Review: Matilda Bay Restaurant

Matilda Bay has always been one of those go to restaurants for a special occasion. My most recent experience suggests this is still the case.

To start with there’s the view, no wonder so many brides decide to get married on the lawn next to the restaurant. It also serves as an added bonus should your date turn out to be short on conversation. Day or night it is spectacular.

On this occasion we sat at one of the booths and I was surprised at how well we could hear each other given that the restaurant was full to the brim, including a long chatty table next to us. Maybe it has something to do with the carpet flooring in this section. Behind us was a private dining room and the tables on the lower floor have the bonus of hearing the water lapping on the shore.

The service was excellent as you would expect from a fine dining restaurant in a top location. Thankfully we’d engineered it so that our order got in before the long tables of guests. All the waiters were friendly, attentive and not pushy.

Then came the food. My fish was cooked to perfection. It came with a side of slow cooked fennel and buckwheat, a rocket salad and a garlic and smoked paprika dressing. The surprising combination was delicious.

The desserts were divine. A dark chocolate tart with choc peppermint mouse and candy cane bark, need I say anymore. Okay, okay. I don’t usually like peppermint however the mouse had just enough to keep it from entering toothpaste territory. It was also just the right amount of richness without tipping you over the edge of indulgence. The tart casing crisp and the lining of bitter chocolate a nice counter-balance.

My friend, not usually a dessert eater, opted for the cinnamon donut that came with cream elderflower rhubarb jam, vanilla bean ice cream and toasted almonds. It looked equally delicious and a cute seasonal touch given we were approaching Christmas (yes it has taken me this long to fine time to post this review). It was a hit.

As we retired to the small bar area I pondered:

It’s clear why this restaurant has won so many hats over the years;
This was my second visit in as many months and both left me proud of Perth as my guests raved about the day;
An added bonus is the people watching, given the eclectic mix of patrons this restaurant now draws;
I don’t think I’ve seen such a posh donut;
If you are having an important meeting or conversation I recommend booking a booth.

For more information go to Matilda Bay