Daniel O'Connell - Chicken with Mushroom Gravy

My last visit to the Dan did not go well. I was kicked outside on a 35 degree plus night and had an average schnitzel. The latter was partially my fault, many had recommended the mushroom gravy but I stuck to my guns and went the chicken parmigiana. After two 4 star reviews from fellow Schnitzel Lovers and further recommendations it was time to return to the Dan.

We found ourselves in the Lounge Bar of the Dan. Not a bad spot, made better by the ability to order from both the bar and bistro menu. As always I asked the staff for a menu and, prior to reading it, ordered a schnitzel. It wasn't long before the almost legendary chicken with mushroom arrived at my table.

The Dan serves up some of the finest chips in SA. They were seasoned and cooked very well and just taste good. The salad was fresh, well dressed and presented nicely on the plate.

Moving quickly into the schnitzel I soon discovered what others were raving about... the gravy. The gravy looks like a GB but tastes fantastic. The Dan's mushroom gravy almost definitely consists of some form of pureed mushrooms cooked into the sauce from the start. This is far superior to the all too common plain gravy with a few mushrooms thrown in you'll find elsewhere.

The other aspects of the schnitzel weren't as grand as the gravy. The schnitzel was only an average size and for the price it would be nice to see something a little bigger. Also, I was unfortunate to discover a bit of chicken vein in the meat... not meal ending but briefly off-putting. I guess this points to the schnitzel not being reconstituted which I suppose is a good thing.

If you're a mushroom gravy lover then the Dan is the place to be... otherwise you may be better looking elsewhere.

Price: $15.90

Rating: 3.5 stars

Brahma Lodge - Chicken Parmigiana

Conveniently located near my work, the Brahma is one of the two feasible pub lunch options I have. The Brahma's look is a bit hit and miss at the moment. A much needed upgrade has improved the restaurant and function areas but has done little for the bistro or front bar.

On a busier occasion than usual I took my meal in the bistro, a chicken parmigiana that I've had a few times before. I was presented with the plate after a moderate wait. I immediately noticed that the chips were taking up more of the plate space than normal... the salad was missing. I questioned this and was then brought out a bowl with triple the usual amount of salad.

Hit and miss again, the Brahma salad looks and tastes exactly like something pulled straight from the packet. A little bit of dressing would vastly improve it.

The chips were standard pub fare. An interesting feature is the Brahma bread triangles. The triangles are famous and amazing to all that know them, they are especially useful when used to mop up the plate after a schnitzel with gravy.

The schnitzel itself is fairly tasty. The tomato base covers the schnitzel without providing an overbearing presence. The cheese looks like it has been melted in a microwave but despite this it tastes good. The crumbing is a little too moist, however the chicken to crumbing ratio is pretty good. Cutting into the meal I noticed that the meal was formed of two smaller schnitzels... it's always best to leave the customer thinking that it is one piece.

For the price, it's not a bad meal, but don't expect too much of it.

Price: $10.90

Rating: 2.5 stars

Fountain Inn Hotel

Located on Glen Osmond Road is the surprisingly spacious and well designed Fountain Inn. Enough rambling, I ordered their well priced, $14.50, Chicken Parmi with salad. Unfortunately I received a chicken parmi boarding on having burnt edges with a side of vegetables. The chips were ok, but no seasoning to speak off left them quite bland. Despite the negatives, working my way around the edges of the parmi, leaving the most tendor and topped centre piece till last, I finished on a good note, surprisingly slowing down by the last tasty mouthful.

Price: $14.50

Rating: 2.5 stars

Roulettes Tavern - Chicken Parmigiana

Take two for the work local. Earlier this year the Roulettes Chicken Hawaiian scored the mid-point 2.5 star rating, the parmigiana was in the firing line this time around.

The service at Roulettes is consistent; despite being busier than the previous visit bread rolls were served up and gave me something to chew on in preparation for the schnitzel.

I saw the welcome sign of schnitzel leaving the kitchen with the salad following shortly after. The Roulettes salad was good, as per usual, and had plenty of that tasty dressing I've come to know and love.

The parmigiana was about the same size as the Hawaiian. The ham and cheese were standard but a little better done than the previous visit. The tomato base was tasty but the amount cause the topping to dominate the meal too much. The most surprising part of the meal was the cost, up two bucks 50 on the last meal. Whether this was due to taking the meal in the bistro is still unknown to me. All things considered the Roulettes Parmigiana a moderate meal but suffers for the unsubstantiated price increase.

Price: $17

Rating: 2 stars

General Havelock - King Beef Havey Schnitty

A General with a pub and schnitzel topping named after him; after I go to schnitzel heaven I hope I'll be be given a similar treatment.

The outdoor seating and front bar gives the Havelock plenty of room for someone looking for that after work brew. The bistro was practically empty, perhaps due to the ineptitude of some staff... Yep, never has it been more difficult to order a schnitzel. At least I had a good laugh as the staff failed several times in their attempts to understand the phrase "Chicken Havey Schnitty" that my mate said pretty clearly.

Anyway, I'm normally a chicken man but when some place names a meal the "600g King Beef Schnitzel" I take it as a challenge. I chose the Havey topping to go with the 600g monster; an intriguing combination of cheese, mushrooms, bacon, & BBQ sauce.

The prompt service was a welcome surprise after the ordering amusement seen earlier. The presentation of the schnitzel impressed me and I found myself anticipating my first bite.

The chips and salad were standard pub fair, nothing to get excited about. The schnitzel though was tasty and cooked well. The bacon and mushrooms formed an excellent combination and were the best part of the meal.

Sadly the schnitzel failed during the later stage of the meal as the sweetness of the BBQ sauce became too prominent. Furthermore, at 20.40 the schnitzel was a little overpriced with the size and quality not matching the similarly priced Coopers Ale House Mediterranean. All up a good, but not perfect meal.

Price: $20.40

Rating: 3.5 stars