Best meal I’ve had in Adelaide. Service was on point. Price is fantastic for the level of food and service you receive. Will certainly be a spot to entertain those visiting from out of town. Highly recommend.
As good a lunch as we've ever had (and we do like a good lunch). Lovely setting, both inside and the view. Impeccable service. And the food was wonderful. The word that comes to mind for me is 'thoughtful'. A lot of places that put together a list of ingredients in what I think of as modern Australian cuisine clearly use dice to arrange them. They line up thirty or forty of them and the dice then decides which ones will be the starter, the mains, the dessert.
Whereas head chef Paul Baker and his team have looked at the ingredients and decided what will work...and what won't. Nothing jarred, everything was in its place.
We had a tough time making our choices and are already looking ahead to our next visit to try some of the others. Congratulations to the restaurant, no doubt a well-deserved hat, though why stop at the one?
We have been coming here for Mother's Day lunch for a number of years now, and always return because of the amazing food and service we get - and this year was no exception!
Our waiter, Malcolm, is always superb; along with a great sense of humour he is very passionate about the food being served - and makes every effort to ensure we have a fantastic time. Thank you for making it a wonderful day to enjoy with my family, we most definitely will be back next Mother's Day lunch!
Amazing- consistently amazing. Brilliant food, excellent presentation, immaculate setting and professional and friendly staff. It's a fabulous place for great food and lovely atmosphere. Very special
Wonderful meal, full of interesting and new flavours. Great service and fabulous wine list! ��
We loved the gorgeous setting and interior and wonderful food. We were impressed with the friendly and appropriately efficient staff. We had a very enjoyable time and will definitely come back. Thankyou to all the staff for a most pleasurable lunch experience.
Haley Kristen Altamura
+5
We love coming with our family to botanic - truley the best in all food and service.
We had the most wonderful wedding ceremony, drinks and canapés and sit down wedding reception in the gardens and at the restaurant. Sarah, you and your staff were amazing - the service was impeccable and the cocktails, wine and food was out of this world! The flexibility and assistance in the lead up to the wedding was truly appreciated. Thank you for a perfect afternoon and night! We look forward to seeing you and your staff again soon!! Tommie and Josh xo
Thank you for an amazing lunch today, beautiful location, staff were friendly, service was impeccable & the food was simply WOW factor delicious. Very accommodating with our dietary requirements too. Such a great variety on the menu & so many gluten free options.
Exceptional food, amazing service. Beautiful location. Thanks so much. Everything was perfect! �
We have been enjoying the Botanic Gardens Restaurant for many, many years and have never been disappointed. We recently went for lunch with some good friends, after a loooooong absence, and I am pleased to say that the high standard of food and service has been maintained. Thank you for providing an excellent experience, in a magnificent environment, well done, we will not be leaving it so long before we visit again.
Thanks and take care
This is one of Adelaide’s we’ll know restaurants I have always wanted to go to. Set in Adelaide’s beautiful Botanic Gardens it is a wonderful location for lunch or dinner. The degustation menu with paired wines was absolutely fabulous. Fresh local produce with the most amazing presentation and flavours. Anthony our waiter was just perfect. Professional and a great sense of humour. Will definitely be back and thank you so much for an amazing evening.
Wow what great food, wines and service. We did the 5 course degustation with matching wines, and they were spot on! From the warm welcome to the special touch on the menu (happy anniversary note on the menu - see pic), they were all amazing. A special shoutout to the sommelier who took the time explaining the process of choosing and matching wines.
We had the degustation (tasting menu) and everything was just devine! Seafood was fresh and you can really taste all the flavours in each dish. The staff were all very friendly from start to finish. In terms of dessert, their tiramisu was probably the beat one I’ve had yet! Definitely would like to return.
You haven't been here? Why?
So? Why haven't you been here yet? Beautiful setting, brilliant service and award winning chefs, need I say anymore? Do I really need to write this review? Yes? Oh, you want pictures, right? Take my hand and walk with me. Meander through the lush gardens, smell the rain intermingled with beautiful flora.....no it wasn't fertiliser laying time. Oh, thank goodness for that!..........To read the rest of my review, click on the link below.
