Get Stuffed, Perth

The Whale and Ale, Clarkson

2009-04-13T19:23:00.003+08:00

The Whale and Ale was recommended to me last year, and I've been hanging out to give it a try.

So I organised for a group of us to go, and 12 of us rocked up on Easter Saturday night. Their website is down for maintenance, which is inconvenient, and they refused to email or fax me a copy of the menu, which was disappointing.

However they have a huge menu, with something for everyone, including a whole page dedicated to vegetarians.

I ordered the gammon steak ($22.90), which turned out to be two gammon steaks, with a pineapple ring and fried egg and huge serve of chips. Maybe too much, but it was delicious.

The service was great and we didn't have to wait too long to get our meals, which was a nice change in this town!

For dessert I shared a banoffee pie ($6.90), which was good value, though the plate we got it on was far too big and would have looked better with some chocolate drizzled over it, or something. There wasn't a lot of banana but a shitload of toffee, in fact it seemed like condensed milk in a biscuit base. We couldn't finish it, but I was glad we ordered it. Banoffee pie is rare around here, and usually uber expensive. And sometimes the offee turns out to be coffee! Yuck.

The restaurant wasn't packed, but I think even if it was it wouldn't be too noisy. The tables aren't too close like in many restaurants. It's all very airy and modern, and brightly lit, which I like.

The Whale and Ale is tucked away in Clarkson, and the fact it wasn't full was testament to it being unknown. But it's a top pub and definitely worth the hike. It's also in the gold section of the Entertainment Book, offering 25% off up to $30.

Highly recommended.

Murphy's Irish Pub, Mandurah

2009-04-12T22:09:00.004+08:00

This pub, on the Mandurah foreshore, was lively at lunchtime on Easter Sunday, without being so noisy you couldn't hear the conversation around you. It's clean and the decor is pleasant. All in all a very laid-back atmosphere.

They have a decent lunch menu, not huge but the usual pub fare was there. I ordered the marinated chicken salad with cashews and caramelised pumpkin ($17.50). It was delicious, though packed to the brim with salad onion. Had this been listed on the menu I wouldn't have touched it with a barge pole. After I had picked it all out, I got stuck in. The raspberry dressing was very tasty. There was only four or five pieces of pumpkin, so maybe they should have listed feta - which was plentiful - on the menu, instead of pumpkin! The chicken was flavoursome without being too salty or overpowering. The feta was delicious and good quality, and there were just enough cashews too. Salads can often have far too much lettuce/rocket to outweigh the other ingredients, but not in this case. I would definitely order it again.

As an aside, my mum ordered the steak sandwich ($19), which I considered but for my fear of too-strong aioli. But I tried it - delicious! I'd probably order it if I had another lunchtime venture to Murphy's.

Murphy's also has a good, interactive website that's clearly updated often, to their credit. Recommended, especially for lunch on a weekend to watch the footy.

Paddy Maguire's, Subiaco

2009-04-02T21:27:00.003+08:00

Paddy Maguire's is actually something of a chain, with restaurants in Perth, Sydney and Adelaide. It hasn't a decent website too. Bonus!

It's got a good Irish pub vibe, the soccer was on when we were there and everyone was in a good mood. It's definitely a Subiaco venue (read: not a Northbridge venue), so the place wasn't full of bogans and their half dressed tarts.

The tables weren't cleared too quickly, so it was a little bit of a trek to find one that was clean.

The menu was pretty decent. I was in need of a hamburger, so it was Paddy's Burger ($18) for me. It was pretty decent, though the beef was a bit on the dry side. But the onion chutney was delicious and the side salad wasn't packed with red onion.

My mum ordered Maguire's Steak Sandwich ($18.50) which was huge! And also a bit excessive maybe, what with the bacon, egg AND beef. But if you can handle your food falling apart before it between the plate and your mouth, the steak sandwich is a goer.

The drinks cost a fortune; we paid well over $20 for two Southern Comforts and a Diet Coke!

But overall I was impressed by Paddy Maguire's. It's nice to find a venue where I don't feel like I don't belong there just because I know all the letters of the alphabet. And the food was pretty damn good as well. Would definitely go back.

Recommended.

Tsunami, Mosman Park

2009-03-29T11:37:00.004+08:00

We visited Tsunami because we really fancied some Japanese food and Matsuri was fully booked. We got the idea from the Entertainment Book - Tsunami is in the gold section and offered 30% off the bill up to $35.

When we arrived we were pointed in the direction of our table, a semi-circular booth that hadn't been tidied properly from the previous diners. There were crumbs and bits of food on the seat. There was also a stain on the tablecloth that had been covered by a menu, which we didn't need as there was only three of us.

