Ramon's at Willow Pond, Canning Vale

This restaurant is located at the back of Willow Pond with the carpark at the front. Therefore, you need to walk down a corridor to get to the reception area. The restaurant was nicely decorated with a Japanese theme with a small bar outside the kitchen and outdoor seating area. It had a nice atmosphere for a suburban restaurant and was not rowdy. The owner is also a martial arts instructor http://www.budokan.com.au/ who teaches within the same vicinity hence, the Japanese theme throughout the building and restaurant.

I came here for a function for dinner and a set menu was presented.

The entrée of roast capsicum soup was nice and light. The capsicum was not overpowering and had a good balance of herbs. The baguette crutes were crisp.

Braised beef cheek with sweet potato mash, peas and jus

For the mains I had the beef cheeks which was nicely presented. The meat was tender and succulent. The jus complimented the meat well and had the right balance of seasonings. The sweet potato mash was nice but a bit plain and the peas tasted as they should have.

Chocolate and hazelnut brownie

For dessert, the chocolate and hazelnut brownie was better than expected. It contained a cake layer on the bottom of the brownie and was covered in chocolate sauce accompanied by a scoop of vanilla ice-cream which was very rich and filling.

Overall, I enjoyed my experience here and it felt more secluded compared to other restaurants as it was located at the back of the building. The food was pleasant and I would definitely come here again as the service was good. They also have high tea which I am interested in trying out.

http://www.willowpond.com.au/restaurant/restaurant_menus.htm

Balthazar, Perth

This restaurant is hidden away and located on The Esplanade on a corner street. It's one of those places that you always pass on your way to the city but never managed to try. As you walk in there is seating similar to a typical pub then further in the restaurant there is a normal seating arrangement however, this was dark and cramped as one of our seat's was next to a walkway and the other was hitting the seat behind. Therefore, it is advisable to book a table next to the wall. Also, there is no parking nearby and from the closest City of Perth Parking area it is about a 5-minute walk.

Entrée: Tasting plate for one

For entrée's we got the tasting plate for one. The cornet with goat's cheese and celery mousse was the best element on the dish but the rest of the elements seemed a but mediocre for the price paid. How hard can it be to warm up a date? - Second from the left. I felt that more interesting techniques and flavours could have been applied to creating this dish.

Palate cleanser: Lemon sorbet

We received a complimentary palate cleanser of lemon sorbet in a shot glass which was nice and refreshing.

Mains: Pork with scallops and crackling

For the mains I ordered the snapper but instead I received the pork with scallops and crackling. This was of concern as such an obvious mix up showed the lack of competence of the waiters as I had even asked the waiter to suggest a wine which I ordered to compliment snapper. They do not take down the order on paper or electronically as they memorise the order however, avoidance this simple procedure has caused failure in their system. The meal was not introduced and was promptly placed on the table by another waiter. I initially thought that the staff were friendly until I told the original waiter of the incorrect dish and I was rudely told that it was what I had ordered which made me feel awkward. 

I had the dish anyway and it was nice with a delightful array of colours and textures in the dish with attention to detail. I especially liked the scallops which were cooked perfectly and the creamy sauce complimented the pork nicely. The pork rounds were wrapped in pancetta. However, I did not like the crackling as it was literally just shop bought similar to Nobbys Pork Crackle that you get from the vending machine (I used to buy this all the time). This was a large disappointment as crackling is what would have appealed to me if I was to choose this dish willingly.

Mains: Beef fillet, mushroom, smoked potato and creme fraiche

I ordered the beef fillet medium cooked. The piece was thicker than to my usual liking; however, this is quite common in fine dining restaurants as opposed to Country Clubs. The mushroom sauce which is my favourite, was overshadowed by other sauces.

Dessert: Strawberries, truffle honey cream, black garlic and licorice ice cream

This dish intrigued me with the unique combination of sweet and savoury flavours of the liquorice and black garlic ice-cream. The black garlic was subtle and could not be tasted but it had a nice texture and was extra creamy. The liquorice flavour was not too overpowering. The truffle honey cream had a thick gelatine layer on the top which I did not like, it had not much flavour and was rubbery in texture. The rest of it was a bit bland. The raspberry sauce was thick and mixed with gelatine but had nice flavours. The strawberries had been preserved in syrup which seeped out with each bite which I enjoyed. Overall, this dish was not fantastic but the ice-cream was nice but there was an overuse of gelatine in the other elements.

