Perth Restaurant Tips by Tina-Perth

Restaurant Name: Little Creatures

This brewery/restaurant has a buzz about it. It is lively, yet relaxed. Funky music plays, but not so loud that it interferes. We visited Little Creatures for lunch and sat on the balcony overlooking the water which added to the atmosphere. People all around us, yet it was not too noisy. It has alfresco dining, so you get that fresh, outdoors feel. Otherwise you can sit inside or under the olive trees at the front of the restaurant.

There is also an art gallery upstairs. This is a typical example of Perth people being casual and doing some of the things they like best. This is the Perth way of life.

The staff are particularly friendly and efficient. We were very impressed by the way they did their jobs.

Favorite Dish: Although we are not beer drinkers, Steve had a few pints of the "Pale Ale" for $7.00 each. He really enjoyed it. There is a wine list available too. I drank the NZ Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc for $6.50 per glass. Bottles are available for $30. It was a very nice wine.

We tried the grilled cajun squid with lime coriander mayo for $16.00. I was not overly impressed with it, however and would give it about 7/10. We then had an atlantic salmon, creme fraiche and capers woodfired pizza for $18, which was ~nice, I'd rate it at about 7.5-8/10. We had the harissa spiced lamb with melanzane and fetta pizza which was delicious and rated at 9/10.

The menu is extensive with some interesting combinations such as: haloumi, chickpea and watermelon salad for $13.00, blue cheese, pear and rocket pizza $15.00, marinated kangaroo with bush tomato chutney $16.00.

As with all restaurants in Perth, GST is included and no extras are payable unless you would like to tip your waiter (but not necessary).

Leave a Comment

Theme: Pub/Brewery
Comparison: about average

Phone: (08) 9430 5555
Address: 40 Mews Road, Fremantle
Directions: Next to the Zanzi bar
Website: http://www.littlecreatures.com.au/
Other Contact: email@littlecreatures.com.au

Restaurant Name: Jackson's Restaurant

Jackson's restaurant is owned and run by the chef, Neal Jackson and his partner Linda Scadden. The restaurant is renown for its unusual menu, Neal's "Big Dego" (degustation of 9 courses) and it's elegant setting. The restaurant is multi award winning and Neal Jackson is recognised around the country as one of Australia's best chefs.

I enjoyed the ambience of the restaurant, but was not as impressed with the food as I had expected to be. I actually found myself trying to decide what to eat, not because there were so many things I wanted, but rather that I found it difficult to find something that really appealed to me, as in something different to what I cook at home that was to my taste. There are many unusual dishes on the menu such as;
chili salt squid with watermelon & lime dressing;
grilled marron (small freshwater crayfish), pork belly, tomato & basil tart;
rabbit baked in proscuitto, lime pickle potato & eggplant chutney;
pigs foot, mash & mushroom gravy .

Entrees range in price from $17-$24, Main meals from $32-$46 Side dishes $8, Desserts $12.

The reason I had not been to this restaurant until recently is that it is usually booked out for 2 weeks in advance, but this was a Thursday evening and we managed to get a booking. So, it is very popular.

Service was very good.

Open 6:30pm-late Monday - Saturday

Favorite Dish: I was not hungry enough for an entree, so I just had a main course (I intended to have dessert). I had the Amelia Park lamb , saffron potato, mussel fritter & bearnaise for $33. It was not as tender as the lamb loin which I cook at home, so I was not overly impressed. My friend had fish which she thought was a little dry and overcooked. We all found our meals to be 'average' - nice, but nothing really special. We did try the Cropwell Bishop Stilton cheese souffle as a side-dish for $16. It was nicely flavoured, but not the best souffle I've had.

As I said, I had intended to have a pudding for dessert, but when we got to look at the dessert menu, all desserts are called pudding for some reason, but there wasn't a pudding on the menu unfortunately.

Our bill came to $400 for 4 of us. No entrees were ordered apart from some bread and olives, only 2 people had dessert and there was only one side-dish ordered, so it was a little expensive. It wouldn't have been if we'd enjoyed our food more.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: (08) 9328 1177
Address: 483 Beaufort Street, Highgate
Website: http://www.jacksonsrestaurant.com.au/

Restaurant Name: The King Street Cafe

The King Street Cafe is a bit of a mainstay of Perth eateries. It has been around for years and has never lost its appeal.

Situated in an old building along the historic King Street in Perth's west end, it is close to galleries, His Majesty's Theatre and the CBD. The restaurant has plenty of atmosphere, with simple and slightly rustic decor. Open 7.00am for breakfast 'til late, 7 days per week. This restaurant does not take bookings, but enquiries are welcome as to how busy they are.

Service is good. Prices are on the higher end of the scale for a cafe, but the food is very good. It is especially busy at lunchtime or after a show at His Majesty's Theatre, but unlike many places with wooden floorboards, doesn't get too noisy with a crowd.

There is a broad-ranging menu and winelist which has been awarded as one of the top winelists.

Favorite Dish: I had the Kervella Goat's Cheese Pizza with roasted capsicums and fresh rocket leaves. I thoroughly enjoyed it and thought it was very good value for $17.50. Steve ordered the Smoked Salmon and caper pizza which was not as nice. The menu ranged through to Chicken with Cous Cous, grilled fish and Massaman Curry.

Prices range through to about $34 for a fillet steak.

