reach the door at Africola, you know you’re in for a good night with its colourful and quirky interior, open kitchen and welcoming staff. Add to that the well-stocked bar and smiling drinkers and diners. Africola is Duncan Welgemoed’s (of Bistro Dom) new venture, based on the food and vibe of South Africa.
Really enjoyed Africola, unusual flavours. Loved small plates. Mussels and marron brilliant. Slightly disappointed with spit roasted pig, lacked any smokiness and intense roasted flavour. Waiting staff superb. Would be great to slightly expand wine list!
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First time at this ever so busy restaurant - And I can see why its so popular! I made a reservation on a Sunday for a Friday night, and the only table available was outside (in June!). They warned us that there was no cover, but heaters. When we arrived, unfortunately no blankets were offered until the end of our night. While the service was attentive and regular, the recommendations from our sever was poor. A pet peeve of mine is a response like "well, it depends what you feel like?", which is exactly what I got when asked for suggestions! We ended up getting the monkey nuts (delicious and spicy), the beef jerky, the grilled octopus (an absolute favourite!), the king fish, spit roast pork (enough to feed 4 people, even though it says for 2), the roasted cauliflower, and smoked carrots. Everything was hit with flavour and beautifully cooked. I hadn't had food similar to this before. Later a friend was joining us to finish off the mains we couldn't eat. Instead of warming up the food, the chef said he would bring out a fresh portion and we could take away the food already on the table! All free of charge. We thought this was a lovely and generous gesture - thank you Africola. We will be back no doubt - and siting inside :)
We had a lovely dinner with friends. Food was beautifully cooked and great wine list. The host was amazing - we will definitely be going back.
Africola at 4 East Tce, Adelaide has been on our list of places to visit for a very long time. As soon as we walked in, we noticed the funky and eclectic decor and could feel and see the homage to South Africa. The ambience has a feel of homely casualness with hints of superiority. An exciting mix and something that sits well within the Adelaide dining scene.
Have been to Africola a couple of times now and the food remains exceptional! It's amazing how Duncan can take an ordinary spit to a different level! The different flavours and contrasts in each of the meals are to die for. The Hot Apple cake and Peppermint Crisp dessert afterwards finished off a perfect meal. Will surely be back again.
I have read various reviews and I have heard various opinions, but in my opinion, Africola is awesome! Great vibe, lovely staff and friendly, accommodating table service. In fact, the online booking system froze while booking in the morning and the staff were happy to fit us in between the normal booking times on a friday night. The food was sensational!!!! We had the biltong, smoked mussels, smoked carrots and the spit for two, which was pork, and was divine!!! The waiting staff did warn us this was a hefty order to get through for two, which by any other menu would have been a lie, but honestly the portion size was more than reasonable. We had an awesome feast and enjoyed every moment of our dining experience at Africola! I can't wait to go back and dine between the eccentric wall art and fill my belly with delicious flavoursome food.
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We had a great night- despite a very average selection of food. I like it, I might go back, but our experience was positive mostly due to company, not due to food.
Firstly, we arrived to be told that we were seated outside, in May, with no heaters. We had been given no warning at booking that this was the case, and this is pretty inexcusable, as if we had been we could have either a) dressed appropriately or b) gone elsewhere. When seated our table still had remnants of the last diners meal; not great. They found a table for us inside after about 20 minutes.
We ordered the kitchen set meal. I am vegetarian, so I said I would order separately, as I know this is a meat heavy restaurant, but was convinced by the waiting staff to have the set meal too, and that they could make a great vegetarian option. One member of the table also requested that any meat be well done. I think this is where it all fell down. Clearly Africola has a set menu that only works when it is able to come out it's way. That is fair enough, lots of restaurants work that way, I appreciate the kitchens right to cook in a certain way. I think we should have been advised to order separately, and we would have had a far more enjoyable meal. As a vegetarian I said I would stretch to fish options, but my four dishes consisted of all of the side vegetable plates. Tasty, sure. A head of cauliflower for mains. No. Just no. Worth the money. No.
To the awesome waitress' credit, she saw my face and organised another dish which was more interesting, roasted baby corn with a delicious sauce. This should have been the first option. The rest of the table was pretty underwhelmed too, again I think because the request for a well done meat selection narrowed down the options too significantly.
Its a fun venue, and I think if you order correctly, it should be good. Everyone else seems to think so.
Fantastic!. Visiting from Melbourne and came upon Afticola...what a find. Great fit out, friendly and efficient service and a unique approach. The food was great and overall pretty affordable . Nothing like this in melbourne- go adelaide!
Best restaurant in Adelaide .... Best restaurant in Adelaide
Had a family dinner on a busy Saturday night, staff were attentive and excellent. Had a range of meals from the menu, all of them were exquisite and prepared to perfection. Can't wait to go back, the only problem is finding a booking at short notice.
Loved the feed me experience and the intimate ambience. Staff are very friendly and the food overall was really great. I didn't like certain flavours (that's my personal preference) whereas my husband preferred them vice versa.
This is a $75pp sharing menu
Thien Vuong (fooderarri)
+5
Really good dining experience here. Enjoyed the contemporary African food which is a very different experience from the traditional African dishes I've had in the past. Plenty of food served too for $75 per head which is great value for money. Definitely would recommend it. Yours truly @fooderarri
We enjoyed every dish in the tasting menu. Well worth the $ and good value. Staff are very friendly. Very good turnaround- no waits. Good 2hours in amazing vibes. Highly recommended
What a stunning meal! We loved every single dish and was wowed each time. The veggie dishes were definitely the highlight. So many layers to the flavours and a wonderful and balanced mix of textures. We're visiting from Sydney and saw all the great reviews online so booked it in for a Wed dinner and I'm so glad we did! This was such a unique flavour journey, I can not recommend it enough. Service was lovely too! And the area is very cute, a lot of bars and quietish streets to walk around. Do yourself a favour and PLEASE come here!
Wow! You can see why Africola gets great reviews. The flavor combinations on their dishes is incredibly well done.
The service was outstanding, constantly on top of filling up drinks.
Our booking was at 6:30 and it felt a little rushed, dishes were coming out quickly, sometimes multiple at once. They might have had a booking right after us, but, would have enjoyed the experience more with one dish coming out at a time. Otherwise, it was fantastic !
So bloody good! Feed me menu had heaps of food, all was really fresh and delicious. When reading the menu a lot of it actually didn’t appeal to me but I was wrong, mushrooms, falafel and kingfish were stand outside for me. Service was really friendly and everything came out really quickly. Definitely would go back
Friendly and attentive staff despite a packed restaurant. Glass of water was always full. Everybody is served a randomised selection from a larger menu and we can request specific dishes to have or to avoid.
Decided to be adventurous and did not avoid any dishes despite one of the group's initial reservations towards tofu cream. As luck would have it, we got the kolrahbi and tofu cream but it turned out to be amazing and balanced.
After the amazing meal, I thought surely the kitchen would have had to compromise some effort on dessert. They turned out to be phenomenal dishes. The chocolate mousse was rich but not overly sweet. Amazing depth from the cocoa and well balanced served with the creme fraiche. The nectarine sorbet tasted fresh and sweet, full of natural nectarine flavour that matched the amazing intensity of every other dish that night.
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