CROWN & SCEPTRE HOTEL

King William St’s Crown & Sceptre Hotel, so named due to its close proximately to the law courts, is well-known as one of Adelaide’s funkiest bars. It boasts some form of entertainment most nights of the week whether it be tasty DJs or funky live bands and the award winning establishment also lays great claim to having one of the most extensive liquor and cocktail ranges in Adelaide.

It also boasts Courtroom 32, an intimate, award winning dining area, which is perfect for lunch or dinner if you don’t wish to go to a normal pub grub style of place. It boasts an extensive menu which can also be enjoyed in more casual settings at the front bar or even  out in the leafy beer garden.

The menu boasts such starters as Grilled Garlic Ciabatta, Goat’s Curd Soufflé and, for $28, The Sceptre Platter, an enticing mix of beef satays, Thai chicken cakes, fresh seafood, Adelaide Hills olives and house-made dips along with char-grilled breads and chorizo. And that’s just for starters!

The main menu has a selection of signature dishes such as a vegetarian salt and pepper tofu, Malay green chicken curry, smoked salmon, leek and dill cakes, spicy Portuguese chicken breast and a 330g grain-fed porterhouse as well as pub classics such as The Classic Sceptre Burger, schnitzels and fish and chips. It also features several side dishes such as scalloped fried potatoes (with a Tequila lime mayonnaise), crisp salad greens and seasoned wedges as well as a interesting looking dessert menu including a cheese platter. (Note so self: Must venture back and have a $13 chocolate and raspberry mudcake with vanilla ice cream washed down by a cold sticky one day very soon.)

Anyway, as I’d enjoyed one too many of the hotel’s fine chicken Caesar salads ($19) in the past and we’d completely neglected to look at the daily specials board, I elected to lunch on a Cajun chicken burger ($16) while my accompanist chose the pictured cold chicken salad ($16). As a side, we ordered the parsley potatoes and steamed greens to share at $8.

It wasn’t too long before the three dishes were served and we tucked in. My Cajun chicken burger was like a gourmet burger (and just as tasty) and came with a serve of scalloped potatoes, while my friend remarked on how perfect the cold chicken salad, which came with orange segments as part of the salad, was for such a warm day. The parsley potatoes and steamed greens were also greatly enjoyed by both parties.

All up, the Crown & Sceptre dining experience is highly recommended. And it’s not at all expensive considering the salubrious surrounds and the very friendly service.

Crown & Sceptre Hotel, 308 King William St, Adelaide. Call 8212 4129. Open: Lunch Mon – Thu daily from noon until 2.30pm, Dinner Mon - Thu from 6pm until 9pm. Fri – Sun all day from noon.

Robert Dunstan

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