The Currant Shed

In Autumn, McLaren Vale's vineyards turn golden and hearty seasonal menus beckon visitors out of the chilly air and into rustic regional restaurants.  Located down a quiet side road in McLaren Flat, The Currant Shed was our destination for a family lunch on a drizzly June Sunday.  The building is, as the name suggests, a shed, but is anything but spartan, with its cosy, sympathetically converted interior, adjoining arbour covered in crimson glory vine, and views overlooking the vineyards on one side, and a lemon orchard on the other.

Once inside and settled in with some predinner drinks (a nice blanc de blancs, local, from memory) we decided to order shared nibbles to start.  The selection of dips with seasonal crudites and chargrilled sourdough was a generous portion, and offered a diverse selection of 4 dips and a range of vegetables, worth its $18.  On the other hand, the charcuterie selection was only average; while the home made terrine was lovely and the Jamon Serrano suitably fine, the other items were on the bland side.

For main course I was seduced by the promise of the fish of the day, snapper in a saffron broth with arborio rice and cherry tomatoes, and was impressed with its crispy skin, aroma, and delicately delicious flavour.  Unfortunately, underseasoning meant it fell short of its potential, but on balance I enjoyed it, and the rest of the table was also satisfied with the mains. 

The meal ended on a high note with dessert, a deliciously tart passionfruit pudding so light it could have been mistaken for a souffle, served with icecream.

Service was friendly, if a bit disorganised (the waitresses usually had to be flagged down when we wanted something, not much initiative was shown), but the welcoming and relaxed ambiance meant I found myself feeling forgiving.

Overall, with such a charming setting, it is hard not to be won over by The Currant Shed, and the pleasant atmosphere and good food of course add to the appeal, making this restaurant the perfect place to while away a long lunch.