West Deck, Karrinyup Shopping Centre
200 Karrinyup Road, Karrinyup
Ph: (08) 6374 1200
www.goodcompanybar.com.au
Good Friends & Good Wine
As the name suggests, Good Company is a place to relax and enjoy a moment with your friends and family. The modern, open space invites you in, and the comfortable seating and alfresco encourages you to stay. The menu is designed to share, and then there is the cocktail menu – let’s just say you should settle yourself in because we are here to stay a while.
Good Company is part of the new Karrinyup Shopping Centre and for Chef Meni, the kitchen fit-out from Moffat, in conjunction with Practical Products, offers the consistency he needs to run a successful restaurant. “Reliability is something I am looking for in equipment, especially in a busy place like this, because this place has been non-stop since we opened.”
With a top class kitchen to prepare meals in, it was no surprise that everything we sampled was beautifully prepared and demonstrated the range of flavour options available on the menu.
Our first dish was the Sauteed Calamari, served with parsley, garlic, charred onion and cherry tomato, chilli and lemon. The calamari was nicely cooked with large chunks charred on the outside, but tender to the bite.
The next dish – Kingfish Crudo – was a delicate surprise. The raw kingfish was served on a plate with blood orange vinaigrette, toasted nori powder, radish and citrus yoghurt. Small wedges of blood orange and a basil-infused olive oil dressed the plate, and the combination of these delicate flavours made this a beautifully subtle entrée. A lovely start to a warm summer lunch.
Our third dish was the lamb rump. Served with harissa, mint, pistachios, Israeli couscous and tahini yoghurt, this was my pick for dish of the day. There was a perfect balance on this plate with the harissa leaving that gorgeous chilli hit on the tip of your tongue without being overpowering, while the herbs offered a cooling reprieve. The lamb is marinated, then cooked sous vide before being finished on the grill, making it tender, juicy and rich in flavour. The couscous provided gorgeous textural interest and its delicate flavour offset the richness of the lamb and harissa. Chef Meni Zini is Israeli and while he is very well experienced cooking across cultures, I feel as though this dish epitomises his heritage in a most elegant way.
The final dish we enjoyed was the Beetroot Salad with orange, gem lettuce, Bookara goat ricotta, crispy grains and sherry vinaigrette. The combination of creamy ricotta, with the delicate crunch of the grains was exciting. All of the ingredients tasted as if picked that morning from the garden, the earthiness of the beetroot was powerful and the lettuce was crisp and not in any way overpowered by the other ingredients. This is a really wonderfully balanced salad and one of the best beetroot salads I have eaten.
The bar at Good Company is impressive; while we were there we indulged in a few cocktails to liven things up. The Pina Colada was fresh and not too sweet, while the Southside with Jinzu Japanese Gin was my favourite. This little gem went well with the entire meal. The third cocktail was an elegant Mai Tai, a refreshing cocktail that is just perfect for a summer lunchtime feast.
Good Company offers a relaxed yet elegant vibe. You feel at home whether with family, friends, in a small business meeting or just enjoying a quiet drink after a day of shopping. There is also live music on weekend nights. And so now, you have one more reason to come and visit the new Karrinyup Shopping Centre at your earliest convenience.
By Sarah Schmitt