On Friday I posted my first Festival of Food 2018 experience – British Raj. It was certainly a good start of the event this year. To continue our journey, Tina and I dug into the second on our list, Botanic Gardens Restaurant. When mentioning Botanic Gardens Restaurant, there is no need to give extra introduction. Headed by Paul Baker, the Chef of the Year 2017, the nationally acclaimed multi-award winning restaurant is located centrally in the famed picturesque Adelaide Botanic Gardens. Local produce, especially edible plantations grown in the garden are used here and Paul has transformed them into vibrant live flavours on the plate. An extensive wine selection is available at the venue and can be paired with the dishes.
A milestone birthday celebration bought a group of us for lunch to the Botanic Gardens Restaurant. The service was efficient, professional and non intrusive. Due to the fact that we wouldn't stop talking they were great about returning for menu and drink orders. It was great that they explained each dish as it was presented to remind us what we had ordered. All the food was delicious and at three courses with some sides it was just the right amount of food too. The atmosphere is lovely as it's in the Botanic Gardens and surrounded by trees.
We recently dined at this lovely restaurant and we really enjoyed the meal. We chose to have 3 courses for $75 and a couple of sides to share. The main course of beef rib was nice but the lamb was sensational. I also loved the hint of wasabi in the Brussels sprouts, they were so moorish and super delicious. Dessert was great, I really enjoyed my parfait with a hint of orange. My husband wasn't really a fan of his poached rhubarb, it was probs my a little small. My favorite dish was the starter of polenta with field mushrooms, it was so delicious I could have eaten a whole bowl. Service was quite good, staff were friendly. I think if I went back I would go for lunch so I could enjoy the beautiful surroundings in daylight hours.
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I have been frequenting this establishment every year since Festival of Food started and even long before that, actually !!
We had already visited some of the FOF establishments purely on the dishes they had to offer and when interstate foodie mate and myself perused what was on offer on the Botanic menu, we were intrigued, decision made, Botanic it is!
The Botanic is one of Adelaide’s finest restaurants and the setting is really gorgeous.
When we visited last year, it was on a blustery, rainy, cold evening, which made the trek to the restaurant, even more exciting, adding to the anticipation. There is a different character during the daylight, but still fabulous.
The massive advantage the Botanic has, is their staff, they are highly professional and informative, which is difficult to find these days. We did find one of the wait staff a little snappy and standoffish but I suppose we can’t always be on top of our game and maybe she was just having a bad day.
Note: Wine is expensive here, we have great wine in SA and yet we still pay just as much as anyone else in Australia, can be annoying.
We were seated and ordered away, I was excited about the tasting entrée plate, as the delicacies sounded so interesting.
Our entrée plate arrived promptly and unfortunately, did not have one item on there that was mentioned, sad face! This was one of the reasons we came here. The three items we received had no real wow factor and we were a little disappointed. Fresh oyster (which unfortunately I don’t eat but wish I could!!) was not replaced so I just gave it away, a slice of terrine which we found under seasoned and under spiced and some kingfish which was average. I believe it would have been much better had we’d been informed of the changes before we received them and not after. I did make mention to the waitress that I do not eat raw oysters but it was just dismissed. When we asked why we didn’t get the FOF mentioned share plate, we were told, this is subject to change (not mentioned on the brochure btw) which I understand, it just would have been nice if we were informed at booking stage or upon being seated. I know this probably sounds petty, but, when you frequent restaurants just for the food alone, it can be disappointing when you don’t receive what your palate was expecting! Onto the mains, I had the whiting and foodie mate had the pork, both of the dishes were nice, not really outstanding and my dish had the smallest piece of whiting on it I have ever seen! Yes, I understand FOF costings etc, but it was the size of an entrée and not really a main. I do love the use of the garden ingredients and it’s wonderful that you get to try a load of different textures and flavours, which is fabulous for tourists. We had sides of potatoes and sprouts which were incredibly generous and excellent. Again, we did not receive the petit fours mentioned on the brochure of the Bitter chocolate and Satsuma plum, we had the quince dish instead, this was okay, personally we both found the quince to be undercooked.
We just thought it was not quite up to the standard that we were used to from this 5 Star establishment.
We still enjoyed our time at The Botanic and will return.
