Food Review: Hearth Lounge Ritz Carlton Perth

The Hearth Lounge is located at Elizabeth Quay on the ground floor of the new Ritz Carlton in Perth. A few months back I popped in to catch up with a friend I hadn’t seen for a while. We thought it’d be a quick cuppa. Three hours later we emerged refreshed, relaxed and feeling like princesses.

The experience started by walking through the formal entrance. Designed to evoke the gorges in the north west of the state they definitely pulled it off.

Then it was a quick turn right instead of left to head into the Lounge instead of the restaurant. To be honest we were surprised at how small the area was, but then marvelled at how the positioning of the settings made you feel like you were on your own, not sitting on top of each other. A neat trick.

Once seated we were offered a chilled water, the floating cucumber a nice touch. It was then we noticed the little touches.

We ordered chai tea and were delighted to be given an earthy stone-feeling descent sized cup and a teapot that didn’t leak. You may think that would be a given but I can assure you it’s not.

Having chatted for way too long we soon found it was approaching lunchtime. With more to discuss but not feeling like a proper meal we looked at the menu. The range was quite small with no small muffin type offering. We asked the attentive, but not pushy waitress for recommendations. Based on that we had the vegetable platter or crudites if your posh. Lying on a bed of ice the vegetables remained super crisp no matter how long we took to eat them. Each one was savoured, especially the pickled cauliflowers. The carrots too were left until last as however they’d been prepared took them to a whole new level. A simply moreish filling dish.

We also tried a dish that heralded Boab shavings, cherries and pistachio nuts. The textures and flavours were a new, good experience.

The whole experience felt like a wickedly sinful delight. The service was excellent. The only downfall was the limited menu, but then if the usual suspects had been on there we wouldn’t have had our eyes and stomachs opened to these treats.

Just writing this review has got my mouth watering and me wanting to go back.