by Buster the bruncher
Given the Esplanade Hotel’s strategic siting in the port city, you would expect everything to be ship-shape for brunch.
So it was for some of the occupants of the hotel’s 300 rooms and streams of visitors passing through its grand entrance to begin their adventures.
Brunch-seeking locals, like us, should be alert to the hotel’s tight timetable because at 8 Bells (10am) the buffet is cleared with no rations again till high noon.
Brunch buddy Professor Ken joined me at a table with barely five minutes to spare.
First things first at the Esplanade. Pay the bill: the $38-a-head charge came like a splash of cold water in the face to a couple of struggling seniors.
Of course, big-eaters who can consume both cold and hot breakfasts, along with toast and pastries would get more bang for their buck.
The inclusion of juices (which adds $8 to the bills in cafés) and coffee does soften the blow for us.
Says the corporate blurb: “The Atrium Garden Restaurant is open every day from 6.30am for Fremantle’s most famous and loved buffet breakfast. Kick back with a barista-made coffee or get one takeaway as you explore the best the area has to offer.”
We tackle the buffet before, at 10am sharp, it is cleared away. Laid out are standard cereals, free-range eggs, bacon, sausages, tomatoes, baked beans and modest hashbrowns.
Croissants, pastries, small (thankfully) chocolate muffins and a goodly selection of fruits (small serves, go back for more?) almost complete the picture.
One surprise was black pudding which we tackled with considerable reservation, never sure if is to our tastes.
But, hey, the black pud’ was a delight and added some excitement to the standard smorgasbord fare.
The Esplanade, a Freo institution, has played a powerful role in the foundations of our port city, capital city and State since 1850.
Our topic of conversation centred on some of the history which isn’t on show. Perhaps some large photographs and walls of printed material would add historic and marine flavour to this grand old lady.
Locals might also like to know more about the hotel’s modern development. Most of us are aware that brick heiress Marylyn New spent a small fortune on expanding and improving the Esplanade before selling it.
From the beginning in 1850, there was excitement when the first building on the site, a warehouse, served as a temporary home for the first 75 convicts arriving from Britain.
Later, it was developed into a private home and became a hotel in 1895. Ms New bought the Esplanade in 1991 for $12.2 million and sold it in 2000 for $90 million. It takes a small fortune to make a large one.
The hotel, on both the Register of the National Estate and State Heritage Register, was acquired by local outfit, Primewest Management (chaired by John Bond, son of the late Alan) in association with Rydges Hotels & Resorts, for $88.5 million. (Investment house, Centuria Capital has since merged with Primewest).
3 Spoons
Esplanade Hotel
46–54 Marine Terrace, Fremantle
Breakfast:
Monday – Friday 6.30am-10am.
Saturday and Sunday – 7am-10.30am
Phone: 9432 4802
