Mr. Munchies Sushi - 6050

Bespoke, made fresh sushi? Hell yes! I am LOVING this idea. And its an Australian first. I met Mr Munchie when I was travelling through the arcade that divides Grill'd and Gelare in Mt Lawley. At the end of the passageway I discovered a funky little sushi bar, looking spanking new and begging for me to break it in.

The way it works is that you choose your base - chicken, beef, pork, salmon, tuna, other seafood, or vegetarian (about 16 options!). Then add your stuffing, like cucumber, carrot, raddish, tofu, bacon...Next select fancy toppings such as black sesame, garlic chips or Tobikko and finally pick from one of their Japanese sauces. Your sushi is then made fresh, right before your eyes. In the back kitchen you can see a chef grilling cuts of juicy meats, which are brought out steaming and laid down on the neat rows of sushi and nori, ready to be rolled.

If you find yourself overwhelmed by the freedom of options (I spent at least 20 minutes deciding), then they have some ingenious sushi combos to suggest. I went for the ‘Seafood Roll’, Small size ($10.50). Thick chunks of fresh salmon, cucumber and steamed prawn were wrapped artfully in reverse rice and seaweed, then topped with little chunks of tuna sashimi, chilli flake coils and wasabi mayo and chilli mayo. Just awesome. The effort given to presentation goes beyond expectations of a casual sushi bar and the portion size was very reasonable for a small. Filled me up good.

Small Seafood Roll

This place is going to be a hit. And with options this good and sushi this delicious, I can tell you already I am going to become a regular attachment.

Hits - fresh, fast, customised sushi! The choice!

Misses - No brown rice (pffffft...clutching at straws here.)

Sidney Loves Audrey - 6006

Its one of those coffee-shop-gift-shop meshes, where you can browse the cutesy home-bits and gift trinkets whilst you wait for your take-away coffee. Or if you’re like me, be lured by the heavenly waft of baked goods and decide to hang around.

Big fudgy brownies, chocolate cakes and muffins, resting warm in their baking tin, line the counter. There is free wi-fi but no suitable place to prop up your laptop. Instead the room is scattered with a mix of low-lying vintage settee (yes I just used the term ‘settee’. This is the sixties, remember) and coffee table settings. Sidney Loves Audrey is a good place to mix up your regular coffee and cake catch up.

The coffee, served in cute polka dot crockery and a shortbread cookie man on the side, gets about a 7/10 from me. 

Surrounded by quirky old world wares and Bill Crosby on the radio equate a whimsical air. The proximity to a busy intersection however, encroaches on some of this charm and makes it less cozy. I hope Audrey gets some more lovers so that the chatter of coffee meetings will add up to an inviting and warmer café environment.

CNR Kitchen - 6003

This is a raw food and vegan friendly cafe? Who knew? I blanked it out as a simple coffee shop. In search of a decent cup of joe, what a delightful surprise it was to discover what can only be described as a treasure trove of meatless, colourful, fresh, healthy eats! You'll  find vegan and gluten free "burger" sliders (where the bun is substituted for tomato), raw zucchini pad thai "noodles", raw, nut-cheese "pizza", rainbow salads, raw eggplant parmiagiana, pasta-less and meatless lasagne and the list goes on.

Raw pizza and salad

Raw pizza

 I tried the raw pizza - a dehydrated what-free base generously topped with fresh basil, kalamatta olives, roasted peppers and fresh spinach. Relative to the version at The Raw Kitchen of Freo, I actually found it a little bland, but it was certainly edible.  We also ordered the varietal and healthy "Tasting Plate" of dolmades, guac, tomato salsa, carrot and cucumber batons and a slice of raw pizza. If you're not into this kind of healthy food then you might find these dishes a bit unsatisfying. For the health conscious - you will rejoice! In hindsight I should have ordered their pad thai, sliders or roast veg stack, they all looked amazing!

Tasting plate

Tasting plate

In my experience, the food was not executed with quite the same level of stealth or deliciousness as The Raw Kitchen, but it is slightly more affordable. If The Raw Kitchen cuisine is a 10, then CNR is a 7. Still very good. Where CNR whip the competition is in choice! Breakfast, lunch and dinner all have a sizeable list of options. Meat eaters and wheat eaters are not left out in the cold either, theres yummy things like pancakes, gourmet pork sausage rolls, paninis and even a Waygu beef burger. A group of people with varying tastes can dine here in harmony!

Best is the location  - alfresco seating that spills out onto some marvellous people watching real estate at the Northbridge Piazza. There was a Quiddich match the afternoon I went. Thoroughly amusing. CNR also brew boutique coffee, with their signature roast alongside a daily special, for an extra 50c. And the baristas love telling you about the stuff.

