Review Cork & Cleaver - Adelaide

This is a famous South Australian Steakhouse the decor is the same as opening day 38 years ago and the food is always amazing.

My first visit to Cork and Cleaver to celebrate my wife's birthday! Service was prompt and friendly, the food was delicious and more than satisfying... The seafood chowder was superb and my steak was cooked to perfection!! Loved the affogato for dessert too 🥰 It was interesting to have the menu, not to mention the daily specials, listed on individual meat cleavers!! See you again soon!!

We had nice time. Friendly and great food.

Easily the best steaks in Adelaide. As a regular over many years, it is sad to see this institution close after 43 years. It will be missed by many! The wine list has always been outstanding, along with the food and service. It was a privilege to enjoy the experience one final time. Thank you for all of the memories Cork & Cleaver!

We went fortunate to get a table for lunch, before the restaurant closes for good. It's a serious pity that we will say goodbye to Cork & Cleaver. Great warm service with melt-in-your-mouth juicy steak that is very flavoursome. I've tried the offering of the newer steak restaurants in town, and the steak from Cork & Cleaver still wins hands down. Although we won't be able to have an encore, thank you for the experience, and please enjoy the well-earned rest to everybody at Cork & Cleaver.

Rare opportunity to dine at the famous Cork and Cleaver before it closes on 18 December this year (2021). Food was superb, and very friendly attentive staff, wasn't cheap ($150/head!) But happy that the group got to relive some of those fine dining moments of the 80s and 90s

Went there recently for a small family birthday. Atmosphere was amazing and sophisticated, The food even more so! Lovely steaks, amazing sauces and spices, and the wine was just divine. Even got a surprise candle on the dessert for the birthday boy (didn't have to ask for it). Very friendly and informed staff.

The steaks was perfectly cooked , the wine list was a plenty and the service outstanding.

If I could give this 10 stars.. I would! We visited for dinner tonight with our friends and 2 young children. All of us loved the meatballs, entrees, mains, desserts and wine list! Steak on the childrens menu is amazing and was loved by Miss 5 who's 1st choice is always steak yet rarely found on a childrens menu. Thank you for being so accomodating of the little ones, attentive (it's the little things that made this experience amazing!), friendly and well done to the chefs for cooking the most delicious food. We can't wait to return!

I would like to thank Stratos and staff for a wonderful evening last saturday the 17/2/2018. We were celebrating my husbands 70th Birthday. Everbody enjoyed the food and astmosphere it was fantastic. We would recommend this restaurant very highly. My family and i have been coming here since 1978, Once again i thank you and your staff for helping us to celebrate his birthday.

Had the best meal - as always - last night for my birthday. The steak tartare was delicious and the steaks to die for! Thank you Stratos & family xx

Opened in 1978 and probably not renovated since! But what matters is courteous service, wonderful care and attention to food and wine, basically great food and professional service. The recommendation of a Reilly's 2012 Tempranillo was a perfect match for our fabulous chateaubriand. A memorable meal, bravo!

The meatballs, the amazing food, the wine list, the gorgeous staff. the palm trees and the ambience! Will never be the same without Stuart Marshall but I know will always be an amazing experience!

The best steak my partner and I have ever had in Adelaide. Highly recommend the chateaubriand, it melted in our mouths. Excellent quality of food, very good portion size and punctual service. Can't wait to eat there again :)

I have been frequenting here since about 1981. Never once have I had a bad experience. Consistently great food, wine & service. Thank you Stratos, Jim and the rest of the crew.

Absolutely fantastic, I had steak tartare for the first time and loved it. My family all loved their food also!