They bake their own bread at the cafe and it is delicious. You can see the bakery through the glass and the kitchen is open. A delicious range of cakes and pastries are baked daily for the coffee drinkers and sweet tooths.

The website below is not the King Street Cafe's, but it has a great page on it, including menu and prices.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 08 9321 4476
Address: 44 King Street, Perth
Directions: Near the corner of Murray and King Streets.
Website: http://www.bestrestaurants.com.au/booking/select_rest.asp?id=505

Restaurant Name: Zafferano's

Zafferano's is one of those restaurants that I find very over-rated. It has a lovely decor and ambience and the staff are very good, but the food is very expensive for what you get. Located on the Swan River at the Old Brewery site, it is a lovely place.

Parking can be a problem as the parking area is very small, so often you have to park across the very busy Mount's Bay Road and walk back via the overpass. Not nice in poor weather. However, I have been told that the staff will park your car for you if you like.

The restaurant is not open at all times, so please take note;

Monday to Friday
Lunch 12:00pm - 3:00pm
Dinner 6:00pm - 9:30pm
Saturday
Lunch-closed
Dinner 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Sunday
Prearranged functions only

Favorite Dish: The menu is extensive and caters for vegetarian and gluten free diets. The wine menu is also very comprehensive.

Entrees range in price from $23-$30, Main courses from $40-$70 and Sides $9-$12.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Italian
Comparison: most expensive
Prices: US$41 and up  » Currency Converter
Phone: (08) 9321 2588
Address: 173 Mounts Bay Road, Crawley
Website: http://www.zafferano.com.au/index.htm

Restaurant Name: Sandrino's Cafe & Pizzeria

Sandrino's is a very nice Italian restaurant. It has an alfresco dining area as well as indoors. The decor/theme is very authentic Italian. Staff are attentive, efficient and friendly. With the restaurant being just off the main road through Fremantle, it's not too noisy with passing traffic as some others on the main strip can be.

Prices are very reasonable and portions are large!

Undercover parking is available on Collie Street which is just a block away.

Favorite Dish: On this visit I had the Seafood Risotto which was delicious, of course I could only eat half because the servings here are extremely generous. The prawns in it were so fresh and cooked so perfectly that they just "popped" in my mouth when I bit into them. There were prawns, calamari and mussels in a tomato base. ($19)

My friend had the Barbecued Seafood which consisted of a huge plate of mussels topped with 3 grilled prawns in the shell, a fillet of fish, some calamari and 3 more shelled prawns on a skewer. All was dressed with a balsamic dressing which ran down to the lettuce on the bottom. ($25) She loved it. We shared a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc which was only $28.

I have eaten here previously and had the Calamari ($17) which was very nice.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Italian
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: (08) 9335 4487
Address: 95 Market Street, Fremantle.
Directions: Behind Gino's - behind the strip
Website: http://www.sandrino.com.au/

Restaurant Name: The Subiaco Hotel

The Subiaco Hotel - or "Subi" as it is also known is a highly popular eating spot in Perth. The service is fantastic, the food delicious and the atmosphere great. The restaurant has a front verandah which faces Hay Street which is very popular, then there is an indoor dining area and a back patio area under the elm tree. I prefer the back patio area myself as it's a little less busy and more peaceful.

The food is good value for money and drinks are reasonably priced. The menu has a great variety of choices, there is certainly something for every taste here.

Bookings are not generally necessary, but sometimes you will have to wait for a table if it's a busy day. Sorry, no pictures, again they were on my phone that got stolen.

Favorite Dish: One of my favourite dishes is the Subi Tasting Plate. It is served on a stand which makes it look even more attractive. It consists of (from memory) a piece of grilled salmon, two stuffed lamb loin chops, felafel cakes, risotto balls and some calamari for $19.50. If you're not very hungry, this actually does for 2 people - not for a lunch, but just something to have with drinks. The fresh Turkish bread with dips and olives for $14 is another popular dish for sharing with drinks. Extra serves of bread are just $4.

I eat at this hotel quite often and always find their fish specials to be superb.

Some examples of their specials are;
crumbed red throat emperor fillet with pumpkin & cous cous salad, chermoula prawns, sumac labna $18
grilled rump steak, grain mustard pommes anna, garlic roast field mushroom with goats cheese salad $27
slow cooked capretto with herb roast potatoes, radiccio, orange & fig salad $24.50

If you are interested in visiting, please check their website for further menu choices. The main menu is fantastic.

Leave a Comment

Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: less expensive than average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Phone: 9381 3069
Address: Cnr Hay Street & Rokeby Road, Subiaco
Directions: Just a hop, skip and a jump from the Subiaco Railway Station. Parking within Hotel grounds or across the road.
Website: http://www.subiacohotel.com.au/index.html

Restaurant Name: Belgium Beer Cafe

The restaurant is quite good. I've not been a big fan of the hotel itself, but quite enjoyed our last visit there. The hotel gets very busy, so it can be quite noisy.

The quality of the food was good, even though half the menu was unavailable. It seems that orders need to be placed by about 8.30pm to get served.

Food prices are quite reasonable and service was good enough.


Leave a Comment

Theme: Eclectic/International
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$21-30  » Currency Converter
Address: Corner King & Murray Streets, Perth City
Website: http://www.belgianbeercafe-westende.com.au/