Gordon Street Garage, 6005

Its like Little Creatures, meets the suburbs, meets sky blue paint. Airy, Summery, neo-industrial, contemporary, cool.

GSG's Summer neo-industrial refurb

The staff are well-trained, and versed in the kitchens offerings. And what wonderful offerings they are...For lunch I enjoyed their elaborate take on the Greek salad; with caramelised onions, heirloom tomatoes, avocado and a variety of feta cheese I'd like to buy a barrel of. The glossy brioche bun Salmon burger, will be my order next time. The menu is quintessential stylish Mod-Oz food. Does it get more Australiana than a Kangaroo meat sausage roll? (with green olive tepenade, I'll add)

The amped up Greek salad, on for lunch

Kangaroo sausage roll

After lunch we oogled the impressive and tempting French patisserie handiworks. Good luck choosing from creations like Passionfruit and white chocolate mousse cakes, pistachio macarons and mango cheesecake. We were informed there is a pastry *team* slaving away each morning in the kitchen. Bread is all baked on site as well.

Fit for a Parisienne patisserie! 

More to love - brilliant coffee work and an on-site roaster is not far from launching.

GSG gets my nod. An ideal place for group social gatherings, or to bring out of towners who want a taste of the Perth lifestyle.

Food: 4/5 (Creative twists on quality made classics)
Ambience: 5/5 (Nifty fit-out with plenty of space, plus all the ambient elements to forget you're meant be back at the office soon)
Value: 3.5/5
Service: 4.5/5 (Early days zeal!)

Restaurant Amusé, 6004

Restaurant Amusé has been on my hit list for too long. Finally a occasion worthy of such a place came up! The menu is degustation only - $125pp and extra $75 for matched wines. 10 courses was intimidating enough so we opted for food only.

What struck me first about Amuse is the casual, contempo decor. "$125 a head", "degustation" and "Perth's best restaurant" had me expecting a super swish fit-out, but the place is surprisingly relaxed, young and comfortable. The restaurant is also very spacious, allowing for a calm atmosphere and private dining. You feel at ease.  The kitchen are obliging and will cater to any dietary requirements too - two of us had the pescatarian (no meat except seafood) menu, one opted for 'vegetarian plus fish' and the other three had the regular menu, although there was nothing relgular about this menu....

First up was what they called "Snacks". I can't recall what they were but they were as tasty as they were interesting.

Radish with a sauce of some description

We were also presented with an ocean trout sashimi served on a wafer of some sort. This was one of my favourite of the night. The delicious dill mustard mayonnaise with the sashimi was a match made in heaven. a luxurious e.v.o. whipped butter was also placed at our table for spreading our heavenly baked bread with. The bread was a stand-out on its own. Fluffy inside and an extra crusty crust.

ocean trout sashimi with dill dressing

e.v.o. whipped butter

The first course was King Fish with finger lime and tea seed oil. Second was Marron, lemon verbena, arborio.

King Fish, finger lime, tea seed oil

Marron, lemon verbena, arborio

Next came another favourite - Egg, mushroom and pine nuts. Smoky mushroom flavour was simply awesome. I got amusement out of the spectacle of this dish. Managed to time the camera perfectly with the smoke - hehe.

Mushroom, egg, pine nut

Mushroom, egg, pine nut

Started to feel a bit full after this course.....3 down..7 to go.

Next up was Scallop, cuttlefish and peas...The scallop was definitely the most perfect scallop I'd ever eaten. It just melted away in my mouth.

Next was my favourite savoury dish of the night - Ricotta, beetroot, chestnut. Yes I realise I keep claiming new favourites as each course came out, but on reflection of the whole degustation, this was my numero uno. I love the combination these classic flavours and the texture of the ricotta element was like a soft gnocchi or polenta - y-u-m!

Ricotta, beetroot, chestnut

Squid, cous cous, Ras El Hanout was my 'main' dish. I love Moroccan spices and ras el hanout is a pungent, heady scent. I also love love squid so this was a total winner! Our non vegetarian/pescatarian eaters were very envious of this subtitiue. The regular menu enjoyed duck.