Quiddich at Northbridge Piazza

So have had better raw, vegan food? Yes, but I would definitely come back here again and again. Besides, anywhere that puts pancakes on the breakfast *and* lunch menu is impossible not to love.

Highs - The only location in Perth offering raw and vegan dinners, knowledgeable staff,  big nods to gluten/animal/dairy-free peeps, boutique coffee, the selection!

Lows - Raw pizza could be tastier, a bit dark inside, expensive coffee

Canvas, 6160

Canvas is housed inside the beautiful and historic Fremantle Art Centre. Its a truly tranquil spot to bring a group of friends, some BYO bubbles and have a long table birthday brunch...with a Middle Eastern bent.

 The stars of the menu are the Shak-shukas. You probably know the traditional form - eggs poached in a rich tomato sauce with aromatic spices and fresh herbs, served in a small skillet. Well Canvas have taken this traditional berbers breakfast and made it their signature, offering versions that include fancy things like barrumundi, prawns and pork chipolatas...even lamb brains.

Sea shak-shuka with whiting

I tried the "Sea" version with my pick of whiting. The plentiful dish came with buttered spinach and herbs, labneh, harissa and a side of Moorish (extremely satisfying) bread, olives and herbed butter. The serving was enough for two, but too delicious to be shared :D.

Soup of the day - bean, ham hock

It's still a bit of a Freo kept secret but its in an easy running for one of the best brunches in Perth in my books. 

Ups: inspired breakfast menu, generous serves, house made bread and luxurious herbed butter, peaceful setting

Downs: Coffee was just ok, courtyard cold in Winter. 

Subsequent visit worthy? Yep

Tak'E Sushi, 6059

This has got to be the best take-away sushi I know in Perth. Phenomenal freshness and big time deliciousness, at next to nix prices. I go bananas for the classic canned tuna roll. Flavoursome flaked tuna wrapped with just a slither of lettuce, smudgy avocado and crisp cucumber. The rice is the perfect consistency and there is a generous filling to rice ratio. Six pieces of this fantastic tuna sushi is just $5.50. Bargain! Donburi and bento sets go for about $10-$15.

The miso is also high quality. The taste is wholesome and you’ll find shaved leek wading at the bottom of your styrofoam cup, and its always piping hot!

6 pcs tuna $5.50

Miso soup

The family operating Tak'E are so sweet, greeting everyone with a genuine smile and little bow of the head.

Note that Tak’E is strictly take-away. Standing room only. The shop is tiny! Locals love their Tak’E take-away so be prepared for a bit of a wait if you come at peak times.

Food: 5/5 (Fresh, tasty, good portions).
Service: 4/5 (Helpful, fast…may be a 30-minute wait for fresh made sushi after 6:30pm)
Value: 5/5 (For the quality, it’s awesome!)
Ambience: 4/5 (Even though its just an in-and-out set up, the display of sashimi and friendly family make it a bit special).

Print Hall, 6000

Print Hall is the shiniest edition to the stunning Brookfield Place complex; boasting a brisk bank of bars and restaurants with rockstar chefs and sommeliers. The bar/restaurant by the same name, is one of the first to open and another two- a Hong Kong eating house and morning coffee bar- are primed to get things rolling next week.

A wall of impressive wines divides the drinking from the dining. Even though the bar next door is gushing with people on a Friday night, you feel divided enough that the noise doesn't intrude. If anything, it adds energy. The bathrooms are stylish retro, turning out white tiled walls, turquoise lacquered doors and Aesop soap dispensers. Can a bathroom be 'dapper'?

Great debate saw us go for the Smoked Ocean Trout with crackled pumpernickel, lemon yoghurt, oyster and pickled shallot, $41. Also, the White Asparagus, gnocchi, goat’s cheese, salsify, artichoke, nasturtium, $39. This dish was beautiful. An artistically plated harmony of subtle flavours and melty textures. I'd order this again. The size and presentation of mains are promotive of a three-course meal. If you have an appetite I suggest two courses or getting some sides.

White asparagus, gnocchi main, $39

Smoked trout main, $41

Well-groomed waitstaff are knowledgeable, European and maybe a bit over enthusiastic, not once letting our waters reach below the 3/4 mark.

This was my first time tasting the creations of David Coomer, and expectations were met, however not exceeded. If I had to compare the cuisine to another in Perth, it would be Restaurant Amusé, except with a little more rustic and a little less Heston Blumenthal.

Add it to the bucket list all you serious foodies out there.

Food: 4.5/5 (Inspiring flavours, unheard of ingredients and delightful plating)

Ambience: 4/5 (Classy, airy, slightly but not overly corporate)

Service: 4/5 (Well rehearsed)

Value: 4/5 (Paying for the craft, if you appreciate this kind of dining, then you'll think it fairly reasonable)