Eating out in Perth and Planet Earth

Hubbles Yard Cafe, George St, 3 stars

2011-11-20T21:25:00.001+07:00

Nice little cafe with hard working staff and simple food.

08 9339 5850, Fremantle 50 George St, East Fremantle, WA 6158

I bit expensive I suspect although I was not in the mood to really think about it.

That Little Mexican Place

2011-11-06T22:02:00.001+07:00

Vic Park, 279 AL

Feel

Initial feel is good
Chairs are to big and the gap between the tables not great enough leading to that change dance with strangers
the service is not relaxed particularly.

Food

Top marks for a little creativity
While we sat 3 group came in sat down, read the menu and walked out. Now sure why. Might me that Perth is not ready for this menu from a Mexican restaurant. Not sure I am ready.
Portions where small - unusual for Perth

Final

I think this place just misses the mark - its a really great attempt but it does not make it. In the end it is expensive for food that is not that special and just not creative or tasty enough.

http://www.tlmp.com.au/menus.html

Real Flavour of India, 2 stars

2011-11-06T15:43:00.001+07:00

893 Albany Hwy, East Victoria Park, 08 9470 1112

Large, bright and plain room somewhat missing character. Food is passable, not the freshest and tastiest Indian food I have had. Missing the yum factor.

Service was fast and friendly which kind of makes up for the ordinary food.

Catalano's Cafe, 3.0 stars

2011-11-06T15:33:00.003+07:00

Catalano's Cafe 08 9362 1121 266 Albany Hwy, Victoria Park

Huge serves, fast service make this place a winner. Fancy it is not. My 75 year old mother, loved this place - enough said?

Next time we want lots of basic, wholesome we will think of this place.

The Bonsai, Northbridge

2011-06-14T19:58:00.000+07:00

Modern Japanese.

We had the seaweed salad, duck, prawn and tuna, total $75 inc 2 beers. Not a huge amount of food, but certainty enough.

The room is large and a little sterile, the main dinning room looks better.

http://www.the-bonsai.net/bonsai/

Cafe Denada (08) 9315 3003, 38 Moolyeen Rd, Ardross

2011-06-05T22:03:00.001+07:00

Really busy on this fresh Sunday morning,

Decent Coffee and the tasty fig and ginger bread. The smoked salmon, egg and spinach is a miss unfortunately.

PhuPho, Vic Park

2011-05-15T22:29:00.003+07:00

Cheap and tasty basic Tai food from a busy little place.

The number of items on the menu that are not available is a little disconcerting.

Mrs S, Maylands

2011-05-15T22:00:00.002+07:00

Widely reviewed and acclaimed unobtrusive cafe in Maylands opposite the train station. A line up outside on a Saturday morning has to be be a good sign. Clean and clever decor mix with to cute items for sale.

Cool: Food is tasty, coffee is great, fast service, great looking cakes (we did not try them but they look great), big portions

Not so: Stuff for sale in the cafe - feel like this will get dirty, cakes not covered on the counter, big portions - more than needed, need to remember to share.

Mrs. S on Urbanspoon

The Attic Fremantle (08) 9385 6248 16 Bannister Street, Fremantle

2011-05-07T15:56:00.003+07:00

A great feel as you arrive at this little place with the small counter and stairs right in front of you. Up the stairs is a nice surprise a vaulted room with an arrangement of chairs and tables. It holds surprisingly few people.

Coffee art is some of the best I have seen, coffee good, not mind blowing.

Food was yummy, Avacado, bulagarian white cheese, lime, on toast and bircher muesli, pistachio, fresh fruit.

On balance I think I prefer Moore and Moore just around the corner. It is fantastic to see places opening like this is Freo

The Attic Fremantle on Urbanspoon

Maya Indian Restaurant (08) 9335 2796 Fremantle 77 Market St

2011-05-03T20:17:00.003+07:00

Tasty very very tasty. This place gets great reviews, not sure if it deserves them.

We had the chicken tariwala and the goat curry with naan and rice. Both are delicious and tasty.

There is something about the service. Its not quiet confident enough.

Cannot decide how I feel about the pricing these days. It seems like a bigger and bigger part of the price relates to the rice and naan bread. Here 1 naan and 1 rice is $12:40.

Maya Indian Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Moore & Moore, (08) 9335 8825 Fremantle 46 Henry St

2011-04-30T10:05:00.002+07:00

Just the right feel. Art gallery next door, a mismatch of furniture on corridors and rooms.

Really great coffee, I am always suspicious of the "best coffee in Fremantle" type exclamations, but coffee is rarely this good. Fantastic pain au chocolat. Huge and crispy with smooth and soft chocolat.

Moore & Moore on Urbanspoon

Peels Place, Albany, open daily 8:30 to 4

2011-04-27T18:08:00.002+07:00

Finding good coffee outside of the main metropolitan centre is not easy. The risk usually results in us ordering tea. Peels place is the exception, really nice coffee, not Florio but really close and certainty a satisfying cup. (perhaps a little expensive at $4.20).

The Food is really basic, but well cooked. Just the other day we where commenting on the need to be imaginative on the menu, rather than just doing the basics well. This place does the basic very nicely and that is great to see. They are not trying to be something they aren't. Only very small low is the electric salt and pepper shakers.

http://www.albanygateway.com.au/details/14-peels-place.html

Fremantle Arts Centre Cafe

2011-04-25T11:03:00.001+07:00

Open 361 days a year 8am to 4 pm.

