Relaxed Family Dining with Views
The Caribbean lifestyle is one where they have mastered the art of good living with a vibrant culture, magnificent beaches, culinary delights, cocktails, dance and music. I found a miniature replica of that in Bunbury’s Barbados Lounge Bar and Restaurant. A prime location overlooking Koombana Bay, Barbados is a great place for the whole family.
Barbados is in WA’s south-western town of Bunbury, less than two hours drive from Perth. When we recently visited Barbados we were greeted by Maria Ranieri, manager and function coordinator, who has been there since its inception in 2003. Chef Kim Chudia, who has been cooking at Barbados for over two years has some impressive cooking credentials, completing her apprenticeship at The Hyatt in Melbourne and Grace Hotel in Sydney. She worked as a Sous Chef in the Philippines where she ran European and Asian cooking classes.
Kim suggested we start with the ‘Seafood Platter for Two’ with calamari, scallops, oysters, chilli mussels, fish and chips – what a feast. If you do choose the seafood platter I would skip the entree as it is a large serve. You have the choice of fried or grilled fish, and oysters Kilpatrick or natural. Maria suggested the 2008 Stonefish Sauvignon Blanc, a Margaret River white wine with tropical fruit flavours and a crisp finish – a treat with any seafood dish.
Next we tasted the ‘Roasted Porchetta’ – rosemary and almond marinated pork, cooked to perfection, served with sweet potato mash, capsicum salsa and orange barbeque sauce. The capsicum salsa provided a delightful contrast in flavour and with a crunchy texture. I normally don’t eat pork but I have to say this was the standout dish for both my colleague and I. Maria wowed us again with her wine recommendation, a 2009 Amberley Estate Merlot, also from Margaret River.
One of the family favourites at Barbados is the range of wood fired pizzas. We had the ‘Margherita’ with a topping of fresh basil, cherry tomatoes and mozzarella cheese on Kim’s very own pizza dough creation. The pizzas are also available with gluten-free dough and as with all of Kim’s dishes, she says the pizzas are made with love. This was a treat with the 2007 Forrester Estate Cabernet Merlot, also from the Margaret River district.
As well as gluten-free pizza, gluten-free pasta and desserts are available on request. “We try to be flexible to cater for everyone.” Kim said.
There is plenty of variety on the menu to cater to your tastes, including a selection of pastas, risotto, garlic bread, bruscetta and salads. Kim has recently designed a new menu which combines many old favourites with some new dishes. With a whopping 42 dishes to choose from, Kim says quality rather than quantity is the way to go. “What you see is what you get – good authentic Italian cuisine.” she said.
Next we had to try – and find room for – dessert, one of Kim’s specialties. The ‘Chocolate Truffles’ served with strawberries were a treat; the strawberries providing a perfect contrast with the rich chocolate.
The team at Barbados are a happy crew and they agree that it is a very happy work environment. This certainly flows over to the patrons. “It’s a family business and we are very family-orientated. We’re like one big happy family,” Kim and Maria agreed.
With great water views, Barbados is truly an idyllic spot for relaxed family dining, drinks and nibbles after work, a cocktail party or to share that wood fired pizza over a glass of wine or two, in true Caribbean style.
