Perth Voice Interactive

THE Voice might have found a new contender for the best continental roll in Greater Perth.

This food reviewer has had some crackers over the years (just ask my waistline) with Lo Presti & Son in East Fremantle and The Re Store in Leederville high up the list.

But The Black Truffle could now be vying for top spot.

Situated on a busy stretch of the Stirling Highway in North Fremantle, it’s one of those places you’d probably whizz by in the car and never notice, unless you’re a local.

Performing a Dukes of Hazzard  manoeuvre, I did a screeching right hand turn across the busy Highway and managed to nab a parking space in the Liquorland next door.

The entrance to The Black Truffle is open and inviting with a cute sheltered alfresco and a weatherboard-style facade.

Inside was even better – clean, stylish and uncluttered with a Scandi-vibe – there was a display counter on the left, small goods on the opposite wall, and a long wooden table for communal dining.

Completing the minimalist picture was a jet black ceiling and swish downlights.

There was a steady stream of people coming and going on Tuesday lunchtime with everyone from construction folk working on the Fremantle Traffic Bridge to North Freo’s beau monde picking up choice morsels for lunch with Wendy and Nigel.

The display counter had a nice range of lunchtime goodies including ciabatta, wraps, bagels, upmarket burgers and a few salads. My wife “Special K” was soon tucking into her toasted veggie wrap ($11) – a giant soft tortilla crammed with fresh goodies.

“Wow, it’s got a lovely mix of sun-dried tomatoes, egg plant, avocado and tomato, and the red pesto is divine,” she said.

“It tastes super fresh and I love the mint cucumber, which gives it a nice zing.

“One of the best wraps I’ve had, with an Italian bent.”

Across the table, my young son was devouring his chicken schnitzel burger ($11.25) which had a lovely potato bun.

It was a precarious food skyscraper, teetering on the brink of demolition, but miraculously it held together until the last bite.

There was cheese, tomato and lettuce, with the coleslaw adding a nice texture.

The slightly spicy sriracha mayo caught my son off guard, and he rushed to the fridge to guzzle down some milk.

The main event – the schnitzel – was a tasty slab of tender chook with a light breadcrumb coating. File under superior, up-market chicken burger.

I finished off the lunch with the continental roll ($14).

A whopper that would make John Holmes’ eyes water, this conti had a large girth and length to match.

I was soon tucking into a delightful mix of mortadella, salami, antipasto verde and sliced cheese.

An explosion of fresh Italian flavours with the perfect ratio of meat to mild cheese and antipasto.

Sometimes I get bored halfway through a conti roll, and my jaw begins to ache as I chow down on bread tougher than an old leather shoe.

But the all important ciabatta was light and airy when toasted, and overall it was filling but not dense.

The Black Truffle turns into a pizzeria after 3pm, and they also do catering and sell a nice range of jarred and refrigerated small goods. 

I’ll be back to try the pizzas as the deli lunch offerings were very nice, especially that continental roll.

The Black Truffle
82 Stirling Highway, North Fremantle
theblacktruffle.com.au

by STEPHEN POLLOCK