Sailmaster Tavern

This just has to be one of the best views from an eating area in Adelaide. Located in North Haven, in the Port Adelaide area, the tavern looks out over the North Haven marina and it’s numerous sailboats. Unfortunately, tonight there were no dolphins swimming in the marina in front of the outdoor seating areas.
The Sailmaster Tavern opened in 1989 and I had the pleasure of working there for a number of years in the 90’s. In the last two years, the bar and old restaurant (now bistro) have had a major revamp, and I must say it is all for the better. The bistro is fresh and clean with plenty of space to move around.
For a Wednesday night it was reasonably busy and we had pre– booked a table for 9 people. The service was friendly and attentive and the meals came out extremely quick. I was disappointed with the menu as, bar the tapas selections, it was a stock standard pub menu. In previous years the restaurant was one of the best in the state, especially in regards to seafood. It’s seems that all this money and effort was put into providing a fantastic eating environment is wasted. Here I am looking out over this beautiful marina… eating a yiros because I didn’t feel like a parmy or steak! I’m a little baffled why the menu didn’t at least include some restaurant type meal choices.
The meals prices are reasonable but the drink prices are a little expensive. For the price I paid for glasses of wine I would have expected clean glasses! Rule number 1: when pouring drinks… don’t put your hands near the rim of the glass… rule number two: inspect the glass to ensure it is clean. Unfortunately the Bistro Supervisor did neither.
All in all, I left quite disappointed thinking I could have gone anywhere in the Port for a meal like this. Next time if I want a nice meal with a view, I’ll go to the Semaphore Palais. A final tip to the Bistro Supervisor (as a non-​smoker), it’s a bad look when you have been handling my food and drink to be smoking right out the front door of the bistro as customers enter and leave… especially when you are wearing your name tag and position title on your uniform!

I’ve been here twice now both times I’ve left wondering why I went there.
First time the schnitzel was dry, I doused it in gravy and tasted very oily. I threw up the next day, the schnitzel was the only thing I’d had that was «different» for the day than my usual breakfast and lunch.
Tonight I got a chicken parmy. I couldn’t eat it. It tasted like someone had poured oil over the schnitzel on my plate. It was horrendous. Even if my meal is not great I will usually still eat it but this was beyond awful. I’m glad it was only $ 11, it wasn’t even worth that. I wouldn’t recommend going here ever for schnitzel.
Salad bar was nice though. Needs more staff on too.

Well, we came back and it was a pleasant surprise. We have been regular customers in the restaurant for years, but last year the food and service had deteriorated somewhat so we went elsewhere, but read on!
The menu has since been updated and expanded, with a broader selection which now includes chicken and vegetarian options. The seafood selections are also expanded, as well as the menu for the main feature, the stone grill. My wife had the steak, I had the salmon, and both stone grills were great.
The food quality and presentation is superb, and the service seems to have improved with more staff — lets hope it stays that way. Prices are reasonable for the standard, and booking is strongly recommended. Even better value if you have an Entertainment card.
The only slight disappointment is the kids menu, with the usual chicken nuggets and pasta etc, totally unchanged and boring (according to one who knows).
Technically, this review is actually for the Gulf Point Marina Restaurant, which is an extension of the Sailmaster Tavern. The food for the latter is similar except for the stone grill, and it is more a pub.

only recently discovered this place, but wish I’d known about it sooner. theres some great foods on the menu, and a stone grill selection where your food cooks on your plate infront of you which I found to be very tasty and interesting.
yummy deserts too, fairly cheap for this type of setting — beautiful surrounds looking out over the marina, definiteley make the effort to visit fhis place

I can’t comment on the restaurant side of the Sailmaster Tavern. However, I can comment on the function side of things.
A friend of mine recently had their 21^st at the Sailmaster Tavern and it was pretty sweet. You get your own private bar area with an outdoor courtyard which overlooks the marina. If you want something more classy you can hire furnishing such as lounges, high bars, futons, casual seating/​tables and even plants are available!
I really liked how comfortable everything felt. You didn’t have to worry about being overly dressed (which is always a good thing). I hate feeling like you’re being judged and you’re not good enough to be there.
Overall it’s a great place to have a party. I definitely rate it and would be happy to have a function there in the future.

A hidden jewel in North Haven, it’s restaurants like this that I love to dine and bask in its simplicity.
With spectacular views to the Marina, especially at dusk, this is a perfect setting for family and loved ones.
With an impressive menu and one that is exceptionally reasonable, compared to others in the city, expect your main dish to be anything from $ 18-​$ 30.
They serve fresh Coffin Bay oysters (my favourite!) at $ 14 for half a dozen and $ 21 for a dozen.
Kids are not forgotten, and with a 3 varied menu list, it will only set you back to $ 8.50. Would you like fries with that?
They have a great bar service here, so expect the best and nothing short!
Head here during the weekend for brunch or bring your partner for a romantic dinner overlooking the still moon.

It’s surprising what you can find when you venture away from the city centre of Adelaide and your regular, more popular suburbs. A friend who lives in North Haven took me too the Sailmaster Tavern, a gorgeous little tavern right on the Gulf Point Marina with spectacular views of all the boats. According to my friend, dolphins can be spotted here on occasion, following the boats into the marina. Unfortunately, this was not my experience.
When I think of restaurants with spectacular views I expect them to be pricey and a tad high class, and although this is not a dingy looking pub at all, it definitely is cheap! With specials on every night, you can easily come here to enjoy a meal and a drink for under $ 20 and admire the spectacular views.
Although the view is great even on the inside, I would probably say go a little early and try and nab one of the outdoor seating areas, as the view from there is even more beautiful.
It’s definitely a great little tavern; jukebox and pool table included.