Paid for a private room and family dinner to celebrate my husbands 60th, service was poor, food average. Certainly not as good as it used to be and definitely wouldn't go back again

What a wonderful night! Tried it for the first time on Tuesday night as my wife and I were celebrating our 18th wedding anniversary. Very nice atmosphere. The complimentary Turkish bread, olive oil and meatballs in a tomato sauce was a lovely touch and a gesture of goodwill and hospitality you just don't get these days. We both had the surf and turf and it was brilliant! The highest quality of steaks cooked to perfection. Topped with Morton Bay bugs and prawns wrapped in bacon and bearnaisè sauce with a baked potato and sour cream. We also had some lovely sautéed mushrooms on the side sizzling away in a cast iron pan. Lucky we didn't order more sides as this was more than enough for the two of us! But, we pushed through our wonderful culinary feasting because we couldn't resist having a tiramisu. And I have to say, the best we've ever had! The wines were excellent and very good value. They have a wonderfully stocked cellar, so you'll be spoiled for choice. I was delighted to discover that they had a good range of single malt whisky, and being a Highlander, I had to indulge in my ancestral whisky, 15 year old Dalwhinnie. What a joy!!! I would like to say we will come here more often, but we are not in that income bracket. But, pennies will be saved for future anniversaries, as every cent is worth it and for the quality of their fare, it is actually a bargain. Well done and thank you all at the Cork and Cleaver for giving us such a magical night!

Our first time here and oh my we have not stopped talking about the amazing food. Out of this world and service was just fantastic. We will definitely be returning

Super yums!!! Great atmosphere and excellent service...Tiffany is the best!

Been enjoying Cork&Clever for the past 17 years. Classy and consistently great food and service.

The food her is absolutely out of this world. We has a 3 course valentines dinner. (First time ever been here) Which was amazing. My partner had the tower which was cooked exactly how he likes it. I had the fish of the day which was cooked to perfection. And our entrees and dessert were delicious aswell. We are definitely going back here!! :) :)

It’s the quality old school restaurant service and exceptionally great steak that keeps me coming back every year when I visit Adelaide 😊😊😊

The Cork & Cleaver has been our favourite restaurant for years. My husband proposed to me there in 1995, I had my 21st and 40th birthday celebrations there. Every Anniversary or special occasion it is our go to restaurant. Stratos, Jimmy and all the staff are so welcoming and friendly it feels like you are dining at a fine restaurant at home. Their meat balls are famous and I often buy them at Foodland to have the Cork & Cleaver experience at home. My favourite menu item is their famous Pepper Steak and Roquefort Salad. Our 9 year old son loves it also and has done for years. His favourite is the Oysters Kilpatrick and Petite Steak. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Plus

Awesome steak and good old fashion real service. Always a great feed. Having a pre or after dinner drink at the bar always makes for a better evening.

I have been going to this iconic Adelaide restaurant for over 30 years, food & service has always been 5 stars. Thanks to Stratos, Jimmy & Family.

It was the perfect place to celebrate our 15th Wedding Anniversary last night! Enjoyed a fantastic meal and wonderful service. �

Beautiful food & excellent service Many thanks again ��

Steak fab, staff so helpful and friendly. Loved the cocktails..Yep a gem in Adelaide we will be back!!

We have been going here every wedding anniversary for probably 20+ years so it's special for us. The restaurant never changes which is great........if it's not broken don't change it.

My partner Andrew and I absolutely loved the restaurant. The atmosphere and service was wonderful and the food amazing. Andrew proposed to me in the restaurant and the staff took some photographs of the happy event. Which they are going to put on diskette for us to pick up in a few days. We would highly recommend the venue. Wendy and Andrew.

Not up to scratch stuck in 80's, wine list is fantastic but I won't be back so many other exceptional restaurants in Adelaide!

awesome service and food .. highly recomend everything

Welcoming staff, very friendly and warm vibe. Food was absolutely delicious!

Stunning service & food as always, made Valentines Day very special. Thank you!

