The Office on Harrogate, 6007

I knew I was onto a winner when I recognised the lady heading up the kitchen here is from Voyage in Sorrento. You can expect the same wholesome and modern food that doesn't rely on fatty crap for bravado. Fresh and lean; an excellent lighter lunch option for West Leedy office workers. Actually, I'm kinda jealous I don't work within radius! 

Snazzy salads, toasted paninis, lamb wraps, seasonal soups...Might all sound a little 'standard' but you'd be way off. Everything is done with a little more attention to detail here like; serving fresh squeezed juices in mason jars and making sure every quesadilla that leaves that kitchen has a spritely garnish of greens and house made chutney. 

Medium mixed salad plate

For your afternoon sugar fix, The Office on Harrogate has you sorted. Of the wholefood treats on offer; the miniature Sticky Date Cakes proved most popular. Deftly crafted coffee is of the 5 senses breed and the gentlemen serving it up are super fine.

I wouldn't make The Office on Harrogate your next location for a fancy lunch date, but working 9-5 in the area, this should be your staple!

Food: 4/5 (Fresh ingredients, changing menu and never boring)

Coffee: 4/5 (Expertly crafted)

Service: 4/5 (Friendly, efficient for the quality)

Space: 3/5 (Variety of seating indoors and outdoors, for large group meetings or two person lunch dates)

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

Fortysevenkirwanstreet, 6014

Existing quietly among the leafy homes of Floreat is Fortysevenkirwanstreet. Here you will find a cafe that treats brunch with far more finesse than poached eggs on toast.  Peaceful ambiance, creamy coffee and a dish for every mood.

My favourite menu item would be the Mushrooms and Asparagus breakfast.  Comprising a small mountain of three of my favourite yummy things, it is a dish of plenty.  Button mushies, perfectly seared asparagus and a generous glob of soft, salty goats cheese.

Mushrooms, asparagus, rocket, spinach, goats cheese on multi-grain toast

On the mornings when you're craving that savoury saltiness, I recommend the Potato and Leek Bake. An oven made hash brown making nice with smoked salmon, runny egg and crowd pleasing Hollandaise.

Potato & Leek bake, smoked salmon, poached egg, rocket, hollandaise

These days every second cafe seems to have a Middle Eastern style egg dish.  Served in some sort of claypot/basket/rammekin, its offered as a alternative breakfast item...now not so alternative. Fortysevenkirwanstreet is no different, creating their own (delicious, still) version of a Shakshuka.  The sauce is thick and rich, teeming with tomatoes, peppers and fetta cheese. Eggs are cooked just right with a lovely inclusion of fresh herbs.                         

Shakshuka

The Bircher muesli is one of the most attractive birchers i've seen.  A mound of shredded apple, sultanas, cherries and toasted macadamias, it is very fruit-rich. This ones a bit light on the oats-factor for my liking and I couldn't taste a hint of cinnamon but its an enjoyable, wholesome breakfast all the same.

Bircher muesli, cinnamon apple

Shakshuka sticks around for lunch and joining it are  dishes involving (from memory) Pork Belly, Slow cooked meat and parpadelle, a salad of smoked trout, egg, potato and my choice that day; salad of beetroot, baby zucchini, green beans, mixed leaf and fetta tzaztiki. Fresh, summery, scrumptious!

Beetroot, herbs, beans, zucchini, roasted onion, tzaztiki

Tempting you at the counter bench are a small selection of ready to enjoy goodies like paninis, mini brioche, custard tarts, chocolate-postachio brownies and sweet and savoury muffins. We couldn't help but grab ourselves a treat for the road.

Blueberry -coconut slice.

Custard tarts

If you like a brunch menu with interest and enjoy being tucked away from hustle and bustle, Fortysevenkirwanstreet is for you.

Food: 4/5
Coffee: 3.5/5
Ambience: 4/5
Space: 3/5