Thank you Team.
The Botanic Gardens restaurant is part of the ‘Festival of Food’ with its kitchen headed up by acclaimed chef Paul Baker. With a garden to kitchen philosophy the seasonal menu reflects what’s grown in the surrounding stunning Botanic Gardens. The restaurant is nestled in the centre of the gardens and as we were dining in the evening, entered after closing, from Plane Tree drive. It was eerie walking along the well-lit path shrouded in leaves, with the mild screeching of fruit bats flying above the leaf cover.
Walking up to the beautiful light up restaurant on a dark Friday night, through the gorgeous gardens set the scene for an exquisite dining experience at the Botanic Gardens Restaurant. Refined food, presented elegantly with quality over quantity. Devine!
Many, many positive things to say about Botanic Gardens Restaurant. We dined here on a windy and cold Friday evening, and the walk to the restaurant was dark, slightly eerie with many leaves and broken off branches on the footpath leading to the restaurant. But when we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the staff who continued to be friendly but professional throughout the evening.
We decided to go with their three course a la carte option ($75 per person, and $10 for any accompanying sides). I cannot fault any aspect of what we were presented with and how it tasted. Cured salmon and kangaroo tartare to start with followed by Lamb Shoulder and the Beef Shin for mains, and a yummy side of cauliflower with walnuts and parsley. For dessert we chose panna cotta and spelt waffle with cheese, something very different, not overly sweet but a fresh way to finish off a beautiful meal.
Overall, beautiful ambience, attentive service and wonderful food.
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We decided to begin our Festival of Food journey with the Botanic Gardens restaurant for Lunch on Saturday. I love everything about this restaurant, from the moment we walked through the garden gates we were surrounded by beautiful trees and lush green grass. Walking down the garden path towards the restaurant we felt like we had entered wonderland. Making our way down the tree lined path they towered above us and we stopped to admire the huge old trees and discussed intently how long ago they must have been planted and wondering if the person who had planted them had any idea how beautiful this garden would one day be.
Once we entered the restaurant we were greeted by the friendly staff and shown to our table. The decor is lovely and mirrors the English garden feel of its surrounding scenery. Through the festival of food we are given a set entrée and dessert, with a list of mains to choose from, and the option to purchase additional sides and dessert.
Read full post at littlejsadventures.com
Jacqui's Food Fetish
+4.5
Paul Baker was born in Sydney and at seventeen, after having worked a stint at an Italian restaurant, he scored an apprenticeship at the famous Aria and it was here, working for Matt Moran, where he developed his eye for detail and pursuit of perfection. After four years there he moved on to Pello where he later became head chef. He also worked overseas before working at Grace the Establishment in Adelaide. Lucky for us, he’s now married to an Adelaidian so he’s planning on staying put here for the time being.
Went there for lunch to celebrate a birthday. Amazing food. Amazing scenery. But the service stood out. Waiters were very friendly and addressed all our needs. Will be back.
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This pretty restaurant is in arguably the best setting in Adelaide; smack in the middle of the botanic garden surrounded by historic, towering Morton Bay Fig trees. I've noticed a gradual greening of cafes around the city but this one tops them all. With views from any aspect (the best table is on the deck just outside the side door so the airconditioning wafts through in the summer), just walking to, and sitting in this restaurant is worth the visit alone. The added bonus is the delicious food. The chef takes great care in the combination of flavours and presentation. Like any high end restaurant, I hope flavour combinations to be unique to create an exciting experience. The solid looking squid ink bread with vegetable ash was light and flavoursome, the best SA fish, the Coorong Mullet with native greens delicately delicious, and the complex citrusy Middle Eastern flavoured bombe Alaska the most exciting dessert I can remember (the bombe alaska was high on the list of our 70's family dining experiences and this 2015 reinvention kicked their collective ass). I annoyingly asked if the octopus accompanying the mullet had suckers, not liking the chewy texture, and the attentive waiter reassured me they would be tender, not chewy. The kind, long-suffering chef came out with my plate with no suckers. Perfect setting, perfect food, and wonderful service. Ridiculously well valued pricing (though please keep the pricing the same so we can visit again soon :)
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Went here yesterday with my wife for the special once a year wedding anniversary outing. (Yes, I see your point... there wouldn't be a twice a year anniversary outing would there?)
