Story: Arylene Westlake
It’s gone 10 o’clock at night, you’ve rushed from work to a show and now you’re eyeing off the greasy kebab joint and wishing there was a more tasty alternative. You’re in luck. With new places opening (and staying open) until late, the chances of a late feast have vastly improved. We ask night owls where they go for quality food after 10pm.
1. MALT SUPPER CLUB
677 Beaufort St, Mount Lawley, ph 9371 0062. Thur-Sat, 6pm-3am; Sun, 6pm-midnight
Think film noir and classic Hollywood glamour – that’s the atmosphere of late-night supper club Malt. It has a meticulous menu of cocktails and light, small-plate supper options. If you’re lucky, you’ll drop by when the entertainment is pumping.
Rose Parker, 40s, occupational therapist cum singer-songwriter, is a regular. “Malt is one of the most beautiful spaces in Perth, “ she says. “It’s gorgeous.
“At 10 o’clock at night, you don’t necessarily want a big heavy meal, but they do this squid – it’s the best squid I’ve eaten since I was on the Greek islands where they cook it fresh in front of you.
“Malt’s squid is something else. I don’t know what they dust on it, but it’s exquisite. Add a glass of French champagne and I’m in heaven.”
2. 88 NOODLE BAR
Burswood Entertainment Complex, Great Eastern Highway, Burswood, ph 9362 7777. Sun-Thur, 11.30am-midnight; Fri-Sat, 11.30am-3am
Northbridge is not the only place to get late-night Chinese. Out at the casino is 88 Noodle Bar, which boasts a selection of 36 classic noodle, dim sum and Asian barbecue dishes served fresh from the wok until 3am on weekends.
Chin Lee, 27, works at the Burswood complex as a guest relations host, so he knows better than anyone the ins and outs of the menu.
“I work a variety of hours, but mainly night shift. I usually start at 6pm and go through to 2am,” he says. “I like going to 88 Noodle Bar because I don’t have to book, the food is quick and tasty, and the service is great.
“My go-to meal would be either the char kway teow, which is traditional flat rice noodles with prawn, chicken and spring onion, or mee goreng with egg noodles, chicken, prawn and sweet soy sauce – it’s a little bit spicier than the kway teow.
“I can eat at 88 Noodle Bar until 3am on the weekends, and if I feel like pizza or pasta, Modo Mio is open until 10pm, and I can also grab a meal at Rockpool until 11pm.
“My friends will often meet me at the end of my shift to grab a bite to eat, so it’s nice to have options in the one place.”