Nice coffee and basic food in fantastic surroundings of the art centre.

http://www.fac.org.au/

Harvest, North Fremantle, (Not open Mondays)

2011-04-24T19:10:00.004+07:00

Good coffee and prompt service that is always a good start. The coffee is made with care and old school with no crazy patterns.

Food looks interesting. We need to come back and eat here.

http://www.harvestrestaurant.net.au/

Hush Expresso, Fremantle

2011-04-23T13:27:00.001+07:00

One of the better little cafes in Fremantle, off the main strip so not much people watching but otherwise, fine coffee (5 senses) and delish food. The Huevos Rancheros is not the traditional Huevos, with peas and a few beans and regular bread but very tasty non the less.

Must Winebar, Mt Lawley

2011-04-16T20:24:00.000+07:00

Loud and busy bar with smart food and very attentive service. Perhaps feels a bit to commercial in some ways (not sure about a menu that includes the brand of coffee, particularly when it is a mass market, ordinary brand)

Food: Excellent

Chicken Liver Parfait, Grenache Jelly, Melba Toast - totally rich and delicious
Wagyu Beef Carpaccio - yummy, but no obvious value from Wagyu.
Duck leg confit with pork belly: perfectly prepared.

Feeling:

Generally relief at leaving the noise. I am getting old.

http://www.must.com.au/

Coode Street Cafe

2011-04-10T16:00:00.001+07:00

Out of the way at the back Mount Lawley. Appears to have great potential as we arrive, small tables out side on this corner block.

The menu is a cut above the average. The fig and fennel toast is great (if a bit to fennelly). On the less positive:

Crazy menu rules
Coffee is ok, not great, disappointing for Florio coffee

9 Seeds Cafe, (08) 9433 5076, East Fremantle, 121 Marmion Street

2011-04-03T10:25:00.004+07:00

Homely little place with excellent coffee. Really good coffee is still rare in this neck of the woods. At 8 on Sunday it is nice and quiet, I wondered about the noise at busier times.

Feel is relaxed and comfortable with a few table and benches inside.

Food was tasty, the fruit bread has big bits of fruit and and great nutty fresh taste, the beans in the Mexican breakfast are soft and just the right amount of spice. Presentation might have been better and the menu is perhaps a little confused. Do we really need to name dishes by country all the time.

The back yard is apparently to be used as a community garden, although no sign of this at present.

Sentinel Bar and Grill, 111 St Georges Terrace

2011-04-02T15:28:00.001+07:00

It is fantastic to see bars opening up in downtown at last. Sentinel is one of the newer ones.

Yes!
Great place for a drink after work. Busy with a relaxed feel, smaller than you think.

No!
They still need to work on the food. Hand cut fries are great, but way to expensive.

Elephant & Wheelbarrow, Lake St, Northbridge

2011-03-27T20:43:00.002+07:00

The basic pub, the same as a million others, pleasant enough, unlikely to get attacked, at least early in the evening. friendly American barman (from nr San Fransisco) reminds us how interactive and engaged North Americans are vs Australian bar staff.

Coffea, Applecross village (was Deli Chicchi)

2011-03-27T13:38:00.001+07:00

The local. Friendly and fast with some interesting menu choices. Great little place, busy busy busy. Its better now than under the Deli Chicchi name.

The mushrooms, feta and greens on flat bread is very tasty.

Coffee only ok, good enough, does not make the yumm grade.

Pickled Fig, 21 Ocean Dve South Fremantle, 9431 7333,

2011-03-26T15:24:00.004+07:00

The seaside location is always a winner, the menu is a cut above the ordinary, but overall a ordinary place really, nothing unique. I am not a big fan of the initial sell. Sitting down you get asked about the sparkling water or the juices. The staff are not well trained.

Smoothies are colourful and nice enough , if expensive at $7ish - Coffee is still ordinary.

The Imp, Vic Park

2011-03-26T12:23:00.002+07:00

Florio coffee is a good start, friendly staff is always nice as well. The coffee is a bit bitter, a bit of a disappointment, not what Florio coffee can be.

The people next to us have ordered food only to discover about 10 minutes in that one dish is not available. Communication between front and back is obviously not the best. The staff then get the person to come back to the counter to look at the menu and pick a new dish. This is so Australian. No one seems to mind so I guess its all good, life goes on.

The atmosphere and decor is nice enough. Modern and clean looking.

Hinz Chinese Restaurant, (08) 9228 8399 Northbridge 10 Lake Street,

2011-03-25T20:12:00.002+07:00

We where surprised, mostly because we thought it was a Japanese restaurant. This room is bright. No hiding in the corner for a quiet dinner here. Its also mostly empty compared to many of the other places in the area when we eat.

Great service and big portions. Prompt and attentive and the overall price reasonable given the size of the portions. We had the mushrooms and veggies, share ribs and sausage clay pot. All where good. The mushrooms and veggies the best, really tasty spinach. This will be just as good tomorrow.

The Dim Sum as a starter was best of all. Definitely would be back for the Dim Sum.

Platform Restaurant and Bar,

2011-03-24T21:33:00.000+07:00

E X P E N S I V E.

Nice enough food, efficient and friendly service and good wine, not great value in the end. CBD business lunch pricing. Mostly empty on a Thursday lunch time suggesting that others have a similar view.

