During the opening for family and friends last week, I was told there wasn’t going to be a media launch for the opening of Jamie’s Italian in Adelaide. As word broke out of the soft opening yesterday, it was no surprise that the media were out in force interviewing the first few customers that were waiting in line. When a British celebrity chef decides to open his restaurant chain in Adelaide, why wouldn’t we be excited?

Jamie’s Italian was first opened 4 years ago and now has over 40 restaurants across the globe. The menu is moderate in size but has plenty of variety. With a selection of antipasti, pasta, risotto, mains and desserts, the menu has enough depth to cater for just about everyone. With so many Italian restaurants already in Adelaide, the point of difference here is the use of premium quality ingredients and locally sourced produce. The food is fresh and nutritious, and it’s made in house daily. The meat is free range, the seafood is sustainable and everything is made to order.

It just so happens that the Bobo H restaurant across the road is also located in an old bank. If that was anything to go by, the interior inside Jamie’s Italian was going to be just as spectacular, if not better. Set in a character building with beautiful stonework, you’re greeted with a large open space and imposing high ceilings. There’s a bar and open kitchen to one corner and an impressive antipasto bar on the other side of the room.With it’s dual frontage and large windows, there’s an abundance of natural light that flows through giving this place a relaxed upmarket feel.

For lunch, I had the Burger Italiano which comes with a chargrilled beef patty, melted fontina cheese, sweet tomato salsa, pickles, chilli and crispy fried onions. From the picture, the burger looks small, but the diameter of the bun is average and the burger is quite tall. You actually have to compress the burger in order to fit it into your mouth.

From the first bite, I noticed the beef was dry and overcooked. A perfectly cooked patty will be tender and succulent with a slight pinkish centre. I was told that they heat their char grill to a very high temperature and as a result, overcooking the meat was unavoidable. I was also told that serving up a slightly rare patty was a health risk. Ultimately, if the beef patty is over cooked, it ruins the burger.

The burger itself had a whole range of gourmet ingredients with different flavours and textures. The sweetness of the cherry tomatoes was balanced by the sourness of the pickles. The chilli provided a burst of excitement while the crispy onions added a wonderful crunchy texture. The bun was nice and firm, and strong enough to hold the multitude of ingredients.

In light of my not-so-perfect burger, I was given a complimentary dessert in the form of a Creamy Panna Cotta. This was simply amazing. The panna cotta had a silky smooth texture with subtle notes of vanilla. Topped with a sweet rhubarb compote, it was simply a match made in heaven. The best panna cotta I’ve ever had.

With 40 staff members on the floor, it was very difficult to not get any service. I counted at least half a dozen people checking up on me to ensure that my meal was great and my experience was enjoyable. The meals arrived quite promptly and the service was fast and efficient. The atmosphere was vibrant, but that’s understandable on opening day.

As far as pricing goes, I think it’s fairly average, although some mains can go up to $38 which is heading towards fine dining territory. The cost my burger was $19.50 which is on par with what a pub or restaurant would charge you. It wasn’t the best burger I’ve had but it certainly had the elements of being one. The dessert, on the other hand, was out of this world.

Does Jamie Oliver’s restaurant chain live up to it’s name? I think it does. If you combine the ambience, the service and the premium quality ingredients used in their dishes, you’ve got a recipe for success.

WHERE: 2 King William St, Adelaide