Nice location, friendly staff and cheap food. Had the grilled chicken burger, the avocado was fresh and the chicken cooked to perfection. We have been to largs too and this one beats it by a long shot. Portion sizes were big enough to fill but just enough so you’re not wasting half the plate. Would definitely come back for my next cheat meal!
Paul W.
Place rating: 4 Semaphore, Australia
Revamped ballroom restaurant is a gem. Great view, service and grub. The newly opened upper restaurant is a well appointed open plan style with a mezzanine for those who like to. watch. Yeah — you know what I mean. Watch the great buffet, the cultured guests groan with with sensations of delight. yeah that’s what were you thinking. you saucy thing. With a balcony overlooking Semaphore beach(and the white skinned. function room) you can satisfy your urges and be watched while you indulge. So have you been tempted. go on, you know you want to.
Ashleigh W.
Place rating: 3 New Port, Australia
3 stars is probably a bit harsh but I just thought this place was only just above average. Location is fantastic and the place itself is really pleasant — good vibes and great seating options inside and out. The alfresco area has an enormous TV that is well positioned for a footy game with friends. The reason for the low score was the food, my grilled chicken burger really didn’t impress. How can you make such a mess of chicken, cheese, avo and bacon? It wasn’t bad, it was just really average. The beef schnitzel and the sides of chips were also just average. Free cider with a burger though was a nice surprise! Btw, the plates really do nothing for the appeal of the food…
Christina V.
Place rating: 2 Kidman Park, Australia
I had the quinoa salad which was really tasteless. The three other meals at our table were very good. The disappointing part was when I approached a staff member to advise that the salad wasn’t very good, she responded defensively stating that it was her favourite meal and asked what I thought ingredients should be. Not customer focused at all. The other staff were very friendly and customer focused.
Vanessa W.
Place rating: 3 Athol Park, Australia
The view here is spectacular! It is so nice to enjoy dinner while watching the sunset. Also great to stop in at Copenhagen and get ice cream for a beach front and jetty walk after dinner. We shared a garlic pizza and it was a great starter. I chose the kofta and that was amazing. The Greek salad was average but the kofta and tatziki and kofta really pulled the dish through, so much so I would order it again. The wait time wasn’t too bad, for a Tuesday night I wouldn’t have expected to wait very long. A good choice of wines are available. Prices are very reasonable.
Jasmin G.
Place rating: 5 Para Vista, Australia
This place is amazing, big meals for good prices and the food is so delicious! Every Sunday I find myself down here for drinks, bands on every Sunday following an awesome dj playing everything from new and old getting everyone on the dancefloor and having a good time :) only destination in semaphore that goes off on the weekends
Tim P.
Place rating: 4 Westmeadows, Australia
First time here; my brother’s birthday. The drinks icy cold. The rump was perfectly cooked and the carnivore’s platter looked and smelled awesome. Nice atmosphere right on the beach. A great place for a long, long lunch!
Paul G.
Place rating: 4 Australia
I’m not much of a schnitzel eater. But I think most people have the innate capacity to separate a good one from a bad one. Palais does a good schnitty. For only ten-big-ones on a Monday night. And that outdoor seating area, on top of the dunes. The perfect spot to enjoy one and a few pints on a balmy eve.
Joshua M.
Place rating: 4 Adelaide, Australia
This review is a little late… We went on Easter Sunday with a large group of 30 people booked in for lunch. We got a modified menus for large groups consisting of a variety of massive share platters. Main was a choice of A burger and chips, A Massive chicken parmy and chips, grilled fish and chips or a vegetarian tart. The share platters are so big and filled with food, the main portions where also large. Hardly anyone in our group of 30 could finish the main. All for the great value of $ 30 per head. The service was also very good and polite. They have lots of beers on tap with a couple of craft ones. This place is great value for money for group bookings.
Sallie M.
Place rating: 4 Port Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
Great, fast service, friendly staff & delicious food! The food here is delicious and fresh, great to visit when down at the beach. A lot of great meals on the menu, recommend giving it a try! They offer a variety of different things at the Palais, they have a bar, a casual and a formal dining area & outside dining.
Lynn M.
