Fire, Flavour and a Lot of Love
- Your Hunter Valley Magazine
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Tucked into 55 hectares of lush vines and olive groves at Adina Vineyard & Olive Grove, Estancia Adina blends relaxed elegance with bold, seasonal flavours. Sweeping vineyard views set the stage for a dining experience that's both inviting and memorable.
The restaurant is the vision of chef James Orlowski, who brings a unique culinary perspective shaped by growing up on a New Zealand farm and honing his craft through Peruvian fire cooking. That combination — a deep respect for honest, ingredient-led food and a love of live-fire technique — is at the heart of everything that comes out of the kitchen. Working with Hunter Valley and NSW producers, Orlowski keeps things as local as possible, letting the land around him set the menu's direction. The result is cooking that feels both grounded and exciting, rooted in place but reaching across cultures.
The menu celebrates fire, freshness, and generosity of spirit. Signature dishes like the Sunday Parilla, a Latin-style mixed grill cooked over open flames, mingled with fresh, citrusy ceviche, handmade pastas tossed with slow-cooked ragù, and seasonal Modern Australian creations featuring locally grown herbs and vegetables.
Beyond the headline dishes, there's an all-day tapas menu that rewards curious eaters — think burrata a la caprese, Hokkaido scallops, and pork nduja arancini. Premium Australian Wagyu and seasonal seafood also feature regularly, while Thursday evenings bring a dedicated pasta night, with a weekly-changing menu that might include three-cheese ravioli with spinach and basil pesto, or linguine arrabbiata with semi-dried tomato, chilli and garden herbs. It's the kind of spread that encourages the table to order widely and share freely — which is, of course, entirely the point.
Pair your meal with a classic Peruvian Pisco Sour or a smoky, zesty Smoked Jalapeño Margarita - cocktails designed to complement the bold flavours of the kitchen.
And while the food more than holds its own, the setting adds something extra. Dining here feels like a full afternoon well spent. Olive groves stretching to one side, rows of vines to the other, and the gentle, unhurried rhythm that the Hunter Valley does so well. For those who want to extend the experience, wine tastings and olive oil experiences at the adjoining Adina Vineyard & Olive Grove round out what becomes much more than a meal.
Open five days a week for lunch, and dinners on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with themed evenings Thursday to Saturday. Estancia Adina is family and dog-friendly, perfect for long lunches, leisurely afternoons, or a special evening in the heart of the Hunter Valley.
For more information or to book your table, visit estancia.au.
