Bistro Guillame is where modern and classical French cuisines collide beautifully. The Crown Perth restaurant is by Parisian Chef, Guillaume Brahimi. In his early career, he worked under legendary Chef Joël Robuchon (who has amassed an amazing 28 Michelin stars). Brahimi is also a celebrated chef, famed for his restaurant Bennelong at the Sydney Opera House amongst others.
Bistro Guillaume must be one of the most stunning dining rooms in Perth. It’s mainly black and white, with a big splash of green. From the entrance, to the bar, to the statement foyer sofa; the striking shade of green is used throughout – even down to the green bottle of Tabasco sauce on each table. It’s very fresh and bright. This theme is also mirrored in the food.
I met my lunching partner, The Singer, in the Crown foyer. She had been living in Sydney for the last four years and certainly noticed a huge change at the old Burswood Casino. On arrival at the restaurant, I gave the greeter our booking details, but didn’t get too much of a response – so the Singer and I just stood there looking a little confused. After a minute, we were seated and had a warmer welcome from our friendly waitress. We had a wonderful glass of French bubbles each. Some freshly baked bread and butter arrived soon after.
The “Charcuterie plate” was a delight. The singer and I decided to share the entrees. She noted that she would happily swim in the Chicken liver parfait – if they filled the Metropol’s pool full of the delicious stuff. It was indeed the best I’ve had in a long time – silky smooth, creamy, well-seasoned and a lovely smoky after taste. The country-style chicken terrine and pork rillettes were also spot on, as was the selection of cured meats (jamon, a mild cacciatore and salami with capers).
The plating of the “Spanner crab salad with avocado cucumber and capsicum coulis” was beautiful. It was as fresh and colourful as the décor around us. The crab was very tasty – I don’t eat crab often. I really enjoyed this.
For main we both chose “Leg of duck confit with petit pois a la francaise”. This was quite a light meal, for a main. I thought it was perfect for a summer lunchtime. The duck was moist and sweet, as were the peas – with the cubes of spek tossed through with a little butter. The Singer requested a little more bread too, which the waitress was only too happy to provide.
There are spaces for groups and intimate gatherings. There’s also a large balcony, where you can dine alfresco, overlooking the Vegas-styled pool. We very much enjoyed our lunch at Bistro Guillaume and its relaxed, but sophisticated vibe.
As a side note – Guillaume at Bennelong closed its doors late last year. Brahimi is currently working on a new restaurant in the inner Sydney suburb of Paddington, opening in April 2014.