Pipers of Penola
58 Riddoch Street
Penola South Australia 5277
Wwww.pipersofpenola.com.au
E pipers@pipersofpenola.com.au
T +61 8 8737 3999
F +61 8 8737 3666
OPEN Lunch Friday to Sunday 12.00 pm, Dinner Wednesday to Saturday 6.00 pm
second review August 28, 2011For more information about the Coonawarra region please
CLICK HERE
FOOD Since we first reviewed Pipers some three years ago the improvement in regional Australian dining has been enormous. Pipers however set the bench mark very high right from the beginning and remain at the top of regional Australian dining. It can be a very tough call running any kind of restaurant in winter time in regional Australia and none more so than the tiny town of Penola where it seems in the dead of winter almost everything is shut down by 8.00 pm. Yes, if you’re from Spain or Greece and used to dining at 10.00 pm you will be very disappointed if you wander out looking for any kind of meal at that hour. So, yes you need to book, the Bowens will accommodate later bookings but they need to know!
Chef Simon Bowen, of the famous wine family, met his partner
in Sonoma country and now in this tiny immaculate restaurant in the
heart of the Coonawarra located just off the main street in the historic town of Penola. The restaurant
is immaculate, lovely flowers, perfect
linen and attention to detail right to the Riedel glassware and most recently some very fun new art on their walls.
This time as a lone diner it is not possible to describe the entire menu, but the food continues to be of the same high standard. Their menu is appropriately small with a few entrées, mains and desserts with plenty of seasonal and regional produce integrated into the offering. The fact that Erika Bowen continues to run the floor means that she has intimate and educated knowledge of the food and can help diners make the right choice.
Pipers has a private room behind the small dining room and if you’re
looking for something good for a special birthday or just a great
night out, taking everyone to Coonawarra wine country, giving Simon
Bowen his head when it comes to the menu and staying overnight would
be a very cool thing to do.
Pipers of Penola is an excellent restaurant and in our opinion rates
very highly. There
is ample accommodation within walking distance of Pipers from the
local pub to stylish B & B’s and we believe the restaurant
is well worth the journey!
WINE At first glance, wines by the
glass seem a little short in supply but Pipers is not under the same
pressures as city restaurants where consumption might be at most two glasses. Most people are staying
within walking distance for the night and locals used to being indulgent
have dedicated drivers and make the most of the offerings. There
are plenty of excellent Australian choices with ample opportunity
to try interesting varietals and make comparisons between Coonawarra
and other regions. Wading through an excellent list one gets to the
back pages and the opportunity for credit card meltdown with a fabulous
selection of back vintage French wines with prices set generously
low.
OWNERS — Erika Burg and Simon
Bowen
CHEF — Simon Bowen
RESTAURANT MANAGER — Erika Burg