(08) 9226 3636 Woodside Building 240 St Georges Terrace.

Salt and Pepper squid, Scallop and Prawn salad.

KoKo Black - Claremont, 7 days a week

2011-03-22T13:09:00.007+07:00

The Lane, Claremont Quarter, 23 St Quentin Avenue, 9284 2049.

Interesting concept for Perth and excellent to see them trying this.

Chocolate in all shapes and sizes in the front and get mesmerized by the chocolate making.

Tompkin on the Swan, Attadale (seasonal only - Mid Jan to early April)

2011-03-20T10:37:00.002+07:00

Cafe at the club open Sunday morning from 7:30.

Facilities: A great place to relax and look across the river on a sunny Sunday morning.

Food: Nothing too fancy but nicely prepared. We have the salmon Benedict on a bagel and cereal. (Alas not a real bagel, but tasty never the less)

Coffee: Above average, not fantastic.

http://www.tompkinsparkfunctions.net.au/tompkins.html

Venn, Queen St, CBD (next to 1901)

2011-03-19T16:15:00.006+07:00

Great little new Bar in the CBD at the back of the shop. Really nicely done.

Open for Breaky, lunch and dinner.

Breakfast: Omelet and salad where great, Pancakes looked and tasted great although they where not quiet cooked through. (And "Maple" syrup is not the real deal, alas). Nice coffee.

Overall: We will be back I am sure.

Venn.net

Rockpool

2011-03-07T20:06:00.002+07:00

We probably did not sample the best of what Rockpool can offer having stuck to Oysters and Steak.

The service was professional and eventually warmed to our particular brand of humour.

Good

Oysters delicious and fresh; Bread is fantastic; Room is smart and professional and sophisticated; Entrance way is fantastic way to enter the restaurant

Bad

Steak - over cooked. Rare should mean rare; The reluctance to provide limes and Tabasco for the Oysters

Ugly

The price. We managed to spend almost $500 each

Rockpool Bar & Grill on Urbanspoon

Samovar, 60/66 Queen St, Busselton (08) 9751 2399

2011-03-07T18:14:00.002+07:00

Model and sterile, why do we have to have places like this?

Coffee was moderate - firmly in the ok category. If you cannot find actually good coffee....

http://www.samovar.com.au/

Elixir Coffee, 145 Stirling Highway

2011-03-06T07:00:00.004+07:00

Popular with a well desired reputation. This is really good coffee and tasty smart cafe food. The service is efficient and respectful if a little sullen.

(08) 9389 9333

Nedlands/Dalkeith
http://www.elixircoffee.com.au/

Little Stove, Bicton, 7 to 5 everyday. 2.5 stars

2011-02-27T09:08:00.003+07:00

Summary: If you are in the neighborhood

High lights:

Tasty food (Roasted tomato, goats cheese and ham, and toasted banana bread)
Nice neighborhood location

Low lights:

Coffee (Ordinary - had to go and find a good coffee immediately after finishing breakfast)
Mixed service - can you bring coffee but leave all the plates from the previous customers on the table? That just seems lazy. Then the same person tried to deliver our food to table already full of food.

Tiger Tiger for Dinner Dinner

2011-02-24T21:16:00.003+07:00

Dinner was a a couple of nice glasses of wine, a plowmans and a liver "parfait". Not sure about the parfait. Good taste but a bit runny.

I like Tiger, Tiger, this great little ally location, something that is rare in Perth.

Overall an nice experience for Dinner.

Only low spot is that they closed at 7:30 forcing us to rush a little, only later I realized the official close time is 8 (per the web site). One thing to close a little early if you have no customers, altogether another to push customers out so you can go home 30 minutes early, suggests you are not really serious about your business. Disappointing for a place that I have generally positive feeling towards

Great coffee from the Fiori masters(http://fioricoffee.com/).

http://tigertigercoffeebar.com/

Wild Fig Cafe, Scarborough/North Beach, 2 stars

2011-02-19T09:54:00.006+07:00

Extra-ordinary location, ordinary cafe.

This place reminds me of some of our first Perth experiences, the tables are far apart and when we arrive there is a big thing about about the fact that we have not booked resulting in us getting a table next to the kitchen while ocean side tables go unused for the hour+ we stayed. Its hard to describe without resorting to profanity just how @#$@! this kind of behavior is. The only thing that can be said is that it is almost certainty ignorance rather than malice. It totally feels like they have the model wrong. How about closer together tables, creating more of a buzz, cheaper prices, super fast sit down and eat service, smiling staff and first come first serviced. Revenues would probably double.

During the meal the spare chair at our table gets removed and replaced several times without so much as node. The waitress trips on my chair leg as she goes by twice, I move the chair and she still trips on it. Really this is to much, just sloppy and inattentive to the job at hand and the customers

Joys

The view
Some imagination in the menu and very well presented food
Pleasing architecture and decor, although a bit international

Woes

Dirty table
Inattentive service (Not really slow in the end, but 5 minutes to bring water is just to much)
Poorly trained staff

Final Word

A great location, kind of squandered.
We won't go again, not for a while away, and we won't look forward to coming back particularly.
You can't take visitors to Perth here because the service and attitude are just to embarrassing, a real shame.

33 West Coast Dr
(08) 9246 9222

Amarin Thai, Subiaco, 3 stars

2011-02-18T20:34:00.003+07:00

Decor - Looking a little tired from the outside and dated on the inside. Menu also feels like it needs a bit of an update somehow.

