Walters River Cafe (08) 9330 9330 - 3.5 stars

In the point Walter reserve, this location is just great, with the park and the river and sand...

Pros

• Food was good, surprisingly good. although one of our party did not like the steak sandwich much and the pasta was a little overcooked, all in all a really nice cafe meal on the river.
• Service was pleasant and somewhat attentive.
• location as mentioned already.
  

Cons

• The place is not that clean, I know its kind of a beach, semi outside place, but it needs a good clean, including all the cracks and corners.
• Service was slow and uninspired and lacked confidence.
  

Well worth it if you are in the area.

Bluewater Bar and Grill, Applecross, 4.5 stars

Bluewater Bar & Grill

Applecross

14-06-2007

Firstly, what a beautiful day and a beautiful setting. Difficult to have a bad experience with these views on such a warm and fresh day (after rain last night).

The food was all excellent. Yes a little expensive, but great and the portions are large. We had the Marron (app sized) and the grilled Barramundi. Was not sure about this choice after reading an other review. However the fish was excellent, fresh and really nicely cooked (i.e. just cooked not over done). The also had the broccoli and almonds and green veggies. All very nicely done. The only comment I might have was that the broth was a little salty. Also we had too much food, I might only order the one veggie dish next time and have some room for dessert.

Ambiance, well it’s all been said. This location is amazing and the place is really nicely done.

The service was excellent for us. Friendly, but not too familiar. We were not in any hurry and I could see that it could be slow if you are trying to get to your afternoon’s activities. They seemed responsive to our requests and so I might make it clear if I have a particular time line next time we go.

All up it came to $118 for 2 with starters and wine, which is excellent value and overall one of your better restaurant experiences in Perth so far (remembering that we are new here).

http://maps.google.com.au/

Lido Restaurant, northbride, 3.5 stars

Lido Restaurant

Northbridge

15-06-2007

Overall good food in a lively (a little noisy) place. Will definitely go back.

We over ordered and took food home for tomorrow, we are not big eaters but 2 starter and 4 mains between 3 was completely over doing it we have enough food for 5 people.

The scallop and the duck/tofu dishes where excellent, as where the vegs in coconut cream curry and the steamed kai-lan. I would not recommend the pork rice paper rolls, they where unusually chewy and not that tasty.

The service was great to start with, but as they got busy it noticeably dropped off. Although they were very friendly.

Gucce, Applecross, 4 stars

Gucce

Applecross

19-07-2007

Pizza was really tasty; the tomato sauce is particularly good. The Caesar salad is also really excellent and fresh.

Minor negative comments:
1 - the olives on the pizza are very poor, old and low quality. There are some really amazing olives around WA, they really need to improve these, it’s a below average ingredient on a great pizza.
2 - the service is all very ok. But you do need to work at it a little to get what you want. They are busy, this is great, but the service should not suffer.

Summary: Book a table later in the week as it is busy and reasonably so.

Mussel Bar Fremantle, 4.5 stars

Mussel Bar Fremantle (The)

Fremantle

4 stars

24-07-2007

What a great location, down of the water. It was a cold and windy night when we went, being inside and looking at the weather was just heartwarming. The Ambience is this place is just relaxing and all the tables get a great view, they have done a great job.

We all tried a different mussels dish and all where first rate, the mussels are the small, sweet and nicely cooked and sauce is delicious and rich, the chips were also some of the best chips I have ever had (and I have had a lot of chips!). A point to note might be the spicy scale. We asked for medium which was on the mild side for us, we will try hot next time we go I think. (Update: Little Creatures Mussels are even better, the experience is very different)

Service was overall excellent. Service is such a difficult thing to get right. The service during the usual service events was excellent, the ordering, the delivery and removal of plates all very nice, with a good level of personal interaction and professionalism. If there is something they could improve it is the service outside those usual service events. For example, no one offered us more water or more wine (which we did not want but still when the bottle is empty is nice to asked). The table next to us spilt a glass of wine which resulted in a fair amount of activity at the table, no one appeared to notice although several servers where around, someone should have been there with a towel to assist. Service is difficult balancing multiple tasks, for me to get 5 stars there could be just a little more attention to the room outside the normal service events and beyond the 20 things that I am sure is going on inside all of the servers heads on a busy night.

Overall we will be back I, perhaps on a nice warm day next time.

Bridge Cafe, Applecross 3.5 stars

Bridge Cafe (The)

Applecross

01-08-2007

We had the Red Seafood Curry and the Squid. Both where very tasty, spicy and fresh, and overall excellent value for money, with dinner for 2, garlic bread, a beer and a glass of wine coming to $62. I would not have the garlic bread next time, because it was ordinary for $6 and we were totally full after our mains anyway.

When we arrived the place was empty (6:15) but by 7 it is really filling up on a Tuesday.

The host is chatty but overall the service was a little sparse, but overall reasonable and no worse that at some far more expensive places. Although we did wait 25 minutes for dinner when the place was empty. I could see this might be slow if busy.

Little Creatures Brewery, Fremantle, 4 Stars

Little Creatures Brewery

Fremantle

02-08-2007

I feel at home here. The food and the beer are great, the atmosphere is cool and relaxing. The menu is simple. We have the pizza with pears and pinenut with cumin - really yummy.

