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Flying Qantas Economy Class From Honolulu To Sydney

Paul
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0
Flying Qantas Economy Class From Honolulu To Sydney

TRAVEL | Qantas operates five flights a week between Honolulu and Sydney. The Airbus A330-300 (“A330”) is currently used on the route, and travellers can choose between Economy and Business Class (the A330 doesn’t have a Premium Economy cabin).

Check In

You can check in online or using the Qantas app. There aren’t bag drop stations so you’ll have to see a staff member at a check in counter. When I checked in there were no lines, and the friendly staff member made everything a breeze.

Luggage

Checked luggage is included with all Qantas Economy tickets when flying international. You can check-in one bag up to 32kg, and a carry-on bag (115cm) up to 7kg. You can also carry on a small item that can fit under your seat.

Service

I couldn’t fault the service on the flight from Honolulu to Sydney. Staff were cheerful, professional, and always happy to help if I needed anything.

Cabin

The Qantas Economy cabin on the A330 that flies from Sydney to Honolulu features 269 seats, in a 2-4-2 layout. Colour wise it’s black, white and red – in line with Qantas’ branding. The cabin is very clean.

Seat

The cushioned fabric seat has dimensions of about 79cm x 43cm. Like any economy seat, it doesn’t recline that far back. It does, however, have built-in lumbar support, an adjustable head rest, and softer cushioning than a lot of the competition. Netted footrests provide a sense of more legroom than might usually be the case.

Each seat has a USB port, video input, and AC power outlet. Enough power is provided through the ports to power most devices, including a laptop.

On the back of the seat there’s dual mesh pockets for magazines and other belongings. Inside it, you’ll find the latest copy of “Qantas Magazine”, which is full of interesting articles and destination guides. There’s an additional small mesh pocket underneath the screen where you can stash smaller items.

Entertainment

The back of each Qantas Economy seat has a 28cm screen, which you can use to access Qantas’ Panasonic eX3 inflight entertainment system. On it you’ll find around 1,500 entertainment options on demand, including around 100 movies, 500 TV programs, 800 music options, and 18 radio channels. Content rotates regularly to ensure that the content remains fresh and current.

Provided headphones are cushioned over-the-eat style headphones with decent sound quality, and basic passive noise reduction. For me it’s my trusty SONY WH-1000XM3 noise cancelling headphones with an adaptor for the headphone socket.

Food

Meals are included with all Qantas Economy tickets. The flight to Sydney departs at 11:10am and arrive in Sydney at 6:40pm (the following day due to the time zone change) so it’s lunch and dinner that’s served.

Menus rotate regularly on Qantas flights, with three main options available. I had a choice between:

  • Grilled vegetable and spinach lasagne (vegan)
  • Salad of seared chicken breast with herbed potatoes, cherry tomatoes, and Maui onion ponzu dressing
  • Braised pork with baby onions, roast vegetables, and potato and chive mash

I chose the salad of seared chicken breast. Nice flavours, light and fresh, with decent chunks of chicken breast. A good example of just how far Economy class cabin meals have come in recent years. Garlic bread and ice-cream is served with each meal.

To drink, it’s a selection of Australian wine, beer, and spirits. There’s also water, juice, soft drink, coffee and tea. I went for a bottle of South Australian Vermentino.

For dinner, it’s a choice of three different meals. I forgot to take a photo of the dinner menu, but I opted for the vegetarian lentil and vegetable pasta bake, which was perfectly fine. This time it was garlic bread and a slice of cake for dessert.

I preferred the lunch option, as I find airlines in general tend to do the cold and light options better than the hot, heavier ones.

If you’re ever hungry outside of meal time you can just ask one of the flight attendants and they’ll bring you a snack or a drink. Think chocolate bars, whole fruit, cheese and crackers.

Amenities

On the seat when you first board is a blanket and a pillow. An amenities kit, featuring a dental kit, eyemask, and earplugs, is available on request.