Irish Coffee

The Irish Coffee that I tried was too bitter to my liking. I requested a jar of sugar and used about 3 cubes of sugar just to get it to a drinkable state. 

Bathroom

Hippo Creek African Grill, Hillarys

If your someone who appreciates a good steak then this is the place for you. Overlooking Hilary's Boat Harbour there is seating inside, upstairs and outside. This place is always busy so booking in advance is ideal.
 
The menu is detailed when describing the steak cuts and they claim that all steaks are Meat Standards Australia grade and aged for a minimum of 21 days and come flame grilled on a wood-fire grill with your choice of sauce and fries, mash or a baked potato (dinner only) with sour cream and small salad. 

Lion Kill - A 300g sirloin steak, pork spare ribs with your choice of sauce and a baked potato (dinner only), chips or mash. Comes with a small salad $47

For the mains I have tried the Lion Kill. This meal is fantastic value for money if you are a big eater. The steak is cooked according to your preference and tasty on its own. I find that the sauces are quite salty and so far have only enjoyed the mushroom sauce and did not enjoy garlic butter or peri-peri as they override the natural flavours of the steak. The steak was slightly burnt on the outside when we had asked for medium well but the flavours were good. When I had asked for it to be cooked medium the previous time I came here, I thought it was cooked much better. The pork spare ribs were seasoned well and are bursting with flavour. The quality of the meat is high and there is only one way to eat them: with your hands. On the side of the dish I prefer the baked potato which comes with sour cream and chives which is a decent size. The chips are quite dry and salty, lacking a crisp texture.

The Black Angus 200 day grain fed +2 Marble score - 250g Fillet $42

The Black Angus 250g Fillet - This was thickly cut and was tender. The seasoning was well balanced. I asked for it to be cooked medium well and it came slightly burnt on the outside similar to the sirloin I could tell that the quality of the meat was much better than the 300g sirloin, but I thought the sirloin had more flavour even though it was less tender. Naturally, the sirloin also contained more fat.

Home-made white chocolate and vanilla ice-cream with sugared wonton pastry, crumbed cashews, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries in a berry sauce.

For dessert we tried the home-made white chocolate and vanilla ice-cream with sugared wonton pastry and berries. It looked appealing however, I didn't like this very much. The sugared wonton pastry was very hard and was not crispy. The home-made ice-cream was a bit ordinary for my liking and I could not taste the white chocolate flavours. The berry sauce was sickly sweet.

Over the years I have seen a bit of a menu change with more emphasis placed on the steaks moving away from pork and game meat. The quality of the steaks is fairly consistent.

The cooking temperatures are stated:
BLUE - Sealed on the outside while steak is at room temperature.
RARE - Cooked for approximately two minutes on each side, still very bloody.
MEDIUM RARE - Maintains a blood red strip in the centre with grey edges.
MEDIUM - Predominantly grey with a pink centre. Slight Blood reminisce.
MEDIUM WELL - Grey from edge to edge with slight pink centre.
WELL DONE - Very firm with little juice, grey throughout.

There are numerous meat types and price options including:
Black Angus 200 day grain fed +2 Marble score, NSW & VIC, $42 to $100
F1 Wagyu 500 day grain fed +5 marble score, NSW & VIC, $61 to $130
O'Connor Natural Grass Fed Angus Beef 200 day grain fed +2 Marble score, $77

http://hillarys.hippocreek.com.au/download-12.html
http://hillarys.hippocreek.com.au/menus/lunch-dinner-menu.html

Must, Margaret River

This place has the best steaks that I have tasted. The service was more than exceptional and the ambience was very relaxing. I liked the use of wine and bottles as a decorative feature throughout the restaurant and the use of bottles as light covers which was creative. My partner and I had the Sirloin Steak with French Fries. The bernaise sauce was fantastic and complimented the flavours of the steak which I liked better than the pepper sauce. The steaks were cooked to perfection and were very lean.

