Soto Espresso

Soto Espresso
507 Beaufort St
Highgate
(08) 9227 7686

1. Comfort & surroundings

Lola: Though I regularly pop into Soto for a takeaway beverage before work, I'd never sampled their kitchen offerings before this visit. It's down the Highgate end of the Beaufort Street strip, with scattered tables, a long booth seat down one side of one room, and art for sale which changes every so often. Somewhat surprisingly, you might think, we decided against one of the half booths, but just because of the spaciousness of our chosen table's corner location. The seats aren't conducive to relaxing for a whole morning, but overall it's not a bad place to spend some time, and I did like this art rotation. A 2.5 here.

Alexander: Beaufort Street is probably one of Perth's most popular cafe strips, so breakfast purveyors need to do a decent job to survive amidst all of the competition. Soto has been around for a while, so it must be doing alright! The venue has a casual vibe, although there are plenty of people around to give it a lively atmosphere. As Lola mentioned, you get your choice of seat type, either booths or tables. I am a big fan of the booth, but so were a lot of other people, so we decided to give ourselves some more space at a table. I could have happily sat around people watching for a while, so I will give it a 3.5.

2. Service

Lola: It's counter service here with self service water too. This, of course, is not a problem, but it does mean that our contact with staff was minimal. So nothing to complain about, but no one seemed particularly happy to be working either. So a 3.

Alexander: Lola's right - counter service and minimal contact make it hard to say much on this front. I thought our server at the counter seemed friendly enough, but the waiter who brought us our food had a more surly attitude. Of course the biggest crime was that my plate was cleared before Lola finished... uh oh, 2.5 from me.

3. Tastiness

Lola: I had spied the menu while waiting for a takeaway one morning and the interesting sounding options enticed us to give it a crack. I chose the pork belly chorizo omelette with sugar candied bacon over the smoked kipper, which also sounded appealing. It was a close fight for my taste buds! The omelette was ginormous, I reckon there must have been six eggs in it, and it came with a hefty slab of sourdough toast and a handful of rocket. The chorizo was tasty though the bacon was easily overlooked. There was some softened onion throughout the dish which added some much needed sweetness, and the freshness of the rocket was appreciated. I say freshness but the rocket wasn't all that fresh, really, a sizable amount of it being old and yellow. I would have loved some balsamic to help the onion and rocket out. Determined to get through the mountain of food, I left the toast and focused on filling my belly with the good stuff. And while I did manage it quite comfortably I was so full and eggy that I couldn't possibly eat anything until dinner time. Maybe this is a good quality for a meal, but I felt it was a bit heavy for my liking. I'll go with a 2.5.

Alexander: I love eggs so it came as some surprise to me that I was drawn to the grilled mushroom and asparagus with Persian feta. Even more of a surprise, I didn't regret not getting eggs - this was deee-licious! The mushroom/asparagus/feta flavours all worked really well together, and the addition of some rocket and balsamic lifted it to something a bit more special. Plus, there were some carbs under there to help fill me up! Well done Soto, this gets a 4.

4. Drinks

Lola: Soto do a good mocha. My only complaint is that they are a little bit small! This brings my score down to a 4.5.

Alexander: The people at Soto care about their coffee, so I strayed back to long black territory for this breakfast. I was amply impressed without being blown-away. 3.5 from me!

5. Fiscal matters

Lola: I suppose a dish so large with so many eggs and so much sausage comes close to warranting an $18 price tag. But no one needs to eat that much, really, and I resented having to pay that fee when I probably would have been better off with half that amount and spending $9. The little coffee was $4, I believe, and although it is not uncommon, looking back I feel it was a bit steep. I'll give a 2.5.

Alexander: Prices are pretty average here, not too expensive, not outstandingly cheap. There is probably a small "location premium" built in, but this is balanced out by the fact that there are plenty of other cafes around competing for your business. I was happy to pay under $20 for breakfast and coffee, so I am giving it 3.5.