We were approached by a man who can only be described as a smartarse. He acted like he owned the place but we weren't sure if this was just what he liked to think on Saturday nights. He asked if we had any questions about the menu, but I think if we did have we would have been to terrified to ask him for fear of being publicly humiliated.

He asked us if we wanted wine, and after making a suggestion that we agreed with (Zinzendorf Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, $29.50), he disappeared without asking whether we wanted a bottle or a glass each. It was good wine, but he recommended it before we could take a breath, which suggested he was being paid to recommend it. He didn't take into account what food we were going to order either.

He also told me off for mentioning that I had an Entertainment Book card, because apparently it could mean the staff would treat us badly (not him though of course). He thought he was doing me a huge favour but I just thought he was a dickhead - I'm not too proud to have an EB card. Otherwise, I daresay, I wouldn't have one.

We have dined at many EB restaurants with the gold card, and I don't think we have ever had out service compromised because of it.

The menu itself obviously written by this man. Smartarse, right down to telling the reader to shut up about why wines were written as 'cab sav' instead of their proper name. The menu also featured items that were not recommended, almost as if daring you to order it so the smartarse man could tell you why you shouldn't. Why have chicken teriyaki on the menu if you're going to make someone feel bad for not ordering something more risque?

After we ordered we waited more than 45 minutes to get our food. I ordered patagonian toothfish karai ($32), Anna ordered teppanyaki steak wagyu ($35.90) on a StoneGrill - so it didn't even have to be cooked for her to receive it, and our friend Kirstie ordered tempura ($28.90), surely a basic for any Japanese chef.

The wagyu beef was too big, though that didn't stop Anna from eating it all, she would have preferred a smaller piece that cost less. And her salad, served in a ramikin dish, was inadequate for the size of the meat portion. The StoneGrill is a volcanic rock heated to 400 degrees Celcius. The idea is that you cook the meat yourself as well done as you like. Anna was concerned that the tiny woman who served it to her was going to drop the whole thing in her lap. It was a bloody heavy rock and being heated as it was would have meant a night in the Emergency Department.

It was, however, delicious. That said, it had nothing to do with the cooking - it was a great piece of meat.

The patagonian toothfish was standard. It was served with rice and two small pieces of old-looking broccoli. It was plain. I chose this because the fish is controversial and it's not something that I've ever seen on a restaurant menu before. Meh. I wouldn't bother again.

The tempura was nice, but when is deep fried fish not nice? It was all pretty standard.

For dessert Kirstie and I shared the creme brulee ($13.50). The one dessert was served as two separate brulees, plum and Frangelico. They were delicious, but they were smallest creme brulees in the history of the world. Anna commented that the dishes they were served in were actually condiment dishes. They flambéd the dishes at our table, an entirely pointless exercise. I just wanted to eat the damn thing, and by now Anna was REALLY worried that we may yet end up at Emergency.

She had the ginger ice cream ($10), that she enjoyed, but it was ridiculously expensive that wasn't even garnished or decorated.

Let's talk about the atmosphere at Tsunami. Ever been to The Moon cafe in Northbridge? It is one of my most loathed places in Perth, though it doesn't pretend to be a gold class restaurant. Tsunami's atmosphere was a bit like this... kind of dingy. It was aiming for a kind of shabby chic but it didn't win any of us over. At least it wasn't too noisy.

This photograph, from their website, is entirely deceptive. Tsunami is not bright and well-lit. It is dark and the mood lighting misses the mark.

Tsunami was average. We got $35 off the bill because of the Entertainment Book, which made things better, but we wouldn't go back here either way.

Tsunami. Not a big wave. Not recommended.

Flutes Restaurant, Margaret River

2009-02-01T15:42:00.006+09:00

To start the three of us shared the Flutes Dip Plate ($15), which came with Turkish bread, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, dukkah, smoked salmon dip and marinated olives. For the price I was impressed with the quantity, although we did order one more serve of Turkish bread ($5) to lap up the last of the oil and dukkah.

For mains, I had the Amelia Park Lamb Loin ($37), Miss Field had Peking Duck and Mushroom Spring Rolls ($17) and Kirstie had fish of the day, barramundi fillet ($36).

I was very pleased to be asked how I wanted my lamb, pictured above, done. It frustrates me how so many restaurants think beef is the only meat diners should be given a choice on. The lamb, which was tender and succulent, was served on a bed of white bean mash, with green beans with a sticky balsamic reduction. The sweetness of the reduction was perfect for the rich meaty lamb. I could eat this everyday of my life and not get bored. I might get fat though.

The spring rolls, pictured above, which was actually an entree, was beautifully presented, came with two dipping sauces, sweet chilli and coriander and soy, and was easily big enough for a main. Miss Field found them to be light and tasty and not greasy as spring rolls usually are.

Kirstie's barramundi, pictured above, came with bocconcini which complemented the light, fresh flavours. It was perfecctly cooked and was a very good alternative for those who don't eat meat. Kirstie is great to have around, as it means we always have a fish or vegetarian meal to review.