Lovely place for a special occasion. Food was excellent �

A group of six of us recently ate here with mixed results. 2 of us shared the "cut your own" steak and had an 800g steak between the two of them that was cooked to perfection and was definitely the stand out. <br/><br/>I had the cleaver and spice which was also cooked perfectly but I found the flavour of the meat was a little lost in the seasoning. <br/><br/>The other three in our party also had a mixed experience, some loved their steaks, one was less impressed.<br/><br/>The decor of the restaurant is stuck in a time warp and really needs work. You kind of feel like an 80s stockbroker having a long lunch. The service was ok but nothing special. This restaurant is an Adelaide "institution" but I think it's resting on its laurels.<br/><br/>Based purely on the food it is a great experience if you choose well but with some modernising it could be brilliant.<br/><br/>Show less

Love how they retain the 1970s feel with the old fashioned service and dated decor. The old gentleman who appeared to be the owner of the establishment was courteous and pulled out our chairs for us. We had an older lady look after our table and although she did well with ensuring our food orders were taken and brought out to us, we felt that there could be more smiles to add to a nice evening. <br/><br/>I enjoyed the chilli crab cakes and could taste perhaps curry powder that added an Indian flavour to them. We ordered the chateaubriand and the first thought that flicked through my mind was 'that's not enough' but don't let this fool you. I am ashamed to say that we could not finish our meals! The meat was buttery and had a charcoal flavour. Despite this we were still keen on ordering a tiramisu and Italian meringue. I absolutely loved the Italian meringue with the fairy floss on top! It is beautifully presented dessert that is light on the palate and leaves you craving more with each bite!

This is the best place for steak. The steak is cooked in a way that makes it not too sickening. Sauce is super flavorsome. <br/>Compared to Gaucho's and Sosta, I'd rate this place over them anytime. <br/>Old gentleman that owns the place is also super friendly. <br/>Highly recommend.

Tonight was the second night we have been here now. I love this place, right from the start, excellent friendly and helpful staff. The food cannot be faulted, perfectly cooked steaks and delicious sauces. And you don’t have to wait to long for your food either! Desert was incredible and all drinks and cocktails came out quickly and were yummy also. I will be going back.

Came here for the 1st time after being told numerous times about this place, and their steaks definitely lived up to their reputation. It has the definite old world feel and the service is simply lovely and very homely. The complimentary bread and meatballs are tasty as! Love the fact there is the bar you wait at first before being seated that offeres dip & crackers. The menu is on a blunted meat cleaver which is a great touch too, and the price is what you expect for good food. Shared oysters & crab cakes for starters, then got stuck into steak for mains. I had the 400g NY cut and it was perfectly charred and perfectly pink! Others had Black Angus and Eye Fillet with garlic prawn topping which I would like to try next time. Wine selection was very tasty and we were treated to some 20 yr old house port by the owner at the end of the night. A lovely night had all round, and will most certainly be back. 👍

Cork and Cleaver is a firm favourite of mine. Brilliant steak and excellent service. I can't help but do serious damage with their wine list every time I open it. Great selection of wines too. The complimentary meat balls have been a feature here as long as I remember and I'll always try to include their Steak Tartare in a visit. A few people have remarked on the "old decor" and yes it has looked this way again as long as I can remember (and the 'cleaver' menu) but its one of those places that doesn't need to re-invent itself. This is the way the Cork and Cleaver is meant to be. The steak and wine do all the talking! Always happy to recommend this place and bring guests here too!

This place serves good and honest food. There is no fancy menu, they are showed on a blunted cleaver. There is no artistic plate or food decor, but food is well cooked with generous serving. The place has a traditional and old fashion furniture and decorations. Nobody uses a phone during the meal. U feel reconnected. Great place. Will definitely go back again.

Now Adelaide has steak places but this place is simply the very best. When entering its not modern it's teleporting you back in time of the 70s very classy service. Now to where it counts the food what can I say what you pay for what you get yes steak might be $50+ but very worth it just lost for words on the flavouring. This place service is AAA+++

I personally rate these as the best stakes in Adelaide. Always consistently good. I would only recommend ordering steaks here. I have dinned with other people who have ordered other mains are were a little let down. The sticky date desert is amazing as well. Overall great place with great service, but order what they do bes

good place if you want to get yourself a top quality steak! little bit more old fashioned on the inside but lovely service, And the complimentary meatballs are yummy!