First let's talk setting. The restaurant is in the 100 year old tea room rotunda in the middle of the Botanic Gardens on North Terrace. That's 120 acres of back yard. No matter which way you approach the place you walk through beautiful garden after garden. As our waiter said, "Even if you're in a bad mood when you get to the gate, by the time you walk through to the restaurant you're feeling calm and relaxed."
And that big back yard means that they source a lot of their produce from just outside their door. Their menu includes a page devoted to a list of the ingredients they've collected from the gardens. They even have a beer on the wine list that was made from barley grown in the gardens. Now that's a kitchen garden!
Next let's talk price structure. Their a la carte menu pricing is simple. Two courses (entree and main or main and dessert) $52. Three courses $70. Degustastion $85. With matched wines $130. We were only there for lunch so we went for the two courses. I had entree and main, my wife had main an dessert.
We were surprised by an amuse bouche - a chicken ballontine with a salad of herbs, flowers and shaved radish. Not huge, but definitely substantial enough to count as an appetizer.
So... $52. I just had a look online at the menu of a bistro in a big suburban beer barn Hardly fine dining, basic pub food. Garlic bread, a prawn cocktail and a fillet mignon $54. Go on - you work out the value.
Service was impeccable.. friendly, informative, helpful. Clearly the staff was proud of their work, their food and their restaurant.
The food was outstanding. Elegant, sophisticated and beautifully presented so that the eye was delighted before even tasting. And then when you did taste... clearly here is a chef who knows his business.
The food was perfectly cooked. I had kangaroo which, lets face it, can be like old saddle leather if not properly done. This was melt in the mouth stuff.
The food also kept you surprised. The terrine I had came with gingerbread according to the menu. The gingerbread was presented almost like prown crackers it was sliced so finely and then crisped. My wife had bombe alaska which sounds almost a cliche, except this was filled with cardamon, rosewater and pistaccio icecream with strawberrys as a base and a cumquat sauce. That perfectly cooked kangaroo was cooked after having been rolled in ground coffee beans.
Seriously, I know I haven't eaten at Magill Estate or Orana, but even if I had this place would, I think, still be at the top of my list of fine dining places in Adelaide. We're lucky to have it here.
Beautiful tasting food, romantic atmosphere and friendly staff. Would definitely come here again. Highly recommended. Thank you for a wonderful experience.
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As close to a complete dining experience as I've had for ages. Everyone in Adelaide will know of the Botanic Gardens Restaurant but I'm sure very few have been there...they are missing out.
The venue is a refurbished rotunda and the walk through the gardens is an adventure in itself. The inside is decked out in all white and seems to bring the gardens inside with wall to wall glass overlooking the greenery.
The menu is based on the produce that is grown in the kitchen garden just outside and we were told it was close to 80% of the menu was sourced from just out the front door. Talk about low food miles.
We chose the 7 course tasting menu with matching wines, which for $135pp is great value. Every course was beautifully presented an accompanied with local wine, some of which was made exclusively for the restaurant. This is reason enough to visit as some of the drops were exceptionally good.
Service is a highlight with highly skilled wait staff looking after a busy crowd on this particular Friday. The chef even popped out to tables now and then which was nice. Never did we feel rushed or were left hungry which is a key element to good tasting menus and this one was excellent.
So, just 10mins walk from the CBD, surrounded by amazing gardens sits this gem of a place. It's worth crossing North Terrace for...
A restaurant we have been to on several occasions is the Botanic Gardens Restaurant at Plane Tree Drive, Botanic Gardens Adelaide. Being situated in the Botanic Gardens you are surrounded by the beautiful nature of fawn and fauna. A very serene and calming environment. . This restaurant is also on the Festival of Food list and for lunch on a Saturday you pay $39.50 for House Baked Sourdough Bread with Cultured Butter, Entree Tasting Plate and your choice of Main Course and Petits Four for Dessert.
The next restaurant in my 2015 Festival of Food journey is one of my favourites, the Botanic Gardens Restaurant. Located inside the Botanic Gardens, the surroundings almost have a fairy tale setting about it. After getting the restaurant validated on my Festival of Food smartphone app, it’s just a matter of picking a main course. I’ve already reviewed this place twice, so I’ll just get straight into the food.
