Situated in the leafy streets of North Adelaide is the British Hotel which opened it’s doors back in 1838. All of the character and charm of the place still remains today as you walk through a maze of corridors to get to the dining area. The undercover outdoor dining area is out at the back and is adjacent to the kitchen and their unique “do it yourself” barbecue area. Customers have a choice of all the popular proteins, and for $4 less than the regular price, you have a choice of cooking the meat yourself. They also have a decent selection of entrees and mains from various influences, as well as your traditional pub fare.

For lunch today, I ordered the Pork Belly. The dish arrived 15 minutes after ordering and was beautifully presented. The pork belly was of a decent size and it wasn’t too fatty. The meat was tender and succulent, and the crunchy pork skin was just right. It was crunchy, but not hard enough to warrant any trips to the dentist. The fig glaze and the confit onion provided a nice natural sweetness which was balanced by the saltiness of the olives. The roast carrot mash was soft and delicate, and all the ingredients just worked in perfect harmony.

My friend had the Warm Slow Braised Lamb Shoulder Salad with Baby Spinach, Dukkah, Barley and Pomegranate. The salad was of a decent size and the amount of lamb in the dish was generous. She said the salad could have done with more pomegranate, but otherwise, she said it was delicious and the combination of ingredients worked well.

The staff were friendly and the service was good. Drinks arrived promptly and plates were cleared as we finished. The atmosphere was a bit vibrant with the busy lunchtime crowd, and at times we had to raise our voices to speak to each other. The pricing is higher than average with mains ranging from $18-$33. My main set me back $26.90, which normally I would consider expensive, but considering the serving size, quality of the ingredients and how good the dish was, it was probably worth it.

Verdict: A hidden gem on the outskirts of the city that sells great food.

WHERE: 58 Finnis St, North Adelaide