Fino Restaurant

Fino had been on my restaurant bucket list for some time as I had heard great things and read many too! Finally a public holiday came available that we were free for so I booked in a lunch.
The waitress highlighted that fino was very much in sharing meals and it was a great way of tasting the menu. We went with the chef degustation which was $ 65pp, this included 5 dishes and she advised it was equivalent to a main and a half per person.
One of the dishes on the menu was a pork fillet. Neither my husband or I really eat pork (unless it’s organic and farmed privately) so they were happy for us to choose another main. One was Unavailable so we only had one choice left — the scotch fillet.
Four of the five meals were nice. Not amazing not great just nice. The lamb neck dish had nice flavours however the piece of meat my partner got was 90% fat. My piece of scotch fillet was cooked ok however his was on the verge of being ‘blue’… They said it came rare to medium. Over time I have realised every chefs definition of this is quite different as is a «trim» to a Hairdesser.
One of the five meals was. Terrible. This was the seafood dish. It was meant to come with mussels and cockles but they advised «today mussels were not available» and extra cockles were included. The first taste of these cockles were terrible it was fishy, off tasting and considered bait in my books. We honestly both thought no way that a regional restaurant would use imported cockles or frozen ones from woollies…
The waitress came back to pick up our plates so I asked where they came from — Goolwa which is what you would expect. We were not asked or questioned why we left all the cockles on the plate when she came to clear it… After some research I found out that you can’t catch cockles in SA from June 1^st to October 30^th as their are restrictions in place from the govt. That explains it given it was October 6^th…
Would I go back? If I was in the area and russells was closed. We made fino the destination of our visit and it was really unfortunate that our experience was pretty average for over an hours drive.

Is it possible to give Fino less than five stars? No. Relaxed exceptional service. Friendly and comfortable. The wines were impeccable but really it’s all about the food. Let them tell you what’s good. After all, it’s their business not yours. We were a party of five and indulged in the shared plates with delicious snapper, chèvre, venison and many other delights. Lunch lasted well over three hours and was perfect.
Seriously. Go there.

I always love a restaurant that is passionate about local produce, and matched with a small but lovely wine list. And the service was impeccable. I won’t comment too much on the food and so much has already been written about it, but rather the practical side of dining there if staying in nearby areas such as McLaren Vale. I suggest arranging for transport from Chook (0414 922 200, esp after a day of wine tasting!), and having a pre-​dinner drink at Fall from Grace, a mere 5 minute walk from Fino. When at Fino, you can go for the tasting menu ($ 60/​pp) or pick a few dishes to share. And why not have wine by the glass, which we did, so that you can try a few interesting wines with the different courses. And definitely do dessert if you have room for it! We were a party of 2 dining at 8pm on a Friday evening. We were the last table to arrive and food came in a timely manner.

Oh WOW!!! I took my partner here for her birthday and was VERY impressed … will definitely be coming here again!
Service is excellent — we had 3 people serving our table, and they all did it very well (even down to noticing that I was the designated driver and not offering me a second glass of wine!). Friendly with just the right touch of professionalism.
Our meals were delicious — I had the Dry aged Woakwine porterhouse, cucumber & pickled chilli and for dessert the Almond Tart with figs and Hindmarsh Valley ‘Cloud Nine’ fromage frais … oh yes, they were as good as they sound!
Absolutely top class — I really can’t wait to come here again — can you tell? ;)

Exceptional service, beautiful decore & amazing food.

My first meal at Fino is firmly imprinted on my brain and I never get tired of coming back. That was almost five years ago.
There’s a reason for all the awards, Fino is a gem of South Australia’s food scene.
Tucked away just off the main drag of pretty Willunga, Fino perches at the northern end of the bustling Saturday Willunga farmer’s market. But when the market packs up is when the kitchen starts firing at Fino — and you’ll likely see a stallholder or two dropping off some goods to the kitchen — maybe a Goodieson beer or something not growing in Fino’s own veggie patch out the back.
Chef David Swain is a local food hero. Produce is local, seasonal and prepared simply but with such tasty flair and imagination that another shared plate is always beckoning.
Front of house is pocket rocket dynamo Sharon Romeo — another award winner — who also curates Fino’s wine list of local and international beauties.
Ambience at Fino is such that it’s perfect for a special occasion or a casual lunch. Its a favoured haunt of many a local winemaker and food tragics from miles away will fly in especially to sample a new menu, updated seasonally.
On my last visit, after first downing some housemade bread and olive oil, I shared a delectable dish of Inman Valley roast chook, celeriac and horseradish with my dining companion who chose the slow roasted Berkshire pork. Both dishes outstanding.
We shared a Pear tarte tatin for dessert that was so pretty on the plate it seemed a shame to eat it. The sharing «race» that ensued was fiercely fought. It was a tie.
I consider myself very lucky to have Fino just minutes away, living locally in the McLaren Vale region as I do, but its only 45 minutes or so on a good day from the city with the freeway running in a favourable direction.
The green signs as you make your way to the Fleurieu Peninsula from the city should all point to Fino. It’s a food experience that will leave a mark on your tastebuds and you’ll find yourself coming back, maybe even moving closer to Willunga so you can visit more frequently. It really is that good.

Fino is one of Adelaide’s most awarded but little known restaurants. This is where your serious elite foodies go to dine and to be served. It is the kind of establishment that you’d visit if you were trying to recreate ‘The Trip’ but based in South Australia.
Everything about Fino is provincial, its food is mediterranean, and it is located in the picturesque province of Willunga. The venue is intimate and has the feel of a quaint Italian eatery or perhaps a wine cellar with its thick, cool white walls.
Food is pricey, but this is dining at its best and you will be served by Sharon Romeo, awarded South Australia’s best service. Deciding on what succulent piece of meat or what expertly sauced and spiced rice or pasta dish to dip your eager spoon into is extremely difficult. At a pinch close your eyes and point because whatever it is will be a taste sensation.
Not contented with ticking the ‘excellent’ box beside food, venue and service, Fino always has a superior wine list, one endorsed by many national awards.