Excelsior Deli, 6008

I chanced upon Excelsior Deli whilst running errands in the Western Suburbs the other morning. The pleasant location is accessible yet somewhat secret. A small detour from the Subiaco commercial hub, this cafe-delicatessen is positioned on a leafy Shenton Park street.

I stopped in for a Soy Long Mac after observing the gadgets and damn, it was delicious! The combination of - Synesso machine, 5 Senses Compton Road blend and a moustached barista- is proving a heady mix! Smooth and creamy texture with a hazelnutty, buttery taste. Perfect with soy milk and the best i've had in months! It reminded me a lot of the stuff at The Daily Espresso Bar in Swanbourne, who guess what? - use the Synesso/5 senses/hipster barista formula too.

The nifty space has seating to convenience a variety of visitors: 4 seaters, alfresco seekers, newspaper readers and a big table up the back with a bit more privacy that would work nicely for client meetings.

Back table ideal for meetings

There are some tidy looking sweets like Portuguese tarts, chocolate banana bread and oval berry friands which look either home made or very well sourced. You could also make a satisfying brunch of one of the savoury items. And also: gelato! I'm not sure of the brand or if its homemade but it stood out as high quality to me.

     


Need to get caffeinated in Subi? Detour to Onslow Rd. You wont be disappointed.

Coffee: 4.5/5 (Food and drink is not cheap but oh, that coffee was gewwwd!)

Service: 3/5 (Nay the fastest coffee up, but they're concentrating on consistency)

Value: 2/5 (Regular Soy Long Mac = $5)

Dough Pizza, 6000

In a nightlife hotspot, and with a funky (if slightly young and trendy) décor, its gratifying to see the main focus here is the authentic Napoli pizzas. This means airy crust with a charred exterior and a chewy centre with pointedly sparse toppings. 

As the name articulates, the key to a perfect pizza is the dough. And the Italians operating the wood-fired oven here in Northbridge have nailed it! True to Naples in flavour and form, the bases are thin but not waif-like, pliable and slightly chewy. Pizzas are cooked in a wood fired oven at high temperatures for short time, giving the pizza the wonderful, rustic bubbled edges. The toppings are delightful too. You'll only find authentic combinations such as the salty and brazen; 'Puttanesca': capers, olives, and some serious anchovies, scattered over a wonderful tomato base. This pizza is a triumph of moderation.

'Capricciosa', $22

To beat the Sunday evening blues one night recently, my clan and I ordered one Capricciosa, $22; marinated artichoke, smoked ham, Spanish olives and mushrooms on a Margherita base; a Prawns pizza, $24.50; Marinara, prawns, zucchini and rocket; and a Diavola, $22; Ventricina (smoky pork salami), olives, roast capsicum and chilli. A Margherita base by the way, means tomato sauce with buffalo mozzarella. 

'Prawns', $24.50

With its spicy and salty combination, the Diavola was the first to go. Unfortunately they forgot the rocket element on the Prawns. The chunky curled prawns were however, cooked to perfection...so I let that minor gripe go. 

'Diavola', $22

After getting my 'mangia' on like I'd never 'mangia'-d before, I quickly decided this was the best pizza I'd eaten in Perth. Dough is about quality ingredients and long-established recipes. Pinning down the essentials. The flavours are punchy without the reliance on hunks of frivolous toppings like pork belly or cajun spiced chicken. Quite a different pizza experience from the Little Caesars variety. 

BYO and proximity to Perth bar life mean groups of young people abound here. If you're bothered by the noise, order take-away or if you're fortunate enough to live in the surrounding suburbs, they deliver too!

