Solomon's Cafe, 6050

This city may not be foreign to clean eating and alternative food philosophy (organic, paleo, vegan and raw), but what we haven't seen before is conscious eating dispensed in a sophisticated setting. While nearby PAWS and Veggie Mama (who I adore!) make great places for a no-frills healthy and ready lunch, Solomon's provides the ambient surrounds to enjoy this kind of food from sunrise to duskiness. Waited service, careful plating and attention to detail. Its all very California.

Solomon's by night

From the street, Solomon's looks small, quaint. Inside you'll discover the restaurant stretches back into real estate you didn't know existed. Its spacious without losing intimacy and a sun-lit courtyard surprises you at the back. Walls are mostly of exposed brick and wood, dotted with trinkets the (very sweet and passionate) owner has collected on his world travels. The staff are SO lovely. Its their passion and vested interest, which makes you want to return again. Even the chef said hello when I passed the kitchen.  

An earlier dinner date at Solomon's saw me sample a trio of sides; Crsipy Kale Chips, Sweet Potato Gnocchi and Blanched Mixed Greens. I wanted more and so backed it up with a solo lunch treat the following week. To start of I had an order of the Crispy Beetroot Chips, $6. The wafers of beetroot are dehydrated and served with salt and wedges of orange.  A tasty light starter.

Crispy Beetroot Chips with orange and salt, $6

I followed up with an entree serve of Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Coriander Pesto, $16. Oblong pieces of light dumpling were buttery, nutty, delicious, but the lack of pesto made the dish a bit dry.

Sweet potato gnocchi, entree sz, $16

Food is inventive, but the prices don't fit the quantities. If you have a big appetite, be weary. The mains are small, but designed to be enjoyed with one or two of their interesting all-vegan side dishes. The menu changes slightly depending on what could be bought fresh from the market that day.

Bottom line: healthy new-age food, in a comfortable setting. Passion and heart flows through the decor, the people and the cooking. Ah dear, two visits in and i'm already sounding like Portandia.

Food: 3.5/5 (Healthy, appetising, different)

Ambience 4/5 (Welcoming, relaxing, ZEN)

Service 5/5 (Heartfelt, sincere and the owners are there)

Value 2.5/5 (Prices are a bit excessive)

Raw Food Café at Fern Community Centre - 6160

Happy World Vegan Day! 

This a new raw food and vegan café that has sprouted inside the jungle that is the Fern Community Centre in Freo. You’ll walk through a curious overgrown garden, strewn with odd bits and bobs, including a Tweety Bird cut out and an unexplained collection of bicycles – adult bikes, toddler tricycles and most of them missing parts. It makes for an amusing excursion. 

Pick from a list of raw and vegan meals that use nut ‘cheeses’ and dehydrated nut and seeds, in place of wheat bases, like bread and pastries.

Daily menu

Feeling in the mood for a bit of chili, we went for the ‘Mexican wrap’ and ‘enchilada’, each $12. The dishes were made as we ordered, in the makeshift sort of kitchen. The capsicum nut cheese in my wrap was scrumptious but the salad could have been fresher. The meals were a bit thrown together, but in a simple homemade sort of way.

Raw Enchilada $12

Raw mexican wrap $12

If I'm honest, the food is not on par with The Raw Kitchen, but definitely good for you and not to mention, more wallet friendly. 

Fern Café, in a nutshell - come for the healthful food and linger in the wilderness.

Yays: Reasonable price, the relaxing and curious surroundings, friendly people
Nays: Avocado was less than fresh

Raw Food Cafe at Fern Community Centre

Corner of High Street & Montreal Street, Fremantle

Tues- Sun for lunch

0418 742 917