There's a reason why this place is highly rated. It is amazing and worth every penny spent. If there's one place with food worth all those carbs - it's Andre's! Meals are designed to share - hot tip - you won't feel so guilty ordering the entire menu. We decided on choosing our dishes. But if you struggle with the choice, there is the set menu option - menu fisso - which is $65 pp, and the staff will choose a selection for you. Make sure you let them know of any dietary requirements. I rarely eat out at Italian restaurants. And if I do, I never order pasta dishes unless I know it's going to be made fresh and traditionally. If you're up for melt-in-your-mouth pasta, you will not regret ordering the gnocchi with ragu. A tasty red sauce with tender ragu and a large serve of big potato pillows of heaven. You won't regret. We also ordered the duck and gorgonzola and spinach polenta. Cooked to perfection, and exceeded expectations. Another highlight was the buratta - a cream-stuffed buffalo mozzarella with squid ink cacciatore. To die for! We managed to finish everything off with dessert - the chocolate semi-freddo and torta. The semi-freddo was incredibly rich, but was complimented by the delicious subtle saltiness of a goats cheese gelato. The torta reminded me of a deconstructed apple and rhubarb pie combined with a lemon meringue pie, hold the meringue! Service was very attentive and all courses came out promptly. Wait staff were great at explaining the menu well, cleared tables efficiently and checked up on us regularly. All in all everything was delicious. It is on the pricier side but it's well worth it. Perfect for treating that special someone. read more

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Best meal I have ever eaten, period. Visited for the first time recently with my significant other to celebrate our anniversary. He is very fussy, so it is rare indeed for him to enjoy every part of a meal, but we both savoured every single mouthful, and resolved to visit again as soon as we can. We enjoyed the 5 course "Menu Fisso" for $59 per head, which included a delicious range of seasonal foods (and the quantity is generous - no chance we could finish it all, sadly). I highly recommend it, although you can also order A La Carte if you are feeling less adventurous. Table service was exceptional, food outstanding, atmosphere vibrant and inviting. Don't hesitate to try Andre's, you won't be disappointed! read more

Andre's Cucina & Polenta Bar - Ocean Trout Carpaccio, delish! - Italian Near Me - Adelaide, SA

Great Italian spot in Adelaide city serving hearty dishes. We went with the set menu and were not disappointed, we even requested the pasta dish of our choosing and they happily obliged. I liked all the dishes but standouts were the tuna carpaccio and the pasta. I was defeated by the steak as the serve is substantial and it was a little tough despite being cooked nicely to medium. It's a bustling restaurant. We were seated on the periphery so did not feel too closely seated to others. Service was good. I'd recommend Andre's and their menu fisso. read more

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Holy cow. Just ordered soft baked polenta with venison and pork ragu in latte, beetroot, bitter cocoa and peppered pecorino. Now, the meat was minced meat - not what you expect from what we have come to know as ragu. I'm no chef but the majority of people have an idea of what a ragu is. Aside from the meat, it was incredibly oily and very salty. A bit of mushy, oily, salty bog in a dish. Just not very appealing overall. Sent it back in a very nice way just explaining it wasn't what I'd consider to be a ragu and ordered a pasta. An incredibly lovely and embarrassed waitress returned explaining that the manager expected me to pay for both meals. I explained I wouldn't be paying for both meals since it was mince meat. She explained the cooking technique, fine, like I said, I'm not a chef however, I wanted mince meat I'd have ordered bolognaise. It was suggested that I could eat the old meal that was still sitting under a eat lamp... Really? I said no, and I wanted to talk to the manager. She wasn't here. Can we get her on the phone? I suggested. "Well it's just that it's her day off and she's Not rostered on." "So, I have to pay for a meal I don't like and the manager is forcing me to do so but is in available to talk about it? " The waitress leaves and returns a few minutes later to let me know that it's all sorted (I feel bad for her). I thank her and ask her to thank the chef. I am now eating Cavatelli with gamberi, calamari, crudo and limone... And wondering if I have any "secret ingredients" as a result of my complaint. Waitress was lovely. Lovely set up and nice wine list. I have to seriously question the manager's approach to customer service though. You can never relax and enjoy a meal after you've given not so positive feedback. :-/ Food - 3 stars Service (from the one lone waitress) - 5 stars for having to be the meat in the middle! Overall experience sadly at a 2.5 read more