The wine selection was very extensive and you could order half a glass or a full glass which I thought was great if you wanted to try a variety of wine. The place was very busy until 8.30pm where people were just arriving to have dinner so it's good to go early or make a reservation as it is very popular! A great place and a 'must' place to try.

Sirloin steak with French fries, salad and pepper sauce

Roman Palace Italian Restaurant, Cannington

This place has wonderful ambience and a unique water feature in the middle of the restaurant. I always feel at home here because it is a family owned Italian business with wonderful owners who are very friendly and welcoming. It's a good place to go to when you're out for a peaceful dining experience with your family and also for an enjoyable take-away meal.

For entrées the Pane Con Aglio (toasted garlic bread) or Bruschetta (toasted Italian bread with tomato, basil & olive oil) is nice and light. For pasta I can recommend the Lasagne Al Forno (lasagna with three cheeses & meat sauce), Spaghetti Con Polpette (pasta with olive oil, fresh parsley, tomato & meatballs)  and Penne Pollo (pasta with chicken, sundried tomato, mushroom, broccoli & a creamy white sauce). I normally order these meals as take-away meals which are very substantial with rich flavours that are accentuated through the sauce. The pasta is always cooked al dente.

During my dining experiences I always go for the Zampi Di Agnello (roasted lamb shanks with a port & shiraz sauce). They provide two very large lamb shanks and the meat is tender and falls off the bone quite nicely. However, the Bistecca Alla Diavola (aged scotch fillet with a fiery black pepper sauce) is a winner too and cooked well.

Most meals come with a bit of a side salad similar to the Greek Salad (a chunky salad with fetta, olives, cucumber, capsicum, tomato & red onion). If you're keen for a bit more then it may be good to order an extra salad to share.

They do provide desserts however, they vary from time to time which are okay. This place is value for money and I highly recommend coming here and bring your friends and family too as it has a family oriented culture and feel to it. Also with the spacious design it is ideal for large functions or gatherings.

DINNER : Tuesday - Sunday: Open from 5:00 pm
LUNCH : Friday: Open from 11:30am - 2:30 pm
Monday - Closed

http://www.romanpalace.com.au/OurMenu/tabid/61/Default.aspx

Rifo's Cafe, East Victoria Park

Hoping for a very late lunch around 3:00PM there were not many restaurants or cafés opened around Victoria Park. My partner and I stumbled across Rifo's Cafe almost by accident. You could not miss it with the modern décor and red lights hanging from the ceiling with a retro feel to it. There were plasma's on either side of the walls as well as a spacious seating design.

I tried the 'Spring Lamb' (Grilled lamb cutlets served with Greek salad & mint yoghurt dressing, ($33) which came with five cutlets. I really liked the mint yoghurt dressing as the dipping sauce which was generous.The kitchen can be viewed from the café and we could see that the meal was freshly made.The Greek style salad was also tasty. I tried apple and passion fruit juice which is made from 100 percent juice. This could not be faulted. I also noticed that they serve 'missed breakie' or a late english breakfast from 12:00PM to 9:00PM.

The only downfall was that the waitress was cleaning up and sweeping around our table and the other customers for about 15 minutes, re-arranging our chairs and re-packing the sugar our the tables whilst we were dining. I found this quite rude and annoying. The waitress did not supply us with any water so I suggest that you request this when you place your order. Despite this, I would come here again for a coffee or lunch.

Opening Hours: 7:00AM until late (last orders at 10:00PM), 7 days a week
http://www.rifoscafe.com/img/broshure.pdf

Duckstein Brewery, Swan Valley

On St Patrick's Day I came here for lunch and the atmosphere was great as usual as it had been the third time I had been there. We sat outside under the front porch and they had a live accordion player. I tried the special of the day which was a steak of 300 grams and chips with mushroom sauce (you could also get pan fried potatoes instead). The meals didn't all come out together however, the steak was okay and it was a typical pub meal nothing too special. Previously I had tried the Duckstein Brewers Pan for two (A frying pan filled with panfried potatoes, kassler (smoked cutlet) and a bratwurst sausage). This was a nice traditional meal but obviously didn't feel too healthy. If you come here you should definitely try one of the traditional German meals as that is the specialisation and all the meals are very filling.