Verdict

I enjoyed my flight from Honolulu to Sydney on Qantas. A short delay (no more or less than any other domestic or international flight I’ve taken this year), friendly service, and a comfortable cabin all combined for a pleasant experience.

Flying Qantas Economy Class From Sydney To Honolulu

Paul
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0
Flying Qantas Economy Class From Sydney To Honolulu

TRAVEL | Qantas operates five flights a week between Sydney and Honolulu. The Airbus A330-300 (“A330”) is currently used on the route, and travellers can choose between Economy and Business Class (the A330 doesn’t have a Premium Economy cabin).

This was my first time travelling to Hawaii, and my first time travelling on Qantas since the start of the pandemic, so I was keen to see how the experience lined up to reports. I was in Qantas’ Economy cabin, and paid AUD$50 to upgrade to an exit row seat for extra leg room.

Check In

I’d heard some horror stories about checking in to international flights at Sydney airport post-pandemic, but the process was fine. As with mainland US, visitors to Hawaii need either a US visa or an ESTA. There’s also the new USA Passenger Attestation Form, which you can fill out directly on the Qantas website or app.

You can check in online or using the Qantas app, and bag drop stations at the check in counter mean that even with checked baggage, you’ll be able to avoid lining up to check in with an actual person. I didn’t have lounge access for this trip.

Luggage

Checked luggage is included with all Qantas Economy tickets when flying international. You can check-in one bag up to 32kg, and a carry-on bag (115cm) up to 7kg. You can also carry on a small item that can fit under your seat.

Service

Service on Qantas domestically post-pandemic has been a bit of a mixed bag, with the impacts of redundancies and staff shortages clearly impacting those on the job at times. This was not one of those occasions. The service on the flight from Sydney to Honolulu reminded me of what was once standard for Qantas. Staff were cheerful, professional, and always happy to help if I needed anything.

Cabin

The Qantas Economy cabin on the A330 that flies from Sydney to Honolulu features 269 seats, in a 2-4-2 layout. Colour wise it’s black, white and red – in line with Qantas’ branding. The cabin is very clean.

Seat

The cushioned fabric seat has dimensions of about 79cm x 43cm. Like any economy seat, it doesn’t recline that far back. It does, however, have built-in lumbar support, an adjustable head rest, and softer cushioning than a lot of the competition. Being in an exit row seat, leg room wasn’t a problem for me. If you’re in a non-exit row economy seat, netted footrests provide a sense of more legroom than might usually be the case.

Each seat has a USB port, video input, and AC power outlet. Enough power is provided through the ports to power most devices, including a laptop.

On the back of the seat there’s dual mesh pockets for magazines and other belongings. If you’ve opted for an exit row seat, it’s a hard “shell” type holder to the side. Inside it, you’ll find the latest copy of “Qantas Magazine”, which is full of interesting articles and destination guides.

Entertainment

The back of each Qantas Economy seat has a 28cm screen, which you can use to access Qantas’ Panasonic eX3 inflight entertainment system. On it you’ll find around 1,500 entertainment options on demand, including around 100 movies, 500 TV programs, 800 music options, and 18 radio channels. Content rotates regularly to ensure that the content remains fresh and current.

Provided headphones are cushioned over-the-eat style headphones with decent sound quality, and basic passive noise reduction. For me it’s my trusty SONY WH-1000XM3 noise cancelling headphones with an adaptor for the headphone socket.

Food

Meals are included with all Qantas Economy tickets. The flight to Honolulu departs at 8:40pm and gets into Honolulu at 9:25am (the previous day due to the time zone change) so it’s dinner and breakfast that you’re looking at here.

Menus rotate regularly on Qantas flights, with three main options available. I had a choice between:

  • Salad of chicken and Japanese-style rice with edamame, spinach, and roast salad dressing
  • Ratatouille pasta bake with panko topping, roast cauliflower, and green beans (vegan)
  • Braised wagyu beef with broccoli and soft polenta

I opted for the chicken salad with rice. Nice flavours, and decent chunks of chicken breast. A good example of just how far Economy class cabin meals have come in recent years. Served with each meal is a rosemary, garlic, sea salt, and olive oil focaccia.