Andre's Cucina & Polenta Bar - Meal #2. Cavatelli - Italian Near Me - Adelaide, SA

I was there with my friends who strongly recommended this place. First impression, wow very nice cozy and inviting. I ordered a vegetarian dish - which was really good (all short of pickled and grilled vegetables). The service was great and servers were very knowledgable of the menu and details. I will definitely go back whenever I have a chance. :) read more

I loved everything here. Fresh food, delicious, appropriate serving sizes, good customer service, and a buzzing atmosphere! I could've been *somewhat* influenced by the free flowing bubbles as I visited Andre's as part of a Good Food Society event (we each paid for a drinks package as part of our meal) but the consensus around the table of approximately 20 was unanimous - we'll all be back! My pick is the salmon carpaccio - I could eat it all day long. :-) PS. If you love food or are in/visit Adelaide, you can find the Good Food Society on Facebook - just search! read more

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Andre's menu is designed to encourage a sharing family-at-the-dinner-table type of eating. All dishes are brought out one after another and placed betwixt diners for all to take from. Though the food is irresistibly good, fight your gluttonous desires off rather than your fellow dinner guests as selfishness will not get you to the end. As yet another dish Sorcerer's Apprentices from the kitchen, too often have I heard the lament "I just can't eat anymore" from someone who dared cross forks with a friend. Even if you just eat your share, unless famished you still may not make it, the next pleasure platter will arrive and then another, but all you'll have is a helping of bitter regret. Due to popularity the place is a tad pokey but not as pretentious to patrons as the food warrants. If your mother was a gourmet chef, this is what she'd make; it's the finest home cooking and experience you'll ever have outside the home. read more

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Andre (of Masterchef fame) opened this restaurant in his name a couple of years ago. It is located just off the main eating streets of Adelaide so you won't just walk past it and decide to go in, you need to make the effort. But its a very unique dining experience, away from your typical Italian restaurants serving pizza, pasta, veal etc. Polenta is their main ingredient, whether it be soft, hard, grilled, flavoured, they use it for anything. They mostly serve share platters, more like an antipasto, with a vareity of items which are suprisingly filling. They do breakfast, lunch and tea and have an extensive wine list, with lots from Italy. They also offer catering for small events, which I am sure is far from your usual Subway Platter or crackers and cheese. When I visited Andre's it was lunch time and very quiet, which allowed for a more intimate dining experience in which the waitor took time to talk and explain things to us. read more

Andre's Cucina & Polenta Bar - Italian Near Me - Adelaide, SA

If I could rate this place 10 stars I would!!! We did the 'let the kitchen feed you' option. I am a picky eater but the rest of our table weren't... the waitress went out of her way to make sure I would have enough to eat. We found this place by looking at photos of food and we are so glad we found it! WE WILL BE BACK!! If you want to imoress someone, take them here. If you want to eat and be full, then eat here. If you want a decent meal with friendly staff the EAT HERE!!! read more

Great cozy spot for dinner. The menu is quite extensive but we opt for the menu fisso (chef's 5 course tasting). Started with a fish carpaccio (fresh and delicious), a cheese course with shredded mozzarella (this was so so), gnocchi with short ribs ragu (loved the gnocchi- made so soft and pillowy and the ragu was super tasty), the main was steak and potshots with salad and polenta (gosh all very delicious we couldn't stop stuffing our face even though we were getting full, esp the polenta - so so yummy!), and the dessert was a polenta cake with ice cream (we polished it off even though we were full). I'd go back again for sure if I find myself in Adelaide again! read more

OK. Next time you feel like drinking that good bottle(s) of wine this is what you will do. Book a table for 4 at this joint (to avoid complications - it is a small venue, and can get packed). Don't snack on your way here - avoid those fritos. Wear comfortable clothing, and make sure the other 3 in your party have a discerning taste for food and wine. Get the fixed price menu. Close your eyes, be merry and relax. But do eat and drink the wine - and mingle with your posse. Food is good - the five courses go from fantastic to good in this order. The carpaccio was delicious, the gnocchi fantastic, the desert and fish not so much. We polished the plates, and if we can do it, so can you. Worth the money (but not every day) The wine list wasn't inspiring, but fortunately we dusted off a few old bottles and brought them with us. Will definitely return, maybe in a month or so when I find another good old bottle of wine in the cellar. read more

