by buster the bruncher
Carnaby’s Café, Bar & Restaurant, gives new twist to the expression location, location, location.
East Fremantle’s newcomer has not joined with eateries along the suburb’s upmarket strip but sprung-up alongside East Fremantle oval. Bang on its boundary.
The result is a modern, tasteful and expansive eatery offering various configurations. Capable of hosting more than 300 people in comfort, the establishment is prime for celebrations and events.
Amazingly, this is a council project with, we were told, expectations of a profit in this, its first year.
Thanks to its extensive walls of glass, patrons look out onto manicured lawns of the oval on one side and the picturesque East Fremantle Community Park on the other.
Thus impressed, we take our padded, high-back seats for brunch. And, hooray, hooray, hooray! Carnaby’s noise levels are dampened by full carpeting and ceiling insulation. Take note eateries everywhere.
Even a squawking Carnaby cocky would be straining to make a disturbance inside here.
Brunch buddy, Professor Ken, followed his habit of kick-starting with hot, black coffee while we mulled over the tucker choices.
There are just seven choices from the early-day menu, including ‘kids pancakes’ with fruit, syrup and ice cream ($12). A couple more dishes for brunch would probably be a good move.
We were bowled over by their fruit juices, thriving in colour and biting in taste ($10 each). My little jug of juice, The Lifter, was constructed with beetroot, carrot, ginger, apple and lemon. Professor Ken’s, The Immunity mixes carrot with ginger, orange and lemon.
In the interest of the reader, we bravely ventured to tackle rolled pork, not normally a brunch dish. This is an option for those who want a rest from predictable breaky/brunch regulars like scrambled eggs on toast with bacon and tomato.
(Eggs Your Way are done here with toasted sourdough and house-made relish at $12).
We opted for Porchetta Benedict, rolled pork with potato rösti, apple slaw, poached free-range eggs and hollandaise. At $24, it’s the priciest bite on the menu. The apple slaw lacked apple-taste but it helped balance the pork in texture.
When our Breakfast Bagel arrived, it resembled a cheeseburger with oozing, abundant cheese with crispy bacon, friend egg, melted cheese and tasty, smoky, barbecue sauce ($14).
Fresh is best and Carnaby’s is fresh. Wild Mushrooms was a tempting dish, sauteed with potato rösti, grilled haloumi and kale ($22).
For the sweet-toothed, French Toast comes with grilled pineapple, whipped coconut cream, local honey and vanilla bean syrup ($20).
Carnaby’s cakes, in glass jars atop the front counter, promised to be delectable, skilfully prepared in house by our pastry chef. We were impressed by their home-made looks and happily can reveal they lived up to expectations.
The fuller, all-day menu is extensive, with a range extending from chilli squid salad ($26) to spiced roasted cauliflower salad ($24), steak sandwich ($28) and 100% beef burger ($26).
The vege burger is a weighty $24, fish ‘n’ chips, $28 and pumpkin ravioli $26. Prices are reasonable, given the food freshness and presentation and the high-quality premises.
Taking the grandkids? Ankle-biters meals: fish ‘n’ chips, chicken schnitzel and penne pasta (all $16) come with vege sticks, hummus, frog-in-the-pond and juice. Kids are a hop-step-and-jump out to the new playground in East Fremantle Community Park.
Carnaby’s says its focus is on fresh seasonal produce, grown in herb gardens or made in-house and on using local suppliers. Headed by the local council, Carnaby’s is a community affair.
4 Spoons
Carnaby’s, 44 Hamilton Street, East Fremantle.
Hours: Mon-Fri 7am to 3pm.
Saturday, Sunday 8am to 5pm.
Breaky/brunch menu until 11am.
Restaurant and Bar: Monday to Thursday 11am to 10pm.
Friday and Saturday 11am to late.
Sunday 11am to 10pm.
