Wednesday 28 December 2011

Missy Moos, 6162


Cheery service and décor dotted with childhood nostalgia; Missy Moos is a happy-go-lucky burger bar.  Kids texta drawings, pinned with alphabet magnets decorate the counter. Kitschy plastic watering cans and tomatoes are used for table numbers, colourful oragami dangle from the ceiling, and menu items are named from various children's nursery rhymes.

One missy moo chicken burger plus extras
I first tried the 'missy moo chicken burger'; the chicken tenderloins were cooked perfectly and there was a generous smash of fresh avocado inside. I must say I've had a better chicken burger elsewhere however.  The accompanying onion chutney was overly sweet, even to a sugar fiend like me. I would have liked the option of a brown bun over a white one too.

Chicken burger, dissected

If you like your veggie burgers, Missy Moos does the best version. Order the 'peter, peter pumpkin eater': a pattie of spicy pumpkin, spinach, cous cous and butter bean; its full of flavour!

'Peter Peter, Pumpkin Eater'


If you're more of a sandwich person, they do a whopping club sandwich too but be warned; I’ve seen it leave a grown man defeated.

Burger: 3.5/5
Chips: 2.5/5
Service: 5/5
Ambience: 4/5

Missy Moos Burger Bar on Urbanspoon


Friday 23 December 2011

Halo, 6000

Looking for a quintessential ‘Perth’ dining experience with a view?  Forget C Restaurant and make your way to Barrack Street Jetty. It’s here you’ll find Halo Restaurant, hovering over the ripples of the Swan River.  


It’s a fine dining experience that encapsulates everything there is to celebrate about Perth; fresh seafood, stunning waterfront views and that close to perfect weather.   I recommend Halo for a Friday or Sunday lunch to capitalize on the pristine scenery. 

Amazing French bread
Barramundi, sweet corn risotto, avocado

The restaurant itself is smart and contemporary; with service to match.  Our Irish waiter showed the informed and enthusiastic service that I find to be absent in most Perth eateries.

Green salad side


Fish on cumin carrots, fish samosa and eggplant relish

In matters of food, it’s all made with high quality and (very) locally sourced ingredients. What’s arguably the best part of the eatables at Halo is their magnificent bread. It’s baked by an in-house French Boulanger, who is employed solely to bake beautiful bread for the restaurant. 

Roast pumpkin, beetroot and greens salad


Rolled sponge with lemon creme and pannacotta
The menu is heavily skewed in the direction of all things form the sea and you can taste the freshness in every bite. I ordered a Barramundi dish when I had lunch at Halo a few weeks ago.  Whilst the fish was cooked perfectly, I have to say each individual item on my plate was greater than the it’s whole.  The fish was served on a base of cumin carrots, a fish samosa and a spiced eggplant relish. The chef was obviously going for a bit of a Middle Eastern take, but the flavours didn’t quite connect. 

Chocolate fondant, mocha soil, chocolate truffles and maybe a mocha parfait?


Money shot

Never being someone to shy away from dessert, of course I had to try the Chocolate Fondant cake.  This was even more enjoyable than my main.  It comprised a perfectly gooey fondant cake, chocolate truffle cubes, mocha soil and some sort of mousse/parfait which I forget precisely what it was.  I'd like to bet that the same French Boulanger was responsible for this dessert, because it was superb. I had to fend off foreign forks, picking at the chocolate truffles on my plate!



Rhubarb pannacotta, raspberry sorbet, white chocolate parfait, rhubarb jelly


Food: 4/5
Ambience: 5/5 
Service: 5/5


Halo on Urbanspoon

Thursday 8 December 2011

Saffron Indian Restaurant, 6052

Riding home in a taxi a few weeks ago,  I was knocked out by the strong smell of curry permeating the car.  I asked my friend sitting next to me if she could smell it too. The cab driver overheard and explained it was his dinner sitting in the boot and asked if I wanted to try some of it….as enticing as it smelt, I kindly declined his offer. It would be just a little awkward stopping on the side of the road, at 3am, to eat curry out of the boot of a taxi, no?  Whilst on the topic of curry with the cabby, and feeling fatigued with my current resorts in Indian cuisine, I started quizzing him on the best places to get Indian around Perth. The driver told me without hesitation, "Saffron, Inglewood".  I asked him what he thought of Gogos Madras Curry House, my current trust in Indian. He branded them "average". Intriguing.  What I describe as amazing, this guy considers mediocre, and apparently that plain looking Indian restaurant opposite IGA and Tyre-power, has promise. Naturally, this became my next culinary inquisition.



Fish Goan Curry $23.50
The restaurant itself is a large open space, perfect for groups.  Hanging lights and wooden floor boards. Matching burgundy chairs and table cloths make for an uninspired but homely decor.


We ordered a serve of Vegetarian Samosas ($9.50) the Channa Masala ($15.90) Malai Kofta ($16.90), Fish Goan Curry ($23.50), a Kachumbar Salad ($4.50) and spiced Raita ($4.50) and wholemeal Paratha ($4.50) to mop up the curry sauce.

Channa Masala $19.50

Paratha $4.50

Tummies rumbling, the waitress brought over our entree Samosas.  Everyone at the looked at the epic Samosa with shared surprise -  they were MASSIVE. Three giant triangles of crunchy pastry filled with a mash of peas, carrots, potatoe and fragrant spices. The sauce that came with them was a treat for the taste buds too.

Epic Veg Samosas $9.50

Samosa dissection

Chana Masala was enjoyed by all - a mix of large, pulpy chickpeas and caramelised onions, flavoured with masala, coriander and cream.  My favourite dish was the Malai Kofta.  Soft, fluffy balls made from potato, cheese and chickpea flower, swimming in a creamy cashew nut sauce. Its no wonder that the creamiest, nuttiest curries always taste the best. We levelled out the rich curries with zesty Kachumber salad. Itty-bitty dices of cucumber, tomato and an unexpected carrot, doused in vinegar dressing.  

Malai Kofta $16.90
A word of warning: don't come here for an early dinner, with plans to catch the 7:10 movie, because the service isn't speedy.  It's not sloppily slow, but slow like the cooks are taking careful time with your meals.  To me the wait is a small sacrifice, especially when you get to pass the time with great friends and BYO wine.

Food: 4/5
Ambience: 2.5/5
Service: 2.5/5

Saffron Indian Restaurant on Urbanspoon

Tuesday 6 December 2011

Bench Espresso, 6000

Whilst I'm no coffee specialist, I have drank enough Soy Cappuccinos to recognise an excellent coffee when I try one. The tribe of discerning coffee drinkers is becoming a noticeable wedge in Perth's sub-culture, and the availability of a quality brew is vast and growing, particularly in the CBD.

Soy Mocha, Cappuccino

Allow me to illustrate my point with newcomer: Bench Espresso.  At the less happening end of Hay St, the espresso bar has a sleek, modern interior, punctuated with deep purple and lime green. You can pick up slices and bakes, or try one of their really tasty looking toasties.  I don't need to go on about how delicious the coffee is, but I will recommend trying their hot chocolate or a mocha. They use those most exquisite liquid coverture chocolate. If coffee alone isn't enough caffeine to buzz you out of that 3pm slump, doubling it with Belgian chocolate is sure to do the trick.



Coffee: 4.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambience: 3.5/5

Bench Espresso on Urbanspoon