I’ve only heard good things about this place and tonight, my expectations were more than exceeded.

Andre’s is located on the ground floor of the Mantra on Frome hotel complex. The place is small to medium in size, and has the capacity to seat about 50 people. Some of the tables did seem to be quite close together, but we felt it was tolerable.

The decor of this place has a rustic feel about it. The chalk boards on the walls, the hanging pots and pans over the bar area, and the clever use of the ingredients as decorative displays, really create a warm and cosy atmosphere. Coupled with the dim lighting, this really is a place for an intimate evening for two.

Tonight, we were both indecisive, so we went for the $59 per person menu fisso. This is interesting because the restaurant actually decides what you’re going to eat. With the steady flow of food coming throughout the night, it turned out to be a wise choice and one that represented the best value for money.

BLACK ANGUS BEEF CARPACCIO – Thin slices of raw beef fillet, topped with walnut crumbs, truffle, pecorino cheese and balsamic vinegar. All the ingredients worked really well together, particularly with the crunchiness of the walnuts and the subtle sweetness of vinegar. Who would have thought raw beef could taste so good!

FORMAGGIO – Baked and smoked scamorza cheese, pepper, green olive, chili and prosciutto. To me, this dish was like a deconstructed pizza. The chili had a real kick to it and I could feel myself perspiring as the heat set in. It was delicious none the less.

PUMPKIN AND RICOTTA RAVIOLI – Like Romeo and Juliet, the pumpkin and the ricotta were a match made in heaven. The pasta was nice and firm, and perfectly cooked. The chestnut butter gave the dish more balance. It was a really nice dish.

POLENTA WITH BABY GOAT RAGU – The goat was so tender, succulent and well flavoured. The juices from the ragu were soaked into the soft creamy polenta. This place specialises in polenta so I wouldn’t have expected anything less than perfect. A very well executed dish.

CONFIT DUCK LEG – This was undoubtedly the dish of the night. Words cannot describe how good the crispy duck skin was. The meat was juicy and tender, and absolutely divine. This is the best duck dish I have ever eaten. The roasted vegetables that came with it were merely extras in a Hollywood blockbuster.

GARDEN SALAD – This dish was here so I could get my daily vegetable intake. The vegetables were fresh and crisp, and the salad dressing was light and not over applied. Not the most interesting of sides, but it was nicely put together.

BANANA CHOCOLATE DONUTS – They say there’s always room for dessert after a meal, but tonight, there wasn’t. Each bite of the donut revealed a saucy chocolate filling. The donut itself was light and fluffy in texture, The natural sweetness of the mashed up banana complemented the chocolate. It was like two long lost family members being reunited.

The service here was excellent. The staff looked like they actually enjoyed working here. Drinks were constantly refilled, plates were cleared quickly and there was always someone around when you needed them. Nice and attentive, but not over bearing.

I found this place very hard to fault. The food was fresh, tasty and of a very high quality. The serving sizes were generous and the customer service was exceptional. The atmosphere was relaxed and the pricing was really good if you went for the menu fisso. I was so full at the end of the night, I almost had to be rolled out the door. An enjoyable experience was had by all and I will definitely be back!

WHERE: 94 Frome St, Adelaide