Squid, Ras el Hanout, cous cous

Then came the palette cleansers - Grapefruit, tarragon and long pepper presented in a petri like dish. It looked like a science experiment - in a good way. The citrus flavour was delicate and exquisite.

And then we headed down the sweet route for four courses of dessert dishes.....!

The first was Pear, walnut and lemon. The pear was in the form of a airy foam and the walnut a heavy mousse. The lemon was a whipped string of deliciousness. This was a really outstanding dish. Such delicate textures and well known flavours, in unusual forms.

pear, walnut, lemon

Then came the exotic splatter of Chocolate, passionfruit and caramel. I can't tell you which I enjoyed more this or the former plate more....each were divine.

chocolate, passionfruit, caramel

Just when we were getting ready to seal the night with collective praise and groans of bulging bellies, another course of sweets came out. Everyone at the table managed to make room for the donuts, jubes and praline. 

Top: jubes, bottom: praline

Mini jam donuts

Restaurant Amusé was a fantastic dining experience. Experience being the key word. I'd bring someone here for a special occasion or just because you love them so much ;). Also an absolute must for any foodie friends. I would not recommend for a first date. Wait between courses is about 15-20 minutes and this could be the ultimate awkward silence nightmare.

I haven't even touched on service which was hands down the most special service I have had in Perth. The wait staff are knowledgable and sincere and they will watch you like a hawk and swoop in as soon as the last person on the table has rested their fork to clean away plates. Each course is also presented at the table in synchrony. There were seven at our table and so seven hands placed seven dishes, down at the same instant. It was a wonderful novelty.

A memorable experience for a memorable occasion.

Food: 5/5 (inventive, heavenly flavours and textures, art on a a plate!)
Ambience: 4/5 (Relaxed, modern and ample space)
Service: 5/5 (Special, professional, attentive, didn't miss a beat)
Value: 4/5

Subiaco Hotel, 6008

It had been a long time since I'd eaten at the Subi Hotel. I sort of put it into the pile of places that had passed their hey-day, besides, its not really my market. 'Overpriced', 'predictable' and 'pretentious' are also a few adjectives that come to mind when I ponder this restaurant. Never one to turn down a boozey lunch invitation however, I visited this Subi institution for a leisurely Saturday lunch the other week. Well, I stand corrected. The kitchen here is handled by some deft chefs. We ordered from the Mod-Oz menu: Parapdelle, slow cooked lamb shoulder, capers, porcini mushroom, cream, $24.50; Warm fish salad, curry spices, coconut, wild rice, $26; Fish and chips, $25 and Fish of the day which was Ocean Trout Niçoise style - green beans, egg, roast peppers, potato with clams.

The parpadelle was rich, and not surprisingly with those ingredients. Indulgent and sumptuous but slightly sickening toward the end.

Parpadelle, lamb

The fish was cooked well - delicate with a crunchy beer batter. A simple dish that hit the spot.

Fish and Chips

The warm fish salad was unexpectedly awesome - a great mix of zesty, salty, sweet and fresh. Small pieces of white fish with aromatic spices, fresh mint, slithers of pear and red onion....I had major food envy with this one.

Warm fish salad

Leaning towards all things with salmon (cousin of Ocean Trout, in my eyes), I went for the Nicoise special. The skin was crisped well, if a little burnt, but the rest of the fish cooked a perfect 'medium'. I loved the accompanying roasted red pepper and clams. Mmm-mm!

Subi Hotel is somewhere I'd be happy to return too but I wouldn't necessarily suggest it for a Birthday dinner with friends or a fun date - it's a bit corporate. Subi Hotel is a nice place for a work-client do or a ritzy weekend lunch. There's a great wine selection and service is very 'together'. Atmosphere is classy, open and relaxing. The restaurant defineitly maintains that 'hotel' air and it's fail-safe option for such occasions. 