The verdict...
Comfort & surroundings: 6/10
Service: 5.5/10
Tastiness: 6.5/10
Drinks: 8/10
Fiscal matters: 6/10
TOTAL: 32.50

West End Deli

West End Deli
95 Carr Street
West Perth
(08) 9328 3605

1. Comfort & Surroundings

Lola: This little establishment just happens to be found in an area I'd quite like to live in. That pocket of quiet, leafy suburb with quaint abodes that's within walking distance from a lot of places I frequent: work, good friends' houses, a nice cinema, ice cream shop and so on. I've also wandered through these streets on the way from one friend's house to another's party on numerous occasions (once involving gin boots, but that's a story for another time and probably another forum). So I already feel quite comfortable here, and maybe just a little wistful. Inside the corner building is a nice, open plan with easy access to the baked goods if you are just after a take away, and a good number of appropriately sized tables. A little cramped, but I'd rather that than not enough chairs! I'm giving a 3.

Alexander: There's something comforting about breakfast places set in the middle of suburbia. The clientele are often locals, strolling in to get their morning coffee, and the casual familiarity is refreshing. Plus, being away from a denominated "cafe strip", I often think these places have to try that little bit harder because they can't rely on pedestrian traffic to attract customers. West End Deli fits the suburban corner shop mould well. It's casual without being frumpy; eclectic without being too "try hard". The non-matching crockery also adds a touch of fun. It gets a 3.5 from me.

2. Service

Lola: The sitch is that it's table service, paying at the counter at the end. We had contact with primarily two staff members, one of whom was super helpful, friendly and an all round delight. The other seemed like he'd been out on the turps the night before and things weren't quite working out for him. Oh but he was fine I guess. Overall it's got to be a 3.5 I think.

Alexander: I liked our main waiter, he was quite attentive without being overbearing. The timing of taking drink orders, taking food orders, serving food and clearing plates was pretty much spot-on. As Lola mentioned, table service too! So, nothing to complain about, 3.5 from me too.

3. Tastiness

Lola: The menu isn't extensive here but I like it. Particularly impressive is the inclusion of black pudding on the menu, which might not be the most popular example of breakfast fare, but is one that I have been known to enjoy. On this occasion I had a hankering for French bread and butter so opted for eggs with baguette, and chickpeas cooked with silverbeet on the side. I'm not normally a girl that cares for bread or butter with one large exception - when visiting family in France I tear off chunks of fresh baguette and top it with cheese-like slices of butter like there's no tomorrow. The West End Deli offers a fairly close experience with superb bread and a pretty good butter too. So we started off well. The chickpea and silverbeet concoction was interesting, over-salted, but tasty and enjoyable nonetheless. But ughhhhh the whites of my eggs weren't cooked. They weren't close to being cooked. They globbed (that's the official term, I believe) all over my plate like transparent amoeba. 2.5 I'm afraid.

Alexander: There are some interesting items on the menu which makes this a place to try if you want something other than just eggs on toast. Unfortunately, I love eggs on toast, and that definitely isn't West End Deli's strong point. I ordered poached eggs with baguette and a side of duck-fat cooked potatoes. First off, look at the photo and tell me if you think that's a decent serve of baguette? No, I didn't think so. You need sufficient baguette to catch all of the egg and I was left wanting for a more decent portion size about half way through my eggs. (To be fair, they do offer toast instead of baguette, and I would definitely pick that option if I had a do-over.) Next up, the potatoes: I will admit, the ingredients were of a high quality and the dish wasn't unpleasant. But I think they needed more salt and more crisp to make them an appropriate breakfast accompaniment. I'm not saying I would rather have a McDonald's hash brown, but I just feel that there was so much unfulfilled potential with this dish. I agree with Lola's assessment - 2.5.

4. Drinks

Lola: This is a tricky one. On the one hand, my morning mocha was one of the best tasting I'd ever had. It seemed to have some kind of excellent spice inclusion, but I could not pick what it was! I really don't want to be precious, but what brought it down was it's mode of being served. It came in a wine glass. Yep. A little silly, I thought. It also went cold quickly and was quite precariously placed on our rickety table. So... I'll bring what would have been a 4 down to a 3.5.