Dinner - Nice food and service
Pork and beans, Shrimp and Duck in a sweet source

Detail:

180 Rokeby Road, 6008
(08) 9381 9494

Bluewater Grill, Applecross, 3.5 stars

2011-02-13T19:46:00.008+07:00

We first visited this place in August 2007 and have been back a few times since, although not as much as I would have expected at the time, given that it is always a good experience. On Tuesday we where back after about a year.

What:

Natural Oysters (tasty and fresh)
Barramundi with Lemon butter
Veffie Pie
Green salad
4 very nice glasses of wine
$155

Why: All in all a very nice meal and your cannot beat sitting outside on a beautiful warm evening.

When: Lunch and Dinner and breakfast on the weekends (8am onwards). The breakfast buffet is expensive and not good value.

What's up: The guys really need to get a bar license so we could go and get a glass of wine when we want one.

Booking (08) 9315 7700, http://www.bluewatergrill.com.au/

Toast - What kind of Toast? East Perth (2.5 Stars)

2011-02-12T09:51:00.006+07:00

After reading some reviews I was expecting something special, perhaps the walnut and fig or yummy chewy bagel. I am thinking a little more sourdough in the end.

Fun

Great location in this quiet little haven away from the traffic. Simple decor with a slight French bent and efficient service.

On this day a cool breeze blows and the cafe buzz is enticing.

Food
Alas, ordinary.

We had the potato, mint and feta pancakes with smoked salmon, poached eggs, sour cream and chives and the fig and walnut toast. Both not what we hoped. To much vinegar on the poached egg never impresses and invades the other flavours. The mint and feta go unnoticed (or perhaps not even present).

Coffee to was fairly tasteless and far from the best that is around. Macc, or Tiger Tiger or Mini or any number are way better.

http://toasteastperth.com/

Macc, 19 Blinco St, Fremantle

2011-02-06T10:11:00.002+07:00

Some what incongruous in its surroundings. A mix of residential and old light industrial, this area is in the throws of a significant slow change. So slow that it is more like Limbo than change, perhaps it waits for the ROE highway extension that could threaten for ever.

Food: Great coffee, basic regular food, cafe like service, overall a great neighbourhood place with the eccentricity of fringe Freo.

For us: Fruit toast and home made Jam and double egg/ bacon on a bun.

Finding: Mon-Thurs + Sat 7am-3pm, Fri + Sun 7am-10pm

Fummary: Not a location destination but great local eatery.

Might be interesting during the week if you can get access to the arts studios in the same building.

Chelsea Pizza, 145 Sterling Hwy, Nedlands

2011-02-05T21:05:00.002+07:00

Some of the best Pizza in Perth, a bit of an institution.

The best: FLORENTINA - Prawns, anchovies, mushroom and green capsicum. I am getting hungry writing this...

Open: 5pm to late every night, http://www.chelseapizza.com.au/

Whisper wine bar, Fremantle

2011-02-05T20:59:00.001+07:00

Great wines from the little bar Essex street.

Not sure about the decor inside the ground floor.

La Galette de France, 125 Broadway Rd, Nedlands

2011-02-05T16:46:00.003+07:00

This place comes with a big reputation, that always a red flag. Another review states "La Galette de France makes the entire population of Perth patisseries look like hacks". There is no doubting that this is good food, not sure it is the best in town. The service results in the drink coming way after the food leaving me wondering if they talk to each other all.

Food: The spinach quiche has too must spinach, overpowering what should be a delicious egginess and the ham and cheese croissant was a little overcooked. Still this is a bit picky, overall a delish.

Find: Nedlands and 25 Mends St Shop 3, South Perth

Fummery: If I am in the area yum, if not won't travel

CNR, Northbridge

2011-02-05T07:27:00.003+07:00

Nice coffee.

Avo and Tomato is always a great combination, the home smoked smoked salmon less expertly created.

Nice open relaxing feel.

Cnr of James St and Lake St, Northbridge
Food: Modern, Avo and Tomato on toast - yum
Hours: 7 till 7pm later on weekends

Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle, 2 stars

2011-02-04T19:51:00.002+07:00

Walking through the door is like going back in time 15 years, maybe 20. Well overdue a face lift.

Had a number of breakfast, lunch and dinners here. nice enough,

Buffet breakfasts and lunches are good, just a little old fashioned. The bread is tip top brand, the orange juice not fresh, the scrambled egg to watery, the coffee bitter and flat. Overall, not bad just really not great.

Dinner consisted of overcooked meat and nicely prepared veggies.

Summary: My 90 year grandmothers favourite place.

Ventuno Pizzeria, Sydney

2011-02-04T19:09:00.004+07:00

I think this could be a favourate place if I lived in Sydney. Really comfortable feel, friendly people, view out over the water and truly yummy pizza.

Had the Affettato con prosciutto crudo di San Daniele, cacciatorini e olive (Antipasta meat plate) and Mixed green salad and a couple of great glasses of very tasty wine.

http://www.ventuno.com.au/

Fish at the Rocks, Sydney

2011-02-04T19:01:00.003+07:00

Nice, Local feel, busy on Monday night and friendly service. Fresh pasta of the day was amazing, fish and chips less so.....