If you are a big eater then you should try the Schweinshaxe, large pickled and cooked pork shank served with pan fried potatoes and sauerkraut or maybe share it with another person. I have seen people ordering this but I haven't tried it yet and it looked like value for money as it is quite large. This is next on my list to try. This place is a definite visit when I come to Swan Valley and the beer is fantastic.

There is also a water cooler located inside and outside the restaurant for re-fills at your own will which I think is great.

Steak (300 grams) and chips

http://www.duckstein.com.au/index.php/menu_swan

Goose Cafe Restaurant, Busselton

We came here on a public holiday and sat outside. The views were spectacular and it was very relaxing. For entrées we had the the sardines from Fremantle. They smelt very fishy and were soggy. I thought that it should have come with a side at least. For the mains we had the lamb and the grilled crispy skin barramundi which was the special of the day. The lamb was a bit bland however, the fish was full of flavour came with a topping of chopped red onion, tomatoes and lemon butter which accompanied the fish. The skin was crispy indeed and I would recommend this! For dessert I had the pavlova with raspberries which was actually just a meringue not pavlova as it was hard and contained no soft textures on the inside. The raspberry syrup was sickly sweet. Overall, I thought it was pleasant and had the best views overlooking the beach and Busselton Jetty. I would try this place again. Also they do not sell geese and they never have which is a bit deceptive due to the name.

Lamb with beetroot

Location: Geographe Bay Road (adjacent to the base of the Busselton Jetty)

Busselton WA 6280

http://www.thegoose.com.au/contact-location/

Chime Restaurant at Hotel Northbridge, Northbridge

This restaurant is located at the front of Hotel Northbridge. We came here for lunch on Saturday and were the only customers. The tables were nicely set out and the area was quite spacious. For entrées, we had the Tasting Plate which came with a variety of condiments and was filling enough between a group of four. 

For the mains I had the Herb Crusted Lamb Rack however, this wasn't as good as I was hoping and each lamb cutlet had a layer of fat around it so there wasn't as much meat as I expected but overall it was cooked well. However, my partner had the Premium Sirloin which was tasty and substantial which I would recommend.

Premium Sirloin

Nicholson's Bar & Grill, Canning Vale

I have been here a few times over the years and it just seems to be getting better. There is seating inside and in the beer garden outside. There was a family oriented culture and was relaxing.

I tried the chilli mussels as a quick snack which came with crusty bread on the side but it turned out to be very substantial. I shared this with my partner and we felt very full afterwards. It was enough for a main meal and I didn't have dinner afterwards. 

I will be back again. The only downfall is that there is no eftpos facility, only an ATM.

Hog's Breath Cafe, Northbridge

For dinner I had the Garlic Mushroom Prime Rib (Traditional Cut $32.95 / Lite Cut $25.95) and it was full of saturated fat and so was everyone else's steaks. The place was dark and the steaks were covered in sauce so by the time you ate it you would get a mouth full of fat. 

However, the Chicken Parmigiana ($22.95) during lunch was not too bad (chicken breast schnitzel topped with an Italian style tomato sauce and shaved parmesan cheese, Hog Tail Fries and salad). The Hog Tail Fries goes well with sweet chilli and ranch dipping sauce. 

For dessert, the Strawberry Pavlova ($7.95) (filled with whipped cream and came with sliced strawberries, vanilla ice cream and strawberry sauce) was really nice and light. The cocktails are not too bad but you can't order cocktails or alcohol unless you have a main meal which I think is a bit unreasonable. This is due to their licensing requirements and they will watch you like a hawk if you try to order alcohol without a main meal.


http://www.hogsbreath.com.au/

Vasse Bar, Busselton

My partner and I came here and received exceptionally great service. The place was busy but we got a seat almost straight away and they cleaned the tables when we were seated. We got placed on the bar stools rather than at the dining tables as it was so busy. I had the special of the day which was the grilled pink snapper on sweet potato and my partner had the steak. Both our meals were tasty and pleasant but we noticed that they both contained more butter than usual for both meals. This place was not rowdy but a nice pub with a family environment. I would come back here for meals or drinks at any time.

Sirloin steak with salad

Grilled pink snapper with sweet potato (Special of the day)