New Moon, 6000

A hint for a good Chinese restaurant I think, is the house chili oil. Chili oil to Chinese is what complimentary bread is to a French restaurant. New Moon have built a recipe for a deep flavoured spicy oil that has an unpredicted crunch. Between three of us we drained about nine serves of the stuff. Couldn't get enough!



As the routine goes at any worthy dim sum joint, the room is hustling in disorderly order. Things move rapidly and orders are hollered across the room. High turnover means dumplings appear in shimmering, steaming, joyous freshness. I'm not exactly the authority on a quality dumpling like I am say on cake or ice cream (I have only had a handful of yum cha experiences in my day) but these guys impressed me most. 



I heart the comforting fluffy pork buns (Char Siu Bao). Sweet shreds of Chinese barbecued pork, snuggled inside a pillowy bun. I had to gobble two. Prawn Coriander dumplings were also le goods. The parcels were packed with hearty chunks of sweet prawns and chopped herbs, with little stodge.

BBQ Pork Buns

Prawn and Coriander dumplings; slippery wrappers with generous stuffing

Fried Chili Squid Tentacles were a tad on the tough side, but I don't think I've ever tried any that weren't.  We ordered some perfectly steamed Kai-Lan which were served with the routine oyster sauce on the side. 

Chilli Fried Squid Tentacles; well seasoned but hard to the bite

Steamed Kai-Lan served with self pour oyster sauce

Xiao Long Bao come recommended. Also known as Shanghai dumplings or soup dumplings, these gems contain filling along with a gingery rich broth. They’re a bit of a delicate procedure and best consumed with a spoon or by slinging them into your mouth in one go! 

Xiao Long Bao; 'soup dumplings' or 'Shanghai dumplings' reveal a surprising broth inside

I'm not usually an Asian dessert wooer but the silky Egg Custard Tarts were perfect! The flaky pastry split in a pinch when I divided it with a chopstick. And those golden sunny centers. Yerrmm.

Egg Custard Tarts. Divine!

Décor is new and well lit with the token garish light fixtures. Is it an authentic dim sum restaurant without the kitschy chandeliers? The brigade of trolley shufflers revealed a friendly demeanor, which was out of custom with the usual yum cha service.

Dumplings and iPhones. New Moon on a Tuesday lunch

8 bamboo baskets and endless tea filled three of us up for just under $16. Great-value fresh dim sum means that weekend queues are a norm. I ran into a (hungover) friend who had been waiting over an hour (ouch!). VIP-it and book ahead. You'll be the object of dim sum die-hard envy! 

While New Moon is probably the newest dim sum joint in Northbridge, they're already a hit with dim sum devotees. They offer the traditional trolley service but step into the new age by blessing us with dumplings on Friday and Saturday nights too. Picture it: the tail end of Friday night drinks and the munchies call. Dumplings rule over a greasy doner kebab, for sure!

Food: 4/5 (Fresh, delicate, hot and tasty!)
Ambience: 4/5 (A bustle of efficient chaos, bright modern interior with the token garish light fixtures)
Service: 4/5 (Super efficient and friendlier than is the norm for dim sum)
Value: 5/5 (8 plates and endless tea = $47)

Dough Pizza, 6000

In a nightlife hotspot, and with a funky (if slightly young and trendy) décor, its gratifying to see the main focus here is the authentic Napoli pizzas. This means airy crust with a charred exterior and a chewy centre with pointedly sparse toppings. 

As the name articulates, the key to a perfect pizza is the dough. And the Italians operating the wood-fired oven here in Northbridge have nailed it! True to Naples in flavour and form, the bases are thin but not waif-like, pliable and slightly chewy. Pizzas are cooked in a wood fired oven at high temperatures for short time, giving the pizza the wonderful, rustic bubbled edges. The toppings are delightful too. You'll only find authentic combinations such as the salty and brazen; 'Puttanesca': capers, olives, and some serious anchovies, scattered over a wonderful tomato base. This pizza is a triumph of moderation.

'Capricciosa', $22

To beat the Sunday evening blues one night recently, my clan and I ordered one Capricciosa, $22; marinated artichoke, smoked ham, Spanish olives and mushrooms on a Margherita base; a Prawns pizza, $24.50; Marinara, prawns, zucchini and rocket; and a Diavola, $22; Ventricina (smoky pork salami), olives, roast capsicum and chilli. A Margherita base by the way, means tomato sauce with buffalo mozzarella. 

