Ellen Hotel

The room was lovely, spacious, and very clean. We had dinner in the restaurant, where the service was great and the starters were delicious. Most of the mains were good, but didn’t match how the menu described them. The pasta and risotto had what was called homemade tomato sauce, but it was actually pumpkin sauce. Still yummy, just a bit misleading.

The service was excellent, and I had three meals at the restaurant. The menu is small, but the food was very good every time. Accommodation was also very good, with a well-appointed room and very good bathroom facilities. There’s parking at both the front and rear. It has to be the best hotel in Port Pirie by far.

We’ve loved staying at the Ellen Hotel for many years. The accommodation has always been first class, spacious, spotlessly clean, beautifully designed, and comfortable. The restaurant used to be a highlight too, so this review isn’t easy to write. We only came for a meal this weekend, and the dining experience was very disappointing. I want to support the business and see it succeed, especially in difficult times, so I feel it’s important to be honest. The waitress seemed to be trying for humour, but it came across awkward and at times rude. Even the small details stood out, like holes in the gloves worn while setting the cutlery. Those things matter when you’re aiming for elegance. The food was sadly poor. The Mini Taco Bites bore no resemblance to the menu description of crispy tortilla cups with Mexican flavours. They were soft tortillas with basic chicken, no salsa, just a bare scrape of avocado, and balsamic glaze, which is Italian and doesn’t belong on tacos. The steak was fair but quite chewy, with overcooked vegetables, a random Asian mini corn, and more balsamic glaze. Why is it on everything when the menu doesn’t mention it? Dessert was the biggest letdown. The crème brûlée came in a hot pan style dish, with an extremely thick sugar topping that was hard to break through. Underneath, the custard was runny and watery. It wasn’t even remotely a Creme Brulee. I ate one mouthful and that was it, awful 😖 I understand how hard it is to find and keep staff, but the restaurant would benefit from going back to basics, simplifying the menu, and focusing on tasty, well-cooked dishes. I’m happy to pay for a good meal, but what we received wasn’t worth the price. I truly love the Ellen and have wonderful memories here. This feedback comes from genuinely wanting the hotel and restaurant to thrive, but right now the restaurant needs urgent attention.

Our experience was wonderful, and I’d eagerly return. The hotel team were warm, patient, and helpful every step of the way. My Luxe Suite was beautifully presented, luxurious, impeccably clean, and had effective black out curtains that made lazy mornings blissful. The onsite restaurant was truly exceptional too, with service and cuisine that left a lasting impression.