Currambine Bar & Bistro

A short drive up the freeway took me to the Currambine Bar & Bistro, a family-owned venue whose unassuming exterior hides a treasure within. I was delighted to meet owner Sonja Gastevich, who I remember well from her days at the Kingsley Tavern and the Old Bailey in Joondalup.

Sonja has always had a reputation as a good operator and all her venues have been successful. It’s easy to see why – there’s a huge selection of dishes on the menu (something to suit everyone), the service is impeccable, and servings are generously proportioned, well-presented and great value. With so much to choose from on the menu, you could try something different every day and never get bored.

We started with Nasi Goreng from the lunch menu, which was served in a large bowl, topped with a fried egg. The chewy, crispy rice was full of plump juicy prawns, tender chicken, savoury bacon and veggies, with a nice touch of chilli, and the egg was cooked just right. This was accompanied by a glass of 2017 Forester Estate Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (Margaret River, WA), which was a crisp wine with enough acid to balance the dish.

Next we tried the Tasmanian Salmon, which we both agreed was the best dish of the day, and the best match with the accompanying wine – a lovely drop of 2017 Devil’s Corner Pinot Grigio (Apslawn, TAS) which was fragrant with flavours of pear and spice. The tasty salmon, topped with roasted capsicum and finely shredded crisp potato fries, was wonderfully tender, and flaked easily with the fork, but had lovely crispy skin on top. It sat on a fennel potato cake which was crunchy on the outside but soft and delicious inside, surrounded by a pea and caper pancetta butter. A squeeze of lemon set the whole dish off perfectly.

Laura’s Lamb Duo – a tender lamb shank and a small pastry-topped shepherd’s pie made from lamb mince – was served with mash, mixed roasted veggies and a little jug of gravy. This was definitely comfort food and would make a great meal for a cold winter’s night. The lamb was paired with a glass of 2012 De Bortoli Cabernet Sauvignon (Yarra Valley, VIC).

The Barbecued Pork Spare Ribs were tasty and tender and the Jack Daniels sauce was on the sweet side. The ribs came with chunky chips and a salad, and were well matched with the bold but elegant 2014 Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz (Barossa Valley, SA).

A plate of pavlova and a cup of coffee completed our meal. The delicate soft meringue, filled with whipped cream, was drizzled with tangy passionfruit sauce, garnished with a strawberry and served with a dollop of creamy vanilla ice cream on the side. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like pavlova – it’s always a winner.

Sonja told us that she built this venue about five years ago and they are busy every day. “Everything we do is popular,” she told us. “People love variety, and our specials change all the time. There’s always something new to try.”

Certainly there were plenty of people scattered throughout the room enjoying a drink, even though we were there in the middle of the afternoon on a mid-week day.