We have all been there — it’s the weekend and you’re keen to head out for a meal, but you’re tired of all your regular haunts and can’t for the life of you recall the name of that new hotspot you wanted to try.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a central place to get the lowdown on where to find WA’s best restaurants?
As of today, there is.
The West Australian has launched its digital Food Hub via thewest.com.au, available to subscribers of The West and The Sunday Times, which is the State’s only online destination for professional food reviews.
It brings together the verdicts of our in-house review team April Ooi, Kate Emery, Jade Jurewicz, Simon Collins and Amanda Keenan, who make it their business to hunt down prime bites for The West, The Sunday Times and PerthNow.
Unlike other online guides, blogs or influencer posts on social media, the hub is completely independent, unbiased and honest, and the meals are not accepted in exchange for favourable comment.
Collins, The West Australian’s chief lifestyle and features writer, said the new tool provides a comprehensive snapshot of the local food scene and allows users to easily locate great grub.
“Perth diners have never had more options, which is mostly a blessing, sometimes a curse,” he said.
“The tyranny of choice is real, which is where we come in. We guarantee the food hub will help you navigate the local hospitality scene, sorting the top-notch, top spots from the duds.”
Emery added: “I constantly get asked by friends and family for the best places to visit and it’s a delight to now be able to send them straight to the Hub, instead of killing my thumbs tapping out a long text of recommendations.”
There are already more than 300 reviews on the Food Hub and it is updated each week with the team’s latest reviews.
Venues are classified by location and in categories such as brunch, special occasion or cheap eats, meaning users can customise a search to help them track down that perfect eatery — for example, an affordable cafe north of the river, a centrally located date-night venue, or the best bar to check out on that next trip down south.
“We all bring something unique and different to the table in terms of our reviews and the places we visit,” Jurewicz said.
“April is uncovering so many spots I haven’t heard of and brings them to life through her TikTok videos, whereas Simon always has his finger on the pulse as to new as well as hidden gem options.
What sets us apart from other sites, is that every meal is paid for.
“Amanda’s no nonsense and quick-witted reviews are a fun read, and I always look to Kate’s reviews when choosing a brekkie spot on the weekend.”
Emery said not to underestimate the significance of independent reviewers who have nothing to lose when delivering an honest verdict.
“In a world in which paid influencers are rife — and sometimes hard to spot — it’s so important to have unbiased reviewers, who have no vested interest in giving a venue a high score they don’t deserve,” she said.
“The only person paying my bill is my employer and they have never, and would never, tell me what to write or where to eat.”
Ooi, who joined the review team in 2022 after winning the Citizen Food Critic search, agreed that trust was what made the Food Hub so valuable, particularly in the age of social media.
“People can really trust our reviews — lots of people think that we’re being paid to say nice things about the food or are only saying nice things because it’s free, but that’s not the case,” she said.
“What sets us apart from other sites, is that every meal is paid for.”
West Australian Newspaper editor in chief Anthony De Ceglie said it had never been more important for diners to have access to professional restaurant reviews.
“The West has always been the go-to destination for the truth about food in our State — but we’ve never had more resources or invested as much as we are today,” he said.
“We have turbo-charged our offerings and our team.
“Visiting our Food Hub is a must-do for anyone dining out.”
The Food Hub can be found here.
Best of the best
Five of the highest-rated WA restaurants that have wowed our review team recently — have you tried them yet?
Majuba Bistro, Albany
17.5/20
“The cooking in this bistro, which is redolent of Must in its heyday, is carried out with care. The menu makes terrific use of the magical local ingredients from both land and sea, and the staff are just delightful.”
Amanda Keenan, Dining Diva
Fleur at the Royal, Perth
18/20
“(Chef de cuisine Shane) Middleton favours less fussy yet dazzlingly clever updates on classic French dishes.”
Simon Collins, Taste Buddy
Jigoro, Perth
17.5/20
“From its inexpensive izakaya menu to the funky selection of drinks, there is no wonder frugal foodies are starting to swap the overpriced waterside scallops for something a little more interesting.”
April Ooi, Citizen Critic
Two Dogs Laughing, Beaconsfield
17/20
“The menu is unexpected and tempting, two words that don’t always go together in hospitality.”
Kate Emery, Cafe Queen
Dandelion, Karrinyup
18/20
“From the moment you walk in, you’re transported to a trendy dining hub that could be anywhere in the world.”
Jade Jurewicz, Hotspot Hunter
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