Food: 4/5 (Near perfect dough, well sourced toppings, stays true to tradition)

Ambience: 3/5 (Buzzing if thats what you're up for, but don't plan an intimate dinner)

Service: 3/5 (Simple and Italian, much like the food)

Value: 3/5 

Ley Sreet Cafe, 6152

I don't know about you, but sometimes I find weekend brunch can turn into a stressful assignment. Deciding where to go is the first hurdle, and then when you reach your DBS (Destination Brunch Spot)* there's the task of coordinating your party to eye-off and shotgun tables (or if you're desperate; squeezing your group of five onto a table that's really designed for two), and then deciding on what lavish dish to order. Occasionally I yearn for the ease of a quiet NBS (Neighborhood Brunch Spot)** where you can just breeze in at a desired hour and the menu isn't going to overwhelm you with choice. Occasionally I don't want to get dressed up to eat breakfast. Occasionally I like to walk away from breakfast with change for a $20.

 

Ley Street Café falls into the NBS category. It's an understated and homely nook with salvaged furniture and chalk squiggled walls. An unfussy menu of hearty breakfast includes cheesy scrambled eggs ($9), Bacon & Egg Sandwhich with homemade BBQ Sauce ($12), and (really good) hollandaise eggs served on the humble English muffin ($6.50 for one egg, $12 for two). While the food isn't exactly the stuff of a foodie Instagram feed, it's comforting and cooked well. Between the Sayers and the Tuck Shops, I relished the simplicity at Ley Street. 

Eggs Florentine, two eggs ($12) and Cheesy scrambled eggs on toast ($9) with Mushrooms

 
It's a one-man show, so the food takes a bit of time. And that coffee...well, its drinkable at least. Owner-chef Adam makes up for these little glitches with his endearing Louis Theroux-ness. ALSO you have the option of a half or full serve of eggs AND my breakfast and coffee came to under $10. True story. 

One egg Eggs Florentine with Adam's tangy-buttery-delish Hollandaise ($6.50)

Cheesy Scrambled eggs on toast ($9) with side of mushrooms

*Involves any combination of: Decadent breakfast menu. You've ventured from your side of the River to get there. 15+ minute wait to get a table after 9:00am. Artisan roast coffee. Sh*tty parking prospects on account of the aforementioned things.

**Is defined by two or more of: Breakfast menu does not read like a work of creative fiction. You could linger over the paper and breakfast crumbs without receiving death stares from waiting patrons. You wouldn't cross any Causeways to get there. Unsurprising to see a diner sporting tracksuit pants/ugg boots/bed hair.

Food: 3/5 - Cooked well, prepared simply. 

Coffee: 2/5 - Mediocre, soy milk was less than great.

Ambience: 3.5/5 - Down-home, stress-free comforts

Value: 4.5/5 - $10 for an Eggs Benny. Yippee!

Genesis In The Hills, 6111

I love a good vegetarian find, and I'm generally willing to clock up a few kms to try it out, so it was a warm Autumn day that I made the drive out to the Hills for this Genesis.

Quite literally nestled among the Perth Hills, the tranquil and charming Australiana surrounds are the real drawing card here. Fronting the cafe is a beautiful veranda with wooden tables and chairs. The veranda wraps around the side of the cafe, hovering over pretty bushland.

From the small menu of meat-free dishes I chose the quinoa salad. A rainbow of both fresh and cooked vegetables with a herbed yoghurt dressing and a smattering of almonds. I feel healthy just looking at it!

Whilst the light and healthy meals were fresh, they were a bit overpriced and not really day trip worthy - the charming destination however, certainly is.  Dining amongst green bushland, patchwork homewares and a resident labrador, you can easily feel at Home Sweet Home. 

The warm and friendly owner will take the time to come around to each table after your meal to see that you enjoyed your lunch, which is a heartfelt touch.

Luscious cakes. Front: Banana, Halva and Almond. Right: Baked Ricotta Choc

If you're a sweet tooth, you could argue the cakes are worth the trek also. Moist and sticky, yoghurt and fruit based cakes. I managed to pass up on a piece of the Banana Halva Almond. Oh my goooodnessss!

