Perth and other WA restaurants

[turtlemichael]

I should have got on to this earlier but I've been distracted by Brisbane and Adelaide runs for the cricket.

We are heading to WA tomorrow for 9 days. We have 2 nights in Perth then 3 in Bunker Bay for some vineyard touring in Margaret River and finally 4 back at the Parmelia Hilton in Perth as the base for the Third Test match.

I'd appreciate any suggestions for lunch places in Fremantle, and dinner restaurants in Margaret River and also in Perth. Any cuisine is fine. Looking for mid-level and up. Many thanks.

 

[craven morehead]

I should have got on to this earlier but I've been distracted by Brisbane and Adelaide runs for the cricket.

We are heading to WA tomorrow for 9 days. We have 2 nights in Perth then 3 in Bunker Bay for some vineyard touring in Margaret River and finally 4 back at the Parmelia Hilton in Perth as the base for the Third Test match.

I'd appreciate any suggestions for lunch places in Fremantle, and dinner restaurants in Margaret River and also in Perth. Any cuisine is fine. Looking for mid-level and up. Many thanks.

OZDUCK could be your man !!

 

[cove]

Wildflower and Post at the recently renovated Treasury Como in St George’s Terrace Perth are popular.
We visit Cullen and Moss Wood for the best red wines in the Margaret River region. It will get down to personal taste buds for the white wines.

 

[Bundy Bear]

My suggestions for Fremantle,
Char Char Restaurant + Bar,
La Sosta (Italian) I haven't been to this for a while but it was always busy when I lived in Fremantle and it still getting good ratings
Nunzios (Italian) Our company boss knows the owner and food is good Italian.
Kailis Fish Market Cafe, On the marina, great fish and chips.

Little Creatures is ok but I wasn't a huge fan, typically West Australian, pizzas were ok but not brilliant.

Cove and JohnM can tell you about Perth.

 

[Daver6]

In Freo, Bread in Common and Strange Company.

As mentioned, but in the city, Wildflower for lunch is fantastic!

 

[OZDUCK]

OZDUCK could be your man !!

Suggestions supplied. Thanks for dobbing me in

 

[OZDUCK]

For those who are interested, this is what I wrote :-

1. Hi Turtlemichael
   
   I am happy to offer some suggestions - but they will be mostly based on what I have read/heard as I am not much of a restaurant goer at home - except for the cheaper, genuine as possible, Asian style restaurants. Probably, like a lot of us over the last few years I have been to overseas restaurants far more than local ones - so ask me about Rheims, Verdun or Charlottetown .
   
   Remember that buses in the Perth CBD are free so just hop an any of them. Fremantle has its own free CAT bus service. From the Parmelia to the WACA is in the free zone. In fact all of the Perth restaurants below , except for those at the Crown Casino, are in the free transit zone.
   
   Fremantle CAT Bus Map, CAT Map in Fremantle Western Australia, Freo Australia
   
   Transperth Free Transit Zones
   
   
   I worked in Fremantle for about 30 years but have been retired for nearly 9 years so I am bit out of touch. However, for a start walk down what is called "The Cappuccino Strip" (South Terrace) see Cappuccino Strip and you will have a multitude of choices from microbreweries to old style Italian restaurants. As usual, just walk up and down the street, look at the menus, and the food as many have roadside sitting as well as inside. Note that the map in the attached website is expandable to show more restaurant options. You can also drill down into sub-menus to see plenty of other options.
   
   Another option is Little Creatures Brewing on the Fishing Boat Harbour - which is worth a visit in itself - the brewery has a reasonably rated restaurant and is just down from the statue of Bon Scott of AC/DC fame. The "Fish Restaurants" nearby Kailis & Cicerello's are fine but cater for mass eating of fish & chips etc.
   
   In Perth what is, probably, the highest rated restaurant is at Como The Treasury https://www.comohotels.com/thetreasury/dining. It is in a beautifully restored building (the Old State Treasury) and seems to always get rave reviews. New city hotel is Australia's best, hands down You are only a 5 minute walk, down St Georges Terrace from this place. (Looking at the original thread I see that this has already been highly recommended.)
   
   Being an, obvious, cricket fan maybe you should walk down to The Lucky Shag Lucky Shag which has been adopted by The Barmy Army as "their place" when in Perth.
   
   Near the WACA, ready for its last Test Match, there is the fairly new Ku West, part of the Ku De Ta Perth group. West Restaurant Perth | West Restaurant Perth Menu | The Foodie Hub It is in a fabulous location on the Swan River. Initially it had a little bit of a rocky start but now seems to finding its feet and getting good reviews.
   
   Just down from the Parmelia, only a few hundred metres, is The Print Hall, another set of restaurants in a restored building (the West Australian Newspapers old office). Perth's Premier Destination For Dining, Events & Entertainment: Print Hall The main restaurant (Gazette) has just re-opened and has been getting stellar reviews.
   
