90 Main Street, HAHNDORF 5245.
p: (08) 8388 7669
w: thewhitehouseadelaidehills.com.au
Vegetarian Adelaide Rating 77/100
Atmosphere: 19/25
Service: 20/25
Food: 17/25
Vego / Sustainable rating: 21/25
If you’re feeling particularly presidential, then head to The White House. Sorry… the name called for a cheesy joke (I’m sure they get it all the time). Anyway, The White House is aptly named, as this restaurant is in fact set in a very white house on the main street of Hahndorf. This venue has got it all going on – open for breakfast and lunch most days and dinner on Friday and Saturday, the White House also doubles as an informal live music venue and outdoor cinema during the summer months.
A lot about this place screams rustic sophistication, which you may expect of an enterprise occupying a prime place in one of South Australia’s most visited towns. This sophistication is even apparent in the chic menu and website design of this obviously popular joint.
Once again in one of South Australia’s gourmet regions we weren’t the only ones out for a weekend lunch so we were lucky to sneak a table in at this bustling venue which was chockers. There were people tucked away in various dining rooms of the house while some braved the slight chill to soak up some rays in the outside dining area.
We went straight to mains as it was already pushing mid-afternoon when we arrived. The short and eclectic menu made the decision making easier. There were two vegetarian options on the menu:
Warm salad of beetroot, parsnip, fennel, pear, baby spinach and toasted walnuts, with a honey mustard dressing
Spinach and ricotta ravioli in an aromatic rose sauce
The salad sounded infinitely more interesting however I needed a warm dish on this cool autumn day and uncharacteristically chose the pasta. It was just the ticket with a beautiful rose sauce (I was unfamiliar with this name – however it seems it is just a creamier pomodoro sauce) served with crumbled fresh ricotta. It was a substantial dish and as hoped, warming – perfect comfort food for a dreary day. Apparently the pasta was homemade by a place which I heard pronounced as ‘Bodega’, though must have been wrong as I can’t seem to find a pasta maker by that name anywhere. However it was a nice dish accompanied by a lovely McLaren Vale Shiraz.
The service was slick and informed and was one of the strongest points of The White House’s merits. The beverage list was good and showcased a number of local South Australian wines by lesser know estates.
It seems that Breakfast and Lunch are The White House’s strong points for vegetarian dishes as there doesn’t seem to be a main vegetarian dish on the dinner menu at all! However there are some lovely options on the daytime menus. I’ll definitely pop back when the weather warms to try that gorgeous beetroot salad. Make sure to book as The White House is popular, serving food fit for a President! (sorry!)