The service from start to finish was fantastic. Our waiteress was knowledgable, polite and attentive without being overbearing. We were served our drinks promptly, and weren't kept waiting once. That said the staff mimicked the relaxed atmosphere. As an added bonus, they didn't scratch off their square on the gold card, telling us they'd prefer us to come back. Which we would, regardless.

Aside from the great service and the magnificent food, Flutes is one of the most beautiful restaurants I have ever come across. The setting is nothing short of breathtaking. The restaurant has stunning views of the lake and surrounding vineyards and you can eat on the balcony if you prefer.

As the restaurant belongs to the adjacent winery Brookland Valley, the grounds are stunning and are perfect to stroll in after your meal. There is also an art gallery attached which you can browse through at any time. Artwork is also displayed on the walls throughout the restaurant, which provides for stimulating conversation.

I would go back to Flutes in a second, regardless of the three hour drive. Very highly recommended.

Kulcha, Joondalup

2008-07-21T21:52:00.002+08:00

I went to Kulcha for dinner a week or so back with my family. It was quite a spontaneous decision, which is rare for us, so good to try somewhere new.

Although it was a Friday night, being in Joondalup I didn't expect the restaurant to be busy, but on the contrary it was packed and we were lucky to get a table.

It's a casual place, not big and not particularly posh, but other than the constant drone of noise the ambience was more akin to a huge and cosy family gathering than a free-for-all in a barn (unless your hold your family gatherings in a barn, and if you do, good for you).

In fact, the noise was only downside. The food arrived quickly and there was mountains of it, enough for a weekend of leftovers (yay a restaurant that still lets you do this!). The best thing is, of course, that it was really tasty, even though we ordered fairly standard dishes, they were not neglected in terms of their flavour.

The staff were very friendly, accommodating and efficient, which was a wonder considering how busy the restaurant was the night we were there.

Including drinks, four adults ate for around $60 - a rare thing in Perth these days.

Kulcha also have some great lunch specials. Recommended.

Spinnakers, Hillarys

2008-06-04T13:50:00.001+08:00

I'm not going to beat around the bush here people; I have always liked Spinnakers. This morning my dear friend Miss Field and I went there for breakfast and I must say, it was nice to see a clean restaurant for a change. The tables weren't greasy and coffee-stained, the water glasses didn't have lipstick marks and I got the impression the restaurant was actually cared for, not just a means for someone to make money.

Miss Field ordered the Mini Jumbo, I ordered scrambled eggs on toast and we shared a pot of tea - English Breakfast if you care to know. Although we did seem to wait slightly longer than the amount of customers dictated, it wasn't too much of a problem as the restaurant had a relaxing atmosphere.

The scrambled eggs came with two slices of white vienna toast and grilled tomato, and for the price of $11.50 ($9.50 for fried or poached eggs) I was very impressed. It was also nice to have proper scrambled eggs, as so many restaurants tend to give you something that resembles a shredded omelet!

Miss Field's Mini Jumbo (3/5 of a full breakfast) came with bacon, tomoto, a fried egg, a chipolate and a piece of vienna toast. Although maybe a little over-priced at $15, it was delicious (especially the bacon) and I think after eating it, along with drinking her tea, she was perfectly sated. The tea was as you'd expect just that; an extra jug of hot water would have been nice though. That said, I am sure they would have been happy to oblige had we asked.

I'm not sure about you, but I don't recall ever having a decent breakfast for two at $30, let alone on the coast.

The only thing that really lets this little gem down is its lack of website. More and more people are beginning to look online for places to eat, and not even having a website loses you customers right there. Personally I like to be able to get an idea of a restaurant's prices and cuisine offerings before leaving the house. Don't look at me like that, I know you do it too!

On a final note, it was very refreshing to visit a restaurant that didn't rely solely on its location, unlike many, many other restaurants in the Hillarys and Scarborough areas. I object to having to pay $30+ for bad food, just for the privilege of eating in front of a beach.

Take my advice and give Spinnakers a try. Recommended.

95 Northside Drive, Hillarys 6025
(Near the Yacht Club)
9203 5266

Gin Sushi, Midland

2008-06-04T12:02:00.001+08:00

Gin Sushi is conveniently located near the Fresh Food Mall at Midland Gate Shopping Centre.

While I imagine their primary business is takeaway sushi, there is also a medium-sized restaurant section for anyone wanting to dine in.

The menu isn't particularly extensive but all the old favourites are there, and what more does a shopping centre takeaway restaurant need than the classics?

It's important to remember prior to ordering that Gin Sushi only accept cash, which is virtually unheard of these days - and for good reason!

