Sean's Kitchen, Adelaide

Celebrity chef Sean Connolly is famous for his roving SBS series, Sean’s Kitchen and Family Feasts, but for self-professed gourmets who want an up-close-and-personal experience with the very friendly and chatty chef, Sean’s Kitchen in Adelaide is the place to visit.

• Location: On the north terrace of the old Adelaide Train station.
• The menu: The brassiere offers all-day gourmet bistro food from epic seafood platters to burgers with Sean’s iconic duck-fat chips.
• What else is there: A great cocktail bar, romantic al-fresco dining, and private dining is also available. 
• Why go: Friendly service, a chilled vibe, and excellent produce from local South Australian producers.

The Space

Part of the $300 million redevelopment of the Adelaide Casino, which is set for completion in 2020, Sean’s Kitchen is celebrity chef’s fifth restaurant. With award-winning restaurants dotted around the world, including Sydney, Byron Bay and Dubai, his Adelaide outlet is possibly one of the most exciting because of the new Chef’s Table experience. Inspired by Connolly’s recent visits to the Big Apple, this New York City styled brassiere is clearly a venue for food lovers. From the cocktail bar to the open kitchen, the menu and space highlights the chef’s commitment to using the best local produce. Originally from West Yorkshire in the UK, Connolly is an Aussie we want to claim as one of our own, and with three restaurants awarded Chefs Hat’s in New Zealand, this casual eatery is another great way to see Sean’s talent on show.

The Experience 

For the ultimate experience, the Chef’s Table is the one to indulge in; grab your beloved for a romantic tryst, or five of your best friends for a special occasion, and prepare for a culinary tour of South Australia’s best producers. Costing $250 per person, start your meal at the bar with a cocktail or champagne, before walking into your own personal show; sitting in the kitchen, at the coveted Chef’s Table, for an epic dining experience. The menu offers a seasonal four course tasting menu with matched wines from South Australia’s best wine producers, including Rockford Shiraz 2014. Head Chef John Rankin takes charge, with each diner’s food interest taken into consideration. My personally-tailored experience began with one of the best seafood platters you could taste. Succulent raw scampi, sweet scallops, an array of excellent sashimi and creamy oysters just off the coast of South Australia, all melting in your mouth, and washed down with excellent rose and Riesling from the great Barossa Valley. Penfolds’ award-winning labels are also paired with your meal.

The menu continued to excite and delight with a perfectly aged Limestone Coast’s pasture fed beef, marbled and cooked to perfection. As my fellow diners and I wanted more seafood, the chef gracefully went into the kitchen and pulled out a fresh lobster – also one of South Australia’s finest – before rushing back into the kitchen to prepare it as a salt and pepper lobster. Crispy on the outside, moist and sweet in the inside, and delicious. South Australian King Prawns wrapped in cured prosciutto were also shared. The meal ended with an array of desserts you would find in any cool American diner, but made with South Australian produce. They included a New York City-inspired cheesecake, made with fresh South Australian cheese, and a nougat and brownie sundae; something which would please anyone with a serious sweet tooth. 

UltimateTravelMagazine.com Loves 

• Pre-dinner drinks with the knowledgeable and friendly staff - let the mixologist make you a drink with a local gin.
• Particularly romantic is the Chef’s Table experience with your significant other. 
• If you are lucky enough to see Connolly on the night, ask him about his next big adventure, and what vino to pair with your meal. 

Insider Tips  

• Order the duck-fat chips – they are award-winning and worth every bite.
• Bookings are essential.

The Details

Sean’s Kitchen is located at North Terrace, Adelaide, 08 8218 4244, www.seanskitchen.com.au.

Adelaide Casino has exclusive accommodation packages available, including the Dining Escapade package, which includes a Premier City room with inclusions, and a credit towards dining at Sean’s Kitchen.