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)

Nobu, 6100

Three words: Black Cod Miso. Whatever you do, make sure you recite these words to your waiter. A Nobu dining experience is not absolute without this unimaginably perfect piece of fish. At $46 a pop, the signature cod is marinated for three days and the result is delicate, fall-apart, buttery, honeyed, ambrosial....so....friggen...good. 

The signature Black Cod Miso

The rest of the dishes were beautiful but not outstanding. I wasn't ooh-ing or ahh-ing after every dish like I was here. For fine fining establishments in Perth, there are a few others that I would sooner choose for a special occasion. 

Baby Artichoke Salad

Before the holy Black Cod Miso, we also tried the shaved Baby Artichoke Salad- made interesting with truffle ($25); and the Ocean Trout Sashimi with Jalapenos ($26). I loved the Latin American twist. 

Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeno

For our 'hot' plates we opted for the special - Watermelon Soft Shell Crab – a wicked blend of flavours and textures and a spectacle for the eyes! Who would have thought of serving watermelon warm? Nobu, apparently! 

Watermelon Soft Shell Crab

After reading about the wonders of the Tuna Sashimi, I had to try one piece. The tuna was succulent, but $7 is a bit over the top for a raw piece of fish. 

Tuna Sashimi x 1

Our cocktails - Mia Margarita (Tequila Reposada, Honey, Passionfruit Purée, Lemon Juice & Shichimi) and Champagne cocktail (Grand Marnier, Peach Liqueur, Pineapple Purée & a Champagne Float); both $18 and both absolutely delicious! The champagne kind was especially unique. Definitely go for one of the Summery cocktails over other libations on offer.

As every special occasion dinner should end, we finalized our meal with dessert. I had the Bento Box - chocolate fondant cake with green tea ice cream and my compardre had the Ichigo
 -Strawberry Pannacotta, Yuzu Granita & Lychee – both $15. The zest, fruity, yet creamy pannacotta martini was a win. My fondant was seamlessly fondant-y but the chocoholic in me wanted more richness. 

Ichigo

Bento Box

Nobu was a pleasant experience but I expected more “Wow” for my buck. If I find myself in short radius of Nobu again, Ill sit at the bar, sip one of their Caribbean cocktails, order a couple of sashimi tacos and indulge in the luxe surrounds. 

Food: 4/5
Ambience; 4/5
Service: 4/5
Value: 3/5

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

Meeka Restaurant, 6008

Meeka engage the heady flavours of the Middle East - the aromatic spices, the slow marinades, the exotic mix of meat with fruits - and enhance them with the wealth of contemporary cookery.

The décor is simple and subtly upmarket but relaxed at the same time. The only traces of Moroccan in the interior decoration are a few striking tajines dotted around the room.  

The menu is divided into enticing entrees, mains, tajines, sides and desserts each with influence from Morocco to Syria to Turkey.

Cheese Boreks $11

After much deliberation, three of us ordered the ‘Twice Cooked Duck Leg, Roasted Carrot and Almond Puree, Sautéed Silverbeet, Asparagus, Dukkah Crusted Gnocchi, Sour Cherry Glaze’ and our fourth diner had the Duck Shank, Baharat, Pumpkin, Orange, White Beans, Sugar Snaps ($33). For entrees we had Cheese Boreks with Saffron Eggplant dip ($11), Dates Stuffed with Goats Feta, Walnuts, Prosciutto, Lemon, Thyme, Wrapped in Kataifi ($15) and Dates Stuffed with Almonds, Preserved Lemon, Three Cheeses, Lightly Fried in Chickpea Batter ($15).            

Dates in chickpea batter $15

Dates in Kataifi $15

My Duck Leg main was sumptuous – so many different components; the succulent duck meat just melted away in your mouth and the pureed carrot was garlicly and smooth. I loved the added element of the crusted gnocchi pieces - soft inside with a mildly crunchy coating.  