Place rating: 5 Australia
By far, some of the best service I have ever received. I was here on a work meeting and felt completely looked after. We were even provided with free garlic bread as the food was taking a little longer than expected. I ordered the smoke chicken salad and it was delicious, full of goodness and not just plumped up with leaves. My colleague ordered the ‘from the jetty’ which is a massive seafood platter with a whole fillet of barramundi. Everything on the plate was yummy! The wine recommended by our waiter was(of course) a Barossa shiraz but it was absolutely stunning and in fact it was one of the cheapest on the wine list. I would definitely recommend this place for dinner, and they do $ 10 pizzas on a Tuesday night.
Tiffany K.
Place rating: 4 Sacramento, CA
Yes, so perhaps this review is filtered through rose-colored glasses. I had my wedding here many years ago, and was pleasantly surprised. For starters, you can’t tell from the front what awaits you at beach level. The street-level pub seems a bit how ya goin’ but the location of the oceanview patio area makes up for it. Walking down the stairs, the sheltered patio area protects you from the elements while letting in sunlight and a faint ocean breeze. This is great lighting for photos too. My mum-in-law handled the logistics of the venue and never had any problems. Service was spot on, food was terrific — although may I advise against ordering spatchcock for an entrée choice, it is not the most easily-consumable bird. Had a great time and the best part was the cost! Although I didn’t figure out the bottom line, it was inexpensive enough for my father-in-law to put the whole thing on his credit card without blinking an eye. Thanks Kieran!
Liz A.
Place rating: 3 Australia
What a monster of a building. Driving up to the Palais is like entering Alladins Cave, you don’t know if you’re happy or afraid. Considering the stark coldness of the interior the function rooms are surprisingly intimate and warm, a huge contrast. I went to a wedding here not long ago and it was my first experience at the Palais and I was pleasantly surprised by how beautiful it was. The function room we had(which I believe changes back to the bistro when not used for functions) was not only enormous, but tre romantic, with rich dark wood that reflects the light and beautiful table settings, and we could also stroll out to the balcony overlooking the beach. The staff were excellent, and maintained their professional exterior even in the face of outlandish drunken behaviour, such as accidentally tearing off a toilet seat lid, or falling down a flight of stairs. At one stage I wandered down into the gaming room and picked up a tray of sandwiches, offering snacks to the sad old gambling addicts. To the gaming employee’s credit, he simply smiled patiently and ignored me until I got bored and left. Great venue, top notch staff.
Andrew C.
Place rating: 3 South Australia, Australia
The Palais at Semaphore reminds me somewhat of the similarly named Beach Palace Hotel at Coogee beach in Sydney, although slightly less seedy and without an entire floor dedicated to sports betting. This, in my humble opinion, is a marked advantage and I am quite fond of sipping a beer in the veranda style beer garden at the front of the hotel which overlooks the ocean. The Palais attracts a broad category of beach goers and has, on the occasions I have visited, seemed a peaceable and pleasant place. Drinks prices are not outrageous, despite the idyllic location and often enough, its not even too hard to find a seat.
Tegan H.
Place rating: 4 Australia
This Hotel is surprisingly good! It is more complex than it appears on the surface and has been a really fun place to hang out, drink and dance the summer away in recent years. It tends to attract a pretty decent crowd and people in their late twenties /early thirties seem to rate it, whereas a lot of other places have been given over to a younger crowd. Last time I was there I made a friend go on one of the show rides that are right next door on the grass just behind the beach — I forced her into it and as a result Karma bit me in the butt and made me crazy nauseous. I’ve always felt at home in pubs, so the Palais did the trick. Once my stomach had settled with a few calming ciders– pfft I tackled their house made veggie burger. oh em gee… it was absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to go back and scoff more goodies if this experience is anything to go by.
Laura F.
Place rating: 4 Melbourne, Australia
Located in the beach at Semaphore, The Palais is a really popular pub day and night, especially during the warmer months. The Palais is a large white pub over 2 levels with a separate outdoor Beachfront bistro which you can also hire for events. They have live music every Thursday til Sunday, with bands, DJs, MCs and acts playing to a fairly large relaxed crowd. But after a while everyone, especially the oldies, are up dancing. The beer garden is lovely in the sun and nicely decked out with lost of seating, benches and plants etc. The Palais holds many events, including Xmas parties, new years parties and general summer weekend nights with special guests and themes. It’s fairly casual because it’s located at the beach, but there is security and a dress code, especially for at night, including no ripped jeans, thongs or singlets. This is the best place to hang out in Semaphore for a beer and a burger on a Sunday afternoon.