Our servicer, a recent arrival from Ireland was pleasant, helpful, easy going and just fit very well with the place.

Know that you are getting a big trendy bar/cafe kind of place. The customers are a mixed bag, suggesting a wide appeal for this kind of place.

Overall a first class.

Il Ciao, Applecross 4 stars, 9364 9966

Feeling

Noisy and busy with people laughing and smiling. Some big groups and small groups. Lots of people that look like they are regulars. A great relaxing and warm family place. Efficient no frills service from friendly servers. The decor is basic, the people make this place what it is.

Don't forget to take your own alcohol and expect to have a bit of a wait if you are going at a popular time. The place starts to empty at about 8.

No booking unless there is more than 8 of you
Food

Basic really tasty good value food. The Gnocchi in tomato basil sauce is only average so dont pick this, the other pasta and the mains have all been good. I tend to judge an italian restaurant on its Gnocchi so it is a bit disappointing.

Full Finish

This is a great place. I need to come here more often.

Sensations on Ardross (3.5 Starts)

Sensations on Ardross, 43a Ardross St, Applecross (08) 9364 8806

Present local lunch on a sunny afternoon or a nice weekend breakfast. Food was excellent and fresh and simple, the portions are not large but a good for a normal appetite.

The only slightly negative was the service, efficient but sterile also.

Update (June 2008)

Service is excellent today. On a cold night the staff are chatty and friendly. I like this place a lot the atmosphere is great, the food is the kind of food I would cook at home if I had the time, different grains and some nice choices.

On this occasion my portion size has large, perhaps to large.

I must remember to come here more often.

Bettyblue Bistro, Rockingham, 3 stars

Bettyblue Bistro

Rockingham

02-08-2007

Ok the ocean view is great and it is difficult to have a bad time with such a view on beautiful day. The place itself is a little bare and less pleasing to the eye than other places on this stripe.

The service was certainty ok.

The one thing I really don't like in a place is the undisclosed substitution of ingredients. It colours my whole impression for a place. In this case the mushrooms, blue cheese and spinach salad was missing blue cheese, substituted by a pale bland soft cheese. I happened to be really looking forward to the bight and tangy taste of a good blue cheese. I am sure it is difficult to stock all the ingredients and anticipate the volumes of order across the menu. I am quiet happy if such substitutions are disclosed prior to the order being committed to, not to do so, presumably on the basis that I will not notice, feels disrespectful. That being said the food was well cooked and the others I was with enjoyed their meals.

The Vic, Subiaco, 3.5 starts

The Vic

Subiaco

10-06-2007

This place is humming before a game. The excitement and anticipation of the game fills the air. People are friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed. A great way to start an afternoon.

However, I wish I had read these other reviews before eating here. The food is very ordinary. Think about getting food at the game. At least your expectations will be lower and the Fries are no worse and less than $8 the Vic charges. If you cannot cook a burger well, should you really be trying grilled Barramundi? I am sure the kitchen is a crazy place before a game, so perhaps this is not a good time to judge.

Roxby Thai, Willetton, 2 stars

Roxby Thai Cafe Restaurant

Willetton

20-06-2007

I, like one of the other reviewers, have always had a soft spot for Thai cooking. This restaurant did not generally meet my needs.

The place was busy and that is always a good sign and the service to start was prompt so everything pointed to a great meal.

Unfortunately the food was generally disappointing. The mixed starter place was reasonable although nothing really amazing and out of the 4 of us no one actually finished their meals which is very unusual for me at least. The food did not really taste of much. It was spicy enough, but kind of hollow without any other flavours particularly. We had the yellow curry, the regular green curry, stir fried shrimp with lime and lemon grass, and one other thing in the shape of a swan that I cannot remember. Overall the company was great, the food was not noticeable, I realized half way through that I was just eating for the sake of it and not enjoying the food at all.

The service to was poor. That is it basically disappeared toward the end of the evening. I just don’t like it when the plates aren’t cleared and the water is not topped up and there is no one it sight even as the restaurant emptied.

At $40 each it does not even remotely compare to the Bluewater grill at less than $60 each (although more alcohol was consumed for the $40 so it is a little unfair).

Kingwest Buffet, Kwinana, 2.5 starts

Kingwest Buffet Restaurant Pty Ltd

Kwinana

09-06-2007

$17 all you can eat buffet (update: $27 on Friday night). You need to go round the back of the main bar, through the side entrance.

Not the best food you have ever had, but good basic food and great value buffet. The place has a fair number of families going through the place. Cauliflower cheese and the lasagne are excellent. Go hungry and come away stuffed.

Atmosphere wise the place is very basic and definitely needs a facelift, go with a large group and don’t look around.

Queens tavern, Highgate. 2,5 stars

Queens Tavern

Highgate

04-06-2007

I am new in Perth and this was my second visit. It's busy and I really like the ambiance, its relaxed and easy going and comfortable pub. I can see coming back often.

The food is disappointing and expensive. The Chicken salad is really very poor. Although the chips are good and the chicken burger is great if expensive. What's up with the cents on the prices $20.05! not $20.

I will probably drink here more than eat. Overall a really nice afternoon.