House of Crabs, Redfern

What a hoot! This place packs in so much fun. Order your crustacean of choice, bib up, dig in and get messy. Brilliant for birthdays or to bring a group of acquaintances/strangers. First date venue? Bold!

For the sauce, you've got to get the Cajun - cinnamon, cayenne pepper, finger-licking good. Don't gloss over the sides though. We gobbled down Chorizo Occcy balls, kale salad and the cheesey lobster fries, om nom nom.

The downer was that its rreeaallly noisy, we could hardly hear each other speak. Also, that unisex toilet - a tad awkward. All in all House of Crabs is howling good time.

House of Crabs

Level 1, 305 Cleveland Street
Redfern, NSW 2016
Upstairs at The Norfolk
Lunch: Friday
Dinner: Tues - Sat

Estia, 6052

There have got to be only a handful of Greek restaurants in Perth (kebab shops not included!). When playing word association with Greek food, I think dolmades, greek salad and 3am kebab. Well, Estia plates up beautiful Greek dishes that prove far more sophistication and variety than the stereotypes.

The restaurant is modern with hints of 'Greek', themed in pale blue. Casually elegant and warm, much like the cheery boss - a lovely Cyprus man who makes sure every table leaves happy and full. And I don't say 'full' lightly - the portions are HUGE. This is some of the best value restaurant food you will find. The Spaghetti Thalassina ($27) is a supremely generous dish - four kinds of seafood; prawn, fish, squid and scallops, married in a glorious tomato sauce with peas and red peppers.

Spaghetti Thalasina

The restaurant speciality is the massive shared mezze; two courses of Greek delights like olives, fresh pitta, dips, grilled seafood and meats with all the trimmings. If you're not in a grazing and sharing mood, you wont be hampered with the mixed bag of mains of offer - seafood, meat, salads, vegetarian, light, heavy... a dish for every belly.

Prawn Saganaki

The Prawn Saganaki ($28) is a treat. Plump prawns cooked in a rammekin of rich tomato sauce, roast peppers, topped with melty haloumi and a side of fresh toasted pita. The Spanakopita ($26) is a classic Greek dish when you want something unfussy but satisfying. Spinach and fetta layered between flaky filo pastry with yoghurt dill sauce and rocket salad.

Spanakopita

The entrees are also massive. We share a squid entree; tender coils in a dusting of herbed flour. Two of us had the soft shell crab entree for main. 2-3 whopping crabs in a crispy batter and a drizzle of garlicky, lemony aioli.

The only let down was the  dolmades. Too fat on the rice and the vine leaves too dry. I missed the vingery taste and dissolve away texture.

Dolmades entree

Soft shell crab entree

Daggers of food envy were directed at this lavish dish - Velvet ribbons of parpadelle roped with prawns, spicy sojuk sausage, broccoli, artichoke hearts and cream sauce, $27. It was like an antipasti in a pasta dish. Deluxe!

Parpadelle with prawns, artichoke, sausage, broccoli, $27

Estia is a winner. Unpretentious ambient restaurant with beautiful Greek food in colossal proportions.

Food: 4/5 (BIG portions, terrific value, masterfully cooked seafood, wide choice)
Ambience: 4/5 (spruce enough for a celebration, warm and friendly)
Service: 4.5/5 (jolly and efficient)
Value: 5/5

Red Cray Seafood & Grill, 6104

I'll get straight to the point - Red Cray is probably my favourite seafood restaurant in Perth. The seafood is always cooked perfectly and supremely fresh. Consistency is excellent. The dishes aren't the most inventive but they're still quality. Red Cray is a restaurant that would please a gourmand snob (aka yours truly) as well as it would a foodie simpleton.

In addition to the excellent people in the kitchen; the floor staff en pointe too. Everyone greets you as you enter and acknowledge you as you leave. Wine glasses are kept topped and tables are laid with acute attention detail.

Seafood platter $75

Garlic butter prawns

The decor only 'attempts' at stylish, but there is still a quiet elegance about the place at night. The location is less than desirable- on Great Eastern Highway, which makes parking a bit of a hassle, but I like that this area doesn't attract the same hoity-toity clientele (or prices) that seafood restaurants in the coastal suburbs bring. Red Cray is comfortable classy.