Twice cooked duck leg $33

The Duck Tajine was a bang of flavours; very heavily scented with sweet cinnamon and nutmeg; marrying the tremendously tender duck meat and honeyed pumpkin. Divine. 

Duck Shank Tajine

Even more luscious were the desserts. Again having wars over what to order, we reasoned to share three between us. Wrap your mind around these sensations; Turkish Delight Stuffed Donut Balls, Rose Spiced Chocolate, Cardamon Yoghurt Parfait, Persian Fairy Floss; Fig Soft Cheese Cigar, Pistachio Dust, Salted Caramel Parfait, Turkish Coffee Syrup and; Meringue, Caramelised Wild Baby Figs, Almond White Chocolate Mousse, Orange Blossom Curd (All $14). Two between the four of us would have been plenty but they were just too good to stop eating.

Turkish delight filled donuts $14

Soft cheese cigar $14

The donuts seem to be somewhat of a signature dish and are definitely worth a try. The sweetened cheese filling in the cigar was deeee-licious too.  

I cannot stress enough how scrumptious all the desserts were. The exotic homemade ice creams and Persian Fairy floss served with each dessert were amazing enough on their own. You absolutely MUST save/make room for dessert. You wont regret it. Promise.

My only carp was the forgetful service. The waitress was a bit vague and didn’t really know the menu that well. The food went a long way in making up for it though.

The dessert was such a high note to end on and we all agreed that Meeka was the best meal we had had in some time. It really is a journey for all your senses. I’m only sad I didn’t try it earlier!

Food: 4.5/5

Ambience: 3.5/5

Service: 2/5

Meeka Restaurant

361 Rokeby Rd 
Subiaco, WA 6008

Dinner: Tues-Sat

08 9381 1800

Lunch: Friday

Blackbird, 6004

Most noteworthy is of course the setting; situated in what is in my opinion, the better end of the East Perth water inlet. There's more foliage, it’s quaint, it’s pretty and relatively out of sight.

My advice is to dine on a fair weekday for lunch – they offer a special menu ($37 for two courses and forty-something for three courses); it’s not busy, so you will be served quickly and well; and the nearby water feature and plain trees look that much more beautiful under the sunshine.

Service is on the ball and amicable - our waters were kept topped up, napkins rolled neatly and ordering was even interjected with some witty banter from our waist person. 

Chilled prawn, mango, wattle seed, apple, cucumber

The food is a contemporary mix of French, Italian and Modern Australian.  On our impromptu mid-week lunch this day we opted for the chilled prawn entree with mango salsa, the sweet potato gnocchi with candied hazelnut, a pulled pork sandwich with curried pickled cabbage and I chose the fish of the day which was a pie of three different fish in a creamy sauce, set into a ramekin and potted under herbed, crushed potato. You can probably tell by my detailed description that I was quite fond of the fish pie; it was delicious! I want to re-create my own version.  

Fish of the day - Trio of fish pie, potato

Mmmm so good!

The other dishes were all excellent too, particularly the pulled pork pieces in the sandwich and the lightly pan-fried pillows of gnocchi which were all slightly mis-shaped in rustic presentation. We were only let down by a half-mast representation of a vanilla panna cotta - the panna cotta itself was more like eating heavy cream and it was sealed under a too-thick paste-like jelly of some sort of berry flavour. 

Pulled pork sandwich,  homemade crisps

Sweet potato gnocchi, roquette, witlof, hazelnut

Dessert aside, Blackbird is a fantastic little fine-dining restaurant and the surrounds and service would make it a memorable setting for a starry-eyed date. I will definitely go back to try their al la Carte menu soon!

Vanilla bean panna cotta

Blackbird Restaurant

10 Eastbrook Ter Ste 4  
East Perth, WA 6004

(08) 9225 7880

Lunch: Tues-Fri

Dinner: Tues-Sat

Food: 4.5/

Service: 4.5/5

Ambience: 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