Ruby Red Flamingo, Adelaide

Ruby Red Flamingo was a recommendation of the hotel's concierge, which turned out a big fat dud. So apparently, the Italian joint is crazy popular with locals, but I can't see how or why. Maybe it's coz the portions are Trump ego-huuuuge, but the cooking was clunky and rustic approach to food awkward. That said, if you need to go cheap, and wouldn't mind quantity over quality, this'll be the place for you. We prefer our diet the other way round and would pay more for better food, and so, we had a most unsatisfyingly mediocre dinner.

Service was lovely though, even if the trattoria was bursting at the seams with a Kardashian-esque crowd. There was something distinctively Jersey-ish about the crowd, where big coiffures, kohl-rimmed eyes, and tight little white dresses seemed to be the unofficial dress code. Think Jersey Shore, and that's the crowd you'll be eating with. We found that highly entertaining.

The Roasted Vegetables (A$7), a medley of sweet potatoes, red & green peppers, zucchini, baby carrots, onions, and mushrooms was awfully pedestrian. And it badly needed salt to bring out the sweetness of the vegetables.

Ditto for the Sauteed Spinach (A$7.50) which used full-grown spinach, without cutting them into bite-size lengths so we had to chew through those stringy stems. This were practically tasteless too, and needed a good few salt dashes.

The Risotto Ossobucco (A$26), flavoured with saffron was perfectly al dente, and the braised veal shanks were full-bodied and melty. But this got cloying pretty quickly, we couldn't finish it. 

The Agnolotti (A$25) of curried chicken ravioli laced with marscapone, prociutto, porcini, topped with a creamy mushroom sauce, was sumptuous and rich but given a lift with the subtle heat of that curry powder. The only worthwhile dish here and a must-try.

The Tiramisu (A$10) was spotty, lush with liqueur in parts and dry in others.

The complimentary crusty bread with house-made olive oil was commendable. I mean, how to go wrong with this, right?

Restaurant front, try and get a table alfresco on cool nights, its garden setting is lovely.


Ruby Red Flamingo 
142 Tynte Road
North Adelaide
South Australia SA 5006
Tel: +61 8 8267 5769
Open for lunch from Wednesdays to Fridays from 12noon to 2.30pm;
Dinner from Wed to Thurs from 5.30pm to 9.30pm;
Dinner from Fridays to Sat from 5.30pm to 10pm;
Closed Sundays to Tuesdays
Website: rubyredflamingo.com

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