Watermark Glenelg

Good choice of food with good value particularly with the current specials on a Wednesday night. $ 60 2 adults & 2 kids works out to be $ 15/​head.
Can’t beat that for value!

Years ago, before I was even allowed into pubs, this used to be a really popular nightclub. I have no idea what it was called, I just remember that we would hear about it all the time. I’m not sure if it has always been known as the Watermark (namely because I rarely, if ever, went there — though I do remember coming here with a friend once for a couple of games of pool). However, on New Years Eve, when I made my way down to Glenelg, I decided to go an check it out again. It was certainly quite packed, and the bouncers seemed to have their hands full making sure there was no trouble. Anyway it is a pretty classy place, and quite nice, though not a place I would give a high rating for. Their gaming room literally looks like a casino, and they do have a nice beer garden that looks out onto the marina. However other than that there wasn’t all that much that stood out about this place.

The watermark is nice bar with good food in the perfect location. The pizzas have been good for years and the place is so large that you can really choose whatever atmosphere you want — there’s the quieter lounge bar, the outdoor alfresco area and a large indoor seating area. perfect after a long day at the beach, meet friends for drinks/​dinner but it is enclosed enough that it’s suitable all year round. Easy to get to and parking is pretty good as they have their own spaces but will fill up on a hot day pretty quickly.

Went to the surf movie night was told over the phone it started at 7 now it’s 7.30 still no movie

Of all the buffet restaurant I’ve tried, this is the best so far. They consistently make yummy dishes despite having to cook all those food variety. In other buffet restaurants, most of the food are tasteless or lacking in flavour– more of quantity less quality. But here in Watermark, there are lots of dishes I would want to try over and over again.
However there are some flaws too. The pork crackling is only edible when it’s freshly cooked. If not, it would be impossible to bite as it becomes rock solid hard.
Another disappointing thing are the Asian dishes. They dont seem to know how to cook a decent one. I’ve been to Watermark twice and the taste are always the same — dry dumplings with more cabbage stuffings than meat, Very oily fried tempura, or fish or squid tentacles, Pathetic omelet that I can cook at home. One time, I’ve seen an overcooked crusty plain rice. No, those food don’t fairly represent Asian cooking at all. Adelaide Central Market food court are better than those Asian food in Watermark.
I dont care much about the dessert but they should atleast have more variety of cakes and… Actually most of the choices there I’ve tried in Aged Care Nursing home so I dont really find them special at all. Lol

Meh. Not too sure what to say really. I’ve been here twice now for the all you can eat buffet and it’s been lacking both times.
It’s not bad per se but it’s just not good either. The salt and pepper squid is all just the tentacles they have discarded when using the flesh in other dishes. The poor excuse for pork crackling it’s just that. It looks and tastes like cardboard. And the crème brûlée, is all crème no brulee. Don’t call it a brulee when there isn’t toffee to crack on top.
Some dishes are tasty, I really enjoyed the prawns, they were fresh, and the Asian selection was good as well, but that’s about it.

If you are speaking to someone of a certain age and they ask where the Watermark Hotel is, just tell them «the old Lennie’s» and they’ll immediately say «Ah!» and nod with understanding.
I never got to go to Lennie’s in the heyday but attended the Watermark recently as part of a 40^th birthday celebration in the International Buffet.
The two dining sessions available are at odd times. 5.30pm is a bit too early for most adults and 7.30pm a bit too late for young kids. When we arrived at 7.30pm along with the hundreds of other diners also booked for that time, the slow-​moving line to get in snaked out to the footpath and it took ages to work our way to the desk to pay while trying to keep a toddler in check in 36 degree heat. A more efficient payment system would be a good thing — maybe a pre-​pay option or more pay points. Then, once seated, there was a massive line for the food, which started at both ends and collided in the middle at about the roast meat section with people ducking, weaving, dipping in and staring at the scalloped potatoes while waiting for a spoon. There is a self-​serve post mix drinks machine but it’s only for children under 14 which seems ridiculous, given you’re paying more than average for a buffet ($ 34.95 per adult) and a post-​mix Coke costs about 0.002 a cup to produce. Later in the evening, I went to use the toilet but when faced with yet another line-​up I decided I could wait.
The food, when I finally got some, was pretty good for buffet style although the mashed potatoes were gritty and lacking in flavour. The dessert bar was a standout and many tempting options went uneaten as I couldn’t go past the custard, crème brulee and sticky date pudding.
The room is nicely fitted out, with copper panelling and interesting light fixtures, although my seat had a split in the cushion. The room is large, and with so many big tables and large groups, suitable for family events where a bit of noise goes virtually unnoticed but not really for quiet romantic dinners or intimate gatherings.

It’s great when you walk in with low expectations but get quite a surprise when a place you are expecting to be pretty crappy turns to prove you wrong — wow it’s pretty decent or actually pretty good!
This is what I initially thought of Watermark. All you can eat places are generally known to have pretty sub par food. I mean what do you expect? It’s all you can eat. Expectations should be low. But I actually like the Watermark a lot. The food is very varied with a huge selection of cuisines from a range of countries, and it actually tastes delicious!
The dessert bar is pretty sweet as well (no pun intended).
It’s not salty as I find with a lot of all you can eat places or ‘starchy’. Comparably it’s also lot more fresher. I’m a huge eater so my first time here was heaven for me.
Don’t wear jeans! Wear something loose if you can! Dig in!

