High in the sky over St Georges Terrace, we’re on a “high” with high tea.
High tea is the highlight at C Restaurant as the world keeps spinning, viewed through floor-to-ceiling windows.
Perth’s only revolving restaurant counters European tradition of high tea in early evenings. It’s high tea at lunch time.
This, we reckon, is a civilised way to present and admire food, displaying sandwich slivers, scones and tasty treats, all tiered on your table’s mini-tower.
“Our high tea caters for all tastes, with a selection of finger sandwiches, petit fours and freshly baked scones available daily, alongside freshly percolated coffee and a selection of nine exquisite tea blends,” says the all-inclusive eatery blurb.
Here’s what’s ahead of you, as you spend 90 minutes twirling 360 degrees back to where you started. (First-timers fearing motion sickness won’t feel movement and can sit away from the windows).
We ordered the “basic” high tea and fearing an overload of food, requested to share it. This wasn’t an option but as it eventuated, C Restaurant exercised “Restraint” with a capital “R”. Along with flavour, freshness and innovation.
Our menu: Mini croissant, chicken breast, garlic mayo, capers, prawn tart, crème fraiche yuzu, dill, salmon roe, egg and cucumber sandwich, waygu sausage roll, relish. Chocolate and blueberry cake, lemon tart and strawberry macaron.
Every dish was professionally-prepared and tenderly-presented. “Home-made” jam, with scones and fresh cream, had a strawberry flavoursome punch.
Prof Ken gave his coffee a high mark after adding hot water to reduce a perceived slight bitterness, but I liked it. We couldn’t tackle a high tea without tea. I chose ginger and lemon tea – exquisite and served in a china teapot with real teacups and saucers.
C Restaurant is ideal for entertaining loved ones, for special events, marriages, milestones, birthdates and achievements. Visiting guests enjoy a rare, city and river birds-eye view.
The vista is breathtaking, day and night, and window seats are a preference for most. Says management: “To ensure fairness for all our guests, our window seats are allocated based on the booking date.
“However, if you wish to secure a window seat and bypass the queue of guests who have booked further in advance, we offer a window seat guarantee for an additional $30 or regular days and $40 for event days (such as Christmas and Easter).”
Professor Ken and I booked a Monday in expectation of low numbers and were escorted to a front-window seat.
Our bill for the fixed menu including coffees and tea was $124. There was a “tip” space provided on the bill so we added $6 to total $130. We didn’t think $65-a-head was excessive for high-class, high-quality, high-rise, high tea.
That includes scrumptious food, drinks, sensational service and glorious outlook. We’d do it again and who needs a special occasion?
There’s also a five-course degustation offering ($135) with matching wines for $75-a-bottle and a two-course dinner ($99 with additional courses $21 each). A children’s menu is available for lunch or dinner ($45, up to 12-years-old).
Wines include WA drops, a Margaret River jete brut ($17 a glass) and a brut rose ($20). A French champagne is also listed ($29 a glass).
5 Spoons
Level 33, 44 St Georges Terrace, Perth.
Opening hours: Lunch every day, 12pm-1.45pm.
Dinner 6pm, Fridays 5pm.
High tea: Monday to Friday, 12.30pm-2.30pm.
Weekends 1pm-2pm.
Bookings essential, recommended at least 24 hours in advance.
Email: general@www.crestaurant.com.au
Phone: 9220 8333
