A Decent Feed

Feeding Western Australia and Beyond

A Busselton Experience

The Vasse, Busselton

Busselton Again...
Positives. Busselton (can’t complain), Dinnertime, Good Company
Negatives. The Vasse (no, not the river), the connecting door to the TAB, the clientele (amongst others) and it’s not the Goose.

So, where do we begin? The beer perhaps. The Vasse is a pub so you would expect the basics to be right, yes? Well, the Becks and the other beer that shall remain nameless at the moment did taste a bit funny; the sort of funny that means someone doesn’t believe in clean beer lines (let’s not forget that this is a pub...) - not good. So in addition to the pub 101 item that should be there, good tasting beer, but we should also expect clean glasses... Well, so we are 0 from 2 straight out, not a good start.

So, moving on from the beer, let’s bring our attention to the food. We saw the pizza go by on its way to another table, thought ok and ordered it. Now, having had it delivered to the table, one does have the odd regret. The pizza, although huge, was completely overdone on the cheese front which means that it fails the “a decent feed pizza test” - the topping wants to slide off under its own weight (and it was average cheese too). So we can rate the pizza as a failure.

Pizza wasn’t the only sin ordered by the table, we also ordered

So, how would we rate this establishment. No. Move on, nothing to see here, nothing good to eat here.

The Vasse
What we think:
Food Rating: Poor 2/5
Beer Rating: Poor 2/5

Keep on walking...

A Decent Coffee in Dawesville

Cafe Coast

Sick of bad coffee at roadhouses and servos on your journey south to Bunbury (or back to Perth)?
If so, then Cafe Coast is the answer. Nestling in the quasi venetian area that is Port Bouvard, we have a little gem that serves a decent coffee. 

The two short macchiatos that we ordered (topped up - and yes, they did ask us how we wanted them) were excellent. Served in cups, there was good flavour, excellent temperature and for those of us who must have some sugar, appropriate hang time. 

The lemon and lime tart (normally with cream) was excellent, fresh and had an good mix of zesty flavours - perfect with the requested ice cream. An excellent refresher for those wearied by the journey north after a hard day’s work.

Drawbacks? Winter hours: 9:30 - 16:00 M-F Also open weekends (call 08 9534 2250 for details). No early or late stops in winter please. 

This could be enough to make me rethink the route to Bunbury (from Perth) once the new Forrest Highway (or SGA) is open soon... That good. Worth a stop.

Cafe Coast
What we think:
Cake Rating: Decent 3.5/5
Coffee Rating: Good 4/5

An Average Breakfast in Busselton

Samovar

If you are a single male, over 60 and looking to pick up, then Samovar could be just the ticket for you. Harsh perhaps, but we here at a decent feed, tell it how we find it.

So what can you expect on your breakfast foray into a cafe with such a contemporary interior? Nothing special I’m afraid. This is a menu that contains such items as a bacon and egg breakfast burger; the sort of fare you would expect at the average truck stop, not a cafe in Busselton that tries to hint at exotic north african links.

Avoiding the breakfast ideas from the truck stop we ordered a muesli, the eggs benedict and the toast and jam. Drinks for the morning were the obligatory short macchiatos.

The menu’s macadamia muesli sounded interesting but was a touch overdone; a bowl of packet muesli with added macadamia’s (not a bad thing) but then this was drowned with some fruit, a huge pile of plain yoghurt and honey. Nothing bad really, just not great.

After a long wait, the spoils of the opening course were cleared and the eggs and toast were brought forth. 

Toast first: Not bad, bread was alright. The jam that came with the toast can only be described as “bitter”. This is the edited version. This wasn’t a high point.

Eggs next: Eggs Benedict with Salmon. Two poached eggs served on cool toast (no english muffin here) with a pile of smoked salmon in between. Hollandaise sauce was served cold in a dish on the side (straight from the jar). Perhaps the kitchen forgot that this sauce can be served warm and on the food.

Now the coffees. Not good. That’s all that can be said. 

Recommendation: When in Busselton go to the the Goose instead. If the Goose is closed due to winter hours, try Dunsborough instead  (or keep looking in town: the hippie place round the corner may be better)

Samovar
What we think:
Food Rating: Average 2.5/5
Coffee Rating: Shocking 1/5

A Decent Lunch in Balingup

Avoid the tree hugging, mushroom eating cafe over the road and cross the south west highway for the best baguette in the south west. Where should you be? Fre-Jac. This is one of those places you just don’t expect to find, yet they exist and make journeys special. This patisserie/cafe is a classic example - excellent french food, but in Balingup of all places.

Lunch here was a pair of baguettes, one filled with smoked salmon, cucumber and yoghurt, the other was chicken, salad and a zesty sauce. Firstly, the bread; quite possibly the second best french baguette in Western Australia - this is crusty yet chewy and filling - a perfect starting point. The fillings are combinations that just go so well together. No complaints here.

Following the main course was a pain o chocolate; fresh, buttery and light. Choose this and you can’t go wrong.

Coffee: Choose this and you will go wrong. Fre-Jac is french and here at a decent feed we hate to perpetuate stereotypes, but this coffee was so french (awful). This isn’t a one off, we have visited Fre-Jac various times in recent years and the food has always been great and the coffee always bad. What’s the answer? don’t order a coffee, just food.

Conclusion: A great place for lunch. Just don’t have a coffee. 

Interesting Fact: They also have a restaurant that does dinner. Could be worth a go. We would go there if were in Balingup for dinner.

Fre-Jac
What we think:
Food Rating: Good 4/5
Coffee Rating: So Bad... 0/5
“I’d rather drink my own bathwater” ...anon