Julio’s Restaurant

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1309 Hay St, West Perth LambOH
Phone: (08) 6500 9111
www.julios.com.au
The Long & Short of Italian
Down the leafy end of Hay Street, the suits have declared Julio’s as their favourite lunch spot in West Perth. Whether it’s for a quick and inexpensive meal or for a long table feast, the Italian menu caters to all occasions ranging from antipasti boards to handmade pastas or the fish of the day.
BallsVInspired by his home region Piemonte and his extensive travels through Italy, Executive Chef Simone Ariano has put his stamp on the innovative menu and diners can be assured that all produce is sourced from Western Australia whenever possible.
We start with La Crocchetta – a croquette of lasagne, served with creamy parmesan cheese sauce. The creamy texture and exciting flavours of this entrée woke up our taste buds. The chilled 2017 Houghton’s Rose, (Swan Valley) was the perfect companion to this dish – light and refreshing, fruity and crisp on the palette.
Our next entrée Polpette was another tasty starter of local free-range chicken and pistachio meatballs served with a tomato sugo topped with parmesan cheese. The crunch of the pistachio nuts added interest and the locally made fresh bread was perfect for sopping up the sauce. Again, the spice of Houghton’s Rose was a good match with this.
Rolling on to the main course, we chose Agnello – Amelia Park lamb scotch fillet slow cooked for 12 hours and served withSquidPastaH pure averde (green puree) and mozzarella mousse, farm fresh sugar snap peas and asparagus. The lively cherry and raspberry aromas of the light red 2018 Copia Pinot Noir (WA) were well paired with the lamb, enhancing the flavour even further.
The house-made Nera was a dish of squid ink tagliolini pasta served with seared scallops, Shark Bay prawns, squid, fresh local fish and cherry tomatoes in white wine sauce.  I loved this seafood combination andit was well matched with the gentle fruity aromas of the Houghton’s Rose.
For a light, fresh seafood dish, Del Mare al Fresco was a good choice – Salad of Shark Bay prawns, fresh squid, Fremantle octopus, mussels, scallops, pickled cucumber and cherry tomatoes. The 2018 Ta_Ku Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough, New Zealand) was an excellent match with this seafood salad.
OccyVThe pasta at Julio’s is freshly made in-house, and the black onyx beef cheek ravioli pasta in a sauce of black truffle butter, roasted hazelnuts and salted ricotta was a treat. We really enjoyed this dish with the 2016 Italian Toscolo Chianti (Tuscany, Italy) and with its rich red colour, fruity notes and light spicy flavour this is a light and refreshing red and great with pasta dishes.
I recommend saving room for dessert and even if you are planning to finish with just a coffee, try the Lampoli, a light Rubi chocolate mousse, raspberry crumble, fruit of the forest gelato with raspberry coulis. Light (so not too many calories) and deliciously fresh.
Since the 2016 refurbishment of the heritage-listed building, circa 1902, the sleek design remains sympathetic to the character of the grand building by retaining its lovely wooden floorboards, high ceilings, exposed brick interior and Victorian façade.
Julio’s has been around for many years but the refurbishment has given it a renewed vibrancy. General Manager, Ben Kershaw said Julio’s serves modern authentic Italian cuisine using seasonal produce, ‘It’s very much from the heart, an experience that the chef shares every day,’ he said. ‘And the heritage setting provides an experience, I believe, you won’t find anywhere else,’ he added.
Also open for dinner, the atmosphere becomes intimate at night, especially if you’re staying in the attached Sage Hotel, and then you get to PalmyHsample the breakfast menu too. You can even get breakfast on the go, with Boutique coffee and freshly baked pastries.Many of the spacious rooms offer city views and it’s worth noting that this 4-star hotel is generally less expensive on the weekends due to the demand for corporate events during the working week.
Julio’s is now offering a full range of events from small corporate meetings to intimate weddings, perfect for up to 80 people.
‘We invite our event guests to experience our heritage charm while providing the service and amazing food that Julio’s has to offer,” Mr Kershaw said. He said Julio’s welcomes people to make contact to discuss their catering needs. “If your office is looking for a sundowner or you’re keen to book your upcoming nuptials, please don’t hesitate to get in touch,” he said.
DSC_3593While dining at Julio’s I realised how well-priced it is with great menu choices, and it’s easy to appreciate why the express lunch menu is so popular with the corporate crowd. Its convenient central location provides easy access to King’s Park, the city, Subiaco and Leederville.
Keep an eye out for their upcoming events, such as their Wine & Cheese Nights. It’s also a great after-work spot for a 2016 Canti Prosecco (Milan, Italy) or a Western Australian craft beer. May as well stay for a bite too and try the popular Arancini, which Simone said is a menu favourite. Or enjoy the fresh Coffin Bay Oysters, bruschetta or a cheeseboard with a DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protetta) certification for all their Italian cheeses.
If you can make it on a Friday after work, I might see you there.

By Ingrid Rickersey

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