Eat in Perth – Best Meals – Meats V Salads

There’s no shortage of great places to eat in Perth City, and our mission here is to please two very distinct camps: meat eaters and salad lovers.

Sometimes these two can come together in gastronomic harmony, but not today – whether you’re after a delicate mouthful of crisp greens, or a plateful of the finest meat char-grilled to perfection, we’re going to show you the best Perth City has to offer.

The hardest thing about compiling this list was cutting it down to only five of each, and there are some truly great places that didn’t make it (and these lists are in no particular order, by the way).

No doubt many local readers will disagree with our final selection, and that’s a good thing – it shows just how great a food destination Perth city has become. If this list was easy to compile then it probably wouldn’t be needed in the first place.

Cuisines aside, we’ve endeavoured to present both some fairly hard-core choices as well as options more suitable for pleasing a crowd. Whichever you choose, be sure that you’ll leave any of these restaurants with a full belly, a smile on your face and a set of awesome new Instagram photos.

Best City Meats

Chophouse

With a name like “Chophouse“, you can guess what a meal there is going to feature – meat, and plenty of it. An Australian take on the New York Steak House, Chophouse’s aim is to provide customers with the best possible meat from around Australia, and offers a refined dining experience in a comfortable atmosphere.

Their menu features a wide selection of steaks, as well as some of the best lamb and pork in town. For the ultimate “meat” experience, Chophouse offers the “butcher’s masterclass” with head chef Scott Alfonso, where you sit back, watch him do the hard work of cutting up an animal in front of you, and then eat some delicious dishes cooked with the end result.

Chophouse
200 St Georges Tce, Perth
Mon-Fri midday-midnight, Sat 6pm-midnight, Sun closed
Website – Facebook – Instagram

Old Faithful Bar & BBQ

Influenced by the low and slow cooking style made famous in America’s southern states, Old Faithful has taken some of the best examples of barbecue from around the world and put an Australian twist on them. Meat is served by the 100-gram chunk, so you can eat whatever combination takes your fancy.

Old Faithful also serves some spectacular sandwiches, and there’s a different lunch special everyday – the best being Thursday’s double (or quad!) cheeseburger, but get in quick because when they’re gone… Whatever you order, make sure you grab a serve of smoked fried potatoes, and maybe wash it down with a bourbon milkshake!

Old Faithful Bar & BBQ
86 King Street, Perth
Tue-Wed 11:45am-10:30pm, Thu-Sat 11:45am-late, Sun-Mon closed
Website – Facebook – Instagram

Ribs & Burgers

Yes, we’re going a little mainstream here but Ribs & Burgers deserves a place on this list because it does a good job of bringing consistent, quality meat-based dishes to the masses. It’s also the only place on the list where you’d be likely to take your kids and their grandma.

There’s plenty of variety on the menu, from the simple but tasty “Original” burger (make sure you add cheese & bacon) to “Butcher’s Choice” items such as the excellent beef short-rib burger with chimichurri and coleslaw. Their ribs really do fall off the bone – be sure to try the awesome sticky soy chilli peanut.

They don’t take reservations at Ribs & Burgers so our tip is to get there early if you don’t like to queue.

Ribs & Burgers
140 William Street, Perth
Sun-Thu 11am-9:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
Website – Facebook – Instagram

Varnish on King

Varnish on King is a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of place, located below street level with a well-hidden entrance. Once you do find your way in, you’ll not only be treated to the widest selection of whiskey in Perth City, but also some stunning meat dishes.

Their menu is seasonal and changes regularly, but you can expect to find some outstanding dishes you won’t find anywhere else such as such as beef tendon crisps with brown butter & lime, pig cheek with house made ricotta and the crumbed bone marrow with grated venison heart & onion pickle that you can see in the picture above.

If you’re in a group (or just really hungry) Varnish on King also serves huge share plates featuring cuts such as beef short rib, whole lamb shoulder and rump cap.

Varnish on King
75 King Street (basement level)
Mon-Fri 11:30am-midnight, Sat 4pm-midnight, Sun closed
Website – Facebook – Instagram

The Flour Factory

The Flour Factory is spread over three floors of a historic flour mill, combining a New York deli with a Spanish cocktail bar. Putting Perth City’s largest gin and fortified wine collection to one side, The Flour Factory’s in-house butchery guarantees that any dining experience there will be one to remember.