When I want to share a starter, I want to SHARE a starter - so please don't split it on 2 plates, let me share the plate.

http://www.fishattherocks.com.au/

Lord Nelson Brewing Pub, the Rocks, Sydney

2011-02-04T18:55:00.003+07:00

Average, slow bland service, trading on it location and name. Great sitting outside in the sun.

Melbourne Casino

2011-01-11T19:29:00.001+07:00

Cheesecake at the Casino - yummy - I can live in here!

Byblos, Melbourne

2011-01-11T19:27:00.002+07:00

On the waterfront in Melbourne opposite the conversion centre.

Fooood
Kebbi Nayeh - First time for Raw lamb tenderloin - nice, delicate flavour not like the cooked version at all, and totally yummy
Lamb sausages with lemon - ok, not the best, a big portion
Tomato and cucumber salad - excellent
Humus and lamb and nut dip - smooth and tasty, a bit much lamb

Generally big portions.

Furniture
Outside on the water with a view of the crazy frame throwing from the casino.

Final Word
Got up sold on the quantity which always puts a certain spin on it for me that is not great.

La Vita Buona, Melbourne

2011-01-10T19:42:00.001+07:00

Great wine and tasty cheese and small plates in downtown Melbourne (Nr Corner of Collins and Swanston Street)

Art Gallery, Melbourne

2011-01-10T19:31:00.000+07:00

Scone and Tea at the Art Gallery - a secret pleasure.

Joseph Chromy Winery, Tasmania, 4 Stars

2011-01-06T20:11:00.004+07:00

Was not sure what to expect, yes we have tried the wine at the taste festival and the placed looked good in the tourist ads, but then somehow everything does.

My hope raised as we arrive to find the car park full and the restaurant has a busy but relaxed feel. After some confusion we are given a great table on the veranda on a fantastic sunny day in Tassie.

Food: Quail, Caesar salad and Salmon, surrounded by a Josef Chromy Pinot Noir.

All very nicely prepared. Too much for 2 for lunch.

Fun: Generally lovely service, prompt efficient, a great time was had by all

Open for lunch
http://www.josefchromy.com.au/

Prince of Wales Hotel, Hobart

2010-12-27T17:50:00.002+07:00

Just had a drink

Friendly service

Reasonable looking pub food

Annapurna, Hobart, 2 stars

2010-12-27T17:44:00.002+07:00

The reception is a little strange, mostly being ignored for what was an uncomfortable couple of minutes.

Friendly but inattentive is just not good service.

The chicken tikka Masala was good enough, the Byrani not so, basically rice with a tomato favour and not the aromatic cardamom flavour we hoped for.

Busy but average. Hobart must be short of good indian food.

Ball and Chain, Hobart

2010-12-27T17:37:00.001+07:00

Oysters where nice enough and the staff friendly, every one seems friendly in this state.

The atmosphere is one of a large family restaurant, and not really in a good way

Cimbalino – Dalkeith, 4 stars

2010-12-19T11:06:00.001+07:00

OK, Mini's coffee is good, Cimbalino's is really delicious. Really nicely balanced, tasty, refreshing, yummy.

Open 7am to 5pm daily.

Lamont's Bishops House, 3.5 stars

2010-12-19T10:50:00.002+07:00

Only open during the week.

Highlights
This what Lamont's do well. Simple decor, sophisticated, really nice service, great location.

Simple, well cooked food, a little unimaginative.

Low Lights
The Toilets - They had to explain that they where not able to change the building, to they put these things that are barely more that port-a-potties in the garden.

As we left the front of house person cheerily exclaimed - see you for Christmas next year! Not sure what we did to lead her to the conclusion that we would not be back for 365 days, or perhaps we where telling us not to come back?

il lido 88 Marine Pde, Cottesloe 6011, 2.5 stars

2010-11-27T09:54:00.002+07:00

Nice feel to the place with its big benches in an open high room. The food is always reasonably good basic fair. The location is of course great, just opposite the beach and as such it is better than most beach places.

The service continues to let this place down (at the coffee is the stand out food item that is not great).

You can 20+ minutes for a coffee while you watch them take order and individually make each coffee.

Limones Restaurant East Fremantle, 3 stars

2010-11-27T09:11:00.004+07:00

Limones Restaurant 77 George Street, East Fremantle 6158 (08) 9319 1440

Really nice up market neighborhood restaurant. Homey feel, friendly staff. $88 for two for a yummy main and a glass of wine and overall a very pleasing meal.

Only very slight complaint was that the vegetable side was overcooked. veggies on the main plate perfect so just a small mishap rather than a usual occurrence.

Melbourne Pub, 2.5 stars

2010-11-21T09:19:00.001+07:00

Lunch and after work drinks. Nice enough, nothing really special, but good pub food and beer in the M cafe and bar

Recently we had a lunch in the back room (main restaurant?) - this is really not good, dark and noisy and slow service. you need to check if you are making a booking - particularly for a larger group.

942 Hay Street
9320 3333 ‎

Il Cibo Cafe, Fremantle, 3 stars

2010-11-21T09:06:00.002+07:00

Friendly, nice atmosphere, good food, only OK not great coffee. Coffee quality has improved in Perth in recent years the quality here has not kept up.

We find ourselves here often because of the food and the people. Great to sit and read the newspaper for the bit.

2 Market St, Fremantle, (08) 9433 4900 ‎

X-Wray Café and Bar, Freo

2010-11-20T15:18:00.003+07:00

Great little cafe in Freo next to the movies.