To drink, it’s a selection of Australian wine, beer, and spirits. There’s also water, juice, soft drink, coffee and tea. I went for a can of James Boag’s Premium Lager and Little Creatures Pacific Ale. For dessert, a chocolate Paddle Pop.

For breakfast, it’s a choice of two meals:

  • Scrambled egg, boxty potato cake, pork sausage, and beans
  • Seasonal fruit plate

With both, you get an apple and cinnamon muffin and Greek yoghurt with blackberry, acai fruits, and granola. I opted for the hot breakfast, which was perfectly fine, but it didn’t reach the heights of the dinner option.

If you’re ever hungry outside of meal time you can just ask one of the flight attendants and they’ll bring you a snack or a drink.

Amenities

On the seat when you first board is a blanket and a pillow. There is no amenities kit provided on this flight, however a range of travel essentials, such as a dental kit, eyemask, and earplugs, are available on request.

Verdict

I had some concerns getting back on the flying kangaroo long-haul for the first time post-pandemic, after hearing less than great stories about flying in the post-pandemic flying era, but couldn’t fault a thing on this flight. A short delay (no more or less than any other domestic or international flight I’ve taken this year), friendly service, and a comfortable cabin in which I was able to get a few hours sleep in all combined for a pleasant experience.

Flying Air New Zealand Economy Class From Melbourne To Auckland

Paul
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0
Flying Air New Zealand Economy Class From Melbourne To Auckland

TRAVEL | Air New Zealand operates multiple flights daily between Melbourne and Auckland. The Boeing 777-300ER (“777”), Boeing 787-9 (“787”), and Airbus A321neo (“A321”) are all currently used on the route. On this occasion, I was on the A321.

Travellers can choose between Economy and Business Class on all three. Being a medium haul flight on the shorter end of the scale, the flight is more akin to an Air New Zealand domestic, rather than international, flight.

Check In

You can pre-check in online or using the Air New Zealand app, and bag drop stations at the check in counter mean that even with checked baggage, you’ll be able to avoid lining up to check in with an actual person. You still need to finalise your check in at one of the self-check in stations, but it’s quick and seamless.

Luggage

Air New Zealand offer a “seat” option, which allows you one piece of carry on baggage, up to 7kg, and a “seat + bag” option. The latter gets you a checked bag of up to 23kg, in addition to your carry on bag.

Service

Service is friendly and efficient. Being a short flight it’s mostly hands-off, with staff on hand and happy to assist where required.

Cabin

The Air New Zealand Economy cabin on the A321 that flies from Wellington to Melbourne features 214 seats, in a 3-3 layout. Colour wise it’s black and white – in line with Air New Zealand’s branding. The cabin is very clean.

Seat

The modern, firm, curved seat has dimensions of about 74cm x 43cm, a smaller pitch than the nearest competitor Qantas, which also flies this rout. It reclines much less than that of the Qantas seat too (5cm v 12 cm in this case). The seat features a modern “bucket” design. Some people aren’t a fan of this, but I love it, as it gives a feeling of more space and comfort, a positive trade-off for the much reduced recline.

Each seat has a USB A and C port in the monitor for charging smaller devices that don’t require much power. It’s good for juicing up your phone while it’s on airplane mode.

Free Wi-Fi is included, with enough speed to check e-mails, social media, and general web browsing.

On the back of the seat there’s a small faux leather pocket. One disadvantage of the bucket style seat is that the pocket is smaller than usual and more rigid. It’s good for a few magazines or a book, but not much else.

Entertainment

The back of each Air New Zealand Economy seat features a 23cm screen, featuring the latest blockbuster movies and TV shows, music, multi-player games. Depending on your ticket, access to the in flight entertainment system is included, or a NZD$10 optional extra.

Headphones are not provided.

Food

The meal offering on this flight depends on the ticket you have purchased. Generally, food is not included in your ticket. Snacks and drinks can be found on Air New Zealand’s inflightbites menu. They accept credit cards or prepaid vouchers onboard. Tea and coffee and a biscuit is offered for free.