'Prawns', $24.50

With its spicy and salty combination, the Diavola was the first to go. Unfortunately they forgot the rocket element on the Prawns. The chunky curled prawns were however, cooked to perfection...so I let that minor gripe go. 

'Diavola', $22

After getting my 'mangia' on like I'd never 'mangia'-d before, I quickly decided this was the best pizza I'd eaten in Perth. Dough is about quality ingredients and long-established recipes. Pinning down the essentials. The flavours are punchy without the reliance on hunks of frivolous toppings like pork belly or cajun spiced chicken. Quite a different pizza experience from the Little Caesars variety. 

BYO and proximity to Perth bar life mean groups of young people abound here. If you're bothered by the noise, order take-away or if you're fortunate enough to live in the surrounding suburbs, they deliver too!

Food: 4/5 (Near perfect dough, well sourced toppings, stays true to tradition)

Ambience: 3/5 (Buzzing if thats what you're up for, but don't plan an intimate dinner)

Service: 3/5 (Simple and Italian, much like the food)

Value: 3/5 

PAWS City Cafe, 6000

I had put PAWS on the back burner after being rather put off by the animal smells that permeated the space. I returned more recently to find that PAWS no longer smells like a farm and the food offerings have swelled.

Filling $8 Small plate with beetroot salad, zucchini salad, chickpea curry and stir fried Asian veg

The unclassifiable exterior helps PAWS keep a low profile.  Inside doesn't exactly scream 'cafe' either. PAWS is very basic (yet warm and relaxing), furnished in what feels like donated furniture and 80s carpet. This is completely acceptable however, as the value for money lunching, can't be beat. Just don't bring your hot date here.

For $8- which they're calling 'Small', you can get a heavy serve of mixed salad and hot food. Boost your serving to a 'Large' plate for $12, and you may well be set for lunch today, and perhaps tomorrow.

Small mixed plate, $8

The prices are great, the selection is interesting, service obliging, and it's a non-profit. Cheap eats don't get much better than this.

Is Donburi, 6003

Is Donburi is another notch OnWilliam’s belt, worth bragging about. They’ve only been around a little while but Is Donburi has already norm’ed its way into savvy Northbridge dweller lunch schedules. And why wouldn’t you make this a regular with what’s on offer? A clean well-lit dining space, take-away meals at the window, speedy service, complimentary Japanese tea and Miso, and delicious Japanese meals. 

The menu - what a selection! All the usual suspects are going, with special attention to Donburi, which takes the form of Teriyakis, katsu, kimchi, don with egg, seafood Chirashis and more. 

Teriyaki Salmon Don, $15.80

We tucked into the Teryaki Salmon Don (above), $15.80 - a substantial serve of glazed pink salmon with a variety of salady bits atop steamed rice. And also the Seafood Chirashi Don, $15.50 – a mix of fresh salmon, king fish, tuna prawn, squid, an exciting tapestry of mixed veggies and a zingy fruit based dressing. The raw fish was A-grade and Donburi overall was very fresh.

Seafood Chirashi Don $15.50

Of course, no Japanese eatery is complete without at least one novelty. Get a load of their Spring roll sushi rolls :D - 

Food: 4/5 (fresh, varietal, lengthy menu)
Value: 4/5 (too pricey and modern for the ‘cheap and cheerful’ category but for the freshness and size, very good bang for your buck)
Service: 4/5 (open 7 days, fast, plus free tea and miso soup)
Ambience: 4/5 (clean open space with access to decent William St. people watching) 

Perth's Mexican - the ones worth knowing

They all serve a different purpose. In order of deliciousness...

1. el PÚBLICO for when I want a buzz (tequila optional), and brilliant food - tasty, imaginative and authentic Mexican flavours with a contemporary flair. Order the ‘Esquites’. Please. The humble street corn is not to be underestimated! el PÚBLICO are my numero uno in this league, by a mile. 

Clockwise top Left: Chicken Tamales,  back room dining, cheese and onion taco, the bar, 'esquites'  dish

2. The Flying Taco is for when I want a cheesey, gratifying burrito. The prices are a bit on the tall side, but one of their crispy slow cooked pork and pineapple burritos never fails to satisfy my comfort food yearning. 