Food: 3.5/5 (Amazing fish salad, too-rich pasta dish)

Ambience: 4/5 (perfect for corporate lunches)

Service: 3/5 (professional but not necessarily friendly)

Pigeon takes flight - Melbourne

The Sneaky Pidge headed east coast the other week and here's a tipple of what I nibbled, noshed and got critical on...

MoVida Aqui.

MoVida. It's a no-brainer. And MoVida Aqui ("here") is just as worthwhile - if not better. While its not the original, it is certainly the most lively and spontaneous venue.

Deeeeelicious cooking start to finish. The standout was the braised beef cheek - unimaginably tender meat in Pedro Ximinez (Spanish sherry) on a smooth bed of creamy cauliflower puree. Don't miss this dish.

Scallops

Beef cheek, Pedro Ximinez, cauliflower puree

Scampi

I don't know how they managed to fashion even more imagination and deliciousness from that kitchen- but the desserts somehow trumped the savoury dishes. So make some room for the sweet stuff!  

Caramel banana, liquorice ice cream, chocolate something

Strawberry jelly, strawberries, homemade ice cream

Homemade ice creams, fig bread

Cumulus Inc.

We booked the Chef Selection $75pp. That was $75 money well spent! There was an endless flow of delicious and inspiring food. Even the garlic brussell sprouts were hard to rest on - ah I loved these! 

Spiced eggplant, pomegranate, sheeps milk yoghurt cheese

wagyu bresaola, truffle cream,  artichoke

Gazillion hour slow roasted lamb shoulder

Highlights were the hero dish- the incredible fall-off-the-bone lamb shoulder that felt like it had been slow roasted for a decade; and the unassuming precursory nibbles- spiced almonds to start - very more-ish. I declared love for the spiced eggplant (like a Baba Ganoush!) and the 'cracked wheat, freekeh salad with preserved lemon and almonds'.  I couldn't forget the incredible zing from the Apple sorbet on the dessert dish either.

cracked wheat, freekah salad

John Dory, artichokes barigoule, nettle

apple sorbet, burnt butter custard, almond

Izakaya Den

Big call, but this is my new favourite venue in Melbourne. The food was fantastic but it was the contagiously cool atmosphere that won me over. We arrived excitedly around ten to seven and were told for a group of five, it would be a two hour wait. I was determined. We said we'd bare the wait, which I think the Maitre'd wasn't expecting. I called his bluff and it worked! twenty minutes later we had scored a spot at the long table at the far end of the restaurant. Result!

Sexy place, huh?

'Izakaya' is what they call a Japanese pub. I hesitate likening Izakaya Den to a pub however; as this place has ounces more 'cool' than any regular pub! Just take it that there is late night drinking with eating. The 'Den' part comes from the underground location. 

Duck, plum

Sweet corn 'kaki-age'

 The atmosphere is what I'd like to get amongst every Saturday night. Funky, sultry and casual all at once. After digesting the funky music, novel deer printed cups and nifty digital wall art, we narrowed in on the menu of Japanese tapas. Everything was new to me and sounded delicious. I didn't know Japanese could be so exciting. Forgive me for not recalling the particular names of these dishes but I can tell you that you MUST order the Sweet corn 'kaki-age' - a tasty, tasty surprise!

Apple Mille-feuille 

Green tea mousse, ice cream and sponge

LuxBite

If you have an affinity for the sweet stuff and experimental food - this is the place for you! It is my number one spot for sugar in Melbourne. LuxBite specialise in creative and exotic desserts - macarons, cakes, slices, eclairs and anything else they can make a sweet avant-garde masterpiece out of. Whats on offer changes regularly with different themes and specials. This visit they had a range of eclairs on show. We tucked into the Peanut Butter, chocolate and raspberry variety. Oh, my!

Eclair, peanut butter, raspberry, chocolate

The last visit entailed some equally kooky and mouthwatering, Halloween themed desserts. This little yummy monster mash of- pumpkin, peach mousse, rice pudding and meringue- was a cheeky taste sensation!

pumpkin, peach mousse, rice pudding, meringue