It’s brunch time and we two Baby Boomers make a B-line to Bassendean.
Buster and brunch buddy, Professor Ken, enter landmark, historic Bassendean Hotel (circa 1930) for a taste-test and inspection tour of the brilliantly renovated grand dame.
The atmosphere was set with piped, golden oldie sounds of Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin and big-band legend Glenn Miller.
Beautifully decorated rooms extend for ever with generous space between tables and abundant luxury.
Dining rooms upstairs, comfortable seating everywhere and extensive courtyards all add brownie points to the Basso.
Connolly’s Sports Bar was named after founding publican and racehorse breeder, Paddy Connolly, whose stallion, Blue Spec, was the first WA horse to win the Melbourne Cup.
Inside, there’s a tastefully decorated snug paying tribute to women’s roles in Aussie pubs.
Says a hotel blurb: “Bassendean was a town where many residents served in the war and women played an important role in running the show while local men were drafted.”
Remember? Women in Australia were not permitted to drink in public bars until 1965.
Dragging ourselves away from corridors hung with paintings and historic records of Bassendean, we order a couple of large, black coffees ($5.60) and take veranda seats watching local activities and passers-by.
Whole animal carcasses are being carted on a truckie’s shoulders into the gourmet butchers opposite, invoking memories of butcher shops with scattered wood shavings over the floors.
Bassendean’s offerings include Grazing, The Classics, pizza, Little Legends, Sweet Stuff and Between the Buns, (all served with chips). Menu items include cheeseburger with house pickles ($27), club sandwich with marinated chicken thigh ($30) and a plant-based burger ($27).
Prices are in the upper level but, as always, you get what you pay for and the Bassendean deserves its lofty reputation as a bastion for Baby Boomers – as well as families and drinkers, of course.
Professor Ken settles on lemon pepper calamari with herb aioli and lemon ($19.50) which turns out to be the pick of the crop for us.
We balance it with zucchini and halloumi fritters ($18) – delicately-infused with dill, coriander, parsley, gluten-free flour and egg, to bind it all together.
From the bar we order juices – one orange, one cranberry – and with their strong flavours, good value at $5.60 (but not listed on the menu).
Our dishes are light and modest while other senior diners are tucking into generous-size courses, but sharing fish-n-chips (beer-battered, $30).
Finally, what honest Baby Boomer would go past sticky date pudding? We order to share and, resembling a little Christmas offering, the pudding – with butterscotch and vanilla ice cream – ticks all the boxes ($15).
Menu offerings: Caesar salad ($26), Thai beef salad ($26), white wine chilli muscles ($30), a whopping 300g porterhouse (for a whopping $48) and golden ricotta gnocchi ($32).
Sweet tooth? Eton Mess is crispy meringue, berries, coulis, whipped cream and lemon balm for $15. It comes with three scoops of gelato for an extra $12.
Pizzas range from $25 to $29 and kids’ meals are $15, with a kids’ sundae for $6.
Brunch time is best at Bassendean, from 11am. Allow time for a wander of this historic, Perth gem, only five years away from its centenary. We owe it to founder, Paddy, who faced five failed attempts in court before a hotel licence was granted.
Only on the sixth attempt, armed with 468 local signatures as well as support from Bassendean Football Club and Local Road Board, the licence was granted in 1929, and the hotel was finally able to open.
5 Spoons
Bassendean Hotel.
25 Old Perth Road, Bassendean.
Phone 6149 5426.
info@thebassendeanhotel.com.au
Open daily