One 'Carnitas' burrito ready to be devoured 

3. Casa Mexicana - El Compa. Fuss-free menu, casual festive decor and bang on margaritas – this newcomer is an ideal starting point for a casual fun night with friends…Unfortunately there is not great bump for your buck. Tacos go for $7 a pop. Note that they roll their soft tortillas in-house however, and you can taste the difference.

Margaritas and fish tacos at Casa Mexicana- El Compa

4. La Cholita is when you want Tequila cocktails, a good time vibe, and some Mexican shares to go with. I would never seek out La Cholita to indulge my Mexican craving alone. Not substantial enough and secondly, I’m not going to wait the standard 2 hours to get my taco fix.

Dim lights and night time tequila induced revelry

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

The Tuck Shop Cafe, 6003

I dropped in on The Tuck Shop Cafe about a year ago when it first opened. I left grumpy with mundane muesli in my belly and a bitter (coffee) taste in my mouth. Returning again this week - standards have lifted supremely. Coffee was delicious, and a bit stronger - Thank You! 

The brunch menu is exciting and made from quality, fresh produce. I saw a few tables order a tempting plate of the Chorizo, pork belly, spiced potatoes and egg. I opted for the Smoked salmon, fennel, ricotta, asparagus on ciabatta. I loved this dish - my kind of breakfast. I was pleased to see the fresh toppings dwarfed the bread. The asparagus were bright and the ricotta generous. The ciabatta was deliciously crunchy too. Dusted off with a tiny salsa of cucumber, tomato and olive oil. A melodious band of flavours!

smoked salmon, asparagus, ricotta, fennel, ciabatta

Brunch perfection

My companion ordered the mixed vegetable, bean and ham hock soup. Small was $5.50, plus house made parmesan toast ($2.50). Ummm, good value, no?? The soup itself was full of flavour. No regrets here. 

Veg, bean and ham hock soup $5.50

Parmesan toast $2.50

Based purely on food and service - this is my new fave spot for brunch. I'm only apprehensive that its a tiny cafe and as the word has spread - it gets very busy and noisy, even on week days. The Tuck Shop also make a range of gourmet pies, which seem to be popular for a take-away lunch with nearby office workers. I didn't try them but they looked bloody good.

Food: 5/5 (fresh ingredients, cooked well and interesting options)

Ambience: 2.5/5 (bit noisy and cramped)

Value: 4/5 ($5.50 for gourmet soup)

Service: 4/5 (Waited about 10 mins for food)

Good Fortune Roast Duck House, 6003

Commonly referred to as "the one with the roast ducks hanging in the window", this Chinese eating house is a Northbridge/William St. and possibly a Perth institution. And one I took too long to try!

Golden, perfectly glazed ducks signal commuters inside. If you find this visual off-putting, taste the duck here and then you will find the sight of bronzed bird carcases extremely inviting.  

 

    

So if you hadn't got the hints yet - order DUCK. And please, please order the Peking Duck pancake. They're like a Chinese version of soft shell tacos. Every element just sings in perfect harmony - the warm lightly doughy pancake bread, the juicy duck flesh, perfectly crisped skin, spring onion, fresh quench of cucumber; all married with the delicious sweet Hoi Sin sauce -BAM! This stuff is gooooddd. $17.50 gets you 5 pancakes. We shared those between the two of us. If you're dining with a group of 5 - I advise you to order a second serve. No regrets.

Peking Duck Pancake

We also got the Salt and Pepper Soft Crab ($24). Our first introduction to the soft shell crab and I was totally sold. I've ordered soft shell crab twice whilst out, since trying it here the other week. Good Fortune make it delicately crunchy, salty and set it on a bed of chopped onions, lettuce and green chilli. Nom! 

Salt and Pepper soft shell crab

The restaurant itself is fairly small but lively and was not short of tables of Chinese patrons chowing down plates of roast duck. There's a large shared table inside and tall hatted chefs hack away at meat carcasses by the window. The lighting is stereotypically bright and the wall decorations included some daggy framed photographs of Joondalup Resort (???) I love the picture of the resort golf course with white ducks on the green. All these elements make for a novel dining experience. Not to be missed.

Peking Duck Pancakes $17.50 for 5

Awesome!

Food: 4.5/5

Ambience: 4/5

Service: 4/5