Altar Bistro Craft Lunch

Yesterday, Thursday 17th, was our craft group meeting. We usually meet at someone's house but we decided to go out to lunch instead.
Last time we went out to lunch together, we went to eat@the whalers in Victor Harbor which we all enjoyed. This time though, it was suggested we go to a local place to eat and one of our members suggested the Altar Bistro.
The building the Altar Bistro is in, has been many things but it was originally built as the Primitive Methodist Chapel and was opened on the Sabbath April 1868.

The outside still has that lovely, honest look of a little country church and once inside the feeling has been kept, by simple table settings with clean lines and great proper, tablecloths and napkins.
Chairs with backs that are actually comfortable to sit back in.
We loved how the owners have converted a doorway by making it into a wine and magazine display area all out of the old fashioned kerosine tins. In the depression of course these
tins were treasured and converted and used for all manner of things....talk about recycling.
We all arrived at about 12.30pm and caught up with each others news. We browsed through the wine list and decided on another local, the Minko Pinot Grigio.
I was fortunate enough to be taken to the Yarra valley last week while we were staying in Melbourne and I tasted a very good Pinot Grigio there. It was lovely and clean and crisp almost like my favorite Clare Valley Queltaler riesling which I grew up with.

The Minko Pino Grigio was a little on the sweet side .
We ordered our meal and then had to wait quite a while which was alright as we were not in any hurry and at least too, you know the food is being properly prepared and not just zapped in a microwave.
The cheese platter looks intriguing written up on the blackboard, it would be a lovely thing to have if you wanted to sit and sip wine all afternoon.....

I had ordered an entree, the House smoked Duck breast on a Celeriac Remoulade,and a Confit of Duckleg& Pistachio Croquette . It arrived looking scrumptious , the breast a delicate pink still and the croquette crisp on the outside and melt in the mouth inside...it was absolutely delicious and well worth the wait.
My neighbour had ordered a mains, the Slow braised Sticky Veal Belly on shallot port jam with Anna potato , wilted spinach and veal jus.
It looked great and she enjoyed it very much though she thought perhaps a little less salt may have been better.

My other neighbour had ordered the pan seared Flathead, scallop, lemon puree, home dried vine tomatoes& green bean salad. It was gluten free and she too, enjoyed her meal and said she would come back again. Unfortunately, I had ordered the triple cooked hand cut chips with Murray River Pink salt, not that they were not great, but it left me no room for the very well priced deserts that were on offer!! We finished up with coffees and a general consensus we would all come here again.All meals were very well priced indeed....

One of the patrons in the restaurant offered to take a photo of us all as I was busy taking photos, against all protests by my craft friends, but it left me out... a good thing some people may think
Anyway, here we all are ...
I intend to bring Brian here fairly soon, even next week...and why not?
I know we have Fino here in Willunga and Au Pear and about another seven other eating places, but I think that Altar Bistro will give them all a run for their money......we highly recommend them