It’s an ideal place to eat with friends – maybe start your meat-journey with some outstanding charcuterie, then follow with a maple glazed pork jowl or (and!) their famed roast corn-fed chicken. All served with duck-fat fried potatoes, of course.

Oh, I almost forgot – they make the best hot dogs in town, and they’re perfect for a quick weekday lunch. 

The Flour Factory
16 Queen Street, Perth
Mon-Fri midday-midnight, Sat 4pm-midnight, Sun closed
Website – Facebook – Instagram

Best City Salads

The Standard

The Standard is a two-level bar on the edge of the CBD that serves a great selection of modern Australian dishes, ideal for sharing with friends on a Sunday afternoon in its leafy courtyard, or just eating all by yourself.

The Standard recently launched its new summer menu, which includes some fantastic salads such as this charred fennel salad with nectarine ponzu, pickled ginger and pea tendrils. The potato salad with cucumber pickle, fried onion, egg yolk & air dried pork is also worth checking out.

The Standard
28 Roe Street, Northbridge
Mon-Thu 4pm-midnight, Fri-Sat midday-midnight, Sun midday-10pm
Website – Facebook – Instagram

Panache

When it comes to  Perth City options for grabbing a salad to eat when you’re on the move (or stuck at your desk), Panache should be at the top of your list. Offering a wide variety of vegetarian, vegan and raw breakfast and lunch dishes, their “superfood” options are a salad-lovers dream.

Panache’s display cabinets are filled with new creations every day, and you won’t go thirsty thanks to their selection of cold-pressed juices, super-smoothies and coffee from Toby’s Estate.

Panache
Mill Street, Perth (opposite Parmelia Hilton)|
Mon-Fri 7am-3pm, Sat-Sun closed
Website – Facebook – Instagram

The Wolf The Bean The Walnut

The Wolf The Bean The Walnut, located in the heart of Perth City in Wolf Lane, is a health food cafe offering vegan, vegetarian, paleo and raw food options. Their selection of salads and sweet treats changes daily, and they constantly experiment with new ingredients to produce delicious dishes for gluten-free and dairy-free diets. Whatever your dietary requirements, you’ll find a salad that ticks all the boxes here.

The Wolf The Bean The Walnut also serves great coffee using beans from Claremont-based roaster Typika, and many Perth City workers go there just for their daily caffeine fix. Try a turmeric latte if you’re feeling brave…

The Wolf The Bean The Walnut
Wolf Lane, Perth
Mon-Fri 7am-3:30pm, Sat-Sun Closed
Website – Facebook – Instagram

The Hummus Club

The Hummus Club has been a popular feature of Perth’s farmers and hawkers markets since 2014. In October 2015, they commenced a six-month residency in Trinity Arcade serving delicious Middle-Eastern cuisine at weekday lunchtimes.

While there’s plenty of hummus and falafel to be getting on with, they also serve one of Perth City’s best salads – their delicious Mid Eastern Salad mixes tomato, red onion, cucumber and lettuce with a pomegranate vinaigrette, mint and pita crisps.

The Hummus Club
Shop 114, Trinity Arcade, Perth
Mon-Fri 11am-2pm, Sat-Sun closed
Website – Facebook – Instagram

Country Road Cafe

The Country Road Cafe is located at the rear of the Perth City Country Road Store (enter from Wolf Lane), but don’t let that put you off – this is a serious mostly-vegetarian cafe offering gluten-free, vegan, low fat, dairy free and raw options.

There’s a variety of salads on offer from simple garden or Greek to a complex chick pea & roast vegetable combination as well as an impressive selection of non-salad vegetarian dishes. The Huevos Rancheros with sweet potato, bean salsa, jalapenos and your choice of eggs isn’t a salad, but it is the star of their breakfast menu.

Country Road Cafe
307/313 Murray Street, Perth
Mon-Thu 7am-4pm, Fri 7am-3:30pm, Sat 10:30am-3pm, Sun closed
Website – Facebook – Instagram

This Post first appeared for the City of Perth – at VisitPerthCity.Com.au