Taking residency at the grand, heritage-listed building of The Royal sits fleur, a 45-seat dining room where exquisite food and quirky cool vibes combine for an effortlessly chic dining experience like no other. Fleur is bold, interesting and full of classic beauty and we predict will rival the rest in the Perth dining scene in 2020!
At fleur, contemporary fine dining is shaken up with a dash of quirky cool and a Japanese-inspired menu that takes centre stage in the most beautiful setting. The casual yet elegant dining experience at fleur focuses on bold, interesting flavours with inventive offerings that are simple but expertly finessed. Executive Chef Chase Weber and Head Chef Shane Middleton encourage diners to savour tastes of the familiar and unknown that celebrate West Australia’s best produce and take you on a unique culinary journey.
“The menu has a touch of Japanese culinary inspiration, however we don’t align ourselves
with a particular nation or style of cuisine. Living in Western Australia with access to amazing seafood and freshwater species it was a simple decision to promote the best we have locally – from Abrolhos Island octopus and scallops through to Donnybrook marron. Although, it’s not just seafood, with signature dishes such as Wagin quail and Margaret River Wagyu beef,” says Chase Weber.
Invited to experience the newly opened fleur, we decided an intimate Friday date night was the perfect setting. Upon entering we knew we were in for a spectacular evening and fleur did not disappoint. The interiors instantly wowed, the elegant decor mixed with eclectic touches of collected art and unique glassware and crockery, all combined beautifully to visually present the essence of fleur. We particularly loved the flower bouquet head art pieces that donned the walls and the uber cool playlist bringing personality to the fine dining vibe.
The Royal’s ground floor dining room is intimately set with candlelit tables of two and larger tables for small groups. An eight-seat bar to the side of the dining room offers pre-and post-dinner drinks and the option for dining in a more casual setting. We loved watching a group at the bar taste their way through the impressive cocktail menu, trying a variety of half-sized Daiquiris (“snaquiris”) and Martinis (“mar-tinys”) that looked incredible!
While the cocktail menu was enticing, the extensive sake menu stood out and we knew that it was a must-try while dining at fleur. Our wonderful host recommended the seaside sparkling junmai and the junmai nigori ‘bodaimoto’ and boy were they amazing. If you’re looking to try something different, we highly recommend you don’t go past the sake menu!
Alongside the contemporary à la carte menu, two chef tasting menus are available, if like us, you prefer to sit back and let the chef’s guide your experience. We chose the smaller tasting menu and loved the element of surprise whenever a dish came out. All the courses had bangs of flavour and unique elements showcasing clever, confident cooking that really impressed on date night.
Our highlight dish was the Wagin quail with aged soy, baby shitake and kangaroo xo. The flavour explosion was instant yet unfamiliar, and oh so good! We both had never tasted anything quite like this dish before and loved the originality.
fleur is all about fine food in a beautiful setting, sans stuffiness, and could not be more on trend. If you’re seeking amazing food with a relaxed cool vibe, add fleur to the list and be prepared for an experience to remember.
Fleur at The Royal
531 Wellington Street, Perth
(08) 9322 1023
Hours:
Tue-Sat 5pm–late