   From the Parmelia it is an easy walk across to Northbridge which is the main food & nightlife area of Perth. BigNWebsite. The railway line which used to separate it from the CBD has been "sunk" and new walkways are just being opened. New public space and link between CBD and Northbridge
   
   Also close to the Parmelia is an old Perth favourite HOME The Balthazar. I haven't been there for over 15 years but it still gets some good, but also some poor reviews, so I think that it depends on your taste. Balthazar Bar Restaurant, Perth - Perth CBD - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - TripAdvisor
   
   Not to forget the Crown Casino, which is just next door to the new Perth Stadium, for choices like Nobu Perth Nobu Premium Japanese Restaurant - Crown Perth Rockpool etc Fine Dining in Perth & Premium Restaurants - Crown Perth
   
   For your trip down south this is a good place to start Eat & Drink - Your Margaret River Region it gives you a good guide to what is available - a lot.
   
   The restaurant at the Wise Vineyard always seems to get good reviews and is a lot closer to Bunker Bay than those around Margaret River WISE Restaurant & Weddings - Eagle Bay Dunsborough Margaret River.
   
   However there are so many restaurants around that area that it is pretty hard to pluck one or two out for a special mention. A couple of guides are The ultimate Margaret River eat, drink, stay guide - Travel Australia - delicious.com.au
   
   Top 7 Winery Restaurants in Margaret River - Walk into Luxury
   
   The restaurants at Vasse Felix & Cullens always seem to be mentioned as top ones to visit.
   https://www.vassefelix.com.au/
   Cullen Wines
   
   The Voyager Estate has a pretty impressive setting and is also well rated.
   http://www.voyagerestate.com.au/restaurant/
   
   There are also a number of Breweries with pleasant restaurants attached.
   http://www.blackbrewingco.com.au/
   or
   http://bootlegbrewery.com.au/
   
   Plus lots more. I think you will have plenty of good eating places to choose from.
   
   Regards
   
   Report
   Reply
2. 

 

[Daver6]

Keep in mind with the winery restaurant is that very few will be open for dinner during the week.

 

[turtlemichael]

Thanks all for the very helpful responses. Ozduck you have gone way beyond what I could have wished for - may thanks. I've started to make a few bookings - Gazette and Post so far. Wildflower looks very heavily booked at times that suit. I'll keep working on it and do a mini restaurant report when I get home. Going to the Pompeii Exhibition at the Maritime Museum in Fremantle tomorrow. Cheers.

 

[JohnM]

Hampton's at City Beach overlooks water, but is surprisingly good.

Shadow Winebar in Northbridge.

Vasse Felix is the go down S.

 

[turtlemichael]

Just a few brief comments on the restaurants/wineries we ended up visiting which might help someone else in future. The best meal we had in Perth was at Post. We tried to get into Wildflower but couldn't as it was booked out in the lead up to Christmas. If I'm back I'll plan ahead better. But Post was a good substitute in that it was casual, stylish and the food was contemporary and excellent. Only disappointments were the small number of WA wines on the list and the service failures. A couple of tables appeared to be known to the management and got all the attention. The tables near us were also neglected.

We also enjoyed the food at Gazette which had the added advantage of being very close to the Parmelia Hilton. Again, it was similar in style to Post but extremely noisy from the adjoining bar to the extent of not being able to hear conversation. Not the place for a romantic evening and there was a strong tendency to rush people through because client turnover was very important here.

In the Margaret River region we ate lunch at Cullen winery and at Wise. Wise had the plus of being very close to the Pullman Bunker Bay where we stayed. Not much to choose between the two in terms of quality and I reckon these both are quite outstanding as far a winery, or indeed any, restaurants go in Australia. The setting helps in both cases but the food was well presented and beautifully cooked.

In addition to tastings at both we also sampled at Cape Mentelle and Vasse Felix - all pretty much mainstream! We were fortunate to get a young French viognier at C.M. and he knew his stuff. All the wineries are beautifully maintained and great fun. The Pullman was in a spectacular location at the back of a beautiful beach and was in good condition. The place was overrun with kids though and the buffet breakfast reminded me of a ship I wouldn't want to be on! Despite that we had a great time in the South West and will happily do it again.

Oh, the cricket was pretty good too!

 

[cove]

Pullman Bunker Bay is in a lovely spot. We both liked it. I booked it on my Citi Prestige to go 4 nights pay for three.
Wise Winery was a really good venue for the wedding we attended.
We enjoyed Post the other day for lunch with friends. Valet parking is $25.
Westpac did a business lunch in a private room just around from Post which was a good place to have about a dozen folks.
Cullen and Moss Wood are my favourite reds in the Margaret River region and Cape Mentelle is pretty good too.
You have to be careful driving at night as there are kangaroos that can hop onto the road.

 

[LadyC]

Bumping this thread as we will be over in Perth for the Easter weekend. Interested in any recommendations for good seafood - will be travelling with a 5 year old and lunch venue is preferable (I appreciate some places aren't open for lunch over the weekend).

 

[Daver6]

Super casual is Clancy's Fish Pub in City Beach. Right on the water with great views. Can go for a swim before and no problem walking in with damp bathers and thongs after a swim. Public showers and change rooms underneath should you desire.