After a dash to the nearest ATM, I ordered a Katsu chicken set [$9.80] and eight pieces of tuna roll [$6.80].

The set included, along with Katsu chicken and white rice, two California roll pieces, coleslaw and a dollop of the delicious [just don't think about the fat content] Japanese mayonnaise.
Sushi is one of my favourite things in the world and the tuna roll at Gin Sushi didn't disappoint me.
It was fresh, tasty, and very morish, as good sushi tends to be.
The Katsu chicken set was also highly enjoyable.
A generous serving of rice complemented the deep fried chicken pieces well, as did the coleslaw.
A range of condiments [as well as cutlery for the uncultured among us who are hopeless with chopsticks - I include myself in this statement!], are on hand as well.
Even without the tuna roll the Katsu chicken set alone was more than adequate for a lunchtime meal.
It is a shame that this restaurant isn't in a quieter location - by the quality of their food I can't imagine they could ever be short of customers and when eating in at their current location, on the corner of a very busy part of the shopping centre, you can't help but feel as if you're in a fish tank as people pass by.
It would be fantastic to see Gin Sushi expand and become a standalone restaurant in the future.
Despite having to cope with the hustle and bustle of Midland Gate around them, the staff at Gin Sushi are friendly and efficient, the restaurant is clean and inviting, and the whole experience could easily be the highlight of a busy shopping expedition.
Despite being on the pricey side [when compared to the equivalent sushi takeaway restaurants at Whitfords City, Innaloo and Karrinyup shopping centres], we immensely enjoyed our lunchtime jaunt at Gin Sushi.

Chatters, Midland

2008-06-04T11:49:00.004+08:00

Chatters Cafe & Restaurant is a new addition at Midland Gate Shopping Centre and the second version of the popular Morley restaurant.

We arrived at about 12.30 pm and were seated straight away, impressed at how busy it was for weekday lunchtime.

Unfortunately though, this meant we waited 30 minutes before our orders were taken, and although we were given a bottle water during this period, more than one table who'd arrived after us had their orders taken before we were approached.

Chatters' menu boasts an extensive selection and we were impressed with the lunchtime specials, which are available along with the standard menu.

At lunchtime, dishes such as honey chicken, green and red curries and basil chicken all cost $9 and included plain rice [fried rice $1 extra]. Dishes such as ginger squid cost $11.

Otherwise, noodle, pork, chicken, rice and vegetable dishes cost between $9 and $13. Omelette dishes cost between $10 and $15, and the lamb and seafood dishes each cost $15. There is also a small but adequate selection of 'Western' dishes.

To start we shared Pandan Chicken, which consisted of four pieces of chicken, each wrapped in banana leaves. The dish came with a delicious dipping sauce that mixed honey and lemon flavours with rice wine. At $7.50 this entree was a touch on the pricey side, considering there were only four pieces. Even so, it was delightful. If you have a fussy eater in your family it is worth noting that garnishes are all dressed.

We had asked the gentleman who took our orders to recommend main dishes, and chose based on the two he nominated.

I chose the Szechuan Chicken and my company selected the Chatters Beef Lunch. The Szechuan Chicken was particularly spicy, although I was warned that it would be. Despite its almost overwhelming chilli flavour, it was very tasty and not too heavy - vital in making it through the afternoon without a nap.

Similarly, my friend enjoyed her Chatters Beef Lunch. She found the beef to be tender with a full garlic flavour and commented that the sweet rice wine flavour made the beef succulent. The fried rice was classically prepared and included egg, shallots, chicken and prawns.

Both the red and white 'Chitter Chatter' house wines were a nice drop, and were not unreasonably priced at $5.50 per glass.

After clearing away our plates, the lady serving us apologised for the long delays and explained that they were due to a large lunchtime crowd with limited time - a perfectly acceptable reason, although as we discussed, we were not asked upon our arrival whether we were on a lunch break.

We then had a long wait until dessert menus were offered, despite the restaurant being virtually empty by this point. For dessert my company had fried ice cream and I had a banana fritter, which was served with two scoops of ice cream drizzled in chocolate and strawberry toppings. Both were enjoyable, if nothing extraordinary. It is also worth sampling the wide range of teas that are available.

Chatters is well laid-out. The tables are not cramped and it is evident that a great deal of consideration was given to its layout and decor.

The website hasn't been updated since the opening of the Midland restaurant, which is disappointing for those of us who like to engage in online reconnaissance prior to visiting a restaurant.

We left just on 3 pm, full and happy, but also wondering where the afternoon had gone.

On the whole, Chatters represents excellent value for money with tasty food and friendly service in very pleasant surroundings. As my friend pointed out, in an age of enormous food serves, Chatters delivers a sensible amount of flavoursome food.

Delays in service can be blamed on the newness of the restaurant - teething problems that we anticipate will be ironed out quickly.

Highly recommended.