Alexander: Thinking I was going to carb-out on slabs of baguette and mountains of potato, I went with a long black. It was good quality coffee served at the appropriate temperature, so I was satisfied without being blown away. 3 from me.

5. Fiscal Matters

Lola: Although there are not a lot of options on the menu and most are quite fancy, I think all is pretty fairly priced. Basic eggs and baguette are not going to break the bank. Sure, once you add a side between $5-$7 you're in the upper breakfast bracket but it is your choice. Sides are not huge, but they are not crazily overpriced either, especially when you consider the ingredients used and the creation of something a bit different to what we're used to. If you are looking for a cheaper option, grab a slice of freshly baked banana bread or another delicious looking doughy treat. They might not be ultimate bargains, but they do provide an answer for those feeling a little strapped for cash. I'll settle on a 4.

Alexander: The focus here is more on quality ingredients than huge servings, and the prices reflect that. Most of the more interesting options are at a higher price point, but there are still some less expensive items (the basic eggs dish, without sides, being a good example). Still, on a comparative basis, I would rate this as slightly on the pricey side. 3 from me.

The verdict...

Comfort & Surroundings: 6.5/10
Service: 7/10
Tastiness: 5/10
Drinks: 6.5/10
Fiscal Matters: 7/10
TOTAL: 32/50

The Naked Fig Cafe

The Naked Fig Cafe
278 Marine Parade
Swanbourne
(08) 9384 1222

1. Comfort & Surroundings

Alexander: Wow. How could you ask for a better location than this? With an expansive deck and floor to ceiling glass, The Naked Fig plays up its sensational surroundings to maximum effect. I was telling Lola at breakfast that I'm not really a beach-y person but I love the ocean in Winter. Yep, with unobstructed views of the crashing waves from the deck, I was in Winter beach heaven. I was a bit worried I was going to get chilly sitting outside, but my trusty hoodie kept the cold at bay and, in the end, I was too absorbed in the view and the food to notice. Close to perfection at 4.5.

Lola: When scoring this section of the reviews I always think to myself, "Well it's not perfect, there are no sea views." I, too, find the beach delightful in the colder months, the tables were suitably roomy for two, the chairs comfortable and the deck was a nice touch. I can't fathom a nicer setting than this so it has to be full marks! 5/5.

2. Service

Alexander: I would like to start with the positive and say that, overall, the service was top notch. We had a chatty but not overbearing waitress who was happy to give us as much time as we wanted. But, happily, she made herself sufficiently available that we were never waiting very long before she popped up. My only criticism is that when I walked in at 9.38am (8 minutes later than the scheduled reservation time), I was greeted with the following comment: "Good thing you arrived just now, I was about to give your table away". What do you say in response to that? "Umm thank you so much for being normal and not giving our table away after 8 minutes"? Sheesh! It's Sunday morning, cut a guy some slack! 3.5.

Lola: Yeah, I understand they are busy, busy but surely a courtesy phone call could be expected. Fortunately it didn't come to that and after arriving in the nick of time we were treated to polite, attentive service. Nothing too fancy though. While our orders were taken at our table, we had to pay at the counter on our way out, marginally inconvenient due to the amount of people coming and going and the counter being between the entrance and the start of the tables. I shouldn't nitpick about that though, a minor issue! 3.5 from me too.

3. Tastiness

Alexander: Let me just state for the record that I love sweet and salty flavour combinations. Peanut butter and jelly. Chocolate covered pretzels. French fries and soft serve icecream. Mmm... But I find that breakfast options overlook this delightful pairing. So you can imagine how excited I was to see the Grizzly Bear Pancakes on the menu: bacon and eggs (scrambled or fried) with pancakes and maple syrup. I went with the scrambled eggs and I was not disappointed. Two fluffy pancakes topped with creamy eggs and crispy bacon, then drizzled with just enough maple syrup. The tastebuds on my tongue that register sweet and salty went into overdrive and forced me devour this dish in a matter of minutes. A big 4.

