What once was known to Adelaidians as Boho – a quirky theatrical-themed restaurant and bar with that old-time feel – has now revamped as The Unley, an ever-trendy and modernised meet-up destination with a sleek, new makeover.
The re-branding is looking great with a catchy name, bubbling atmosphere and brand new interior design. An outside rooftop bar adds to the atmosphere, decorated with fairy lights, fake grass flooring and big palm trees which tends to give off that Rocket Rooftop feel we all know and love. Having launched officially last Thursday night, the place is already pumping out the good vibes.
The rooftop bar
At the official opening launch, selected media and VIP guests were invited to taste test items on the food and cocktail menus. According to Head Chef, Callum Stewart-Watt, The Unley’s new and improved pub-style menu is bringing a breath of fresh air to the Adelaide pub scene.
“Each dish has their own story and uniqueness to provide a memorable food experience,” he says, “When a patron comes in that really appreciates what you put on a plate for them, it motivates me more and more.”
The locally influenced tapas menu holds a selection of share plates for patrons to enjoy whilst kicking back and enjoying a drink or two. The first tapas dish we got to try upon arrival was the spicy Jalapeno Popper, a crumbed jalapeno treat with soft cheese filling and chipotle sauce. Incredibly spicy yet infused with flavour, the Jalepeno Popper certainly ‘popped’ on the tongue.
Tiger Prawns
We enjoyed the Pan Fried Haloumi next, which came across as a little citrusy and a lot lighter than that of the Jalapeno Popper – the perfect contrast. The Tiger Prawns were also one of our favourite lighter dishes, topped with mayonnaise and a Beerenberg tomato chutney sauce (keeping it local!).
Each dish has their own story and uniqueness to provide a memorable food experience.
The Beef Satay sticks were a lean meat option with a spicy, accompanying sauce. Pub menus can really never go wrong with satay sticks. But in terms of meat options, the clear winner by far would have to be the Peking Duck Slider, filled with pickled cucumber, chilli myrtle sauce and, you guessed it, tender Peking duck. Absolutely delectable!
Peking duck sliders
Two other sliders were on offer, both of which were just as outstanding. The first was a Roast Beetroot, Pear and Haloumi Slider, complimented by kale and walnut pesto: the perfect vegetarian slider. Similar to a dish we’d previously tried at The Mile End Hotel, the combination of ingredients provided a tasty flavour burst we were all too familiar with. The second, a signature dish called Unley Burger, contained a traditional Angus beef pattie, smoked bacon, beetroot jam, runny egg and jack cheese, topped with Beerenberg tomato chutney and mayo. Available not as a slider, but a main on the official Unley menu, this is the perfect pub meal with a flavoursome twist.
Enough of sliders – we could probably talk about them all day. Let’s move on to the cooked-to-perfection Atlantic Salmon. Pan-fried to medium rare and complimented with roasted fennel, dehydrated olives and tapenade, lemon argumanto and peperonata (traditionally made with fried peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic and basil), it’s safe to say this dish was our favourite over all others tried on the night. At the comfortable price of $26, the Atlantic Salmon is a great, wholesome addition to the menu.
Atlantic salmon samples
The Vegie Patch is another wholesome menu item, sure to please the vegetarian and vegan crowd. Getting in those five veg (and more!!), the dish contains an mix of asparagus, brussel sprouts, beetroot, pumpkin, mushroom quinoa, heirloom carrot, saffron cauliflower, cous cous, petite herbs and date balsamic. That’s a lot of healthy stuff!
As if we weren’t full enough, waitresses and waiters came out with yet another irresistibly tasty dish: Jerk Chicken Flat Bread Pizza. Covered in jerk chicken, black garlic butter, blistered capsicum, mozzarella cheese and sliced pineapple, this flat bread pizza was the perfect finish to our night. The Unley actually have two other pizzas on the menu which we unfortunately were unable to try (let’s face it, we probably would have exploded if we tried to fit in anymore food) – but we particularly like the sounds of the Field Mushroom & Provolone Pizza. A second visit to The Unley it is!
Jerk Chicken Pizza
We’ve seemed to talk a lot about food here, but what about the drinks? Having only gotten to try just three of the cocktails on offer, after which things started to get a little blurry, we’ll give you a short run down of our thoughts but leave it up to you to go in and try for yourself!
The Unley Signature at $17 is a cocktail “inspired by the orchids and agricultural history of Unley”, combining Zubrowka bison grass vodka, Triple Sex and Havana Club dark rum with cloudy apple juice and agave nectar. This one definitely had a bite to it – the kind of cocktail we like! The Mar-tea-ni was likely our favourite cocktail tried as its delicate balance of Tanqueray gin and earl grey tea infused with citrus creates a “brand-new spin on the traditional martini.” Upon trying the New Fashioned cocktail, we were clearly expecting something similar to that of a typical Old Fashioned, however, were surprised at its lighter taste. The alcohol content, while high, was subtly hidden by the honey and lavender bitters that somewhat overpowered all else.
The Mar-tea-ni Cocktail
View the full menu here.
View the cocktail list here.
