The Wandering Gourmet

Hi everyone,

We’re going to give this site a facelift so what comes out of it would be seen in a few days or two.

Thanks!

Just a friendly notice as I just got a shock… and so did everyone else who I’ve just told:

On the weekends, Hong Kong BBQ in Northbridge now requires a minimum spend of $25 per head. (Yes, I can hear you right now - are you kidding? That’s nonsense!)

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

I know one person who is glad they didn’t book there. And no, it’s not me.

However, I would like to thank the person at HK BBQ for sharing with me that fact. He didn’t mention it when I called - but I really appreciated the fact that he called me back straight away telling me that he forgot to tell me about the minimum charge per head.

Although I don’t agree with the $25 per head charge on the weekend, this person/restaurant scores an A+ for customer service. Why? Because if I booked ahead of time, and they didn’t tell me about it - I would be absolutely dead furious.

It’s better to let customers know the truth in front of time, instead of customers making huge scenes in front of everyone else.

If you read my last review on my experience at Van’s Sidewalk Café, I’m pleased to say that today’s experience was exceptional. Perhaps since the last time I went there, they have had a kick up the backside and gotten their act together.

I had a sugar-cured salmon with corn and chilli cakes with crème fraiche ($21.50), mum had sour dough with scrambled eggs, and my step-dad had some kind of big breakfast dish.

It was a little odd that the salmon was sugar-cured – normally I’m more accustomed to seeing salt-cured fish on a menu. However, I would totally recommend this dish. The mix of the hot corn ‘cakes’ (which were more like pancakes) and the cool salmon and crème fraiche really hit the spot. It also went surprisingly well with avocado. I couldn’t really taste any chilli in the ‘cakes’, but it may be because I’m used to chilli.

Mum thoroughly enjoyed her sour dough bread and scrambled eggs. I think she was really pleased with the massive portion of scrambled eggs. The only thing odd was that I found the sour dough bread really quite thick and very hard to cut.

My step-dad also really enjoyed his big breakfast dish which had bread, egg, sausages, and bacon on it. But his bacon was badly burned.

Fortunately, they didn’t try to serve me water in an unclean or stained glass. They also had very good, attentive and prompt service – a huge improvement from their previous performance.

I would be happy to visit Van’s again – even if it is to check on their consistency. Let’s hope they keep up the good work!

Van’s Sidewalk Cafe and Deli
1 Napoleon Street
Cottesloe WA 6011
Phone: 9384 0696

(Bookings accepted now apparently)