Woodstock Coterie - MCLAREN FLAT

I went to this restaurant for a friend's birthday lunch, and I would happily go back if I have the chance. We started with a selection of four dips, which were made with great skill and served with pita bread and chargrilled French bread—both complementing each other perfectly. The main course menu isn't very extensive, but it offers enough variety to suit almost every taste. Instead of overwhelming diners with a long list of mediocre dishes, they concentrate on a few well-prepared choices. I had the pork belly and scallop dish, and it was fantastic—light, fresh, and flavorful.

On Friday nights, there's live music, and the performer we enjoyed was fantastic, playing until the very end. This is a perfect place for pizza, but if you're in the mood for main courses, their lovely restaurant is open throughout the week and on weekends. Wine enthusiasts will love their charming cellar door, which offers an impressive tasting selection. One of my favorite things about this place is the beautiful setting—it's surrounded by nature, with a park that features kangaroos, well-kept lawns, play areas, and picturesque vineyards. We can't wait to go back!

I highly recommend Woodstock as a must-visit spot in McLaren Vale. If you're a fan of rosé, their Grenache rosé is among the best you'll find. The Stocks Shiraz is a popular choice for the guys, but my personal favorite is the Octogenarian, an excellent blend of Grenache and Tempranillo.

The Friday night pizza is a winner. They were pretty flexible with the pizzas and the entertainment was lovely.

Good cellar door with the Pilots View Shiraz the absolute standout (already had a sneak taste of their 2012 and it 's incredible). So why only the 3 star review. Well, it 's for the restaurant, and actually for one dish on their menu, 'the tasting plate '. The menu is what one might expect from a typical restaurant anywhere else really with no major surprise either in price or quality. The tasting plate though is a rip off! At $50 I have to say we expected something that was frankly, well, twice as good one would get anywhere else where such a plate is typically about $25. But that was not the experience. A small bit of meat and pate, about 6 olives, some chutney and a rather small and cheap goats cheese. Throw a few bits of pita bread and a couple of mushrooms on the plate and that is it! Kind of a joke. Like I said, definitely go and taste the wine at the cellar door, buy some even, I 've bought plenty myself. But like not getting water on a gremlin, simply don 't order the tasting plate and even do a good deed and tell them it looks like the rip off it is.