Another week, another Perth restaurant shuts up shop.
This week, much-loved northern suburbs fine dining venue Conti’s Restaurant has announced its sudden closure, after almost four decades in the business.
Conti’s Restaurant, set on the Paul Conti Wines estate on Wanneroo Road in Woodvale, broke the news to its loyal patrons on Facebook on December 29.
As yet another icon of Perth’s restaurant scene closes its doors, we look at some of the restaurant favourites we’ve loved and lost over the years.
The Witch’s Cauldron
Back when Subiaco was booming, you’d have been amiss not to head to The Witch’s Cauldron in the heart of town on Rokeby Road.
Arguably the suburb’s best known eatery, it won a host of restaurant awards.
The owners abruptly shut up shop in March after almost 50 years.
However, they insisted the decision was “not a financial one” and it instead felt like the “right time to say goodbye”.
Star Anise
The epitome of fine dining in leafy Shenton Park, Star Anise was once Perth’s most awarded and acclaimed restaurant.
So, it was a huge shock when, eight years ago, owners David and Karen Coomer announced they were closing up.
“I’ve been staring out the same kitchen window for 13 years,” Mr Coomer told The West Australian.
“And it’s time for a change.
“We opened in 1998 with nothing in the bank and a massive debt, but we believed in this.”
Mr Coomer instead opted to focus on his Manjimup truffle farm.
The Trustee
Elegant St George’s Terrace restaurant The Trustee was a favourite among city dwellers and corporate types.
But the restaurant, one of Scott Taylor’s many hospitality ventures, closed in 2017.
Mr Taylor made no attempt to hide the reason for The Trustee’s demise.
“We’ve seen a 30 per cent drop in restaurant revenues in the past couple of years. Had that 30 per cent still been there we would have been okay,” he said.
The Loose Box
Fancy French food and romantic surroundings made Mundaring’s The Loose Box the go-to spot for loved-up couples and nervous men trying to impress a date.
But, despite the restaurant’s popularity, the man who was once WA’s most decorated chef, Alain Fabregues, said the decision to close was partly made for him.
“It’s not the only reason, but my dicky knees made the decision easier,” he said at the time.
Mrs Fabregues said: “It was a tough decision to say farewell to it all. Some of our staff have been with us for more than 20 years.”
Former WA Tourism Commission chairwoman and restaurateur Kate Lamont said The Loose Box has “been enormously influential”.
The Romany
Northbridge Italian restaurant The Romany developed an almost cult-like following for its array of colourful patrons.
At any one time you could expect to see a bunch of old CIB detectives, Labor politicians in the Burke, Grill and Marlborough moulds and diners with chequered pasts — such as John Kizon and Rai Fazio — all breaking bread in different corners of the room.
After six decades, Perth said “arrivederci” to The Romany in May.
Hungry Jacks, Fremantle
Fine dining it definitely was not but there’s no denying the iconic status of the “Freo HJs”.
The old-school building on the corner of Essex Street and South Terrace was the go-to spot for a cheeky fast food fix after a night on the tiles.
It’s a sad day when you can no longer get a Whopper in Freo.
And, of course, there were the few that failed to last the distance.
Ku De Ta
Located in a prime position on the banks of the Swan River and opening to massive fanfare, Ku De Ta appeared set for big things.
Modelled after the Bali restaurant with the same name, Ku De Ta had three kitchens and a licence for a whopping 850 patrons.
Sadly, it took just 16 months for administrators to be called in. The venue is now the home of the recently-opened Embargo Bar.
Matisse Beach Club
Despite being popular with the too-cool-for-school crowd, the Scarborough bar with a plunge pool centrepiece was short-lived.
While rejuvenation works at Scarborough Beach were partly to blame for its demise, patrons were quick to blast the venue’s lacklustre food and beverage offering and infamous plastic cups.
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