14 Fremantle restaurants and cafes you need to visit
This is a writing sample from Scripted writer Rachel Dally-Watkins
With beautiful old buildings, bucket loads of charm, a reputation for quality produce and some seriously chilled vibes, its little wonder Fremantle is a foodie favourite. From the new kids on the block to the ones that hold a special place in our heart, we've rounded up 15 Freo restaurants you need to visit. 1. Bread in Common With an absolutely gorgeous old warehouse setting, a lively atmosphere, and some of the best staff around, Bread in Common has fast become a Freo fave. Their inspired menu starts off with freshly baked rustic breads and focuses on locally-sourced, seasonal produce. They have a delicious range of house-made charcuterie and spreads, and their mains are designed to be shared among friends. That sense of community is key and trust us, in this setting with an open kitchen and massive dining space, the large communal tables really do work! Bonus: they also love cheese and wine – and so do we! 2. The Mantle The Mantle is the place to be to get among the in-crowd. The massive shared space in the East End is a hive of activity, no matter the time of the day, bringing people together to eat, drink, work and play. Enjoy the vibrant atmosphere, funky artwork and innovative design of the old warehouse as you choose between authentic wood fired pizzas from Magna Pizza or the Argentinean and Latin American inspired flavours of Don Tapa. A couple of pop-up ventures also offer delicious options – think soft brioche buns and juicy handmade burger patties at Short Order Burger Co, and incredible gelato flavour combinations at Stampede Gelato. They're open late but you'd best get in early to grab a table. 3. The Raw Kitchen No List of Freo faves would be complete without The Raw Kitchen. This food revolution restaurant brings together healthy, sustainable plant-based foods and a smoothie bar with a yoga studio and lifestyle store, all in a gorgeous, lofty 1920s warehouse space. Indulge while still feeling virtuous about your choices – they've got everything from pizza and pasta (made from surprisingly tasty zucchini noodles) to cakes and slices, and they're all raw, all wholesome and healthful, and all lovingly presented. Win, win, win! 4. May St Larder The newest venture from Eamon Sullivan and head chef Scott Bridger (the folks that brought us Bib & Tucker), May St Larder opened at the start of the year to bring us comforting soul foods made with local and seasonal produce, with a focus on raw and organic foods. The light and bright dining space complements the fresh menu that is printed out daily, the fancy drinks served in the now quintessential Mason jars, and the actual in-store larder stuffed full of homemade pickled, fermented, cured and preserved goodies. For the full experience make sure you try the Soul Sandwich – polenta waffles encasing buttermilk fried chicken, avocado, smoke sour cream, chili maple syrup and jalapenos, oh my! They also serve up a mean CocoWhip, a soft-serve style dessert made from coconut water that's vegan and gluten free, and Kombucha on-tap. 5. Nunzio's It's a big call, but we're going to go ahead and put our names to it anyway – Nunzio's on Essex Street is THE BEST Italian restaurant in Fremantle. It's the brainchild of Nunzio Gumina, known as the original founder of alfresco dining on Freo's Cappuccino Strip, and promises an authentic Italian dining experience to remember. Your mouth will start watering from the amazing smells of garlic and freshly baked bread as soon as you walk in the door, and you'll soon notice the attention to detail is a cut above the rest. Along with a wine list to be rivalled, Italian beer on tap, and a dessert cart that's a sweet-tooth's dream come true, the pasta is, of course, made fresh in house and the perfect comforting food to tuck into on a cold winter's night. 6. Habitue If you like your menus with a distinct Mediterranean flare and a side of live music, Habitue (meaning a frequent visitor, particularly to a place of pleasure) is the place for you. A warm fire, friendly staff, cool jazz and a cute old cottage set the mood for an interesting and tasty dining experience using the best local produce and the unique flavours of chargrill cooking. Settle in for a long dinner of food best shared with friends, and you'll soon agree that these guys really are the nice kids of Freo, and that you absolutely can't beat Habitue for taste and atmosphere. 7. Run Amuk Hotdogs Unleashed Think you're too old to have hotdogs for dinner? Think again! Run Amuk has added some class to the humble sausage in a bun, cranking things up about 10 notches from a run of the mill sausage sizzle to offer gourmet flavours to send you into a frenzy. And sure, they may not be a classic restaurant but with premium bratwurst sausages made from 70 per cent pork and 30 per cent beef (with vegetarian versions also available) along with super fresh relishes, chutney and other delightful toppings, they've gained a real following as one of Perth's best casual dining venues. Wrap your lips around the Mischief dog – with tasty tomato relish, freshly made guacamole, cheddar, baby spinach, tortilla chips, jalapenos and sour cream. Hot-diggity-dog!
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