We went here a few weeks back as a different spin to a gf’s hens night. We came to the buffet part of The Watermark.
My friends sister had actually booked a fair distance before the date and was able to secure the private room. Which btw is amazing. We were allowed to be our normal rowdy selves but still have some privacy which is good considering the language and stories being told being a hens night!
The food was actually really nice. Hot, fresh and plenty of choice to satisfy my needs.
I felt a bit let down for my vego sister however as their was no vego fried rice for her to eat but still alright selection for vegetarians.
A great selection of deserts too. Pavlova being my fave.
The staff were absolutely AMAZING. They were fast and efficient with clearing our dishes away but more importantly friendly and didn’t mind having a few ‘selfies’ with the brides SIL lol.
The price is a bit dearer then other all u can eat restaurants ive been too but the choice and quality was worth it.
Very pleasent evening followed by a walk down Jetty Rd to work off those calories and move the food down was a great night that im sure the bride will remember in yrs to come :)
Will def be coming back and bringing Miss 12 along next time.

I have only ever been here for the buffet dinners but based on these experiences the food is good and the bar is well stocked.
Being an all you can eat buffet there can be quite a crowd, this often means a lineup for food or the bar but its worth the wait

Honestly, I only go here to catch up with my friends over $ 5.50 glasses of wine! (To my housemates and my horror, as we used to pay $ 5 per glass here! Although to be fair, it’s only 50 more cents, right?!)
I have no complaints! It’s nice to sit outside :)

Great place. Has a all you can eat buffet, which is great, good food. Great outside area for all season’s.

Like many other Adelaide hotels that have had a major facelift, you walk in to the Watermark and are instantly taken back by how sharp, big and modern the establishment is. That’s where the visual excitement really ends though (apart from the nice, modern outdoor setting). Also, placing the restrooms off a glass foyer that overlooks the outside of the hotel is a little odd and confusing.
The place is big, offers various forms of dining, including a buffet, pub meals, snacks and more. However, I always have found that although exciting as a child, buffets seem to cheapen the image of a pub. I personally didn’t choose to sit in the buffet area because it felt more like a cafeteria in Ikea than an impressive hotel down «The Bay».
Sitting outside was nice though, the pub-​style menu offers regular pub meals with a bit of a modern twist. Prices were standard. I have a theory that to test a pub on how good the overall menu is, you order a schnitzel parmigiana. I had the beef, with a starter of Kilpatrick oysters.
Food didn’t take too long to come out, the oysters were cooked to perfection, tasted fresh and started the meal out to a great start. I was curious to my main course, because instead of adding ham, prosciutto was used, and instead of mozzarella, matured cheddar. As I said, a pub trying to fancy up their meals. The main course arrived, all meals were substantial and cooked well. Taking a bite from my meal I was very happy. This lasted for a few more mouthfuls until I realised how rich the overpowering ingredients were. It was too salty and powerful that when half of the meal was devoured, I couldn’t go any further.
So all in all, the new layout is alright but nothing amazing, the buffet feels like Ikea, the vamped up pub-​menu is impressive, but if you can’t make the iconic parmigiana enjoyable, what else hope do you have? The Watermark is an establishment that I would dine at again if invited, but is not on my «Hey let’s go there for dinner tonight!» list.

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This is literally the biggest all you can eat buffet I’ve seen in Adelaide. And the food is quality as well.
From Asian food, Italian, pizza, bbq, and a whole damn table dedicated for dessert.
It’s perfect for big family get togethers.
It is one of my favourite restaurants in Glenelg for sure.

Features a Front bar with outside area overlooking Wigley Reserve, Games room, a huge buffet dining area and drive through bottle shop.
The Watermark is my local water hole when visiting friends at the Bay.
The layout is confusing for first timers, and it is almost tempting to jump the high glass walls into the beer garden, rather than walking all the way around, and through the sliding doors. The bar staff are down to earth and friendly, and the bouncers are far from fuckwits as well. The beer flows at standard prices, and the counter meals are also fair.
Not a lot of flair that draws you to this place, but there is nothing about it to hate.

I think this one is a favourite among ethnics purely for the way it is able to cater for large families. I am sure the Watermark is also popular for anyone who likes relaxed meals, and whom place greater emphases on quantity over quality.
As already implied, the Watermark is an all you can eat place to dine. Situated in beachside Glenelg this place is pretty decent. If I were to compare it with a classy restaurant it probably wouldn’t fare well but that’s not what I’m doing. At the end of the day it is an all you can eat, help your self sort of joint. So really, what do we expect?
I would recommend it for celebrations for large families that expand across three or four generations. With this said, it is probably ideal for birthdays of the very old or the very young.
Summing up, it is basically one big and loud open venue, where the noise and conversation levels all kind of blend into one. Luckily if like me you come from a large family, you can rest assure that this venue will not make you feel awkward in your surroundings.

This place is a bit more expensive than some of the others all you can eat places around but it’s nice for a change and in a great location. So good idea to ring them and make a reservation.
Check out their website as they have 3 menu’s available — the one for the International Buffet, one for the Beer Garden and one for the Sports Bar. However we always go for the all you can eat International Buffet. I love the fact you can see the chefs and the cooking of dishes occurring behind the displays of food. I rarely saw a waiter or anything though and we had to go to the bar to order all our drinks, I kind of expected more from a place like this.
The weird thing to remember about this place is that they have dining session times. It’s unlike any other restaurant I know. So you pick either the earlier time, which is usually just a little bit too early for dinner, or you pick the later time, which is getting a little too late and the kids have already starting whining. Then you book in for that sitting time and you have something like 2 and a half hours to eat all you can. We don’t care when we go to eat but if we went for a special occasion or dinner with family and friends I don’t like the idea of having a time limit imposed.