West Lakes is home to one of the most picturesque waterfronts in Adelaide and the Lakes Hotel is now taking full advantage of this major selling point by introducing Sunday brunch.

Locals have been able to dine at the Lakes Hotel’s inhouse restaurant, Crusoe’s, for both lunch and dinner since its opening but this is the first time the restaurant has offered a brunch menu—available exclusively on Sundays.

Executive Chef Nigel Rich has curated a vast menu catering to both sweet-tooths and savoury lovers and we put that to the test this week:

House Made Bircher Muesli
With organically rolled oats, fresh fruit and berries, Fleurieu yoghurt, pink gum honey, and toasted almonds, this is a muesli dish for those who enjoy something simple and sweet for brekky.

Morning Glory
This refreshing dish is essentially a fruit platter, beautifully plated and presented, with freshly sliced rockmelon, pineapple, berries, lime-infused lychee, served with Fleurieu yoghurt. The most unique aspect of this dish though, would have to be the dehydrated mango chips which were unexpectedly soft and malleable.

Eggs Our Way
Tired of customers always requesting changes made to their eggs dish, Chef Nigel decided to introduce two separate dishes—Eggs Your Way and Eggs Our Way. If diners choose to play it safe and go with Eggs Your Way, they can customise the dish to their liking with no complaints from the kitchen. However, if diners choose to go with Eggs Our Way, they’ll be surprised by three perfectly poached eggs, kangaroo prosciutto, and sobrassada served on sourdough toast along with bush tomato chutney and fresh chilli.

Spanish Eggs
Taking inspiration from Mexican flavours, the Spanish Eggs features a poached egg and beans mix, served with tomato and avocado salsa, Hahndorf chorizo, and salty tostado. This dish is perfectly balanced on the palate with a blend of sweet, salty, and acidic to make a well-rounded meal.

Big Mack
Perhaps the most experimental dish on the menu is the Big Mack—paying homage to both a classic burger as well as the much beloved mac and cheese. The star of the show is a deep-fried brick of mac and cheese, which is creamy, but not too heavy, and packed full of flavour. It’s served instead of a meat patty in between brioche burger buns alongside cos lettuce, smoked bacon, and chipotle sauce. Experimental yet successful in our books!

The Muze
This dish is as pretty as a picture—almost too pretty to eat (almost)! Smooth and creamy mango and coconut pannacotta served with granola, fresh fruit and a fresh passionfruit coulis, this one was devoured in record time.

Waffles
You can’t go wrong with two Belgian waffles served with gianduja cream, compressed strawberries, hazelnuts, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream! Not to mention, the waffles themselves are coated generously with cinnamon which adds that extra touch of flavour and crunch.

Buttermilk Pancakes
These pancakes certainly impressed and came out looking thick and fluffy. Served with double cream, and your choice of spiced honey butter and maple syrup, salted caramel and peanut, or fresh berries and chocolate ganache topped pink Persian fairy floss.

The brunch menu is not only extensive but delicious and every dish has its own charm. Pair these winning dishes with the unbeatable waterfront views, and you’ve got your Sunday arvos sorted from now on!
The Lakes Hotel’s Crusoe’s is open for lunch Wednesdays to Fridays 12pm til 2pm, dinner every night from 6:30pm and will be serving up brunch every Sunday from 9am til 3pm starting Sunday 21st July 2019.

Words by Geena Ho

WHERE: 141 Brebner Drive, West Lakes