Wee - Perth

I never visited the previous location, so I approached this review without any biases. Budburst provided a delightful evening out, especially since we were meeting up with a fellow Yelper. Beyond the enjoyable company, the staff here truly excelled in their service. First and foremost, we were never rushed to place our order, and I didn't notice any delays when it came to taking our order. We sampled three or four small plates, some of which were quite substantial. Since they offer most of their wines by the glass or bottle, we appreciated being given a small taste before making our selection. The food was consistently delicious, and I can tell they used high-quality ingredients. Some of the pairings were more successful than others; for example, the duck and scallop were both lovely on their own, but they didn’t quite complement each other as well as I had hoped.

One of my favorite changes is the new position of the bar. Previously at Wee, the bar was in the center of the room, but relocating it to the side has opened up the space and created additional seating for solo diners. Plus, just like in Melbourne, the bartenders are not only friendly but genuinely want to engage in conversation. The food was fantastic! There's a new French chef, and the menu features small share plates. Everything was delicious, and you really can't go wrong with any choice.

The only slight issue we encountered was that while the scallops and duck (which were served together) were skillfully prepared (forgive the pun), we weren't entirely convinced they made the best pairing. I noticed that the scallop dish has already changed from what was initially on the menu when the restaurant opened just a few months ago. However, a changing menu keeps things exciting, so I don’t view that as a criticism. After the main dishes, we couldn't resist trying some cheese. Wow! The portion sizes were generous, and the cheeses were delicious, accompanied by crispy toasts, pickles, and other delightful accompaniments (which Nathan particularly enjoyed!). When visiting a place for the first time, it's great to have expectations about the experience secondary to the joy of catching up with friends. That way, if the food excels, it’s an added bonus—which it absolutely was. *The Beef was the highlight of the evening. A couple of tips for those unfamiliar with the area: there is free street parking right outside the venue, as well as an open parking lot nearby. Do *not* park in the undercover bays of the mixed-use building adjacent to the venue on the corner of Scarb Beach and Oxford Streets; the gates close at 7 PM, and the caretaker is known to be quite irritable and aggressive. Budburst is located at the Mount Hawthorn end of Oxford Street.

In addition to retaining the quaint alleyway from its predecessor, Wee Bar, they've converted the back area into a spacious medium-sized restaurant. The owner mentioned they recently hosted a wedding there, which is impressive. I’ve only visited the bar so far, but the staff were friendly and provided excellent recommendations from the wine list. One suggestion for improvement would be to expand the food menu to include a few more options, like salads and heartier dishes, especially for those who want to fully enjoy the wine selection and need something to accompany their drinks. Overall, it's a great spot that's definitely worth checking out.

Everything was excellent—great music, attentive service, and delicious food with a variety of flavors in every dish of the charcuterie platter! We will definitely be returning!