Andre's is a great little place with a share plate vibe, a great wine list and amazing staff. The food is good, heavy but good. We nibbled away on the polenta chips, beef carpaccio (goooood), salmon carpaccio, fried seafood and salad. We also indulged in an amazing chocolate fondant dessert. If you're in rad-elaide looking for a good feed then you should hunt this little gem down! read more

Amazing food. Went there tonight with friends and had the menu fisso. Every course was great (the gnocchi and polenta chips were my fave) and we were very full by the end. Great value for $59. The waiter was brilliant too; great sense of humour and accommodated for our dietary needs (1person needed gluten-free) without any fuss. Absolutely loved it and will definitely be back again soon! read more

We stumbled upon this place as we turned off of Rundle St. looking for something (anything!) with seating available on a Friday night. Luckily, Andre's wasn't too far from where we were ambling and had some outdoor seating for us. The waitress recommended the per-person chef's multi-course menu, but we were a bit jet-lagged and picked out 4 plates for the 5 of. It ended up being better portioned and better priced. Everything was fantastic and with a nice touch of creativity. The veggie plate, the sausage polenta, the steak. We shared it all and every option was great. read more

Love love love love love this place. Do the "feed me" option where they just bring you what feels like endless courses of deliciousness. A little on the expensive side but you get fantastic value for money. It's not a super quiet restaurant so probably not the best place for any serious kind of chat. You need to book. So go on, book! read more

Just go... the menu doesn't look very gluten free friendly but large numbers of the staff and menu is gluten free or happily adaptable and just... so considerate. The best gluten free Italian I've had read more

This is a lovely little gem! I haven't met one person who doesn't like Andre's. It's really dark and cosy on the inside, a little bit squashy but well worth the squishy-ness. The set menu is great because you don't have to think and you get a wide variety of dishes throughout your sitting. You won't leave hungry that's for sure. Don't leave without trying the beef or octopus carpaccio! It will change your life. read more

Wow after going to andres more than a couple of times within a year (which is unusual for a creature of no habits) i can say without a pause of thought brilliant. Food is to die for prices are good . You get what is hoped for and service you cannot fault. The waitress we had tonight would be one in a million. Old school values on customer service yet young and dare i say hipster. ...ish.....im not sure of genres anymore. .she was just incredible. Yes yes and yes. The only thing i could say on a negative is too many tables for such a small place but the compacted tables and echoed noise was no surprise as i have been here before...well worth the positives that well and truly supersede this. Love! Love! Love! read more

Andre's Cucina & Polenta Bar - Italian Near Me - Adelaide, SA

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Went here on a Thursday evening and had the menu Frisso, for $59 per person the chef serves you what he fancies, just checking with you for allergies. I had been told to go in the second part of the week, as the gnocchi was made on Wednesdays. It was to die for!!!! Our 5 courses were tuna, mascarpone on shortbread with sausage, rabbit gnocchi, mains were beefsteak with polenta, roast potatoes and salad, and for dessert there were banana chocolate donut balls. Absolutely stuffed, but amazing. read more

Had a great meal with friends, went for the degustation which was great choice everyone had something they wouldn't normally order and liked it. The main course included polenta with mushrooms and was alert down as it was the least liked dish, just to stodgy. I had been looking forward to a really good polenta dish. If they still have the slow cooked lamb order it though great flavours. Interesting wine list with a fair range and with some good value Italian wines to match against the dishes. I would like to go back and hopefully get a more interesting polenta. read more

Wow. We had an outstanding dinner here. We were four people, we all had different things, and each dish was fantastic. I had a dessert, a selection plate of mini Italian pastries, and each one was absolutely delicious. Two of us ordered vegetarian dishes, and even the vegetarian dishes were mouth-watering (I eat my vegetables, but it's hard to make them interesting, so good job there). There's a pretty extensive menu and the specials seem to change all the time. This is a place I would bring people from out of town if I wanted to show them what Adelaide has to offer. read more

We arrived on Saturday night with a group of friends. The place was packed out making it cramped and difficult to move around and quite noisy and uncomfortable. The food was quite okay but the servings were very small. We had a table of 14 and had the set menu. The polenta chips were really good however and the barbecue steak was melt in the mouth. I think that I probably would have rated this place higher if I had ordered from the menu over the share set menu... as a whole though I was not overwhelmed by this place at all. 5/10. read more

Don't leave Adelaide without coming here! Omg, can I get this in Heaven? We wish we could finish the menu fisso-5 course meal to share but can't. We did a 3-course ala cartel to share. Started with carpaccio, scamorza, polenta and gnocchi. This could possibly be my favorite meal ever! Gnocchi was very delicate and polenta was very creamy! read more

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Best meal I had during two weeks in Australia. Cramped little space. Food was absolutely spectacular. Great local wines. Great service.