13 Essex St, Fremantle,
Phone: 9430 9399

Ordinary wines by the glass. Stick to the beer and food.

Grand Palace Chinese Restaurant, CBD, 3.5 stars

2010-11-14T20:35:00.003+07:00

I am not sure about a Chinese restaurant without any Chinese customers.

Great service, perhaps a little to attentive, but that is nothing.

The food is delish, really tasty and really expensive.

Mends Street Cafe, South Perth

2010-10-31T21:05:00.000+07:00

Generally Ordinary breakfast. Nice enough, but ordinary really.

One breakfast came well before the other which was actually OK as we shared the 2 meals, but also unplanned. It could have been irritating.

The fruit salad was not fresh, not off but not fresh.

Flying Taco, 40 Angove Street, Wed-Sun 12noon-late, 3 stars

2010-10-16T21:39:00.002+07:00

Fast food in Perth is expensive relative to other places in the world. Without tipping, a place that you would not normally tip at, if in the US, becomes expensive relatively.

The Flying Taco is great, nicely prepared basic food tasty food. Just cannot get it out of my head that you basically spend $20 and the same meal in the US would be more like US$8 at a similar takeout kind of place. It even comes wrapped in the same tin foil.

That said we have been here a few times and will continue to go back because it's good food and friendly service.

Summit Restaurant and Orbit Bar, Revolving Restaurant

2010-10-10T20:54:00.003+07:00

Sophisticated and relaxed, not particularly casual.

Great tapas and wines - not really as pricy as you might think.

02 9247-9777
Level 47, Australia Square, 264 George Street
http://www.summitrestaurant.com.au/

Broadway Pizza

2010-10-03T20:00:00.002+07:00

Sister to Applecross Pizza. Good pizza.

http://www.broadwaypizza.com.au/

Next Cafe, Applecross

2010-09-19T12:49:00.002+07:00

This place has not been a favourite, but has recently changed owners and it much better.

Good coffee and cakes, not busy, which is a shame because the coffee is better than most of the other places in the Applecross Village.

Helvetica, CBD, 3.5 stars

2010-09-19T12:43:00.002+07:00

One of the new generation of small bars. Great little I love it. Best early in the week when its not to busy.

Wines on the board are always good.

Basic food only.

Coffee in the CBD

2010-09-13T21:31:00.004+07:00

My favourites:
1. Mini
2. Tiger Tiger
3. Velvet
4. Cimbalino, 100 St G T
5. Tartine Cafe

Interesting site - http://www.perthcoffeescape.com/

Urban Bean, Margaret River

2010-09-12T18:08:00.004+07:00

The best coffee in Margaret River. We always go here for breaky at some point when in the area.

Nice food, basic, nothing really special, but good clean food with a bit of healthy focus.

Gnarabar, Prevelly, Margaret River 3.5 Stars

2010-09-12T18:05:00.007+07:00

What a great surprise, this place is really welcoming and bustling little place. Great fire and cold winters night.

The pork and the Lamb are both excellent. Service nice and good looking wine list.

Only small point is that they tried to take the plates away before everyone has finished which is never great.

http://www.gnarabar.com.au/

Flutes, Margaret River 2.0 Stars

2010-09-12T17:56:00.008+07:00

Overall a big disappointment.

The service here, at the moment, is very poor. I understand that they have had staffing problems, but really this is not what to expect. It is about time that WA restaurants figured out that they need to do something real-time about this. When we had already waited 30 minutes for food, why not GIVE us some free bread and olives so the eventual hour wait would not seem so bad and we would probably have forgiven it. As it was they just kept trying to SELL us more wine.

The food while good did not really meet expectations either an the portions are just a little small (something that is rare in Australia in general)

Sea Garden Restaurant, Prevelly,

2010-09-12T12:48:00.003+07:00

A little attitude is never a bad way to wake up in the morning. We were knocking on the door at 7:30.

Relaxing outside sipping a juice while wait for the sausage and egg, what a great way to start the day....

http://www.seagardens.com.au/home.html

BrookWood Winery Margaret River

2010-09-09T20:17:00.002+07:00

Nothing complicated here, simply restaurant, simply menu, focus on getting it right.

Treeton Rd; Cowaramup

Jaws Sushi, Hay Street, 2.5 stars

2010-09-06T21:54:00.003+07:00

Busy, fast service, lots of choice.

Expensive, watch out for this it's easy to send a lot with the cost per plate thing, lots of westernised dishes.

Overall - Just a little disappointed with the quality

Andaluz bar, CBD, 3 stars

2010-08-28T14:38:00.002+07:00

One of the 1st of a new breed of bars in Perth, what a fantastic little place. Crazy busy on Friday nights and other times.

Highlights:

Atmosphere, wine list, service

Lowlights:

Food, not bad but only ok due the variation in quality from fantastic to very ordinary

The Generous Squire, CBD, 3 stars

2010-08-22T19:04:00.006+07:00

Busy on Friday nights, surprisingly quiet at other times.

Modern bar, open spaces to stand around and have a good chat, with some relaxing areas. Overall a good place. Perth needs more of these.

That said a bit bland. The menu is ordinary. They are aiming to make ordinary food well and they have succeeded.

Fish and chips for lunch - order 1 and share.

Raffles Pub, Applecross, 3 stars

2010-08-21T15:20:00.006+07:00

Downstairs at the Raffles on Canning Hwy.