Food: 3.5/5 (fresh and healthy but no wow here. The cakes however? To-die)

Service: 4/5 (genuine and friendly)

Ambience: 5/5 (Supremely tranquil and quiet surrounded by natural bushland in a homey establishment)

Value: 3/5 (Prices were too expensive) 

Miss Kitty's Saloon, 6052

Themed bars. I’m a sucker for them. In this scenario it’s a Western saloon in Austin, TX….but minus the live band and add classier food.  Jean pocket seat covers, free unshelled peanuts, American soundtrack, clustered old furniture, plywood booths and a preloved piano, are some of the saloon style fixtures that give this place character. Borderline tacky (in a good way!) and of course less lived-in than the real deal, Miss Kitty’s is a comfortable venue with a serving of cheek.

 
There is just the right amount of dim light to enable a good time vibe and a steady flow of libations. Because it feels more natural to order a succession of ‘Paloma’s (grapefruit, lime, tequila, $14) mid-week, when the lights are dim, no? 

The food! Its inventive, cooked well, and largely made on site (read: house cured ham, and homemade pickles and sauces). Most importantly though, the nosh is different. Never before have Perth dinner menus rendered such combinations as – chilli con carne on a waffle, or chicken wings on a pancake. If you’ve ever ventured to the U-S of A however, you’ll know these kind of fearless, sweet and fatty food pairings are commonplace in the deep South. Expats be mindful though, ‘cos this Kitty does things a little different from the motherland. Miss K recreates Canadian and US diner comfort food favourites, in a suited up and slimmed down manner. Case in point: the Mustard Cured Meatloaf, $19. Served with a crumbed prawn and a tinsel of fresh greens, it’s more terrine than beefcake and will probably be the most delicate meatloaf you will ever see. Miss Kitty’s is not so much about eat-til-you-bloat grub, and more concerning small, tasty plates that are made for sharing. On that note, the portions could be a little more generous for the price. Bad Kitty. 

The hospitality philosophy at Miss Kitty’s doesn’t fall far from what owner Ian Lawless did with his earlier venture at Kistch Bar - leisurely, social dining. Order a couple of items at a time, share the flavours, and relax with a brew between dishes.

On a Wednesday night we hit the ground running with the Empanadas ($9 for 3). The slightly flaky and yellow pastry gave way to an unconventional filling of broccoli and ricotta. They were tasty as all git-out! The two-bite morsels came with delicious smoked tomato ketchup that I just wanted more of. 

Broccoli and ricotta empanadas, $9

BBQ Mopped Chicken, $25, albeit the least outstanding of the night, was still enjoyable. The chicken itself, was outperformed by the accompanying house-pickled vegetables. Can I buy a jar of these? 

BBQ Mopped Chicken, $25

As a fan of cornmeal, an order of the Beef Chilli topped corn waffle with avocado cream, $9 hit the spot. The waffle was light and fluffy, with a satisfying little crunch. It worked wonders against the smooth avo cream and the wet meat mince. 

Beef Chilli, corn waffle, avocado cream, $9

A Texan culinary classic- Pork Ribs ($14.5 for 6-7 ribs) felt necessary. Rubbed with Tamarind and served with sweet yoghurt, corn and chilli sauce, the treacly and savoury ribs had a scrumptious char to them, but were a bit slim on the flesh. 

Tamarind Pork Ribs, $14.5

Service – dressed in doo-rags and gingham- comes with a ‘we’re-new-and-want-to-make-a-good-impression’ enthusiasm, but a few teething problems too. I credit the open manner to food service though. You don’t feel rushed to eat up and hit the road. 

Rusted old objects decorate the room

Miss Kitty’s is an adventurous new addition to this side of town, and I only hope it acts as a catalyst for further pursuits at the Inglewood end of Beaufort St. I suggest y’all round up your gang for a good time, and hotfoot it to the saloon!

Free candy jars!

Hits: Friendly vibe, customer service, novelty factor, and above all- the ballsy, interesting and tasty food. Empanadas and Ribs especially yum.
Misses: Not high value for money, a few creases in service timing.

