Saturday 3 March 2012

Auge, Adelaide

We couldn't think of anywhere we would rather celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary than our favourite restaurant in Adelaide - Auge which is well located in the city centre. We love everything about this place:
  • the decor which manages to combine a slick and modern interior whilst still feeling warm and inviting
  • the food which is Italian, but not cafe style, using only the freshest ingredients. You know they are serious when you can choose the olive oil you want served with your bread. The menu is comprehensive but easy to read as it is split into cured meats, appetisers, entrees, pasta & risotto, main course, sides, desserts and cheese. There are also a selection of degustation menus but we are yet to indulge in one of them - we keep promising oursevels "next time".
  • the wine there is something for everyone although we generally don't even look at it, putting our trust in the sommelier.
  • the service is professional, friendly, discreet (if you want it to be) and I just love the aprons worn by the staff. They look neat, tidy and so very Italian. Thanks in particular to Martin (Restaurant Manager Extroidonaire) and Terry (Host with the Most)!

The website states:

For the ultimate combination of modern dining and style, you have to experience Auge pronounced (OW-je). Welcome to our warm and modern atmosphere in the dining room from the long bar, where guests can enjoy a selection of Spuntini or a drink before or after their meal. If you are looking for a something relaxing and casual, why not just come and enjoy a simple classic Italian meal and a aperitivo in our Spuntini bar. Come relax and enjoy the experience that we take pleasure in offering to our guests.


So, onto our night. We started with champagne in the bar and a plate of "fritto misto di pesce" which translates to "fried local fish & shellfish with fresh lemon". I'm not a fan of fried food generally but found some firm white fish amongst the octopus which was delcious and not covered in crumbs or dripping with oil. Needless to say Sean had no trouble polishing off the entire plate - he loves salt and pepper squid which is a very similar dish. The presentation was exceptional.


We moved from the bar and onto our table which was intimate and set with a crisp white tablecloth, candlelight, quality glassware, sea salt and pepper.


To start with I went light and fresh, selecting the "finely sliced citrus cured salmon with a petit salad of organic herbs & extra virgin olive oil". This was the highlight dish for me, complimented perfectly with a glass of crisp white wine from local winery, Bridgewater Mill. The flavours were amazing, particularly the addition of lime segments amongst the oranges and nothing works better with soft, juicy salmon than dill. Loved every mouthful, especially with the carroway seeded fresh bread. The meal looked like art....., lovingly presented.

Salmone agli agrumi con piccola insalata da coltura biologica

Sean went with his favourite Italian entree - finely sliced beef tenderloin with pickled mushrooms, truffle cream & extra virgin olive oil. He described it as "delicate, fresh, clean and a top class carpaccio."

Carpaccio di manzo

The time gap between our entree and main was perfect, not too rushed. We talked and sipped our wine, enjoying the restaurant ambience. A bottle of Barolo had been decanted earlier and we looked forward to tasting it when our mains arrived.

The fish of the day was pan-seared kingfish served with mussels and prawns in a white wine broth. I just love this sort of dish. The crispy skin of the fish with some of the juiciest mussels I can remember having (wish there had been more than 3!) and a rich but not creamy sauce to dip my bread into and douse the broccolini in.


Last time we were at Auge Sean had tried to order the pork dish but it was sold out. You should have seen his face! Thankfully there was pork available for him, specifically "12 hour braised berkshire pork belly stuffed with aromatic herbs & served with shaved apple & fennel salad garnished with micro radish & sour apple sorbetto". What an amazing description - it almost made me want to order it too. I tasted a mouthful and it was delicious. A beautiful piece of pork - crunchy and salty - happily served next to an old-school slaw and unexpected and fresh sorbet.

Porchetta aromatizzata alle erbe servita con salsa al finocchio e mela, piccolo ravanello e sorbetto alla mela acerba
I love sides dishes almost as much as mains and Sean generally lets me choose. That's why we've been married for 12 years. Bring on the crisp lemony broccolini and bitter radicchio with fennel and walnuts!

Broccolini al limone e aglio
A thoughtful surprise by the staff was the presentation of a white chocolate pannacotta with a message just for us :)


We won't be waiting until our 13th wedding anniversary to enjoy a meal at Auge again. Highly recommended if you are in Adelaide.

We dined on 3 March 2012

2 comments:

foodadmirer said...

Yum, yum, yum sounds so delightful for someone who has not yet had the pleasure of dining at Auge. I wish my boyfriend would book me a surprise dinner here... shall keep on dreaming.

Megga said...

I often pop into the Spuntini bar at Auge and have an after work drink on a Friday, the lighting and atmosphere are perfect for winding down after a big week. I love Carpaccio and pork belly but I've never tried either of these dishes at Auge. Kate, your review and the accompanying pictures of the dishes made me want to book a table immediately!

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