I'd been lusting after a wine matched degustation dinner at fine dining restaurant No4 Blake Street on Blake Street in North Perth for
months when a friend suggested we do a "nice" dinner one night. I jumped at the chance and suggested No4 for an early dinner on a Friday but upon ringing up to book we discovered that No4 don't start dinner until 6:30pm. That wasn't going to work but they did suggest we drop in anytime in the afternoon or evening for share plates and drinks at the latest offshoot of the No4 family:
Next Door at No4.
This small bar/casual dining room - that is literally next door at No4 - serves up bits and bobs including a selection of cheeses, snacks (think super crispy potato skins bursting with flavour for $8 or parmesan churros for $11), cold cuts (40g per serve, $8 - $9), and larger share plates, as well as an excellent wine and boutique beer selection. That's not all though, they also have a great dessert offering with everything from green tea and white chocolate choux ($13) to the delectable Chocolate Garden (more magical than you can imagine, $18).
We arrived at 5:30pm on the night and were greeted and seated by executive chef and restauranteur, Tom Randolph. Of course, at the time I had no idea who our friendly and helpful waiter was, I just noticed that he was on the on the floor serving customers and looking very happy to be there, which made for a nice change. There was also a sommelier on hand and, later, another two wait staff arrived, presumably to finalise the adjacent restaurant's set up but who were also helping out in Next Door at No4.
On this particular occasion my partner in dine and I ordered the crispy potato skins, a serve of the bacon salami, the chicken terrine ($19), house haloumi ($17), and the rabbit sausage with it's beautiful creamy mustard sauce ($19). For two people, and with a bit of house bread to start, this was a filling meal. As much as I wanted to have a dessert, I just couldn't fit it in!
Chicken terrine, thyme gel, liver parfait, stone fruit
House haloumi, almonds, capers, lemon, braised witlof
Rabbit sausage, honey mustard, mushroom, pinenut
Like No4, which I've previously been to for breakfast, the ambience at Next Door is unpretentious, with a relaxed and warm atmosphere created with low yellow lighting and lots of lovely wooden features such as the beautiful hexagon-inspired wine wall. The kitchen prides itself on using locally sourced produce that's in season to create flavourful food that celebrates the ingredients and creative cooking.
Visit them at the corner of Blake and Walcott Streets, North Perth for lunch or dinner from 11:30am till late, or for breakfast from 7am to 11:30am. The kitchen at Next Door at No4 will do their best to accommodate food intolerances and allergies; contact them ahead of time on 9444 6678 to discuss with a member of staff and check the menu
here.
