The Old Brewery

My second visit to The Old Brewery is for my friend’s wedding reception. It lacks the formality of most receptions and goes with the formula that whatever happens, happens. My invitation is far from formal, as I recall the words “Dear Dev, we are holding a wedding reception at The Old Swan Brewery at such and such a date….Please reply by so and so…Cheers, Brad & Kaisha.” I thought to myself, “wow, I love being casual…this is going to be great!” I arrive at the reception in jeans, casual shoes, and a blue striped semi-formal Polo shirt. But to my dismay everyone is dressed in suits and dresses except for three people – one in a tracksuit, another in jeans, and the third in chinos. I consider myself a part of the “cool crowd” and strut my stuff…

Dinner for the night is a three course meal, read as follows:

Fresh bread rolls

Entree
Carpaccio of Beef, With Shaved Parmesan & Oven Dried Tomatoe; Basil Oil
Or
Grilled Tiger Prawns & Chorizo, With Pumpkin Risotto, Garlic & Preserved Lemon Aioli

Main
Barramundi, With Saffron Mash, Tomato & Preserved Lemon Salsa
Or
Roast Scotch Fillet, With Salt Roast Potatoes, Medley of Mushrooms

Dessert
Sticky Date & Banana Pudding, Butterscotch Ice Cream, Rich Toffee Sauce

Coffee & Tea
Accompanied by Nougat

I select the Grilled Tiger Prawns & Chorizo, With Pumpkin Risotto, Garlic & Preserved Lemon Aioli entree, and for the main, a Roast Scotch Fillet, With Salt Roast Potatoes, Medley of Mushrooms. The steak is available in only two ways – medium, and well done, so I opt for the former. For large functions such as these, personal preference is limited.

We start off with soft, warm bread rolls which we pull apart like hungry orangutans. A nice even spread of silky smooth butter, and a pop in the mouth followed by chewing (much like in the manner of camels), and a swallow and scraping of the oesophagus as it goes down ends the initial phase of our eating ritual. In the time between buns and entrees, we each down two glasses of alcamahol to quench our thirst.

Fresh warm buns

My entree is plated up okay but it lacks pizazz – the basil leaves are bruised, and the tiger prawns seem somewhat deficient of moisture and colour. With presentation aside, the combination of elements form a well balanced dish to give a sweet, spicy and peppery flavour. The meatiness of the prawns, nicely cooked risotto, and chewy chorizo make this a well textured dish. Too bad the prawns are slightly overdone.

Grilled Tiger Prawns & Chorizo with Pumpkin Risotto, Garlic & Preserved Lemon Aioli

Bright pumpkin risotto and hot chorizo

The garnished entree

The main dish is a scotch fillet steak topped with mushrooms and accompanied by two roasted potatoes. The steak is charred and browned on the outside all over, except for the outer edges, which are blackened to a crisp. Despite this, the steak is wonderfully tender, succulent, and chewy, especially for a medium cooked steak. The meat gives a tasty, buttery, nutty flavour. There are still large traces of fat in parts of the steak, which is a good indicator that the dry aging process was carried out over a short period of time; 28 days in fact. The mushrooms are salty, savoury in taste, and mild in texture, while the roast potatoes are slightly crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.

Roast Scotch Fillet with Salt Roast Potatoes, Medley of Mushrooms

Roast Scotch Fillet ordered

Our dessert is a sticky date & banana pudding served warm. It is covered in a rich, warm toffee sauce, some of which seeps into the pudding itself. The final piece is a dusting of icing sugar on top. The banana pudding is fluffy and filled with chunks of sticky and chewy date. The ice cream is a light butterscotch flavour that helps cut the sweetness of the sauce. Overall, a nice but common dessert that is found in most eating establishments around Perth.

Sticky Date & Banana Pudding, Butterscotch Ice Cream, Rich Toffee Sauce

The dessert

The dinner was good. The flavours were there, and the food was quite substantial. Presentation of the dishes could have been better.

We were as full as googs. That didn’t stop us from downing more alcamahol from the endless supply of jugs brought to our table. This led to crazy happy dirty dancing afterwards. Happy times.

The Old Brewery
Address: 173 Mounts Bay Road, Perth
Tel: +61 8 9211 8999
Web: www.theoldbrewery.com.au

Opening Hours:

Breakfast
Saturday – Sunday (8:00am – 3:00pm)

Lunch
Monday – Sunday (12:00pm – 3:00pm)

Dinner
Monday – Sunday (6:00pm – 9:30pm)

Related posts:

1. Beaufort St. Steakhouse
2. A Quick Detour to the Black Swan Winery & Restaurant
3. The Bonsai Restaurant & Cafe Lounge
4. The Brisbane Hotel
5. Rose & Crown