Mar 2001 Volume 82 Number 3 "serving the protectors"
Chic meal and striking sights
By Jason Squire

Windy Point Restaurant has always offered a pretty polished dining experience. The main restaurant has won a stack of awards and is truly spectacular. The Mediterranean Café – which lies below – is equally special but comes with a cheaper price tag.

The first thing that hits you in this café is its superb view. The Adelaide Plains are a striking sight, especially after sunset – and we were lucky to get some of the hotly contested window seats. The decor is fresh and minimalist, taking nothing from the view. As we perused the menu, jazz and blues wafted over the airwaves, which set the scene for a comfortable dining experience.

As expected, the menu had a distinctly Southern European feel. Dishes like the mezze platter (olives, dips, pits, dolmade [stuffed vine leaf], barbecued octopus, picked vegetables, quail and Greek meatballs) took us straight back to the Greek Islands.

For entrée I chose scallops wrapped in radicchio and panchetta with lime and green chilli dressing. This dish was full of fiery flavour. The chilli and lime worked off each other perfectly. My only criticism? Not enough! My partner had the grilled oysters with hot Italian salami and Worcestershire sauce. These were met with a grin of approval.

Choosing main course was difficult. Our dining partners both went for grain-fed sirloin served with skorthalia (garlic mash potatoes) and rich beef glaze. I went for the octopus, served with tabouleh, crispy unleavened bread and garlic aioli. My partner had the risotto special. These were all big serves, which were well prepared and presented. The steaks knocked 300 grams each and were rolled in spices, adding another dimension to their flavour. My octopus was tender and the garlic aioli provided moisture, which is most necessary with octopus.

When our guests chose chocolate gelati and sorbet with chocolate biscotti and warm orange pudding for dessert, my partner and I sat it out.

The service is efficient and ever present, but also non-intrusive. The manager, Marc, was friendly, and keen to make Windy Point Adelaide’s number one restaurant.

He pointed out that one of the best ways for a group of six or more to fully enjoy the café is with the $19-per-head Mediterranean Feast. This is a sumptuous affair in which platters filled the best dishes from the menu hit the table with monotonous regularity. The feast is available Monday to Friday. The café has an array of deals in which special menus are created to fit any budget.

From an impressive wine list, we chose two bottles of Stonehaven Cab Merlot. This was a big Coonawarra red, which soothed the throat and cleared the nose.

The Mediterranean Café is truly the place to linger over a chic meal with friends. It is a quality venue with good food, wine and service.

Where:	Mediterranean Café, Belair
	Road, Belair. Ph: 8278 8255.
Entrée:	$6.50 – $18.90.
Main course:	$14.50 – $22.50.
Dessert:	$7.50 – $9.90.
Wine:	$25 – $55.

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