Ruby Red Flamingo: North Adelaide

We dined at Ruby Red Flamingo on our first date night in Adelaide. Out of all the places on my 'must try' list (contribution mostly from Stacey), this was pretty much the only place that was opened during that awkward time of the year between Christmas and 5th Jan.

Lucky us! Ruby Red Flamingo is brilliant if you love hearty traditional Italian fare. The menu changes daily and rather than printed, it's scribbled on various blackboards around the room, just to test your low light vision and/or how far your can turn your head while seated. There are large and small plates, all meant to be shared.

We chose the octopus carpaccio with lemon infused olive oil and diced tomato; the 'scallopina'- pan fried veal with proscuitto, sage, swiss browns, and semolina gnocci; and the spaghetti with blue swimmer crab, chilli, and tomato. Everything was delicious, but the spaghetti was the highlight for me. It was a massive serving of perfectly cooked blue swimmer crab, with a hearty garlicky tomato and chilli sauce that my imaginary Italian nonna would make. The waitress wasn't kidding when she warned us about the large size of the pasta dishes- I think our spaghetti dish could feed 3 adults.

Oh, and there is a bar upstairs where you can get some nibbles and cocktails while you wait for a table.

142 Tynte St North Adelaide, SA 05006

(08) 8267 5769