REVIEW: Peppy Grove cafe DOESN’T live up to its location

It may be the second most expensive suburb to purchase a mansion in Perth, but Peppermint Grove is home to only a handful of dining venues within its palatial surrounds.

If you’re thinking these restaurants or cafes are an exclusive mix of five-star experiences with unforgettable service, fresh ingredients and high-end interiors, you may be surprised to find out that one of them is Red Rooster.

Its menu philosophy is to “deliver honest food made from fresh, local ingredients” and being a waterside venue, we were surprised there were only two fresh seafood dishes and the ocean trout wasn’t available that day.

Still craving seafood, we ordered the Szechuan pepper dusted squid with an Asian style salad with nam jim dressing ($23) and crispy coconut torpedo prawns with chipotle mayo ($12).

There was no way to know if these were fresh or local ingredients as the deep-fried method of cooking sadly meant the inside was overdone and the crust on both was very thick.

While they were tasty enough, and the salad on the side of the squid was packed with a flavoursome array of herbs and balanced Thai -style dressing, they weren’t what we were expecting from a ‘Golden Triangle’ cafe.

The Greek lamb slow cooked shoulder with dukkah and feta quinoa with herb salad, labne, pickled onion, salsa verde and grilled flat bread ($30), on the other hand, was a dish we’d order again.

Its DIY kebab plating style allowed you to put all of the tasty components into its own mini flatbread, or eat them individually. As separate components, the lamb was slightly dry but combined with the creamy labne, zingy salsa verde and vibrant pink onion, it was a yummy bite.

While its food and service offering is what you’d expect at any Perth suburban cafe, Freshwaters does have its interiors and view going for it.

It’s a simple but stunning venue to look at, with plenty of natural light streaming in and its veranda has amazing views of the Swan River and happy families picnicking or stand-up paddleboarding beyond.

Freshwaters Cafe

3 Lilla Street, Peppermint Grove

5.5/10

The verdict: Views are unbeatable, but the dishes sadly are. Its waterside location lends itself to more fresh produce, however if you’re looking for somewhere with a honest menu and great interiors, this is a good choice.