I think we have probably been here 10 times. Surprised I don't seem to have written a summary of my experiences.

On the plus side: Food is consistently good, basic and not cheap but good. The steak sandwich is my choice most often. Location is great, nice way to spend a sunny afternoon or stop for breaky on a bike ride. Beer and wine selection is always sufficient to find something nice.

Other thoughts: Service is patchy. From great to very poor and actually rude on occasion. Actually now I think about when its good service its not very genuine.

The restaurant upstairs is ordinary (and expensive).

Sparrow Indonesian Restaurant, Northbridge, 3 stars

2010-08-21T15:13:00.003+07:00

Cheap, great value, ordinary food.

For $30 we have enough for 2 and enough to take home for dinner the next night, that possibly makes it cheaper than Macdonalds.

decor can only be described as plain. Was this a Greek restaurant once a upon a time? The fake grape vine is oddly out of place.

Although it is cheap i don't think I will look forward to coming back so probably will not.

Subi Hotel, Subiaco, 2.5 stars

2010-08-15T16:17:00.006+07:00

Overall a nice enough experience. Good service and pleasing room and reasonable looking, if unimaginative menu, good looking winelist.

I think to food is probably the let down. My Caesar salad was really ordinary. I need to see some fresh tasty lemon and anchovy dressing. This one had lots of salmon (Optional extra) and bacon, but no balance of flavours. All show but no real go.

My party had a similar experiences with there meals, OK but just a little disappointing.

Mini, London Court, Perth CBD 3.5 stars

2010-08-12T20:20:00.001+07:00

Some of the best coffee in Perth. The place to get coffee of a morning.

Great service and sandwiches. Fantastic to see people so excited about what they do.

Margaret River Hotel, Pub 3 stars

2010-07-27T19:34:00.002+07:00

Nicely put together, efficient service, slightly pretentious menu.

We have eaten here a few times.

Most recently the Cesar salad and pumpkin salad where both good. Good amount dressing (not to much), tasty anchovies, overall very nice balance. Don't both with the chicken the basis salad is great.

Wines are kind of ordinary in the main restaurant area. Given the MR location you would expect something better and better value.

http://www.margaretriverhotel.com.au/

Kalbarri Motor Hotel, Kalbarri 3.5 stars

2010-07-25T17:22:00.004+07:00

It is so nice to find a regional pub that has great food. This place is excellent food and value.

The decor is ordinary and basic, they could really do with a face lift, the everything else about this place is excellent.

Friendly prompt service, simple food well prepared. The Asian soup is fantastic and was the grilled fish.

UWA Club, Nedlands, 3.5 stars

2010-07-12T22:27:00.004+07:00

Nice Casual breakfast. Vegimite on toast is great.... as is the omelet.

Service is generally really nice

The Quarter, CBD, 3 stars

2010-07-12T13:27:00.001+07:00

Great service, tasty food in the little place around the back

http://thequarter.net.au/

Deep Water Point Cafe

2010-07-12T05:04:00.000+07:00

Great location in the park down by the water. No matter how hot the day there always seems to be a breeze.

Shame about the coffee and the service really (sadly lazy).

(08) 9316 2800 100 The Esplanade
Mount Pleasant, 6153

Amuse, East Perth, 4.5 Stars WIP

2010-07-04T08:33:00.011+07:00

10 course + petite fours:

The meal:

Snacks: Foie Gras wrapped in Cabinet wine jelly, bread stick wrapped in prosciutto, chips with mayonnaise foam and .... All in all very tasty perhaps a bit complex and fussy - lots of little things.

Tea and Toastie with a Paul Nelson, Galafrey, 2009 Fume Blanc, Mount Barker, WA: Mushroom Tea and Gruyére cheese toastie

Chestnut, Pear and Sour Milk: Chestnut polenta, chest nut pieces with pair, cream and sour milk - deliciously rich and tasty

Marron, dill and Mussel with Domdne Wachau, 2007 Chablis Burgundy: Mussel juice, crispy prosciutto, just cooked Marron with dill garnish,

Fish, celeriac and sago: Also Israeli couscous oyster source was fantastic

Lamb, shallot and salsa Verde: Pickled shallot, lamb sweet breads with the slow cooked lamb and the salsa with some curry spice. Great flavours, lamb was a little dry and not that tasty. They might use mutton to improve the favour

Pork, Kohirabi and quince: With pickled veggies

Margarita: Lemon sorbet with a sherbet

Rhubarb, artichoke and oats: With ice cream

Honeycomb, caramel and malt: Chocolate, ice cream

Petit Four with coffee: white cream

Summary

Some really excellent food and service, the room is a bit ordinary and lacks atmosphere a little.

All in all a bit to much for us. we noticed that we stopped paying attention at around the pork dish and probably should have stopped at that point.

Cicerello's Fish and Chips, Fremantle (2 stars)

2010-06-29T20:24:00.000+07:00

Really Really ordinary to poor overall.

It is great sitting out side on a sunny day but otherwise $30 for Fish and Chips here is just poor.

These places really need to lift their game.

Go to Little Creatures.

Balti Indian Cuisine, CBD, 3 stars, (08) 9211 3306

2010-06-28T21:23:00.004+07:00

Balti Indian Cuisine, 3/2 St Georges Tce, Perth 6000.

