In an old limestone building in Fremantle, Kenny McHardy is quietly yet confidently serving some of Perth’s most satisfying food. At the heart of the Manuka Woodfire Kitchen playbook: a fierce commitment to local produce and the use of a wood-fired oven to bring out the best in each ingredient. Roasted celeriac is served in whey vinaigrette, tender, sweet Pemberton beetroot comes with feta and roast almonds, and the shoulder of local lamb cooked for 13 hours in the dying embers of each night’s fire is a highlight. Served with mango salsa, a swathe of labne and sumac, it’s obscenely wonderful. Just as much care goes into desserts, notably a rich chocolate mousse with chewy shards of roasted white chocolate and roasted plums.Waitstaff are a down-to-earth, engaging and engaged mob for whom nothing is too much trouble. The local focus extends to the drinks, from West Winds gin in the cocktails to the all-WA wine and beer options.
This review was made independently for the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide. The guide’s reviewers visit unannounced and pay their way.
Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide
Gourmet Traveller’s star-ratings, which range from zero to three stars, reflect reviewers’ first-hand experiences. The best-rated restaurants form our national Top 100. Our wine ratings, from zero to three stars, are made by wine editor Max Allen on the strength of the quality of the restaurant’s wine list. View our rating key here.