King Snapper, broccollini, vine roasted tomatoes and croquettes $32

Steak special...can't remember what exactly but it was ridiculous!

Booking is essential at Red Cray - they have quite a reputation. I also recommend for food, treat yourself and order the shared platter, $75: garlic prawns, chilli mussels, natural oysters, fried calamari, scollops, battered fish, grilled fish and chips. Unbelievably good value. The platter defeated two grown men at my table. I think I could get through this with the help of three girlfriends, to give you an idea. 

Fish of the day

If you don't like seafood there are plenty alternative options too, but you really must order seafood!

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambience: 4/5

Matilda Bay Restaurant & Bar,

For special occasions or locals toting out-of-towners; Matilda Bay is a popular choice. An assemblage of pretty, white sailboats, bobbing in this quiet alcove of the Swan River; the location is equal parts tranquil, dainty and Western Australian. But does the kitchen match up to the views? 

Oysters, Ruby Grapefruit, Chilli Salsa $4ea

The menu spoils diners with choice. Along with a list of mains, there are various meats off the grill and fitting to the locaiton; stunning seafood options too. Vegetarian options exist but they're not extensive. Mains range from $38 for a shallot tart (an art piece) to; $78 (oh!) for a seafood platter for just one. 

Deeee-vinnee freshly baked bread and Olive Tepenade $6.50

Barramundi, Spiced Pumpkin Mash, Asparagus

Duck main of some sort, sorry can't recall!

I ordered the Hot Smoked Salmon fillet, Courgette, Caper and Confit Garlic, Lemon Aioli. When the dish was presented to me; it was even more enticing than the image i'd made in my mind. This was for sure, the finest seafood meal I had tasted in a some time! 

Hot smoked salmon, courgette, capers, lemon aioli 

Seafood Risotto

Mixed lettuce, green olive and cucnumber side salad $12

I was far too absorbed in my own meal to get any details on my fellow diners, but everyone was equally impressed. I think I can let the photos do the talking here. 
I should note that the menu changes very regularly and I'd guess that the kitchen has made some alterations and introductions since my visit. Regardless, I'm confident you'll find something as outstanding as we did.

Mixed tomato side salad $12

Shallot Tart $38

A decor that says "simple, modern, elegance" worked well. It allows for the waterfront views to take center stage.  Our waitress was well quipped, passionate even, on the menus offerings. She was professional but approachable and even a bit Aussie. It fit well with the setting actually. 

Amelia Park Lamb Scotch $38 (slow roasted for 18 hours)

I expected to put this in the "overhyped, overpriced" pile but Matilda Bay exceeded my expectations. It’s one of the few high-end restaurants that match stunning views with stunning food. And so to answer that first question; it's a big, whopping YES. 

Food: 5/5

Ambience: 4/5

Service: 4/5

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

The Brisbane Hotel, 6003

Grilled Tasmanian Salmon, Niçoise Salad

I'm a big fan of The Brisbane Hotel or what is referred to by some as "the Brizzie".  The service is excellent, the food is consistently good and the atmosphere reminds me a little of being in a Balinese resort.   They do salt and pepper squid SO well - tiny pieces of squid rings in light crispy batter, never thick and chewy like some crappy calamari I find too often (Sienas is a good example).   Their modern take on the Salmon Niçoise is my favourite, and I order this almost every time I'm here for dinner, it's that delicious...this is unlike me too, as I usually like to try as many different menu items possible. I'd hate to get in a food-rut...after all variety truly is the spice of life!   The pizzas at The Brisbane are super yummy as well; bases not too thick, not too thin and the toppings are a original, yet restrained (unlike some other pizza places that get a bit carried away with the gourmet toppings - here's looking at you Little Caesars).  I'd highly recommend The Brisbane for get-togethers on lazy Sunday afternoons - it's a great space and the homemade sausage rolls, dips and other shares always go down a treat with groups...the Mojitos are awesome too!

Food: 4/5

Service: 4/5

Ambiance: 4/5

Price: $$

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