I remember Balti curries from my youth in Birmingham. It was probably impossible for this place to live up to my memories of these curries so it is difficult for me to be objective.

Food:

Nice enough, good sized portions, the lentil dish was excellent, the peneer dish less so.
We had starter sized portions that where plenty big enough.

Front:

Service was good enough, the food came quickly but the process of collecting our plates. $63 for 2 with a beer each is ok I guess.

Final Word: Cannot decide if I will return.

Broadway Fish & Chips,Nedlands

2010-06-27T18:34:00.003+07:00

130 Broadway Nedlands, 6009

Great Fish and Chips, as simple as that. One of the best on Perth for sure based on my experience.

Big portions of chips also so be careful when you order.

Phone: (08) 9386 2341. Close at 8pm most days

Southern End Restaurant, Denmark (2 stars)

2010-06-27T18:05:00.006+07:00

427 Mount Shadforth Road
Denmark
3 km west of Denmark

Face, Facilities and Function

The location is great sitting high up on the hill overlooking the valley and the sea below. The service was friendly and slow, or should I just be a bit more relaxed, this is a holiday...

Food

The beer is nice, really nice.

The Food really a disappointment. This is mostly fake posh food (FPF). They are trying to hard to be up market and have forgotten the basics.

The Stout beef pie was a bland stew with a little patch of pastry on the top. If you are going to call it a Pie it needs a certain amount of pastry, this one does not cut it. ($20)

The field mushrooms with the "drizzle of Cabernet jus" was swimming in something akin to balsamic vinegar. Really not good. ($23)

The seafood "Frenzi" was very ordinary and expensive for what it was ($42)

Final Word

The poor food is remembered more than the view for me here. If I go back I will order something simple, perhaps fish and chips, that has to be better.

The Paddo (2 stars)

2010-06-26T19:07:00.003+07:00

The Paddington Ale House, 141 Scarborough Beach Road, Mount Hawthorn, 6016

Big and noisy with little character and smells of beer and cigarettes. If you group is less than 10 with any females, don't go.

The range of beers is of course excellent and the TV's everywhere makes it ok to watch a game.

Ohnamiya Japanese, Applecross, 3.5 stars, Not open late

2010-06-20T18:56:00.005+07:00

34 Kearns Crs, Applecross 6153

Always busy, basic bento box food. Great service.

A quick and tasty mid week meal.

The Burger Bistro, CBD, Shafto Lane, 3 stars

2010-06-20T18:39:00.007+07:00

After Hero Burger in North American. What to say.. humm what to say.

Nice enough I think. After Hero Burger it is expensive and the chips are ordinary. Close to $20.

A good dinner on your way home perhaps.

The organic chicken is great - perhaps some organic beef perhaps or lamb would be nice.

Cinnamon on the Park, 2.5 stars

2010-06-17T15:46:00.000+07:00

Cinnamon on the Park, 08 9472 0277 892 Albany Hwy, East Victoria Park.

India food for Australians in a traditional style. Went here with the brother in law and partner.

ECQ Bar at Quay Grand Suites Sydney, Circular Quay

2010-06-06T20:46:00.003+07:00

Quiet, relaxed, right on circular quay what could be better. They do some great wine and well prepared, if unimaginative food.

We alway think about having a drink here at some point in the day.

http://www.mirvachotels.com/quay-grand-suites-sydney/ecq-bar-circular-quay

Kailis Bros Fish Market & Fish Cafe, Leederville, 2.5 stars, $60 for 2 inc wine

2010-05-30T20:01:00.008+07:00

The fish is fresh and our dinners are tasty and the service timely; so why do I just not really like this place?

Is it the atmosphere? bright and beige.
It is the formulaic service from young characterless teens?
Is it the 95 year old next to me gumming a poor lobster?
I am not sure, somehow there is just no life here.

That said my food was excellent as was the wine. The old small grip here is the oysters where not well shucked.

Open: 7 days, B-L-D, 9443 6300

Gypsy Tapas House, Fremantle, 3 Stars, $200 for 2 (inc Wine)

2010-05-29T18:54:00.006+07:00

Gypsy Tapas House, Highgate Court, High St (Cnr Queen St), Fremantle 3.5 Stars

What you can expect in Fremantle, friendly, nice atmosphere, just a bit grungy - mostly in a good way.

Nice traditional selection of simple tapas like dishes. We had the all you can eat option that seems like a gret idea, but on reflection picking specific dishes might be better, we will do that next time.

You do need to book: Thu-Sat 11am-11pm, (08) 9336 7135

Good Fortune Duck House, Northbridge, 3.5 Stars $30 for 2 (no wine)

2010-05-27T18:48:00.005+07:00

Good Fortune Duck House, 344 William St Northbridge 6003

Great Value: Typical basic decor, but fast, basic and friendly service

$30ish for a duck dinner is tough to beat.

Forest Hill Winery, 4 stars, Cnr South Coast Hwy & Myers Road Denmark (4km west of Denmark) $110 for 2 inc wine

2010-05-21T20:39:00.005+07:00

Great location, with views down the valley toward to ocean.

Nice ingredients and simple menu. My steak was over done a little which is difficult for me to understand or forgive for a place claiming to be up market. When asking for rare make sure you emphasis the rare. They could do with better vegetarian options I think.

Mostly others where very pleased with the food and wine.

Slow service and a strangely large number of flys in the room is a little off putting.

We will definitely return when next in Denmark.