Amenities

There are no amenities kits offered on this flight, which is reasonable given the short flying time.

Verdict

Air New Zealand’s A321 cabin on the flight from Melbourne to Auckland is sleek and modern, with free Wi-Fi and USB C charging big bonuses. As far as extras go, it operates more like a budget flight, with the base ticket not getting you much beyond a seat and carry on allowance. It’s a pleasant flight with friendly service that’ll get you from A to B.

Flying Qantas Economy Class From Wellington To Melbourne

Paul
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0
Flying Qantas Economy Class From Wellington To Melbourne

TRAVEL | Qantas operates a daily flight between Wellington and Melbourne. The Boeing 737-800 (“737”) is currently used on the route, and travellers can choose between Economy and Business Class. Being a medium haul flight on the shorter end of the scale, the flight is more akin to a Qantas domestic, rather than international, flight.

Check In

You can check in online or using the Qantas app, and bag drop stations at the check in counter mean that even with checked baggage, you’ll be able to avoid lining up to check in with an actual person. Simply show your passport at the gate when boarding.

Luggage

Checked luggage is included with all Qantas Economy tickets when flying international. You can check-in one bag up to 30kg, and a carry-on bag (115cm) up to 7kg. You can also carry on a small item that can fit under your seat.

Service

Service is friendly and efficient. Being a short flight it’s mostly hands-off, with staff on hand and happy to assist where required.

Cabin

The Qantas Economy cabin on the 737 that flies from Wellington to Melbourne features 162 seats, in a 3-3 layout. Colour wise it’s black, white and red – in line with Qantas’ branding. The cabin is very clean.

Seat

The older-style Marc Newson cushioned fabric seat has dimensions of about 76cm x 43cm, a smaller pitch than Qantas’ newer Recaro international economy seats, but in line with most of their domestic fleet. Like any economy seat, it doesn’t recline that far back (12.7cm in this case). I paid AUD$50 to upgrade to an extra legroom seat, which I feel is always worth it given the additional comfort.

Each seat has a USB A port for charging smaller devices that don’t require much power. It’s good for juicing up your phone while it’s on airplane mode. There’s an AC power outlet if you’re looking to charge a larger device.

Unfortunately, unlike Air New Zealand which also operates this route, free Wi-Fi is not included, although plans are for it to be rolled out sometime in the future.

On the back of the seat there’s a mesh pocket for magazines and other belongings. Inside it, you’ll find the latest copy of “Qantas Magazine”, which is full of interesting articles and destination guides.

Entertainment

The back of each Qantas Economy seat has Qantas’ older generation a 23cm screen, which you can use to access Qantas’ older (versus the new Panasonic eX3) inflight entertainment system. On it you’ll find around 1,500 entertainment options on demand, including around 100 movies, 500 TV programs, 800 music options, and 18 radio channels. Content rotates regularly to ensure that the content remains fresh and current.

Provided headphones are cushioned over-the-eat style headphones with decent sound quality, and basic passive noise reduction. For me it’s my trusty SONY WH-1000XM3 noise cancelling headphones with an adaptor for the headphone socket.

Food

A meal box is included with all Qantas Economy trans-Tasman tickets. What’s on offer varies depending on the time of day. After 9:00am, beer and wine are also offered at no extra charge.

It was a thick Chinese noodle type dish that was in the meal box for my late afternoon flight. After being impressed with Qantas’ inflight meal options over several international and domestic flights this year, this one was a let down. Overcooked and gluggy, I had a few mouthfuls before giving up and closing the box.

As well as the selection of Australian wine and beer, there’s also water, juice, soft drink, coffee and tea. You can also ask for a sweet or savoury snack if you like.

Amenities

There are no amenities kits offered on this flight, which is reasonable given the short flying time.

