LOCATIONMinutes from the Adelaide museum, art gallery and botanic gardens.
PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIAYour eyes are treated to a spectacle of colour and culture the moment you step inside Le Riad. Persimmon and spearmint feature walls provide contrasting backdrops for framed traditional prints, tapestries and other eclectic pieces. Emerald and terracotta tablecloths add to these rich colour dimensions. Black-beaded chandeliers hang ornately from the ceilings and velvety curtains drape the windows. A carpet floor-runner lays a homely touch upon polished boards and leads to a spot-lit counter laden with sweets in domed cake stands. The whole effect is enticing and warm and makes you want to grab your friends and settle in for a festive feast; which is what owner Jamal Khiari invites his guests to do. Once seated in the cosy yet chic surrounds, turn to the menu where Khiari has put equal amounts of care into the design of his dishes.
If you haven’t tried Moroccan cuisine, Le Riad provides a perfect introduction. It’s a sound representation of traditional soups, dips, salads, cous cous, tagines and grilled dishes. The deep-fryer is seldom used and fresh-cooked ingredients prevail. Soups are based around beans and lentils while dips get the best out of eggplant, zucchini, capsicum and tomatoes. Cous cous offers just three lamb, chicken and vegetable options which are also found in the tagine selection. All are served with bread which would be perfect to dip into the spicy tomato, onion, garlic and herb sauce of the meatball tagine. Perfectly suited to this would be a glass of the Coonawarra Shiraz which tops the list of Aussie labels, or perhaps a jumbo pot of Le Riad mint tea will sweetly satisfy and cleanse your palate. The Turkish delight is also a must.
Roz Taylor, January 2009