The Eat Drink Perth food festival is being held in the city now – until April 23rd. Food lovers are spoiled for choice with progressive dinners, special degustations, masterclasses, foodie tours and more. When contemplating a visit to the stunning State Buildings for this month’s newspaper review, I was struck with a choice of which restaurant at the newly renovated city venue to dine at – Petition, Long Chim, Wildflower or Post? It was a no-brainer. I’d review Post for the Post Newspaper!
Found in the historical heart of the city – the old GPO – Post restaurant resides in what used to be the franking room of the post office. We are greeted and seated in the minimalist dining room. There is an indoor tree and vaulted ceilings, making the bright and inviting space feel more like an outside courtyard.
Chef has met me at Post fresh from finishing a 12 hour shift and is in great need of a cold beer. Post feels like more of a wine-drinking establishment, though looking around, beer seems to be the choice of drink for many others in the room. There are bottled boutique beers available, which are poured into long stemmed beer glasses. I’ve never seen a beer look so fancy!
While craft beer is very on trend, Post has an interesting international wine list. It’s the kind of restaurant where enjoying a chilled $475 bottle of Dom Perignon would not be out of place. I choose a French rose from the drinks menu, which unfortunately isn’t available. Instead, I opt for a glass of the local Pemberley rose, $10, which still fits the bill nicely.
As well as the main menu, there is a wellness “Shambhala Cuisine” menu. There are six dishes on this clean and raw organic menu, perfect for those on a health kick that are not wanting to stray from their clean eating diets.
We order our meals with the knowledgeable waitress and nibble on some freshly baked bread while we wait. In no time, our food arrives and Chef admires his kingfish entrée, $24. Cured hiramasa kingfish with a subtle chardonnay dressing and sesame cream is hiding under thin disks of sweet, crisp apple and sharp daikon. It’s has well balanced flavour and is a beautifully plated dish.
Pork belly, $26, is cooked twice which results in a crisp slice of meat, topped with two plump Shark Bay prawns. There is a dollop of a sweet blood plum sauce on the plate which marries the meat and seafood flawlessly. The dish is finished with crunchy fennel and finger lime. Whilst the fat to meat ratio on the pork belly is a little lopsided for my liking, it is a fatty cut of meat after all.
Meat is the hero in both our main dishes. Chef’s Rangers Valley beef, $44, is served with deep fried broccolini and a spinach puree. The tasty steak cuts as easily as the café de Paris butter that is melted on top of it.
My Arkady lamb dish, $39, is deliciously tender and sits upon a smear of eggplant puree, with crisp cavolo nero kale and a Spanish piperade jus – made of sautéed green peppers, onion and tomatoes.
We order a side of chips, $12, and I’m disappointed that we’re served seasoned skinny fries. I would have much preferred chunky chips to dip in the lush malt vinegar aioli.
Whilst we don’t feel rushed, service is efficient and our meals come out promptly. I’m aware that our table is booked for a later sitting at the popular Post. Though who knows what time the second sitting is, as Post is open till 2am daily!
I finish on a sweet and somewhat healthy note. Usually dessert fills me with guilt – this dessert from the “Shambhala” menu is as nutritional and natural as one can get. The vibrant, yet simple cacao mousse, $16, is listed on the menu as “clean” for those following a gluten-free, vegan or sugar free diet. It’s served with fresh berries, pistachios and some edible snapdragons for a big splash of colour.
Chef does indulge and tucks into the chocolate cremeux, $18. The rich mousse-like chocolate cream sits upon a sponge base. It has a deep, nutty aftertaste and is finished with caramelised hazelnuts and milk ice-cream.
And the sweets don’t end there. When we request our bill, a plate of two flavour packed salted caramel truffles arrive along with it. The truffles are made on site by Sue Lewis, a chocolatier that sells her goodies at her store downstairs.
Post is a wonderful addition to the city’s dining scene and it offers oodles of class and superbly cooked food without a drop of pretention.
** Published in the Post Newspaper March 2016 **
At a glance
■ Post
1 Cathedral Ave
Perth
Phone 6168 7780
■ Opening times
7 days – 8am till 2am
■ Rating
food 4
service 4
ambience 4
value for money 3
■ style – Modern Australian bistro
■ wine – interesting local and
international wine list
■ Chef – Kim Brennan
■ Owner – The COMO Group
■ feel – simple chic
■ wheelchair access – yes
■ cost
Entree – $22 to $28
Mains – $32 to $44
Dessert – $16 to $24
■ all in all – beautiful venue,
with well cooked and delicious
bistro style food. Great for a
date night.
