Jamie's Italian, Perth

Jamie's Italian, Perth

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Posted 2013-05-10 by MaggieVPfollow
Perth loves Jamie Oliver and if the quality of the food at Jamie's Italian is any indication, he loves us right back. Since opening at the end of March, the restaurant has been the hottest spot in town. No one I knew had been there, so I decided it was time to see if all the hype was, well, just hype. Reservations weren't possible but how crowded could it be at 5:30 on a Monday night?


As you see, the answer is: very crowded. However, in the first display of the consistently professional service, a staff member came out and gave us estimated waiting times. Some people left but most proceeded to the reservation desk. There we had a choice to take a pager and wait in the bar or leave a phone number and go elsewhere. We opted to spend the estimated hour and a quarter in the bar.


The bar is a long narrow space directly opposite the entrance. There are a limited number of stools along a small counter but we were lucky enough to get a seat on a banquette at the back wall. The drinks menu has a good selection of Italian wines, cocktails and quirky soft drinks. I ordered homemade lemonade and lime bitters and my friend had a glass of Chianti. We also ordered a serve of Seasonal Veg Crudités on Ice. In addition to this, twice during the time we were in the bar waitstaff came around offering a plank with a selection of dips, olives, bread and salami. They even went to the queue outside. Nice.


Just on 7 pm we were seated at a window table and a waitress took our order about ten minutes later. I ordered an antipasto plank of Cured and Crispy Fish and a main of Wild Mushroom ravioli. My friend chose an entrée of Blue Swimmer Crab Risotto with Veal Saltimbocca for the main. We added another glass of wine and a non-alcoholic ginger mojito. The waitress returned with a small basket of bread sticks, ciabatta and thin 'music bread' drizzled with olive oil and balsamic. Very welcome, and yes, it's free.


We now had time to take in our surroundings and one problem was immediately apparent: noise. The large room has a wooden floor, metal tables and concrete pillars dotted around, and an open kitchen at one end. All these hard surfaces combined with a full house made conversation difficult. When the waitress brought my entrée she described each item in detail. Unfortunately I couldn't hear most of it. Still, the fish was crisply fried and the shellfish had a fresh chili bite. The mackerel pate was outstanding, smoky, rich and creamy with a hint of brine. My friend was a bit surprised by the spiciness of her risotto but when I checked the menu later I noticed it mentioned a chilli topping.


When the mains arrived they were even better. I loved the ravioli. The tomato and mushroom sauce was thick and rich and the ricotta-filled pasta was silky and perfectly cooked. (All the pasta is made fresh on the premises.) My friend's veal was a touch dry but tender and well-seasoned.


The portions weren't huge but they were ample enough. We decided we had room to split a dessert and ordered a piece of Tutti Frutti Lemon Meringue pie. The meringue was crisp on top and soft as marshmallow underneath, the lemon was tangy and the bits of pistachio brittle added a delicious crunch. All this and our bill for the evening was a very reasonable $122.


Overall, Jamie's Italian is a welcome addition to Perth's casual dining scene and it mostly lives up to the hype. The food is fresh and well-cooked and the efficient, professional service is something to which more local restaurants should aspire. The main drawbacks are the noise and the long wait. Some bookings are taken but when I checked the first available was several months away. If you want to avoid the queue, I'd suggest a late lunch on a weekday would be the best time. Enjoy!

#restaurants
#perth_city
#nightlife
#lunch
#food_wine
#dinner
%wnperth
196747 - 2023-06-16 04:21:34

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