Every year for my birthday one of my dearest friends takes me out for dinner, to anywhere of my choice.  This year, after noticing some buzz in the media and hearing many stories of my friend's previous visits, I (Amanda) select The Cork and Cleaver.  As soon as I step inside I realise I've been teleported back in time all the way to the 80's and I love it!  A thatched roof, cork placemats, gold plated life sized palm trees... can it get anymore old school?!  Oh yes it can....

Very friendly service and delicious huge servings of food. I loved the short ribs and the steak looked great too. This and the interesting decor makes for a nice visit.

May 2015 Great If you want really thick steak like 3-4 inches thick that cuts easy. Have been to so many steak restaurants in Adelaide only to get served some very poor quality steak But wow if you want a really thick steak that cuts easy this is it <br/>Amazed I had New York Cut with mushroom sauce Partner had same steak but with prawns wrapped in bacon on top and sauce Staff All friendly and helpful <br/>certainly will be going back

Thanks Siri. I ate here a couple of nights ago. There were no tables available at Osteria, so we asked Siri for a restaurant and were recommended the cork and cleaver. I didn't really expect anything recommended by the robot search engine to be any good, and seeing the decor when we arrived wasn't very promising... it's a bit tacky and very very old fashioned. But, we decided to give it ago, and sat down. All the food going to other tables looked fantastic.<br/><br/>We both had steaks, and they were magnificent. Among the best I've had in Adelaide.<br/><br/>Service was fast, and the waiters were friendly.

Came for steak with a table for 3. Ambience was somewhat a snapshot of the 70s with very very old decor around and staff to match. They were very pleasant and friendly though. Dinner started with complementary meatballs and we ordered their crabcake to try. We had a good selection of meat; me with the surf and turf and my party with a steak Diane and Short Ribs. My steak was cooked perfectly to medium rare and my party were happy with their meal too! All our dishes were served together and were all warm (something not many steakhouses do well with different orders). I would recommend Cork & Cleaver, although I wouldn't necessarily say they have the best steak. Also they are abit on the pricey side, likely to cover the cost of the meatballs. Overall, decent experience. :)

Well worth a try. I recently took my brother and his wife here who were on holidays from interstate. I was a bit worried as he has had steak everywhere and I knew that if the place was crap, he wouldn't hesitate to tell me! Luckily, he loved it as much as me and my partner do, and absolutely licked everything clean. We had garlic prawns, 4 different steaks, sides and of course their amazing complimentary meatballs and wood oven bread. We've dined here several times now and it's a restaurant I am always happy to come back to. It's not cheap by any means but the quality and service are always good. Only weird thing to me is the decor - it's a beautiful old house and the front 'foyer' is gorgeous... then you walk down into the main restaurant and it looks (to me) like a Tex-Mex cantina? Weird palm trees (usually with tinsel on them even not near Christmas), tapestry-style rugs on the walls, thatched straw walls..? Weird.

Still excellent. We come regularly for the chateaubriand and it never disappoints. Last time we came I brought a 15 yo red and the cork was a challenge but nothing is too much trouble for the owner or staff.

When I first walked into this establishment I was excited about what was to come because its decor is well defined and has a specific theme to it.. But as my mother always used to say, don't judge a book by its cover. I was disappointed in the meat that I had paid almost $50 for! Way over priced for its quality. The meat was neither lean or tender and I could have done a better job getting my own meat off a cow! My meal came out 20 minutes after everyone else's and to be honest wasn't even cooked the way I had ordered it. If a paying customer requests their meat to be cooked 'well done' then there should be no red in the meat when you slice it open. Next time I am going to save my $50 and go to McDonalds because at least there you know that your order will be all wrong and you won't be disappointed as you would have already expected it! <br/><br/>Pick up your game!