Verdict

Qantas’ 737 cabin on the flight from Wellington to Melbourne is showing its age compared to the new Qantas international cabins. For a short flight like this, however, expectations are lower and it should be viewed more like a domestic flight. From that viewpoint, the offering is perfectly acceptable. It’s a pleasant flight with friendly service that’ll get you from A to B.

Kariton Sorbites (Chinatown), Melbourne CBD

Paul
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0
Kariton Sorbites (Chinatown), Melbourne CBD

MELBOURNE | You don’t need me to tell you what Kariton Sorbites is all about. You know about chefs John Rivera and Minh Duong’s gelateria that launched during lockdown as a gelato delivery business, before moving into a bricks and mortar location in Footscray.

The delivery side of things stopping has meant less of the awesome Filipino, and more broadly Asian-inspired gelato for me in 2022, but that’s about to change. Kariton have just opened a conveniently located new spot in Melbourne’s CBD Chinatown.

The new location has a different vibe to the Footscray one. It’s a slicker, more modern space, fitting of its city surrounds. In the freezers it’s all of your favourite Kariton gelato flavours like ube halaya, turon, and leche flan. There’s speciality bars and ice-cream sandwiches, along with some location specific limited creations.

Definitely try the current limited soft serve, ‘Froyo Baggins’. It’s frozen natural yoghurt with golden kiwifruit jelly, crispy green kiwifruit, and a drizzling of Mānuka honey. If you want a bar, the Mars Bar-like Latwiks. It’s a caramelised coconut “ghee” gelato (made using a by-product of the ube gelato) with butterscotch, on top of a coconut biscuit, coated in dark choc & toasted coconut. It’s one of my favourite things on the menu.

Kariton Sorbites (Chinatown)

177 Russell Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: n/a
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Mon – Wed: 12:00pm to 10:00pm
Thu – Sun: 12:00pm to 11:00pm

Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Pearl Harbor

Paul
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0
Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Pearl Harbor

HONOLULU | The Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a US National Memorial dedicated to commemorating the events of the Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

The site includes the USS Arizona Memorial, the final resting place of 1,177 sailors killed during the Pearl Harbor attack. It also contains the USS Utah memorial, the USS Oklahoma memorial, six chief petty officer bungalows on Ford Island, mooring quays F6, F7, and F8, which formed part of Battleship Row, and the visitor center at Halawa Landing.

It’s a busy attraction, but well worth visiting if you have even a passing interest in history, or what happened at Pearl Harbor. The visitor centre and museum is interesting and informative, detailing the events leading up to the attack and its aftermath. Displays feature personal memorabilia, photographs, artifacts of the battle, and more.

The USS Arizona Memorial program takes 75 minutes. It includes an introduction, a 23-minute documentary film, and a Navy-operated return shuttle boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial, including time to experience the memorial.

There is no entry fee for the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, and no ticket is required to see the museums. The USS Arizona Memorial does require a ticket, but tickets are free.

If you wish to visit the USS Arizona Memorial, you can reserve one up to 60 days in advance on the monument’s ticket portal. Walk-up tickets are available, but are restricted to 1,300 per day on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 7:00am. If you want to get a walk-up ticket, waits can be quite long and entry isn’t guaranteed – so get there early.

For $7.50, you can opt for an audio tour of all of Pearl Harbor National Memorial’s sites. Narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis, the audio tour offers a detailed look at the attack on Pearl Harbor, explaining various points of interests. I recommend it.

Only clear see-through bags are permitted inside the monument’s buildings. If you do not have a clear bag with you, you may leave your bag in the property’s storage area for free.

Pearl Harbor National Memorial

1 Arizona Memorial Place
Honolulu
Hawaii 96818
United States

Telephone: 808 422 3399
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Sun – Sat: 7:00am to 5:00pm

White Sands Hotel, Waikiki

Paul
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0
White Sands Hotel, Waikiki

HONOLULU | The White Sands Hotel is a boutique hotel in Waikiki that dates back to 1957. It underwent an $8 million renovation and redesign in 2011, aimed at encapsulating what Waikiki would have been like in the 1960s. The hotel is targeted towards hip travellers of all ages, looking for a slice of the stylish Hawaii of old.

