Dinner at Cantina 663 in Mt Lawley, an inner city happening neighbourhood of Perth, was once again fabulous. I must have eaten at Cantina 663 ten times in recent months and it is so easy to just keep going back.
Every dinner I’ve had at Cantina has started with the duck liver parfait. It is rich, smoothy, velvety, and so delicious on the charred bread. The sweet onion jam accompaniment makes this dish so good it has been my entire reason for going to Cantina in the past. And one of the reasons why I keep going back. I have tried several times to get the recipe by asking inquisitive questions like, “how do you get this parfait so smooth?” and “this is so amazing, I can’t pick if there’s any alcohol in this- is there?”. I have also tried the direct approach and just asked for the recipe. All attempts have been met with a friendly yet authoritative, ‘No’ (or ‘nice try’). I’ve resigned myself to wait for the Cantina 663 cookbook. I hope they hurry up and publish one soon!
Last night, three of us shared the duck liver parfait, chorizio with house pickles, and salt cod croquettes for entree. Not a fault can be said about any of those dishes, excepted it would have been nice to get more than five croquettes so we weren’t fighting over who was having seconds!
Main course was of course the gnocchi. Cantina 663’s world famous gnocchi, fame it truly deserves. Pillow light pan fried gnocchi served with pumpkin mash, walnuts, and an exotic cheese. We had that with a roasted baby beetroot salad. Seriously good.
I love the friendly staff who are knowledgeable and help recommend wines that are unfamiliar on the wine list. The service is efficient and the prices are normal for Perth. Not cheap, but not ridiculously expensive either.
I had breakfast at Cantina 663 a few weeks ago and it was nothing short of amazing. Baked mushrooms in a tomato sugo with poached eggs. Yes please!
Thanks Cantina 663. Keep up the good work.
FACT FILE
Cantina 663, 663 Beaufort St, Mt Lawley, 08 9370 4883. www.cantina663.com.
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day (except Sunday dinner).