Clancys Fish Bar City Beach | 195 Challenger Parade, City Beach

Strange, but nothing really springs to mind in Perth for a restaurant that specialises in seafood.

 

[JohnM]

Strange, but nothing really springs to mind in Perth for a restaurant that specialises in seafood.

Sad, but true, these days. There were a few specialty seafood restaurants some years ago, but the emblematic WA fish of yore are practically extinct or so expensive that restaurants can't afford to put a decent slab on a plate.

Personally, I would steer away from Clancy's. It's pretty low grade IME of a few years ago. They don't call it a 'fish pub' for no reason. There are several scattered across Perth. Nevertheless, probably worth checking out before dismissing it out of hand in case the game has been lifted now that there's new nearby general restaurant competition, most notable of which is Hampton's (City Beach Cafe - Hamptons Menu | Hamptons). Probably the nicest venue but fairly limited on the fish.

The Blue Duck at North Cottesloe (The Blue Duck | A Cottesloe icon) is a very long-established casual restaurant with a great setting and well worth scoping IMO. There are a couple of restaurants in the Cottesloe Hotel, of which Cott & Co is probably the best: Cott & Co at The Cottesloe Beach Hotel.

If you are particularly wanting to try the best of WA native species of fish, The Groper & His Wife, also in City Beach, is a very high-end fish 'n chips shop, with at least some tables: The Groper and His Wife – | Perth's Best Fish & Chips

Kailis Bros are iconic fishers and merchants in WA. The cafe attached to their Leederville fish market may be casual but the selection of fish should be good and fresh: Kailis Bros | Cafe

Easter (well, Good Friday lunch) is an absolute zoo for seafood-binging at the Fremantle fishing boat harbour, where Cicerello's (Menu - Cicerello's Fremantle Restaurant) and Kailis' (Kailis' Waterfront Fremantle | Fish & Chips, Perth WA) reign supreme. Again, nothing high-level but they are fishers as well as fishmongers/cafe operators (restaurateurs would be a stretch). Saturday-Monday lunch should be calmer than Good Friday.

Hope that helps.

 

[LadyC]

Superb @JohnM that is very helpful!

 

[Daver6]

Sad, but true, these days. There were a few specialty seafood restaurants some years ago, but the emblematic WA fish of yore are practically extinct or so expensive that restaurants can't afford to put a decent slab on a plate.

Personally, I would steer away from Clancy's. It's pretty low grade IME of a few years ago. They don't call it a 'fish pub' for no reason. There are several scattered across Perth. Nevertheless, probably worth checking out before dismissing it out of hand in case the game has been lifted now that there's new nearby general restaurant competition, most notable of which is Hampton's (City Beach Cafe - Hamptons Menu | Hamptons). Probably the nicest venue but fairly limited on the fish.

The Blue Duck at North Cottesloe (The Blue Duck | A Cottesloe icon) is a very long-established casual restaurant with a great setting and well worth scoping IMO. There are a couple of restaurants in the Cottesloe Hotel, of which Cott & Co is probably the best: Cott & Co at The Cottesloe Beach Hotel.

If you are particularly wanting to try the best of WA native species of fish, The Groper & His Wife, also in City Beach, is a very high-end fish 'n chips shop, with at least some tables: The Groper and His Wife – | Perth's Best Fish & Chips

Kailis Bros are iconic fishers and merchants in WA. The cafe attached to their Leederville fish market may be casual but the selection of fish should be good and fresh: Kailis Bros | Cafe

Easter (well, Good Friday lunch) is an absolute zoo for seafood-binging at the Fremantle fishing boat harbour, where Cicerello's (Menu - Cicerello's Fremantle Restaurant) and Kailis' (Kailis' Waterfront Fremantle | Fish & Chips, Perth WA) reign supreme. Again, nothing high-level but they are fishers as well as fishmongers/cafe operators (restaurateurs would be a stretch). Saturday-Monday lunch should be calmer than Good Friday.

Hope that helps.

Whatever happened to Simon's Seafood in Northbridge? I recall that being good, but I don't believe that it is in business now.

 

[cove]

We go to a fish place in the Mezz in Mount Hawthorn. I think it is called Gourmet Seafood and I have always been impressed.i ask the man what he recommends and usually go 6 scallops and then the grilled fish.
It is the shop at the east end of the small shopping Centre. No views, simple fare and always good. Fish meals in Perth are generally a bit more expensive than say Melbourne.
We also go to Kailis in Oxford Street ,Leederville as we know it will be fresh

 

[JohnM]

Whatever happened to Simon's Seafood in Northbridge? I recall that being good, but I don't believe that it is in business now.

It was there for years but I know that Harry Ferrante, who owned it and was a doyen of the restaurant industry in WA, passed away a year or so ago.

 

[LadyC]

Thanks all. I'm not necessarily looking for a seafood restaurant but more a restaurant that has a few seafood options (rather than just the one fish dish). All feedback and suggestions are welcome.