Hyde Park Tavern

2−4−1 schnitzels on a Wednesday night. Thick breast fillets with a nice crumb. A gutsy pepper gravy. Well cooked chips. A bit of green on the side. Oh, and pints of James Squire pale for just $ 7.50. No complaints at all. Hump day done well.

Quiet as expected on a Sunday evening however the staff were friendly and quick to offer service.
Only stopped in for a drink but looking at the meals coming out of the kitchen, looking forward to heading back there for a feed sooner rather than later.

I have to say that this place really didn’t impress me all that much. Okay, it isn’t really that bad but there wasn’t anything all that fantastic about it either. Basically it is one of those suburban pubs in one of the classier areas of Adelaide, and it certainly does show it. Like most suburban pubs they have a bistro and hidden around the back a room full of pokie machines. They don’t really have anything in the way of a beer garden, just a small area to the side where all of the smokers congregate (though it does have a couple of tables and you will find people eating out here). There offering on tap is okay, though it mostly includes imported beers (as well as the locals, though they did have a couple of craft beers available). It wasn’t a bad place to sit down for a about fifteen minutes, but not one that I would be going out of my way to visit again.

The Hyde Park is the closest pub to my house, so we end up here by default a fair bit. The Friday night crowd is a bit of an older one; lots of local businessmen show up to discuss their work weeks over an expensive scotch, but as the night goes on the vibe gets a bit younger and there is often a duo or trio playing live acoustic music. Saturday nights are pretty much a typical pub atmosphere, but there isn’t a dance floor at all (on the main floor, at least).
The tavern houses a fabulous restaurant with some great food that is pretty high class (read: not cheap). If you aren’t ready to sit down to a full meal, the bar also offers a good selection of snacks and light meals that are really delicious and well-​sized. Try the tasting platter or a fresh pizza to share.
I’ve heard that the top floor is great for hiring for functions, but I’ve never been up there so I can’t corroborate. There isn’t a full-​sized bottle shop, but they do sell a small variety of takeaway wines and beers that you can pick up in a pinch.
The pokie room is big with a good selection of machines, if that’s your thing. I did win a jackpot once in there, so I’ll sometimes pop in with a dollar or two after a night out and try my luck.
All in all, the Hyde Park is a good pub with great food and a pretty well-​coiffed clientele.

Mixed drinks and mixed reviews is what I most likely come out of here with, however I’m sure The Hyde commoner would just be drinking beer, and leave at least content.
Well, it looks nice. That’s a good sign. Actually I don’t mind this pub, but it’s not necessarily a «happening» scene if that’s what you’re after. In fact even on a Saturday night don’t come here expecting a busy venue.
The Hyde is best enjoyed for some relaxed chats and drinks, and it is a fairly typical pub scene in this respect. Despite being in Hyde Park, you do not need to dress up here. In fact there is a good chance you would feel overdressed if you did. Only come here if you do not want an over the top sort of night out.

I went to the Hyde Park Tavern recently for my cousins 21^st. It was upstairs in the function room which was quite large, and although not extravagant or ultramodern, was welcoming, almost homely and served a fairly perfect setting for the evening.
The Hyde Park Tavern is on the other side of town form where I live so it is not somewhere I would go on a regular basis. However as a venue for that sort of intimate personal function, it appears to be perfect. I have been to twenty firsts at much swankier places and it all ways seems a bit fake. I thought this was really nice because, without all the flash and dapper often assoscated with such events, everyone seemed more encouraged to converse more easily and more as between young and old in a civilized fashion.

Do you like a pub that’s not too OTT? The Hyde Park Tavern — funnily enough in Hyde Park — is a ‘mature’ pub. That’s not to say its old or dated, in fact it’s pretty up to date and modern but its not full of teeny boppers. Put it this way, if you’re over 30, you’re not going to feel out of place in this pub.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, 7 days a week. On their menu, I like the Warm Chicken Salad with pumpkin, pear, feta and fig balsamic and they do a good Chicken Schnitzel. Prices for mains are average at around $ 20 for pasta to $ 28 for a steak. Wines are around $ 30 a bottle but you can go high end with wine and spend $ 90 on a Rockford Basket Press Shiraz or $ 95 on a Penfolds St Henri Shiraz if you’re cashed up.
I like the fact that most of the restaurant menu is also available in the bar area if you’re keen for something more casual.
There are pokies but they’re far enough removed from both the bar and restaurant to not annoy those who’ve come in for a drink or a meal. In fact most of the time you’re not even aware they are there.
If you’re looking for somewhere to hold a function, there’s an upstairs area that can cater for up to 120 people.
All in all the HPT is a good pub. It’s a pub pub if you know what I mean.