As part of my wine tour, the group felt like something a bit more substantial than what the wineries were offering in terms of food, so we decided to check out the Barker Hotel. This recently renovated pub is both ultra modern and chic, with a seating capacity of over 100. The staff are friendly and atmosphere is relaxed.

Boasting the best Parmi in the Adelaide Hills, I decided to put them to the test. The meals came out less than 10 minutes after ordering and all meals came out at the same time. The Chicken Parmi was nicely presented and it wasn’t too bad. The chicken was perfectly cooked and of the right thickness. For the $21 price tag of the schnitzel, I was expecting it to be twice the diameter than what it was.

The Napoletana sauce on the schnitzel was rich and tomatoey in texture and had the right amount of coverage over the chicken. The mozzarella cheese was perfectly grilled until it was a light golden brown and the amount of cheese was more than generous.

The salad was really nice as the vegetables were fresh and crisp. The vinaigrette dressing was a perfect accompaniment. The chips were well cooked as they were nice and crunchy on the outside, and soft and fluffy on the inside. The quality of the chips was a bit lacking as I had a bit too many crunchy bits and not enough chips with meat on the inside.

The meal was satisfying, but the not the best schnitzel I’ve ever had. It was certainly filling, but for the price point they’re asking, I probably expected a bit more. I often thought that food was a bit less pricey as you moved further away from the city, but this is definitely not the case. If it was an upmarket restaurant, I would understand, but for a hotel, I think they’re overpriced.

WHERE: 32 Gawler St, Mt Barker