My office has been based in the CBD for just over a year now and it’s been a delicious adventure exploring the seemingly never ending list of places to lunch, there are just so many choices!
It’s not uncommon to hear people commenting on the high cost of eating out in Perth, but I’d argue there are some very good value places around town serving up tasty high quality food at reasonable prices. Here is a listicle of the one’s I enjoy .
Eat etc
The set-up at Eat Etc. has a modern canteen feel to its round space. It’s light, bright and a relaxing place to enjoy lunch. I really enjoy their food because there is such a diverse offering. There are two counters, the larger one has a range of hot options available which change daily. There are also plenty of pre-made salads and sushi or you can peruse the made-to-order menu and choose a rice or noodle dish. I’m pretty hooked on the Roast Pork Fried Rice ($11.50). The serving size is very generous with a mountain of piping hot and flavoursome rice plated up with an abundance of veg throughout and plenty of plump pork pieces. It’s so tasty and very filling. At the smaller counter, you can order hot drinks, amazing cupcakes or a piece of cake which are made in house and are presented so beautifully. There are also toasted sandwiches available which range in price from $6 to $9. A shout out has to go to ‘The Grandpa’ toastie – turkey, bacon, avocado, mesculin and beetroot relish – it’s pretty as a picture and entirely delicious. So much to like about this place; happy staff, very reasonable prices with fresh and fabulous food. There are options for every mood or to keep a whole group of lunching friends, which are all hungry for something different, very happy.
Location      Shop 3, 197 St Georges Terrace (Entry off Mill Street), Perth, WA, 6000
Website       eatetc.com.au
Facebook      facebook.com/eatetcetera
Opening Hours    Monday – Friday, 6.30am to 3.00pm
Pleased to Meet You
Clint Nolan has numerous fun and fabulous venues around town and my favourite is Pleased To Meet You. A great fit out with friendly staff, sweet tunes and a chilled vibe. It’s a great place to go when you want to duck away from the CBD for a Friday lunch and it’s just a short walk across to Roe Street. Whilst their everyday menu is a winner for sure (the suckling pig is heavenly), from Friday to Sunday they also offer lunch specials for the bargain price of $12. A selection of burgers and sandwiches are available that are made fresh and tasting delicious. I can vouch for the yumminess of the Spicy Fried Chicken sandwich, with its crispy piece of chook seasoned with just the right amount of spice and the refreshing crunch from the slaw. The Angus Beef burger, with its plump patty and elegant ribbons of pickle, is also a winner. Plus I’m a big fan of brioche and these are some good lookin’ buns. It’s a high quality, good value lunch that is a cool spot for a lunchtime catch up with friends.
Location      38 Roe Street, Northbridge, WA, 6003
Website       pleasedtomeetyou.com.au
Facebook      facebook.com/pleasedtomeetyouperth
Opening Hours    Monday – Thursday; 5pm to Late and Friday – Sunday; 12pm to Late
The Trustee
The Trustee is a classy venue with a slick fit out. There is Angel’s Cut, a lively rum bar upstairs, and a bustling bistro below, which spills into an outdoor dining area with tables under greenery filled trellises that are in hot demand now that the sunshine has arrived. I’m quite partial to the booths they have inside though, gives lunch a bit of a Don Draper feel. For those days when you want to enjoy a more upmarket lunch that won’t break the bank, The Trustee offers three very good value $25.90 weekday lunch specials – Caesar Salad, Steak Sandwiches or Steak and Frites. I’m fairly partial to the latter option and not just because of the completely divine béarnaise sauce that accompanies this dish and makes for an indulgent dipping sauce for your chips! It’s also the good steak, cooked to your preference, and the green salad is refreshing and well-dressed, what’s not to love?