Andre's may just be a little too popular for its own good - our table of eight had a 6-8 pm sitting on a Saturday night, and it felt a little rushed. It was a full house and also was a bit on the noisy side of things. Our split bill came to $65 each, so it is not a cheap night out - for that price, and for the double shift arrangement on a Saturday night which means they get two lots of customers, I reckon there could be a few tables less. It probably didn't help that we were in the middle of the restaurant, but I had to do a pacman type side shuffle all the way to exit to get to the ladies room, so yes, a few tables less would be good. We chose to share some platters to start, and as a vego I left the carniverous one alone but had an instant love relationship with the sweet potato chips. The bread was superb too (although a drizzle of oil or pat of butter wouldn't have gone astray). That said, I probably didn't need the butter. I had a simple main, polenta with spinach, and there must have been plenty of butter in the polenta because it was sooo tasty and creamy and smooth and I wouldn't even bother trying to replicate such polenta perfection at home :-) My friends all enjoyed their pasta dishes and they claimed they were mostly too full for dessert. But I had heard good things about the bomboloni (Italian banana donuts) and they guarantee my return to this place (perhaps it should be renamed Andre's Bomboloni Bar?). There were five of these bite sized pieces of deep fried goodness (cinnamon, chocolate, banana, and fluffy , crispy dough) and I managed to only eat one, making friends for life as I shared them around the table. I think the trick may be to avoid the busyness that is Saturday night, because food this good shouldn't be rushed. read more

"FEED ME," we yelled... and so they did. No need for menus here if you're willing to let them feed you whatever they want to. The handmade noodles with mushroom ragu and prawns was delicious! Even my prawn-hating husband ate it. I will safely say that the balsamic steak was one of the best steaks I've had, so good we ordered another one for the table. The beef carpaccio was tasty and tender, not sinewy, the parmesan giving it a punch which was needed. The Polenta 'pizza' was a bit odd, perhaps a touch more feta needed? This is the only reason for the 4 stars not 5. The three year old at the table demolished the salumi platter with olives and barely left any for us! Great service, poor Sebastion was harried hither and thither by our international guest, but he was full of smiles and jokes. Apparently we're taking him to the Barossa the next time our guest comes down... I think she took a shine to him! Or she wants to get him drunk, one or the other. A great wine list too... I have a headache today. Go here. And get them to feed you! read more

Love this place. One of the very few places I'll go and Italian food. The quality and service is fantastic. You must def barely get yourself down to try this gem. read more

Andre's Cucine & Polenta Bar is rather small in size, however the restaurant provides quality and delicious food! Dining experience was fantastic, with each meal being served to perfection! Entree we had the Venison Carpaccio; Main we had rabbit meat pasta, 2 serves of the Porchetta, Anguilla Alla Frilana E Gamberoni, and another pasta. Real authentic taste as well, which is hard to find these days! Next time im back, i will be trying the Menu Fisso, 5 course meal! read more

What a shame! Oh dear! We had a most amazing lunch a week before as you will see from the last review. Then we went back for Dinner! We were packed in like Sardines. Tables are all too close together and I am only thin! The poor lady right next to the door for the toilet, had to move every time someone went out the door! We had the Menu Fisso again but different dishes chosen by the Waitress who had no idea. Every dish we shared including a duck leg! Where as at lunch some plates we shared and some we had each. Dessert we shared and I suppose should have eaten off the same plate, however as I had a cold we wanted our own plates, so I had to weave my way through the tables to ask for a plate and forks so we could share We needed forks as it was a biscuit concoction! Not really a sharing plate, just like the duck leg! Our waitress at the time was having her own dinner (not even 2 hours into the service) sitting at the bar and was not amused when I asked for these things, she brought them over with a bad grace and chucked them on the table! We had to ask someone else for the bill. The food was lacking even for sharing plates and the waitress was hopeless. What a shame because the food is amazing, the rest of the staff are friendly and helpful. We were so disappointed as we hoped this would be our local when in Adelaide every couple of weeks and we had been recommending to friends! read more

Pity it was empty for a Friday lunch. Food was tasty, service good. Menu can be overwhelming for lunch. Hope more people go otherwise it will surely close read more

