June 2000 Volume 81 Number 6 "serving the protectors"
Dining
By Jason Squire

As Day Turns To Night... in The Office

he long Friday lunch with old mates is a time when sensitive, new-age warriors can relax with good food and wine, and enjoy the unconstrained conversation that only comes with the absence of their partners. This tribal ritual - now a somewhat regular event - recently saw the warriors venture to The Office Bar and Bistro in Pirie St. Many would remember The Office during those crazy days of the early ’90s. It was the place to be; and we found little has changed.

The place was buzzing when we arrived, and I was reliably informed by my best friend for the afternoon and evening - the barman - that this was a normal lunch crowd.

We started off with a few palate-cleansing ales which got us out of the stalls nicely by kick-starting our appetites. The menu at The Office is well structured to accommodate the city’s lunch crowd, which either wants a long stay, or something quick and healthy.

For those in the “office-lunch” category, the menu boasts great dishes, like foccacia, nachos, stirfried noodles, fish, Caesar salad and burgers. For those in the “long-lunch” category, the menu holds booming dishes, like t-bone steak, pasta, tandoori chicken and the office club sandwich.

Apart from its toasted inch-thick sourdough and accompaniment of big chips, this sandwich is enticingly described as containing:

• A succulent 150 grams of chargrilled porterhouse steak.
• Swiss cheese.
• Grilled onion.
• Bacon.
• Tomato.
• Salad greens and grain mustard mayo.

My choice was the t-bone steak, while my dining companions tried the tapas plate. The tapas plate holds a good selection of skewered marinated meats, calamari rings, potatoes, salad and spicy tomato sauce.

My steak was fantastic: as tender as I have ever eaten and cooked to perfection. It was served with large chips, salad and a mushroom sauce. My dining companions were equally happy with their meals and couldn’t stop raving about the size of them.

The wine selection was of good quality and showed the attention management had paid to matching it with the excellent food. I heard from a reliable source this aspect of the business will be expanded. This will add another dimension to The Office, and move it into the funky wine-bar scene of which Pirie St is badly in need.

As day turned into night, we were joined by the Friday-night-drinks crowd, which brought back fond memories of The Office. The place was electric, and management worked hard to keep the punters happy with drink promotions and a 5:30pm to 6:30pm happy hour.

The DJ spun the fantastic plastic with old drinking favourites from Tom Jones, The Beatles and Barry White. As I tripped the light fantastic on the dance floor I thought: “It doesn’t get much better than this.”

For those who remember the early days of The Office - they’re back. For those who don’t remember - try it at least once for lunch or a drink after work and I’ll bet my platform shoes you’ll be back.

Where:		The Office Bar and Bistro, 110 Pirie Street, Adelaide. Ph 8232 4344. Fax: 8232 4350 (table booking is recommended).
Light Lunches:		$4 - $8.50.
Long Lunches:		$8.50 - $15.
Full bar choices, espresso coffee bar and wine available by glass or bottle.

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