Perth Dining Highlights
Perth is changing. Thank God.
Don’t get me wrong – I adore Perth. My family and bestest friends live there. The weather is FAR better than crappy Melbourne weather. Perth also has the most beautiful beaches in the world (IMHO).
But I used to dread going back to Perth from Melbourne, because there seemed to be very few places to go that served good food and coffee at a reasonable price, with decent service too.
These places exist! Fabulous little restaurants, cafes and bars are popping up all over this pretty city.
Yes the prices are generally higher than Melbourne. Yes, the service in many places is still rubbish. But I was very happy to discover the following little gems on my most recent visit.
Boubar
Boubar is a little cafe on Hampden Road (near University of Western Australia) that seems to be full, all the time. The coffee is GOOD! And $3.70, which for Perth is not too bad – my poor Mum paid $5 for a flat white the other day..
Such a shame that this cappuccino took 25 MINUTES TO ARRIVE! That’s right. 25 minutes. But you know what? Boubar is walking distance from my Mum and Dad’s place. I really really wanted to like it. I desperately wanted to like it. So I went back with my friend a week later for a Sunday morning breakfast.
I am so glad that I did. The coffees arrived super fast this time, even though they were just as busy. The staff were friendly and happy to chit chat, and didn’t make too much fun of me for not being able to pronounce Croque Monsieur (shut up).
This was good. Very very good. Although if a dish has ham, gruyere, bechamel and dijon mustard, I’m pretty much guaranteed to like it.
Unfortunately my lovely friend wasn’t as impressed with her muesli, which looked a little stingy, and was apparently too sweet:
Oh well. If you decide to check it out, order the Croque Monsieur. Just learn how to pronounce it first.
Boubar 31A Hampden RoadPerth 6009 (08) 9386 9301
George’s Meze Restaurant
This place is apparently packed if you come here on a Saturday night. My parents and I had dinner here on a Sunday, and there were only three other tables. Such a shame. My Mum tried calling five other restaurants before George’s, all of them closed. So I’m wondering, is it a vicious cycle? Do Perth restaurants close on a Sunday because people don’t come, and do Perthies not go out on a Sunday because everything is closed?!
Anyway. Very glad that the five other restaurants were closed because George’s was wonderful. We ordered this platter to share as an entree:
The grilled octopus and the calamari were both spectacular – very fresh and so tender. We had trouble finishing this between three of us!
As a main I ordered moussaka. Have you ever seen moussaka look pretty? I have:
Not the best photo unfortunately. (DID I MENTION THAT I’VE JUST BOUGHT A CANON 550D?! So in theory, my pictures will be much much prettier very soon. Once I figure out how to use the damn thing..). In fact, looking at this photo now is reminding me a little of cat food. But it was good, I promise. We also ordered a bottle of Angrove organic shiraz. Which was beautiful.
Very soft and fruity. Organic wine FTW! Check out the fish tank in the background. My Dad made friends with a giant orange fish. Fish tanks: not just for entertaining children.
George’s Meze Restaurant 26 Denis Street Subiaco 6008 (08) 9388 1585Nine Fine Food
This restaurant is just beautiful. Interesting Japanese fusion that isn’t too up its own bum.
We ate a lot of platters that week! You could very easily order this as a main. I couldn’t eat the fish, but Mum and Dad reported that it was great. The scallops (yes, I can eat shellfish and not fish. Yes it’s weird) were a little undercooked for me, but Dad loved them.
I had a very pretty surf n turf for my main which was simply called ‘Steak and Prawn’
That. Mushroom. Sauce. Yowza. Delicious prawns. Beautifully cooked steak. Best dish I ate in Perth. Best service too – just wonderful.
We had to order dessert. I must mention that while we were waiting, Dad and I both put our glasses on upside down to see if Mum would notice. She didn’t. It was hilarious. We embarrassed her so much. It was great.
We are very mature.
She would have walked away if this hadn’t arrived:
Again, not a great photo. But I couldn’t omit this banana chocolate red bean hazelnut ice creamy wonder.
Nine Fine Food 227-229 Bulwer St Northbridge 6003 (08) 9227 9999Andaluz Bar and Tapas
Andaluz bar and tapas gets a special mention. My friends and I didn’t try the food here as we’d stuffed ourselves with pizza at Lo Zucchero (great food but the waitress was nuts), but the cocktails were lovely.
That’s not the reason why Andaluz gets a special mention though. The special mention is because I had to literally RUN from the bar, because my crazy friend (let’s call her N), tried to drag me into a photo with George Calombaris, Gary Mehigan, Matt Moran and Manu Feildel.
They were sitting in a cozy little booth enjoying their food. N was screaming ‘COME ON LET’S GET A PHOTOOOOOOOOO!’ and dragging me across the bar. So I ran. Good thing I did because N emailed this to me on Monday:
Oh N. You so crazy. This is an excerpt from her email:
“The other chef guy was there too (Gary) but he is to my LHS so not in the photo. I think I said “hi my name’s N, what’s your name?” to which he replied “excuse-me?” but in that tone that was like, OMG, you don’t know who I am? I think I promptly changed the subject. Wish you were there, it was hilarious.”
God I love her.
Andaluz Bar and Tapas 21 Howard Street Perth 6000 9481 0092
Food gobbler. Wine lover. Kitteh keeper. Gen-Y. Fiancée. Twitter addict.
Fighting the war against Leggings As Pants one fashion victim at a time... 
LOL your friend has quite an amusing character, hehehee.
She is hilarious. And crazy.
Hahaha, that photo cracks me up! (Tho I would have run too.)
It was my exercise for the week :P
You are SUCH a jetsetting restaraunt critic, watch out that dude with the Cravat.. hmm.. what’s his name? Kidding.
Glad you had such a great trip. Though, $5 for a coffee?! SHUT. UP.
Yeah. Seriously. The justification was that it came with a little biscuit. Pathetic!
Oh wow, I’m a Perth girl too (moved to Melbs last year). So glad to see things are starting to develop. True, our beaches kick serious butt, but the coffee STINKS!
That pic with George is hilarious :)
Yay Em! Huzzah for Perth girls!
I just saw this because I live near 9 Fine Food and have been meaning to go – Youve definitely sold me!
Also.. I’m allergic to fish but not shellfish too – super weird huh?