Mount Street Cafe, 6000

You could come here for a nice breakfast, a great coffee, or a slice of house-made chocolate hazelnut cake, but really you should make time for the contemporary Asian fusion menu. It's fantastic. Hailing from Longrain (Melbourne, Yelp it), the chef ups the ante on Asian favourites like - Vietnamese pho with ox-tail wontons ($12), Pork belly braised in, wait for it - coffee - with radish and green apple ($28), and Chinese style duck crepes with orange and hoisin sauce ($12). Zing-zang!

MSC is located at street level of Riverview apartments. Eucalyptus trees abound

The prices tip the higher end of the scale, but this shouldn't come as a shock considering the standard, or the privileged location. The only surprises you'll find is - a truly tranquil unchartered territory that serves up divine haute-Asian fusion cuisine. Just note that quality takes prevalence over quantity. Think delicate small portions, but exquisite. 

I ordered the Pan Fried Pink Snapper with Apple Potato Puree and Radish Salad ($28). Artfully presented, the plate was an appetising juxtaposition of textures and flavours - crunchy/creamy, and sweet/salty. Beautiful.

Snapper with apple potato puree and radish salad, $28

I was was eyeballing dishes placed before my neighbouring diners, and they were doing the same onto me. I think I eye-witnessed just about every dish on offer (quite a small, yet well formed menu), and they all had me making mental notes for next visit. And there will be a next visit 

Sit at the bar for prime kitchen viewing

The ambience and service reflects the direction of the food - modern, a little bit slick, but open and peaceful. The Eucalyptus leafy, Cul-de-sac location really lends to the tranquil setting.

Modern alfresco dining area

Also note - so you're not in for a rude shock, that parking is limited and its not exactly cheap. 

Food: 4/5 Contemporary, creative, a feat of balance and texture

Ambience: 4/5 Peace and quiet, shut away

Service: 4.5/5 Enthusiastic, fast and pleasant. 

Jamie's Italian, 6000

I was over the moon! I had scored an invitation for opening night, at my favourite lisping celebrity chef's newest venture. I didn't get the opportunity to snap any pictures of the food, but I still have my words, if you'll have them :) ... 

A fancied mix of classic and modern furnishings create a cheery ambience

Jamie's Italian is pretty much Mr. Oliver personified. From the food, to service, to the décor, everything echoes Jamie's philosophy, without being "branded" or cheesey. 

The space is a playful mingle of old and new-world with splices of Italian bright red, white and green throughout. Retro booths and jade tiling, offset rough-hewn surfaces, hanging food produce, copper mesh lights and a blingy chandelier. A merge of hip and timeless, casual and classic. Warm, jovial and mightily inviting.

The food is really like eating from the pages of a Jamie cookbook. We tried two pastas and a chocolate pot dessert. Pastas - rolled on site, cooked al dente and prepared simply- were thoroughly enjoyable. Dessert was lovely too. More bitter than sweet, the chocolate mousse was presented in a coffee cup, complete with cappuccino-top cocoa dusting and caramelized biscotti. Very cute and perfect for sharing.

The stylish tiled bar, and collared shirt-and-tie staff

The most exciting thing about the food is the realistic pricing. Factoring in the CBD location and celebrity endorsement- $9 for expert dessert, and pastas averaging $20 - is awesome. This makes all those "$20 Pasta Special"'s at other eateries look laughable. Competitors will be red-faced and shaking in their boots! 

The cocktail and wine list is excellent too. I can still taste that Clic Pinot Grigio in my mouth now -delicious!

In a nutshell, Jamie's Italian speaks rustic, warm, whimsical, contemporary and an emphasis on quality ingredients - much like the man himself. A win for Perth.

Food: 4/5 Simple, fresh food, made on site where possible, skilfully cooked. 

Ambience: 5/5 Warm, welcoming and coolly smart.

Value: 5/5 Antipasti approx $10pp, pastas $11-$30 and magnificent desserts approx $10

Drinks: 5/5 Great range of italian whites and reds, exciting cocktail list