Ate It & Rate It | JAN 22

Ate It & Rate It is our curated guide of favourites - enough for you discover and try a handful of new eateries every month.

In our fourth edition, we explore a Freo seafood bar which has become a pioneer in Perth's seafood scene, revisit the best nasi Bali spot and highlight our new fave way to eat gelato 🍨. Lastly, we explore two city dessert finds and an Italian restaurant in Northbridge that we've neglected for years.

In this month's edition of Ate It & Rate It, we have:

🍷 Madalenas
🇮🇩 Suku
❄️ Dessert Garden
🍝 No Mafia
🍦 Fresco Gelato

Freo Fish Fans

Madalena's has been recommended to us time and time again, and we've only recently visited for the first time. Conceived by husband and wife team Joel and Danielle, Madalena's menu has a strong focus on using fresh local seafood (sourced exclusively from their partner fishmonger - Fins Seafood) and changes with the season. Diners will find a medley of modern Australian, South American and Italian influences on the menu.

At time of writing, Madelena's are expanding their space to hold a second story, so keep a look out on their socials for updates!

🗯🗯🗯
@madalenas.bar
💰 $$$
🍴 Wine bar / seafood
📞0459 250 952
📍406 South Terrace, South Fremantle
🅿️ Street parking available on adjacent streets

Indonesian Warung

In early 2021, Suku closed the metaphorical doors to their original stall located in the Fremantle Markets. They resurfaced in late 2021 at FOMO Freo - the newest development in Fremantle.

🇮🇩 [SU•KU] /Tribe- A group of people or community with common values or interests.

Suku's nasi Bali is almost too pretty to eat but that doesn't stop us from digging in. The Balinese hand-pulled chicken is flavoured with tumeric and lemongrass and is so delectable, while the sambal is the perfect level of spicy.

The beef rendang is very tender and flavourful, while the urap veggies and pickles make a great palate cleanser from all that spice and richness.

We never got to try their sate lilit when they were still located in Fremantle Markets, so we made sure to get an extra serving this time (and yes, they are so worth it).

🗯🗯🗯
@suku_freo
💰 $
🍴 Indonesian
📍FOMO Freo, 10 William St, Fremantle
🅿️ Street parking and paid parking available at Secure Parking - Kings Square

Life is short, eat dessert first

We've been big fans of Dessert Garden since our first visit in late 2020. In January 2022 we were invited to check out their range of holiday desserts which were fruity refreshments for the hot summer weather.

Their limited edition lychee tea crushed ice with fresh fruit and grape tea crushed ice with fresh fruit both contained jasmine green tea. The tea flavour was strong due to the traditional method it is cooked with.

Our regular order is their pearl milk tea snowflake ice, which for us is reminiscent of a Thai milk tea. We enjoy the crushed / shaved ice desserts at Dessert Garden given they are still light and flavourful enough to enjoy, even after a heavy dinner.

Left to right, top to bottom:
Signature Iced Taro Ball $10.5 - brown sugar crushed ice, 12 taro balls, pearls, red bean & taro
Signature Iced Herbal Jelly $10.5
Taro Condensed Milk Crushed Ice $17.8 - taro, taro mash, vanilla ice cream, pearls & crystal jelly
Tofu Pudding $10.5
Duo Condensed Milk Crushed Ice $18.8 (seasonal) - fresh strawberry, fresh mango & vanilla ice cream

Note a number of items on Dessert Garden's menu are seasonal.

A number of freshly made drinks are also available. Dessert Garden's range includes classic tea, fresh fruit slushies, ice shaken fruit tea and milk teas. We found their ice shaken range to be a great refreshing drink, with a punchy tea flavour.

🗯🗯🗯
@dessertgardenau
💰 $
🍴 Taiwanese / Asian dessert
📍 2/297 William St, Northbridge WA 6003
🅿️  Street parking available. At time of writing, selected CPPs offer free parking after 6PM.

No Mafia

For years, No Mafia has been a restaurant we'd always walk past but never actually visit. We've known about No Mafia since 2017 via Tre Amici, a Monday to Thursday special where diners forked out $35 for three courses at three venues. Starters were held at No Mafia, mains at Franco Forte and a scoop of gelato (or sorbet) at Chicho Gelato.

It was only late last year when we stumbled across No Mafia at their new location, when trying to find somewhere open on a Monday night. Their new venue occupies the space next to RoyAl's Northbridge - where the now defunct Hummus Club was located.

Our favourite dish was their prawn butter and bottarga spaghetti. This was deliciously zesty.

The pappardelle with braised duck was cooked perfectly al dente. Braised duck was incorporated throughout the sauce and wrapped in the curtains of pappardelle.

The ossobucco ragu lasagna was rich and decadent. Flavours were earthy and hearty with a strong red wine taste.

🗯🗯🗯
@no_mafia
💰 $$
🍴 Italian
📞0423 587 417
📍252 William St, Northbridge
🅿️ At time of writing, free night time parking is available in City of Perth CPP car parks.

Croccantino

Fresco Gelato is a new gelato bar in Subiaco. Opened in late January 2022 by Italian-Korean couple Francesco and Gloria, Fresco Gelato serve freshly churned gelato, cake and a range of pastries. The venue itself is large and plenty of seating is available.

What we found differentiated Fresco Gelato with other gelaterias is their signature croccantino. A croccantino is an eclair like italian pastry with a light and chewy texture, similar to a meringue or macaron.

It was our first time having croccantino and we found it to be incredibly light, pairing perfectly with the gelato. Our favourite flavour was their refreshing rockmelon gelato.

Co-owner Gloria is also a baker who operates Ancora Sweets (St. Georges Terrace). We have an inkling that her baking prowess is showcased in their cabinet at Fresco Gelato - where we found some massive Korean-inspired "fat macarons" known as "ttung-carons".  

At the time of writing, Fresco Gelato is open 7 days a week.

🗯🗯🗯
@frescoglato.perth
💰 $
🍴 Gelato / dessert / coffee
📞0418 956 291
📍 375 Hay St, Subiaco
🅿️  Ticketed Wilson parking outside store, otherwise plenty of free street parking in surrounding areas.