Perth Voice Interactive

WEREN’T we just the hippest—sitting in a packing crate “box” seat in an industrial chic courtyard in Northbridge, sipping aperol spritz and Spanish champers.

Rough timbers, designer-rusted metal screens shielding punters from foot traffic on James Street, and colourful murals feature at Lot Twenty, just down from PICA.

The heritage-listed building was police stables, and the bar/cafe has all the hallmarks of Perth’s increasingly sophisticated dining scene, thanks to owners Andrew McIntrye (Five Bar, Mt Lawley) and Gary Beadle.

Reclining on colourful cushions we snapped to attention when the aperol ($12) arrived, glowing neon orange.

The Italian aperitif is a mix of bitter ginger, rhubarb and gentian, add a Prosecco (Italian sparkling wine) and it’s heaven in a brandy balloon sized glass.

A sip of my mate’s and I regretted my tamer choice of Catalonian sparkly ($8), even if it was beautifully crisp and dry.

We were heading to the Blue Room Theatre so time was short, but Lot Twenty is as happy to accommodate those who want to linger as those on a on a tight schedule.

I’d eaten here before, sharing the garden fresh grazing plate ($30), with its mix of pumpkin and honey dip, local hand-crafted cheeses, pickled vegetable and delicious mini tarts.

There’s a carnivore’s version with duck pastrami, morcilla (blood sausage), dry-cured Spanish ham, and chorizo ($35).

On this occasion we shared the roast pumpkin ($15) and baby carrot salad ($14).

The chunky, baked-pumpkin rounds were topped with maple syrup, goats cheese and pepitas.

The people in the next booth had been “ooing” and “aahing” over the same dish, and as we tucked in we could see why.

Goats cheese on anything is great, and the addition of maple syrup turned a simple dish into something very special. With ingredients sourced locally, the menu changes seasonally.

“We take produce seriously…[and] would rather go with something fresh and in season,” Mr McIntyre says.

Orange was the unintentional theme to our meal and the carrot salad made it a trifecta.

Smothered in boozy raisins, pine nuts, herb yoghurt and honey dressing they were crunchy and delicious.

Carnivores are well catered for, with choices such as Wagyu beef ($28), lamb ribs with tamarind glaze ($20) and lightly smoked pork belly, with chestnut crumbs and cardamon and apple gel ($20).

And there’s a selection of sandwiches/burgers, including the Cubano modern ($17), with pork, ham and provolone cheese.

Or the amusing “you don’t make friends with salad” sarnie ($12), with its pumpkin, poached pear, radicchio, goats cheese and chilli caramel dressing.

Opened just three months, I predict this hip joint will be pumping over summer.

by JENNY D’ANGER

Lot Twenty
20 James Street, Northbridge
Phone 6162 1195
open Mon–Sat 10am–midnight, Sun 10am–10pm