Excellent meal at Andre's last night. We had the 'let the cucina feed you' menu for $59 which basically covered a taste of most things on the menu. Standouts were the beef cheeks, squid ink pasta and the garfish. My only issues with this place is the acoustics - it gets really really noisy. That and the decor feels a bit 'suburban cafe' rather than dinner at nonna's - adding some warmth might help. Not one for the carb conscious but highly recommended. read more

Food was delicious. Ambiance was great. We had the first sitting on a Friday night. The wait staff were attentive and helpful. We had the 'feed me' banquet style menu. Food was prompt, however meant we ate quickly so a small break between courses would have been ideal. We are big eaters and couldn't finish. I didn't like the swordfish as entree due to being quick strong flavoured (and I usually eat fish). Dessert needed something a little more but overall the menu was great. Will be going back but at the 8pm time slot on a Friday as the lights were dimmed and very intimate! read more

Great eatery with a unique menu and superb hospitality. Adam, apart from being a first class host was also an encyclopedia for gastro haunts around Adelaide, which that we are working through during our stay here. The 5-course "let Andre feed you" deal was a fabulous experience and great value... Thank you Gina & Alan read more

A few of my friend insisted that I check this place out, as usual I was hesitating merely to annoy them. I keeled eventually and was taken aback by the experience. It was hard to get a seating without a booking, understandable however it's still bothersome waiting with hungry stomachs. When finally seated I found the table arrangement to be cramped. Navigating around the restaurant with my breath held in to squeeze through. However the atmosphere was intriguing, blackboard menus and contemporary Italian styling. The waiters are all charismatic and take time to explain the menu. Dinner is an interesting dining experience. I could easily explain it as Italian tapas with Polenta dished being the main focal point. Exquisite tasting fritters stuffed with gourmet cheese and a spicy dipping sauce. With a group you can order vast mixtures of authentic Italian dishes and have a memorable dinner. read more

Love it. Great Italian food, $59 a head sharing plates. Always some interesting and delicious wines available. It's obvious why this place is always busy. They over-deliver on everything. read more

While some will think of Andre's as being the place set up by the bloke off Masterchef, that's really missing the opportunity to describe the amazing depot of authenticity and innovation that nestles on Frome Street at the base of the Mantra Hotel. The overwhelming key topic here is fresh, quality ingredients and you see it right from the moment you walk in the door. It could so easily be cheesy if they were displaying papier maché ham legs and plastic fruit, but Andre wants you to see the freshness of what they're doing right from the minute you walk in. The menu's a changeable affair to keep it interesting for all, but the night we were in the carpaccio we had was utterly irresistable, and we shared about 4 different polenta-based dishes and discovered just how versatile it can be. We never wanted to leave, and after a couple of decent bottles of red found ourselves being coaxed into a coffee, and then selecting from the range of Italian digestifs some more idiosyncratic than others (artichoke liqueur is an acquired taste). Friendly service, great vibe, immaculate food not cheap, but then what is these days? read more

Awesome meals. Had the beef carpaccio and the rotolo very tasty. Beef was nice and tender. Rotolo likewise awesome. Place was busy nice atmosphere great staff. Well worth the visit. read more

Without doubt, one of the best restaurants I have ever been to! I'm from Melbourne but find myself frequenting Adelaide, not only to visit friends but also to visit Andre's Cucina. My boyfriend is vegetarian and can be quite fussy when it comes to food. The staff were more than happy to accommodate for my partners fussy needs and offered us a vegetarian banquet. They pretty much just kept brining us food until we were full. The true Italian way! All of the food was of a very high standard and was definitely not just your usual pizza/pasta place. Everything was cooked to perfection and was full of flavour. The restaurant itself was warm and inviting with a kind of rustic charm. Excellent dining experience. I look forward to my fifth trip in the near future. read more

My wife & our 3 adult kids ate here last night. It was the 3rd or 4th time we've dined there, and each time it's been delicious. Staff are highly efficient yet warm, funky & edgy, they know the food options well, and are attentive. The food always is quite delicious. It misses out on a 5th Star in the rating due to the prices, which are at the higher end (but not extreme). Just go & enjoy the flavors! read more

worst experience ever I asked for a refund after completely eating three meals and they refused which is terribly rude and after yelling at the staff for a refund they kicked me out of the restaurant without giving me a refund ®£₰₠₫₰₭₶₶₦ read more