Location            133 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
Website             thetrustee.com.au
Facebook            facebook.com/TheTrusteeBarBistro
Opening Hours        Bistro, Monday to Friday, 12 noon until late; Saturday, 5.30pm until late
Chucks Cantina
Oh Chucks! A must visit for fans of a good schnitzel. Whilst I do enjoy variety, I basically order the same thing every time I go here – a piece of Chuck’s Original chicken schnitzel, coleslaw and mashed potato, with gravy of course! A schnitzel with two sides is $13, which I think it excellent value given the ample size of the serve and the quality of the schnitty! A large piece of well crumbed and perfectly seasoned chicken along with a mountain of creamy mash, a river of gravy, and plenty of the light and crunchy slaw makes for a delicious lunch. It is perfect for enjoying in the hustle and bustle of the food court or back at your desk. They do offer other menu items along with their signature schnitzels, including a tasty range of sandwiches. I’ve heard great reports about the Reuben, but I just can’t stray from my go-to choice and this gal’s heart belongs to the schnitzel. I have never been disappointed when I’ve ordered it and I like that sort of consistency with a food court venue.
Location    Brookfield Place, Café Court, 125 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA, 6000
Website    brookfieldplaceperth.com/eat-drink/chucks-cantina
Opening Hours    Monday – Friday, 7am – 3pm
The Hummus Club
I will admit that until I ate the dishes from The Hummus Club, I did not understand how hummus could be the star on a plate. I now know that when it’s well made, and made with love, it can! The talented team from The Hummus Club can be found at various markets around town, including the Twilight Hawkers Markets in Forrest Place on Friday evenings, but they currently have a set venue which has popped up in Trinity Arcade. Their food is made with passion and is focused on showcasing how tasty Middle Eastern food is and introducing it to the masses in Western Australia. The FLT, which subs out traditional bacon for falafel, is definitely a crowd pleaser and I am part of that crowd. I’m also a big fan of the Hummus + Chickity Boom, with juicy chicken pieces, refreshing cucumber salad, hummus and fresh pita. There’s a real opportunity to get handsy with your lunch as you tear pieces of bread and liberally dip away at the ample hummus. Quite the taste sensation! The dishes on offer range in price from $9.50 to $13.50 and are fresh, flavoursome and filling. If you buy a few between friends then you can enjoy the ultimate hummusy food court feast! Definitely worth a visit to Trinity Arcade to get on board with the hummus revolution.
Location            Shop 114, Trinity Arcade, Perth, WA, 6000
Website             thehummusclub.com
Facebook            facebook.com/itshummustime
Opening Hours        Monday – Friday 11am-2pm
Delisio
Pizza may well be one of my favourite things, but contemplating tackling a whole pizza solo for a weekday lunch is slightly ambitious, even for me! Enter Delisio, the pizza fix saviour! Located in Enex 100, they are serving up large pizza slices in an impressive range of flavours. You simply line up, (most days there is a queue, but it moves very quickly), make your selection and they pop the slice in one of their red hot ovens to ensure it is served piping hot. This of courses means the base is perfectly crispy with a hint of char which adds beautiful flavour, and don’t they say it’s all about the base? With such a vast array of choices its tricky business knowing which one to order, but even if you opt for the more traditional flavours of the Margherita, you won’t be disappointed. The Mushroom Trio is also a total winner with all those mushrooms and all that ricotta! I have serious ambitions to work my way through the entire menu and Sexy Pig is next in my sights. The ingredients are all so fresh and each pizza is well balanced and super tasty. For $6.50 a slice, it’s a handy and filling lunch option that’s a perfect take away to enjoy outside. Grazi Delisio!
Location            Enex 100, Level 3, 100 St Georges Tce, Perth, WA, 6000
Website             delisio.com.au
Facebook            facebook.com/DelisioPizzaÂ
Opening Hours        Monday – Thursday, 9.00am – 5.30pm; Friday, 9:00am – 9:00pm,
Saturday, 9:00am – 5:00pm and Sunday, 11:00am- 5:00pm
The Terrace Hotel
The Terrace Hotel is a beautiful venue near the top of St Georges Terrace. With its well shaded alfresco restaurant area, complete with cooling misters, it’s ready to welcome you for some summer time dining. Their full À la carte lunch menu is available 7 days a week, but they do also offer daily lunch specials for $25 which includes a tasty meal and drink. There are seven tempting choices available, including some vegetarian options. It is a definite step up from lunching in a food court but if you want an enjoyable, well priced meal in a lovely venue, then keep the Terrace Hotel in mind. The Organic Beef burger that I had was as tall as a tower and very tasty, while the generous stack of rosemary salted chips were addictive. I heard similar praise for the elegantly arranged Chicken Caesar salad. A classy lunch at a reasonable price can be done in the city.
