As Christmas in July draws closer I find myself pondering about last December. Like me you no doubt spent December at copious Christmas lunches and dinners. Most of those venues were probably slick modern, run of the mill places. Out of all the of venues I went the one that left me pondering the most was the Mount Henry Tavern … or The Henry as it is known by locals.
© The Ponder Room
The Mount Henry Tavern is situated about ten minutes from the Perth CBD near the freeway entry in Como. The beautiful building is a prime example of the old style Australian pub, complete with stained glass windows, a large front bar and spacious dining room. There’s also a beer garden, a gorgeous light-filled atrium, private dining rooms, and several well positioned television sets making it a perfect spot to watch the football. Walking in you can imagine the goings on in the previous century.
© The Ponder Room
© The Ponder Room
Our group arrived on a Wednesday night thinking that would be a quieter, as we love a chat, but we were wrong. Although we were the first group to arrive the venue soon filled up, with not a spare table in sight. The atmosphere was terrific, with the friendly crowd chatting away and even coming over to our table to inquire about our meals. The clever table placement meant you didn’t feel on top of each other and we could even hear each other talk. So venue, check.
The Salt and Pepper Squid came recommended by a friend so I opted for that. Having spent the last couple of weeks eating a vast array of finger food I was hopeful it wouldn’t be one of those deep fried varieties. When the plate was put in front of me I was thrilled to see a decided lack of thick batter. The squid was melt in the mouth soft and the salad a good counter to the chips. It was pleasing to see an appropriate squid to chip ratio, which is not always the case, as some restaurants overload the plate with chips. So food, check.
© The Ponder Room
Two people opted to share the Squid and the patties. Another couple shared the Seafood Platter for one and the Steak. All dishes looked fresh and delicious. They were so quickly divvied up that I didn’t get a photo. I did manage one other, the fish.
© The Ponder Room
All the dishes were a good size without being wasteful or encouraging overeating. With everyone satisfied there were no desserts ordered.
Meals are ordered from the counter which meant more chatting to new friends from other tables. Ordering at a counter usually means minimal service standards, however this was not the case as the person taking the order quickly gave advice and a chat rather than simply ringing up the order, even though the line was growing. When the meals came to the table the staff were friendly and chatty, quickly correcting a misplaced order. So service, check.
It was a fantastic night and as I walked out I pondered:
- About the stunning windows and all the stories they help trap inside the venue;
- About the Quiz Night that was in full swing in the front bar;
- About the family feel. Clearly this is a venue frequently used by the community and how lucky they are to have such a place so close by. I’m always interested in ways of enhancing community spirit, and finding ways to bring together different segments of the population. Obviously early town planners were on to something with the local pub;
- Make sure you book.
For more information go to Mount Henry Tavern
-
food
-
service
-
venue
