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.
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| 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?
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| 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.
