By Franz Scheurer
The Star of Greece was shipwrecked on her way from Port Adelaide to England off the coast of Port Willunga in 1888 and a red buoy marks the spot to this day. A kiosk was established around 1947, serving drinks to visitors, and it was re-built in the 1960s and totally refurbished in 2002.
Today the Star of Greece is a bright, light, Mediterranean style restaurant (and kiosk) overlooking the beach with a seafood-biased menu and a great wine list. They’re open for lunch Wednesday to Sunday and Friday and Saturday for dinner. A favourite haunt of the Adelaide crowd on weekends you must book or sadly miss out.
Sitting inside or on the covered verandah it feels more like Santorini than South Australia. White and blue are the dominant colours inside and out and not a single picture hangs straight. (And there are 20 of them!)
The menu is short and concise and the specials list (on a large blackboard) offers what’s fresh on the day. The squid is a must have and dutifully, when it’s on, just about every table will have at least one portion. Beautifully tender, salty and peppery, served with a thick and tasty mayo it’s something that begs using your hands.
The ‘Streaky Bay Oysters on the Half Shell Natural’ are fresh, succulent and salty and are presented with a raw carrot and vinegar relish accompanied by fresh lime slices. The ‘Grilled Tommy Ruffs’ are the fillets placed on a salad of fennel, orange, olives and fresh herbs, and although a very oily fish and not very popular in Sydney, we like it very much and the salad cuts through the oiliness perfectly. Fresh scallops are served on the half shell, convincing with their fresh, sweet flavours. A dish of local Whiting turns out to be three whole fish served with burnt butter and capers and is utterly delicious and definitely worth the hard work.
For dessert we try a ‘Rocky Road’ of chocolate ice cream, chocolate dipped marsh mallows, raspberry coulis and cream, served in a tall glass and a pannacotta served with candied tangerine slices. The Rocky Road is fun and the pannacotta stiff enough to bounce.
Service is very friendly and efficient and the timing is good as is value for money. This is a fabulous spot to spend a lazy weekend afternoon. Enjoy the food, the atmosphere, walk in the sand, dip a toe, have a go.
Note that from the 26th December until the 26th January they open 7 days and 7 nights but are closed for New Year’s Eve.
Score: 7/10
For more information or bookings:
Star of Greece Café
The Esplanade
Port Willunga
Tel.: 08 8557 7420