Lola: Unfortunately I'm awarding a 3 for my dish. The 'eggs on fire' promised so much but let me down a bit. It consisted of eggs cooked to my liking, I chose fried, on a 'chilli corn cake' with bacon, avocado, spinach and a sweet corn sour cream. I couldn't taste a hint of chilli in the actual corn cake (that's not to say there was none there, I just couldn't find it) though there was delicious hot chilli sauce all over the plate. Could have done with some more of that sauce though! And the corn cake itself did appear a little tasteless, more like a vehicle for the topping than the main event. No complaints about the avocado, bacon and spinach, however brief mention should be made to the sweet corn sour cream. Others may have loved this flavour but for me this was way to sweet and overpowering. Eggs were nicely cooked, and the rest of the offerings on the menu sounded really great, so it wasn't so bad.

4. Drinks

Alexander: Seeking to do a bit of a comparison against my drink from the last breakfast blog outing, I ordered the Mad Monkey. Despite the ridiculous name, this was not a ridiculous drink. Think banana, coffee and chocolate, all blended up into a frothy, icy-cold smoothie. It was pretty delicious, and definitely on par with the Mocha Delight from MillPoint. 4 from me.

Lola: Of course I had to have one as well! Banana, coffee and chocolate is a heavenly flavour trio, I agree. Quite delicious though I think the MillPoint version was superior. But I really, really loved my Mexican chilli hot chocolate. Even better than a banana/coffee/chocolate combo is chocolate and chilli, for mine! The chocolate must be of high quality and luckily this one fit the bill. 4.5 here.

5. Fiscal matters

Alexander: I expected to be paying a premium for the view at The Naked Fig, but I was pleasantly surprised to see that nothing on the menu tops $19.50 - which is pretty rare for breakfasts at coastal locations in Perth. Of course, all of the substantial options start at $16.50, but there are still the usual cheaper items for those who don't believe breakfast has to be cooked. My dish cost $17, which I thought was only slightly higher than average. But my drink was $7.80, which I thought was a bit OTT. The same price applied to all of the cold milk drinks. Even the ice tea was $7.30, and we all know how much tea bags cost. I'll have to score it a 2.5.

Lola: Alexander has summed it up nicely, while the food sat at a fairly reasonable price point, it's the drink prices that have brought my score to a 2.5 as well. Though this wasn't relevant on our visit, it's worth warning you that there is a 15% surcharge on public holidays. On the other hand, they do donate their tips to a charity.

The verdict...

Comfort & Surroundings: 9.5/10
Service: 7/10
Tastiness: 7/10
Drinks: 8.5/10
Fiscal Matters: 5 /10
TOTAL: 37/50

Moore & Moore

Moore & Moore
46 Henry St, Fremantle
(08) 9335 8825

1. Comfort & Surroundings

Lola: Eating out in early January is always a bit risky with so many places taking a (completely justified) break. I actually really like this about my city, that so many people in the hospitality and retail trades will shut their doors for a while, it's so sleepy. Despite this, I was super pleased that Moore & Moore, in Fremantle, had already opened their doors for 2010. Situated in a quiet pocket of town (at least during university holidays), this café is, predictably, attached to the Moore Art Gallery. There are multiple seating options with a lovely, leafy courtyard out the back, a couple of little, indoor nooks and an expansive room (where we nestled ourselves) filled with eclectic, vintage furniture. It was pleasantly uncluttered and uncrowded. I'll give it a 4.5.

Alexander: Fremantle is not my usual 'hood but I have to give it credit for supplying us with a breakfast eatery open during the the Christmas-New Year break period. Don't get me wrong, I am all for businesses shutting their doors and having some time off, but it would be nice if the majority of Perth's breakfast venues didn't all decide to close at the same time! Especially when the people of Perth are on holiday and hungry for delicious breakfasts! Now that I have that off my chest, I am happy to report that Moore & Moore is a lovely venue with the added bonus of being attached to an art gallery. But even if you're not an art fan, you will be comfortable having breakfast here. There is plenty of space and lots of interesting stuff to look at. I am giving it a 3.5.

2. Service

Lola: The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and efficient, what more could you ask for? Well, table service I suppose, as this was counter service. Accordingly, they are completely worthy of a nice high 4.