Location

Located on Nohonani Street in the tourist centre of Waikiki, the White Sands Hotel is very well located. You’re in amongst it all, with no shortage of shops, eateries, bars, and of course, Waikiki beach, in the immediate vicinity.

If you’re into golf, the hotel is just almost right next to the Ala Wai Canal and Golf Course. Diamond Head, the Ala Moana Centre, and the popular Kapaulu neighbourhood are all walking distance.

Rooms

The hotel features 94 guest rooms, many of which overlook the hotel’s central courtyard. Designers the Vanguard Theory embraced the idea of reimagining the ’60s and ’70s, using photos and postcards of the hotel during that era for inspiration, along with pop culture.

The rooms may look like they’re straight out of the 1960s, with their colour schemes, wired curly cord telephones, and vintage artwork, but make no mistake, they are modern where it counts. Each room contains a kitchenette with mini-fridge and microwave, 40-inch LCD TV, hairdryer, and high-speed WiFi.

Beds are firm and comfortable. Along with the plush pillows, it’s easy to get a good night’s sleep at the White Sands. The bathroom is small, but it’s clean and has everything that you need. A walk-in shower with good water pressure from the shower head, toilet, bath products, and a decent sized sink/vanity and mirror. Inside the bathroom is also where you’ll find space to hang clothes, and a safe.

Amenities

All guests have access to the hotel’s outdoor central courtyard swimming pool with sundeck & loungers, and the grotto-style hot tub. The White Sands charges a $25/night amenity fee. For this, you get:

  • Beach chair rental
  • ​Boogie board rental
  • ​GoPro camera rental
  • ​Portable power bank rental
  • ​International Market Place Passport
  • ​Live Music
  • Koi fish feeding for children
  • ​Pool deck chaise lounge covers
  • ​Daily local newspaper
  • ​High-speed Wi-Fi
  • ​Toll-free and local phone calls
  • ​Yoga class every Saturday by a certified instructor

Eat & Drink

Along with the swimming pool and hot-tub, the centre courtyard is where you’ll find the hotel’s food and drink offering, Heyday. Robynne Maii and Chuck Bussler, from Honolulu’s award-winning restaurant Fête developed the concept. The focus is on, according to co-owner Ben-Rafter, “well-crafted cocktails with great ingredients” executed in a way that “doesn’t take itself too seriously”.

That is, indeed, the case. Being a hotel you are paying a premium over what you might elsewhere in town for similar food and drinks – Fête itself being a prime example. However, there’s no doubting the quality of what’s on offer here.

Spirits are top-shelf, and can be enjoyed on the rocks, or in one of several delicious house cocktails. Try the ‘Daiquiri Number Fun’, featuring Hawaiian & Caribbean rums, lilikoi, lychee, and lime. For beer, the selection is local and crafty, featuring rotating taps from nearby Hana Koa Brewing. A small selection of US and international wines round off the list.

For food, think dishes that incorporate the diverse elements that make Hawaii what it is. Things like foie gyoza with herbed duxelle, banana jam, and a soy-balsamic reduction; meatballs with Kua’aina Ranches beef, cucumber namul, scallions, and dried radish kimchee, and char sui pork skewers.

A second hospitality offering, The Green Lady, is slated to open at the White Sands any day now. Housed in the former hotel manager’s suite, expect modern takes on classic cocktails from the 1960s and 1970s, along with other hand-crafted creations.

White Sands Hotel

431 Nohonani Street
Honolulu
Hawaii 96815
United States

Telephone: 808 924 7263
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room, Kaka’ako

Paul
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0
Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room, Kaka’ako

HONOLULU | Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room opened in 2017, as the first dedicated craft beer bottle shop and beer cafe in Hawaii. Located in the SALT Kakaako dining and retail precinct, the small, relaxing, natural light filled, venue packs a lot in.