Location            237 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA, 6000
Website             terracehotelperth.com.au
Facebook            www.facebook.com/terracehotelperth
Opening Hours        Lunch, Monday – Sunday, 12pm to 3pm
Urban Bowl
It might be easy to miss Urban Bowl if you didn’t know it was there. You might not see it as you wander down the Terrace, tucked away down Sherwood Court at the bottom of the Exchange Plaza, but the crowds would likely give it away. Word has clearly spread about the fresh and tasty Vietnamese fare this friendly café is dishing up at very reasonable prices. Gigantic rice paper rolls are packed with meat, noodles, veg and fresh herbs for only $3.50 and they are perfect to grab and go. They also offer a range of Vietnamese style salads, along with Banh Mi or my favourite, their pho ($12.50). Yes I know the weather is warming up, but come rain, hail or shine, I really adore this fragrant noodle soup and it’s nice to take five and enjoy it there instead of racing back to the office. The serves are ample and the noodles are slurpy, or am I just slurpy with them? There are various sauces and garnishes at the ready if you want add a little more of this or that or to up the spice factor for those that like it hot. It’s a great little spot.
Location            Exchange Plaza, 55 St Georges Tce, Perth, WA, 6000
Website             urbanbowl.com.au
Facebook            facebook.com/urbanbowl
Opening Hours        Monday – Friday, 6.30am – 3.00pm
Lot Twenty
$35 for a two course lunch with a drink is very good value in my book and all the more so at a great place like Lot 20 in Northbridge for their ‘Lunch with the Lot’. Sit back and soak up the sunshine in their alfresco and take a little time to enjoy this leisurely and well-priced two course affair. Their menu has a real focus on locally sourced ingredients, which is always pleasing to see and there is a choice of three entrees and three mains. One of their signature dishes would have to be the Son in Law Eggs, with Chilli Caramel and Coriander. The slow cooked eggs spill golden yolk onto your dish, so you can either savour a tasty spoonful or get dipping with the crispy croutons that are served with the eggs. It’s a really interesting entrée, with a great contrast in flavours and textures. It’s also on the lighter side, if like me, you decide to order the Twenty with the Lot Burger for your second course. It has great height and basically combines everything you’d want on a burger. A tasty patty, melted cheese with an egg and bacon for days. Plus it gets bonus marks for having beetroot, which is one of my favourite burger additions. I focused my attention on the burger but did find myself frequently distracted by a french fry… or three. There is no minimum group size to enjoy this lunch deal and you can either pre book or opt to enjoy this special when you arrive. This could be the perfect reason to get yourself to Northbridge for a slightly longer lunch….with the Lot!
Location            198-206 William Street (Enter of James Street), Perth WA 6000
Website             lot20.co
Facebook            facebook.com/lottwenty
Opening Hours        Lunch Special, Monday – Friday, 12pm – 3pm
The Re Store – Northbridge
Oh what an entirely magical place the Re Store in Northbridge is! A real foodie heaven with a veritable treasure trove of enticing gourmet Italian delicacies. While I would love to spend hours thoroughly exploring all their aisles and loading up a basket or trolley with pretty much one of everything, on a weekday there isn’t quite that luxury of time. The Re Store can hook you up with many delicious lunch options for when you are on the go. Given their heritage, it should really come as no surprise that they make an exceptional continental roll. With a choice of four types of rolls, you proceed through the meat, cheese and salad selections ahead of fine tuning your creation with antipasto and sauces. I kept my roll on the more low key side, opting for mixed meats, tomato, lettuce, carrot and some provolone cheese on a crunchy white roll. Mamma mia! This combination retails for $8.70, which I think is a bargain considering the freshness of the bread, the exceptionally high quality of all those cold cuts and the lovely fresh salad. It’s a tailor made roll, liberally sprinkled with salt and pepper and my goodness does it taste bellisimo! Definitely worth a lunchtime wander to say buongiorno to this Italian institution.
Location            72 Lake Street, Northbridge, WA, 6003
Facebook            facebook.com/therestore.northbridge
Opening Hours        Monday – Friday, 7.00am – 5.30pm; Saturday, 8.00am – 12.30pm
Happy Eating Everyone!