Alexander: I can't report too much on this aspect as face time with the staff was minimal. Although that in itself is a good start! The staff here aren't silver service, but they are what you would expect from Fremantle: edgy and a bit scruffy. Good stuff - 3.5 from me.

3. Tastiness:

Lola: I chose the poached eggs with nutmeg creamed spinach for my morning meal. It was quite delicious! The poached eggs were cooked to perfection, there was a generous amount of the spinach, and it was served with a rocket and parmesan salad to cut the dish, a welcome drizzle of balsamic and three spears of toasted turkish bread. I enjoyed the bread this morning, however particular mention should be made to the fact that there was plenty of the other bits and pieces on the plate that the bread could be left without leaving you feeling hungry or like you were missing out on something, hence this could be a great gluten-free or carb-free option. I must say though, the spinach, while enjoyable, was not super flavoursome and I couldn't taste the nutmeg so much. So it was good, it was above average-ly good in fact, but it was about a 3 good.

Alexander: The tempting menu made it hard to choose something but in the end I went with the poached eggs with avocado and salsa. The dish was finished off with arugala and spears of Turkish bread. As you can see, the presentation of the avocado, in particular, was very impressive - a perfect fan! I really liked this dish because it satisfied my craving for eggs but left me feeling like I had consumed a decent amount of vegetables as well. The eggs were poached perfectly (not a given at all venues) and the combination of flavours was spot-on. It also filled me up until the late afternoon, so it was both delicious and economical. 4 from me.

4. Drinks:

Lola: I ordered a mocha on arrival, without consulting a menu, which turned out to be a pretty good one. I'm giving an extra half mark though for this fact: when perusing the coffee menu later I noticed that, while it was a fairly extensive drinks list, my choice was not on there. The guy taking my order didn't miss a beat. This is how it should be, I think, because if you can make coffee and you can make a hot chocolate, you can make a mocha. However, I think the absence of any kind of fuss warrants a bonus. So, a 4 from me.

Alexander: Here's where it gets a bit interesting. As we reviewed the drinks menu, Lola and I were surprised to see iced caramel listed there. This was a first for our breakfast adventures! Not wanting to miss the opportunity, I decided to give it a shot. And I'm glad I did! It was great to try something new and it was well made. Plenty of cold milk and ice cream, with enough caramel flavouring to give you a hit without leaving you feeling sick. I think this could be the start of something new for people who don't like coffee and want something a bit out of the ordinary. High marks for originality, I'm giving it a 4.

5. Fiscal Matters:

Lola: Once again we have a pretty standard price point for Perth, my dish coming in at $14 and hot drinks being around the $4 mark. Other menu items were comparably priced. Since my dish was fairly large I can't be too harsh, so I'm awarding a 3.

Alexander: I can't remember the exact price of my dish but it was around the same as Lola's, so I am in complete concurrence. It's decent value for money so you won't feel ripped off. 3.5 from me.

The verdict...

Comfort & Surroundings: 8/10
Service: 7.5/10
Tastiness: 7/10
Drinks: 8/10
Fiscal Matters: 6.5/10
TOTAL: 37/50

That Little Mexican Place

Sunday 20 September 2009

That Little Mexican Place
382 Fitzgerald St
North Perth
(08) 9227 5755

1. Comfort & Surroundings

Lola: That Little Mexican Place is sandwiched into one of the premises on Fitzgerald Street in North Perth, just around the corner from one of our favourite spots, The Flying Taco (also Mexican but they don't do breakfasts, I'm afraid). TLMP pack a lot of tables into a small space, but only a handful of them were seated at by patrons last Sunday morning. Said tables are small, however, and we had to use the empty one next to us to store the condiments and water jug. At least we felt comfortable enough doing so, I suppose! You do get a pretty relaxed vibe from the place, aided by the long wooden bench along one side of the room piled with cushions (I made myself comfortable, accordingly) and the large chessboard sitting on one of the tables. It wasn't bad, except for the ten minutes of whistling by the chef that I endured before Alexander arrived. Points off for his shrill, erratic and seemingly incessant tune, bringing it down to a 2.

