Mesa Lunga is superbly located on the corner of Morphett Street and Gouger Street. Divided into two sections, there is the main dining area, and in another section, which is accessible from the outside, there is a separate bar. The place has indoor and outdoor dining areas, and during the process of booking, the owner was nice enough to allow us to sit indoors due to the hot weather.

The decor at Mesa Lunga is a mish mash of industrial, contemporary and classical, while the menu has strong Spanish and Italian influences. The staff here were friendly and inviting, and the use of a fold up menu sitting on the plate was interesting. I did notice that the menus were collected and reused, as the person sitting next to me had a dirty menu. Dirty menus sitting on clean plates is definitely a no-no from a hygiene point of view.

Tonight, I ordered the Paella De Mesa. The meal arrived 35 minutes after ordering which the owner had indicated at the time of ordering. The owner was also considerate enough to ensure that all meals were served at the same time. My paella was a bit bland and the serving size was deceptively small. The pan which was wide in circumference only consisted of a thin layer of rice. There was also a lot of rice stuck to the base of the pan, which according to the owner, is where all the flavour was. I must admit, I’ve had different experiences with paella’s having recently come back from Spain, and having the same dish in other restaurants around Adelaide.

I though the chairs at this place were impractical, as it was very hard to get in and out. I also didn’t like the fact they had a limited number of water decanters. Every time we wanted water, we had to seek the assistance of waiter to get our water poured.

I have mixed feelings about this place. My friend who ordered the Prosciutto pizza says it was the best pizza she’s ever had. On the other hand, my paella was pretty ordinary. I also thought the pricing at this place a bit high. I’ve certainly had better cheaper paella’s elsewhere. Come here if you must, but it only gets an OK from me.

WHERE: 140 Gouger St, Adelaide