We had lunch here yesterday after reading a glowing 4 star review in The Weekend Australian and certainly the complements are well deserved. The setting is of course congenial to the beautiful garden surroundings. No loud open kitchen would work at all. The service was well paced and the waiter attentive and helpful. The entree tommy ruff had texture and was fresh and delicate in flavour. The Coorong rump for mains was very tender and complemented by a side plate of pumpkin. And my rhubarb desert was sweet and delicious with rose petals I think to finish it off. For a special occasion or entertaining visitors it is well worth it. The new chef is well deserving of his accolades.
Delightful. Great food, exceptional service, a perfect place to have an intimate lunch with loved one's.
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Long leisurely lunch in the gardens. My friends and I had lunch there recently one Saturday, on a picture postcard warm and sunny spring day. The gardens were looking magnificent and the recently re-furbished dining room is well positioned to take in the glorious views. The white decor is enhanced by white painted lattice and corrugated iron from the original pavilion. We started with a Bird in Hand Sparkling Pinot which set the mood for the rest of the day. (is this the wine they served at Wimbledon last year we pondered? ). The waiter misjudged the pour and topped number 5's glass up with the 'by the bottle' version which was a nice recovery. The menu is not large but the entree of warm leek and Roquefort tart with pickled cherries was a perfect accompaniment to the sparkling wine. For main the Schnapper was unavailable so I had its replacement NT Barramundi with a citrus beurre blanc which was terrific with the 2008 Joseph D'Elena Pinot Grigio. Unfortunately the desserts were disappointing and I would recommend having 2 courses rather than 3 for this reason only. Service was very good and we had just the right wait between courses. I will definitely go back
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On the same day Mashed Potato dined!!!!!!. Classy cooking in a lovely setting”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 28 September 2014 NEW
This restaurant is in a most attractive renovated Edwardian gazebo in the middle of the Botanic Gardens. The large windows give views on to the gardens from almost every table, providing a charming green background to everybdiner. The tables are simply but stylishly set with crisp white linen, cutlery and glasses.
We had lunch here using the Festival of Food voucher, which gave us a two course meal, but we were given a surprise amuse-bouche to start with. The menu offered some really unusual combinations of tastes and textures. For us, the highlight of the meal was the Entree, which was a platter of small helpings of the restaurant's three most popular starters. This was careful and classy cooking of a very high degree and certainly the equal of the food in three star restaurants in which I've eaten elsewhere.
The main courses were interesting. The pulled pork wrapped in pastry was wonderful on its own, but its delicate flavour was rather overshadowed by the powerful black chorizo that accompanied it. However the slices of steak together with the slow-cooked beef rib were divine.
We paid extra for the pudding and had the pear tarte tatin. This was a whole half pear, poached then glazed and put into a pastry case. It tasted great but the presence of the accompanying ice cream turned the hot caramel of the pear to sticky toffee in the mouth - not the easiest of things to eat!
The service was impeccable - friendly, efficient and unobtrusive - just what the best service should be.
A three course lunch for two of this standard of cooking, together with wine and coffee all for around 130 dollars is remarkable. Altogether a memorable occasion.
Visited September 2014
5 of 5 stars Value
5 of 5 stars Atmosphere
5 of 5 stars Service
5 of 5 stars Food
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Great food. This restaurant has a tranquil ambience and a lovely view into the gardens. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. We have been here a number of times over the years and we have been sometimes disappointed with the food. The last two lunches we have had there, the food has matched everything else. For me, the best dish of the day was the seared Queensland Scallop ‘Ma Hor’- candied pork, prawn, chicken, pineapple and peanuts served on betel leaf, truly beautiful and delicious. One of our all time favourite lunch places.
Relaxed, civilised & oh so pleasant!. This delightful 'tea room' inspired rotunda to fine dining is tucked away in the grounds of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.
It's a delightful 5 minute walk at most from any pf the main entrances.
A limited but brilliantly executed menu, excellent selection of local South Aus wines.