Cork and Cleaver has a spectacular set up inside.. nice old style restaurant.. The service is fantastic and the food is to die for. ESPECIALLY the Squid!!!! Steaks are cooked to perfection and the presentation fantastic.. I recommend that everyone tries this place as they will not ne disappointed.. Will be returning regularly

I have been to cork and cleaver many times, and the steak Is always cooked to perfection. But if your looking for the best sticky date pudding in Adelaide.... This is the place for you! Delicious

Just fell upon the Cork & Cleaver staying nearby! Exceptional steak - good service and enjoyable meal! Not cheap but happy to pay a little more for quality meat. Certainly would come back when visiting. Surely will ask the Adelaide family if they knew of the place ! Friendly staff who are happy to engage with customers.

Beautiful steak. I have been to this place many many times and I love it. Sure, it's not the most modern or appealing looking place and I do think they should update it, but the food and service is always delicious. My steak has been cooked flawlessly every single time, and I've never had that experience at another restaurant. The quality of the meat is also superb. I can be quite fussy with meat and Cork and Cleaver never fails to impress. Yes, it's quite pricey (perhaps a bit too pricey?) but when I'm craving a beautiful steak I know where to go. I will come back to the Cork & Cleaver again and again, definitely my favourite steakhouse that I've been to in Adelaide.

It's not bad and it's not great. Personally the food wasn't to my taste. I found it outdated and not very well thought out. I did hear this before I went there but I wanted to see if the rumours were true. I found the service to be average. For 45$ a main I would expect the food to be pretty amazing and it just didn't do it for me. I probably won't return to Cork & Cleaver, not my cup of tea. The free meatballs were good though.

BEST STEAK IN ADELAIDE. Christmas time with families in town...where to take them to make an impression. CORK and CLEAVER of course, Stratos and his charming team always ready to greet us and make us feel most welcome. Sure, its not the trendiest place around BUT you always know what to expect. We all enjoyed our meals and the service was great. WAS, IS , ALWAYS THE BEST STEAKS IN ADELAIDE.

The Benchmark........ DeLorean, HA! Let's go back further.<br/>After polishing up the 1960 Chevrolet we headed up to the Cork & Cleaver to see what a 70's icon was really like.Upon entering we were met by a gentleman who could only be described as a statesman "I am Stratos, allow me to take you to the best seats in the house" The engaging Christina explained the menu in great detail and presented the specials on a giant cleaver.The sommelier Jim was soon on the job and had a wealth of information on wine and beer both local and internationally "what to be had he asked" <br/>"I think we will have the oysters on the half shell" Essenz sauvignon blanc was presented by the glass. What a great choice to accompany our Coffin Bay oysters with Yarra Valley Salmon roe and creme fraiche perfectly chilled, they popped in you're mouth and the roe like small salty pearls (Oh the lucky country) My Cork & Cleaver spice and my wife's Mediterranean scotch fillet tower were washed down with a perfectly matched Rockford Basket Press Shiraz (decanted of course) steaks cooked to perfection.<br/>Dessert was apparently a Gordon Ramsey inspired chocolate tart "Oh so good) no short cuts here just good unpretentious food served in warm surroundings. What's wrong with yesterday??? WITHOUT IT WE WOULD"NT BE HERE TODAY. 10/10 Cork & Cleaver

Consistent & Classic. For those looking for trendy meals (almost raw vegetables, super decorated plates, small portions, exotic ingedients, etc), you won't find at Cork & Cleaver. However, those looking for the old style of meals - solid flavours, good portions, low key but nonetheless attentive service, etc then C&C still does the trick. It's tradition and steadiness is its strength - from the room decorations to the dining choices, it's still a winner. Some places just live off their history and repuations but no longer deliver (Blue Train in South Africa comes to mind most vividly in this category), but C&C hasn't fallen in to that trap. Thanks for being different!

