The Oriental Hotel Salt n Pepper Squid
Oriental Hotel
120 Magill Rd Norwood 5067
Ph: (08) 8362 4657
www.theoriental.com.au
Word had spread to us about the completed renovation at the Oriental, so it was time for its true test. A busy Friday 
afternoon at 12.45pm we arrived to a packed out carpark and eating area. Eventually an elderly couple left and offered us their table in the shade on the Asian style deck.
The cane style seating around the outside tables lend themselves to leaning backwards sipping on a drink and are quite comfortable. You have to sit up and on the edge to eat though but this is not really an issue.
The menu offered us a large selection of standard pub food and a mix of Asian dishes to go with the hotel theme. As it was my first time at this place I thought I’d go for a more standard pub dish this time. So, Salt and Pepper Squid for me. It was good to see that the Oriental 
owners weren’t trying to get their renovation money back through their food prices. My meal was $13. My beer, a Coopers Pale Ale, was also well priced at $5.50 for a pint.
We enjoyed our beers out on the deck on a beautiful Adelaide spring day. Josh mustn’t have liked his though as he decided to spill it all over the table.
Our meals were either taking a while or I was thirsty as I required a second pint before the food arrived. But not long after the meals were delivered. It was only about 20 minutes or so, perhaps a little longer.
First impressions were good. Decent size, look and smell and not too much salad for me to waste. The chips were nothing fantastic but they weren’t bad. A little under cooked and a tiny bit soggy but still very enjoyable.
The squid was very good, but only just. It was occasionally verging on the chewy side, but just when I though I was going to have to chew for half an hour it would suddenly break off in my mouth like it
was perfect again… It did this to me several times through out the meal, but by the end I decided I was being too picky and it was good stuff. The dipping sauce was sweet chili which is always welcome.
Our Ukrainian birthday boy, Serg, went for the Thai Pork Curry Pie. He said it tasted like coconut milk, pork and pie. I guess that’s what you’d expect from such a meal. He said it was good anyway.
Beer spilling Josh went for the beef burger and was very impressed.
Lastly Kenny went for the porterhouse steak. He complained that it just tasted like the char grill with an
extremely smoky flavour that he didn’t think was that great. He let me try a bit and personally I’m a fan of that and thought it was very tasty and tender - so each to their own I guess.
Overall the Oriental has had a very large make over. It’s gone from a place that I used to drive past and say “look at that dump of a place” to a good looking, relaxed atmosphere pub with some pretty decent pub food. Check it out.
Rating: 