Service, is pleasant, well meaning and polite, if a bit bucolic, but what a gorgeous surrounding and awesome little refuge away from the buzz of the CBD.
Surprisingly good coffee, surprisingly good everything,
A great little find.
It is my favorite time of the year again- Festival of Food Adelaide! Where top quality restaurants in South Australia have partnered up with Festival of Food, presenting well-planned 3 course meal menu at fraction of the cost. Since this year I had “no junk mail” on my mail box, I did not receive the invitation myself, however York’s parents did, we I tagged along to the first restaurant on the list- Botanic Gardens Restaurant. Tagging along to lunch on our day off work (the waiter actually stood on the chair to take this photo for us, so we can see the food too!) Botanic Gardens Restaurant is situated in Adelaide Botanic Garden. Even though I have been in Adelaide for more than 2 years, this was my first time stepping into the premises. I was super excited since the restaurant only open during lunch times and closes on Mondays. Monday was the only common day off for York and I when I had my full time job, now that I am a locum optometrist, my days are a lot more flexible The interior
Daisy Yum (daisyumblog)
+4.5
I remembered coming to Botanic Gardens Restaurant for FOF last year. It didn't seem that long ago. First of all, the menu on the FOF voucher was different to the one that we got in the restaurant on the day.
Daisy Yum (daisyumblog)
+4.5
My readers contacted me and asked about the Botanic Gardens Restaurant post for the FOF, oops I had completely forgotten. I have been here for breakfast before and remembered it being pretty good. FOF was no exception. This was the only restaurant that provides lunch using the FOF voucher and also on a Saturday.
Daisy Yum (daisyumblog)
+4.5
A few weeks back we decided to visit the Botanic Gardens restaurant. This restaurant is not easily seen on the main streets, it is located inside the Botanic Garden. There are plenty of signs around the garden to direct you. From the restaurant, there's 180 degree views of the gardens and ponds, a very tranquil environment indeed.
Adelaide's new restaurant has definitely made its mark. I was beyond blown away by the quality of the food, the devotion of the staff to making every little detail perfect, and the uniqueness of their approach.
The food is not only amazing, but the entire experience is a journey. I see big things for this restaurant in the future, they should be very proud of themselves
What a wonderful experience!!!
Credit to Justin James and the team at Restaurant Botanic.
A beautiful meal that was highly technique driven, matched with superb service!
It’s easy to see why Gourmet Traveller gave Restaurant Botanic the no.1 title in SA.
Our experience was approximately 4 hours.
Do yourself a favour. Book. Spend money. Enjoy!
Simply put: the best meal I've had in my life. The phenomenal presentation, fantastic atmosphere, absolutely outstanding service, DELICIOUS food - everything about this place is a home run. 10/10 dining perfection, felt like I was floating off a cloud in a dream as I left here. Every single dish that came out was amazing and presented with such care to detail, the hardest part was trying to figure out what I liked best - each course stood out uniquely on it's own, each bite was bliss. What they charge pales in comparison to what you get back, if you're in Adelaide - make reservations and GO. I will come back anytime I'm ever near Adelaide again.
Amazing restaurant. I thought Hentley Farm was Adelaide's top restaurant, but Botanic now has top spot, but there is a quail's egg in it. It is easily in the top 10 restaurants in Australia (and I am well eaten!). Not only is the food amazing, but the presentation and service are outstanding. It is a true experience, so allow 4 to 5 hours and indulge. You won't be disappointed
It’s a place for special occasions, what a fantastic charming and very memorable experience. Had the short trail and wine pairings. Feast for the eyes and palate. Loved loved the service and atmosphere. Can’t wait to come back.
Wonderful experience! The service was impeccable (Marcell is a superstar!). Food was amazing, unique with incredible flavours and sensational wine pairings. Can't recommend enough!!
We are enjoying a unique experience - having not been to Restaurant Botanic for many years, it’s wonderful to have our taste buds tantalised with such creative foods. We are working our way through a 23 course meal ( mouthful or so for each) …
Will definitely be coming back again - no long breaks! Patricia & Mike
Thoroughly deserving of all five stars as the Long Trail was the best degustation I've ever experienced. Food and service were both amazing. I also highly recommend the 'Temperance' non-alcoholic beverage pairing.
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