Like taking a trip in the Delorean back to 1983.... Wow. Like stepping into a time machine. With it’s ochre and maroon tones and gold palm trees this place would have been THE JOINT... In 1983.<br/><br/>I chose to bring my gent here for this birthday not because of the reviews on the establishment, but rather because of the amount of reviews for other steak restaurants which would claim, “Good, but not the Cork and Cleaver”.<br/><br/>To say we were disappointed was an understatement. Expecting a more fine dining experience, we were sorely mislead. The menus, which the website boasts are “printed on aluminium cleavers”, are tacky, with a paper menu poorly laminated and adhered to the cleaver like a Year 4 school project. The bread toaster was in open view and thus we were overcome with the acrid scent of bread left to burn.<br/><br/>The steak was nothing special, nice, but not what you’d expect to find at “Adelaide’s Premiere Steak House”, and not for the price. The sauces were dreadful. I ordered a diane sauce which was gluggy and much too overpowering and my gent the pepper, which was just the diane sauce with peppercorns in it. The vegetables were a spectacular disgrace, far too overcooked and left in their dish under a heat lamp so they were dried out on top and sitting in oil at the bottom. We were going to order desert, but were afraid to, so went to Bracegirdles on the way home.<br/><br/>Looking around at the other diners, lovely well heeled families with elderly grandparents celebrating a special occasion and a dapper octogenarian in a three piece suit who was greeted by name and shown to “his” table, it is clear this restaurant used to be at the top of its game and has a loyal following (probably because the staff, while pleasant, have been here for 30 years too), but sadly in this day and age the Cork and Cleaver just doesn’t cut it, particularly for not a $220 meal.

Charming. Charming as ever. Have been coming here for many years

Driving to dinner reservation at Stanley's Fish Cafe. As we go past Cork and Clever, change our plans and try our luck at a "New York Style Steakhouse" as described by the critic on Urbanspoon. This critic clearly has not been to New York or perhaps he was talking of the Anglo Saxon settlement in the Black Sea region, in that case I can not argue with his analogy. Ordered Oyster Kilpatrick, Louisiana Crab Cakes, New York Cut Steak and Porterhouse cut topped with Morton Bay bugs and Prawns. Entrees arrived minus Kilpatrick, oysters natural in their place. Crab cakes ok. Mains arrived. My partner cut into her steak, nicely cooked and then took a mouthful of a raw Morton bay bug. Then on closer inspection noticed the raw prawns. Showed the staff, she replied "Raw prawns"; my response "Raw deal!" Now put off the rest of her meal, my partner patiently waits for me to finish. Staff offered complimentary dessert, explained my partner was not feeling overly well, and wouldn't care for a dessert. Bill arrived with no reductions. My reaction to the staff, "don't come the raw prawn with me!!!!" After much hoo haa the bill was knocked down to $71 for a steak and a beer from $141. Feel sorry for the waitress as it was her first day and none of the mistakes could be attributed to her, however she dealt with the issues caused my others. Verdict: Disappointing as the restaurant didn't match the reviews, on a slow Monday night the amount of mistakes can't be blamed on the busyness of the restaurant. Price is not commensurate the quality of service and food. Much better steak restaurants in Adelaide, eg. Gauchos, Buenos Aires.... If you're in New York, try Benjamin's, the Bull and Bear, or Bobby Van's.

Food was good but I have had better steaks, but no complaints per se, service however was completely awful. Won't go back unfortunately.

Great Steak. The best steak in Adelaide. No doubt about it.

This is a nice, juicy steak, with some nice crisp to it, but it’s just a bit too spicy for me. After tasting the slightly peppery garnish, I thought it would be okay. However, I hadn’t counted on the thing being infused with chilli as well. Maybe I made a mistake ordering this, but it wasn’t all that well explained on the menu. I know other people might like this, so I won’t rate it too lowly.

Firstly, they had me at complementary warm bread and meatballs. Cork and Cleaver’s own! I know this as you can buy tubs of them on the way out! For my main I indulged in a chateaubriand which was superb BUT undercooked. It seems that getting your steak just right at a steak restaurant shouldn’t be too much to ask? You with me on that one amigos? With this said, the meat was tender, juicy and delicioso!