In the fridges, you’ll find over 500 cans and bottles of beer from some of the US and, world’s best breweries. All of them can be purchased to-go or to enjoy on-site. There’s also a small but mighty selection of wines and spirits.

On the taps, you’ll find a rotating selection of 18 different beers, along with eight rotating wines. Smaller pours are offered if you want to try a few things and don’t want to commit to a pint.

Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and will happily talk you through any of the drinks on the menu, and make suggestions for you if you want to leave things in their hands. There’s a great local’s vibe about the venue, with friends and strangers alike having a chat.

If you’re hungry, there’s a multicultural menu of snacks and bites. Think Indian tofu and paneer hand pies, Bavarian soft pretzels, and Japanese furikake kettle chips.

Village Bottle Shop & Tasting Room

675 Auahi Street #121
Honolulu
Hawaii 96813
United States

Telephone: 808 369 0688
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Sun – Wed: 12:00pm to 9:00pm
Thi – Sat: 12:00pm to 11:00pm

James Parker, Northbridge

Paul
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0
James Parker, Northbridge

PERTH | James Parker Sushi & Sake has built a reputation over the past few years as on the the city’s best Japanese restaurants. The name of the restaurant might not sound typical for that of a Japanese restaurant, but the reasoning behind it is simple. The restaurant is located on the corner of James and Parker street in Northbridge.

The space is minimalist, low-lit with natural materials and lots of timber. Chill beats and jazz play quietly in the background, adding the the relaxing vibe. The main dining space features tables and seats but, when you book, try a see if you can nab a seat at the sushi counter, where you can chat with the chefs while watching them masterfully preparing sushi, sashimi, and tataki.

The menu and James Parker is extensive. There’s the aforementioned raw bar and sushi counter, along with a variety of cooked dishes. I highly recommend leaving things in the hands of head chef Naokazu and his team, and going for the multi-course omakase menu. This gets you a diverse, progressive dinner of the menu’s highlights, and what’s fresh and best on the day.

Seafood is a highlight here. Care goes into each piece, with the perfectly textured rice formed into balls by hand and served at the exact right temperature, according. When I visited, the sea eel (anago), and the fatty tuna belly (otoro) stood out particularly, for both their flavour and texture.

Margaret River wagyu beef tataki, served with a ponzu sauce, is outstanding. Make sure you also try the miso marinated grilled Patagonian toothfish. The sweet and savoury, flaky delight is one of the tastiest things on the menu.

To drink, it’s a selection of sake, wine, spirits and beer – both Japanese and local. I recommend a sake or two, leaving it to the staff to recommend which ones to order based on the food that you’re ordering.

James Parker Sushi & Sake

Shop 2, 182 James Street
Northbridge
Western Australia 6003
Australia

Telephone: (08) 9328 2525
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Mon – Tue, Thu: 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Fri: 5:30pm to 10:00pm
Sat – Sun: 11:30am to 1:30pm; 5:30pm to 10:00pm

Tiki as FK, Northbridge

Paul
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0
Tiki as FK, Northbridge

PERTH | Tiki as FK is a bar from Gary Beadle, one of the people behind popular bars Lot Twenty, Five Bar, and 399 Bar. It’s inspired by the tiki bars of Hawaii, circa the 1960s. The fitout reflects this spirt well. It’s fun and kitschy in a good way, much the same as a lot of those old school tiki bars were back in the day.

Unsurprisingly, the drinks menu is all about tiki-inspired cocktails like the Mai Tais and Zombies, and house creations with a big rum, tequila, and fresh-fruit heavy flavours. It’s a bar that’s not trying to be anything other than what it claims to be, and it hits the brief well.

Inside, there’s a plush lounge section, and outside a balcony offering impressive views of the city. Cocktails are the main focus at Tiki as FK, but there’s also beer and wine on offer if that’s what you’re feeling. For food, it’s assorted meat and veggie skewers cooked on the grill.

Tiki as FK

91A James Street
Northbridge
Western Australia 6003
Australia

Telephone: (08) 6311 8073
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Wed – Sat: 4:00pm to 12:00am

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