305 Murray St, Perth
Ph: (08) 9347 7000
www.mantra.com.au
A Quickie In The City
Amid the bustling streets of the city there is a little hide away – a tranquil venue where you can enjoy a quiet meal, and a bar area that opens up onto Murray Street. It’s called 305 Bar and Restaurant and it’s the ideal place for a quick snack and a dose of people watching!
Chef John Russell joined 305 Bar and Restaurant two years ago and has brought his fresh, vibrant, Queensland influences to the table. He works closely together with Food and Beverage Manager Aaron Telford, and the team is offering good, well-priced food for the busy worker.
Bar 305 caters for all occasions: be it meetings in the bar, functions in the two conference rooms, cocktail parties for up to 180 people, or just a good old-fashioned sundowner!
The first dish we tried was the ‘305 Mezze plate’ boasting grilled chorizo, olives, feta, marinated calamari and crostini – great to share over a quick beer. Next came the ‘Scallops served in a half shell with mango salsa and rocket salad’, fresh and tasty, it’s a good light meal full of flavour. The dish was matched well with the Wills Domain 2010 Chardonnay from Margaret River – a bold, beautiful wine and a great dish for a lazy sunny afternoon!
Now for the signature dish, ‘Mondo rib eye on the bone with rosemary and garlic chats, baby carrots and red wine jus’. This is a monster – char grilled beautifully and cooked medium rare, juicy and tender. The chats are tasty and an array of multicoloured sweet carrots nestle under the steak with a thick classic jus, I would go as far as to call it a really good gravy! This is a definite for the meat eating man with a big appetite. The wine match for this dish went really well, a Piano Gully Shiraz 2008 from Margaret River – it’s a hearty, beefy red with chocolaty undertones.
Time for dessert and out comes a ‘Chocolate fondant with pistachio biscotti, finished with Chantilly cream and orange Curaçao glaze’. My friend loved this one, super rich, chocolaty and a little bit gooey in the middle – a must try for chocolate fans. I was pretty happy my friend wasn’t a cheesecake fan because the ‘strawberry cheesecake with vanilla bean ice cream’ was to die for! The cheesecake was creamy, light and oh so strawberry with a good crunchy base. Surprise little pieces of meringue sat in big pools of thick coulis, a truly delicious cheesecake and the highlight of the meal for me!
I do need to tell you about the ‘Express @ 305’: you can expect lunch on your table in 15 minutes or it’s half price! It’s perfect for a quick lunch break and there is a selection of chicken or steak burgers, club sandwiches, fish and chips, thai beef salad or a selection of pizzas, all very well priced.
Head to 305 in the evening for an intimate dining experience, it has a great vibe with friendly but casual service. The wine list is extensive with a focus on WA and a few NZ favourites too! Impress your boss with an excellent meal or organize your next business meeting at the Mantra – you’re guaranteed to get into their good books!
Let us know what you think about this venue by leaving a comment on our Facebook page!
By Chef Sophie Budd
