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Images: The Fig Tree/La Baracca
A beloved Kangaroo Island restaurant has quietly launched a magical new dining experience, giving locals a new excuse to head out on Wednesday nights. La Baracca is the latest addition to the iconic The Fig Tree, and is a Wednesday-night pop-up set inside a century-old shearing shed. Overlooking Snelling Beach and helmed by chef-owner John Stamatakis, this latest addition brings fire-lit cooking, Mediterranean flavours and island vibes to an intimate, moody space.
“La Baracca means ‘the shed’,” shared John. “We’ve got this lovely old shearing shed on the property, which also hosts The Fig Tree. It hasn’t been used for the last couple of years for various reasons, but we got back control of it this season. We’ve cleaned it out and installed a pretty compact little restaurant, but kept a lot of that rustic bric-a-brac vibe, but it is still very much a shearing shed.”
If you’re familiar with The Fig Tree, you’ll know this seasonal venue has no walls and no roof, meaning that occasionally it can get a bit windy or chilly. At La Baracca, John and his team will offer dinner services indoors to ensure a comfortable experience for their guests.
“In the shearing shed, there’s more protection from the elements, and it gives us the chance to create a new concept and vibe. Something new for the area and for the business,” said John.
The Fig Tree will continue serving just lunch, five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday. John says that’s when the tree really shines, with dappled sunlight and a warm breeze off the beach.
La Baracca will run every Wednesday night until the end of the season in April. So it’s basically a pop-up within a pop-up, because the fig tree itself is only around for six months at a time.
“The Fig Tree only has leaves for six months of the year. So we run when the tree is happy, healthy and lush. By Easter, the fruit is done, the leaves yellow and drop off, and the weather cools. We run when Mother Nature cooperates. That’s the beauty of doing a restaurant in a tree, you’ve got to be flexible.”
As for the shed, it’s a compact space that fits about 36 people. It’ll bring a totally different vibe to The Fig Tree. As opposed to the sunlight and greenery in the tree, the shearing shed is dark, with corrugated iron, with flames from the grill making for a much more intimate party vibe. It’s that kind of venue where you bump into people on an island getaway and make those special memories.
Food is still Mediterranean-leaning but more Italian in the evening. With things like lamb skewers, Neapolitan-style stretch-base pizzas. Expect a curated set menu due to the remoteness of the location. “Because we’re remote, we don’t get walk-ins. We’re an hour from Kingscote, an hour and a half from Penneshaw. Everyone who comes is coming for a purpose.”
Tickets are $95 per person, and you get antipasti, starters, shared entrees, a couple of pizzas, salads and dessert. The meal rolls out over a couple of hours, with cocktails and bottles of wine available. Everything is made in front of you with the open kitchen style layout, so you get a bit of the theatre aspect as well.
As for the cocktails, John says they have a few that capture the coast. “A really popular one is a watermelon–saltbush cooler. We also do a fig and lavender spritz because we’ve got heaps of lavender and, obviously, stacks of figs. Then the wine list is a mix of KI wines, mainland wines, and a few imports from Italy and France.”
John took over The Fig Tree in 2024 and didn’t want the shed sitting unused all summer. So with a few previous pop-ups under his belt, as soon as the last season ended, he started preparing for the new venture.
La Baracca will be around until April next year, and for those wanting to head off the beaten path and explore a new destination made up of great food, great vibes and even better company, then this is a spot you’ll want to try this summer.
La Baracca
When: Wednesday nights from December 3rd through April 7th, Bookings required.
Where: 5995 N Coast Rd, Middle River SA 5223
For more information, click here.
Dining and Cooking