Alexander: So you might not actually feel like you're south of the border when you step into That Little Mexican Place, but the nods to Mexican culture amidst the comfortable chairs are nice without feeling cheesy. Which is a good thing, because there is plenty of cheese on the menu! But more on that later... I agree wholeheartedly with Lola that the tables were a bit on the small side, which isn't so bad on a leisurely Sunday, but good luck getting comfortable if all the tables around you are taken! Annoyingly, a table and chair is situated right in the doorway too, making getting in and out a little inconvenient. Overall, though, it's hard to make too big a fuss, so I am going with 2.5.

2. Service

Lola: I'm really torn here. Once I arrived the waitress was immediately affable and welcoming, and her genial nature continued throughout our morning. She was not so attentive to our needs, however. Shortly after she seated me a couple walked in who were immediately brought menus. They were then able to order drinks and have them delivered before I was even offered a menu. It was certainly nice to have table service, though, even if it did come with a delay. So a 3 from me.

Alexander: We discovered that we were in for more than just a meal at That Little Mexican Place when our friendly waitress hung around our table for 5 minutes swapping stories. Not that it was a bad thing - we had finished our meals and it didn't feel like we were being interrupted - but those looking for a secluded discussion or intimate tete-a-tete may want to avoid making eye contact with staff members. A big extra thumbs up for table service at breakfast - how nice not to have to order at a counter for once! Service gets a 3 from me.

3. Tastiness

Lola: Okay I really dig this menu! The offerings of steak and cactus for breakfast really excite me, though today I chose the quesadilla desayuno. Inside a toasted tortilla I was treated with fried eggs, bacon and cheddar, which was served on a hash brown and some refried beans. It was very tasty and I'm craving another right now. I would have loved to see a vegetarian quesadilla option but I did enjoy my salty, meaty toastie. I'm giving a good 4.

Alexander: If you are looking for a breakfast that's a bit different from your usual eggs, toast and orange juice, this is the place to come! I absolutely love the variety of menu items, so much so that I was prevaricating about my choice until the very last moment! I ended up picking the huevos ahogados - that's drowned eggs to those who don't speak Spanish - and it was delicious. Two poached eggs cooked in salsa with hash browns (not your McDonalds variety), refried beans and corn tortillas. Mmmm. Based on a previous visit, I can also recommend the burrito desayuno - so good! Just writing this makes me want to head there again this weekend to try out something new. A 4.5 from me.

4. Drinks

Lola: When I was finally able to order my first drink I was tempted by the promise of an espresso flavoured with chocolate and cinnamon, with a dash of milk: the cortodito. I'm not sure if it was supposed to be this way, or if I was required to stir it as I drunk, but what I received was a shot of coffee with some lumps of chocolate and sugar granules at the bottom. The flavours were good, but poorly executed. Fortunately the Mexican hot chocolate I sampled later was an improvement. Though it was unlike other Mexican hot chocolates I have had, and not what I was expecting, I enjoyed its malty flavour, bringing my rating up to a 2.5.

Alexander: The drinks menu is up there with the food menu in terms of variety and novelty. I chose the mocha de Mexico - a Mexican hot chocolate with a shot of coffee - and it was totally delicious. However, I can't help but feel that I should have tried something a bit more interesting, especially with the atoles and agua frescas on offer. Hmm, maybe next time. Drinks get 3.5 from me.

5. Fiscal Matters

Lola: There's a range of prices at That Little Mexican Place, from a $6 ham and cheese toasted quesadilla and $9 muesli to the $35 huevos divorciandos. My quesadilla was $18 and though my plate was quite large, I think overall their charging was a little steep. I'm also not too pleased with the drink prices, either. Below average I think, a 2.5.

Alexander: The average breakfast price at That Little Mexican Place is perhaps a bit higher than at other breakfast places, but the serves are massive and the quality and the freshness of the ingredients mean that it's hard to feel ripped-off. Come here for a special breakfast and you won't leave disappointed. A 3 from me.

The verdict...

Comfort & surroundings: 4.5/10
Service: 6/10
Tastiness: 9.5/10
Drinks: 6/10
Fiscal Matters: 5.5/10
TOTAL: 31.5/50