THE GATE, Success
by MATTHEW EELES
Why weren’t the roadworks now taking place at Cockburn Central thought of six years ago?
They’re an inconvenience to residents and a monumental lack of foresight from planners.
Once you get past the heavy machinery, grey dust and black tar at the intersection of Armadale and Northlake Roads you’ll find The Gate Bar & Bistro. It’s become a local institution and is a recent winner of the AHA Pub of the Year award.
You’d be excused for thinking tattoos are part of the dress code here but inkless patrons hungry for simple fare are more than welcome.
The menu has no particular theme but boasts curries, pizzas, pasta and salads with various plates which include the usual proteins.
Ravenous, our table decided on a dozen kilpatrick oysters ($3.50 each) to tide us over before mains.
The mouth-watering molluscs came coated in rich bourbon sauce topped with crispy speck. Fresh and smokey, they were the perfect start to our meal.
Juicy flavour streamed from the meat over its bed of chickpea salad with roasted capsicum, dried cranberry and red onion.
The giant Angus rump steak ($30) is an amazing sight. A thick 300gm cut that was cooked to medium-rare perfection and served with a side salad, fries and garlic sauce. Of course Ty added Queensland banana prawns ($8). I pictured them bigger but Ty devoured them without complaint.
My duck and chorizo risotto ($26) came steaming hot in all its creamy glory. The massive mound was topped with warmed segmented orange, chunky chorizo, asparagus and parmesan.
The duck had lost most of its gamey flavours when cooked through the risotto but as a whole it was delicious.
The hero of the menu is the lamb backstrap ($35).
Its macadamia dukkah crust added a crunch to the perfectly tender lamb. Juicy flavour streamed from the meat over its bed of chickpea salad with roasted capsicum, dried cranberry and red onion.
I don’t think Kylie appreciated the entire table wanting a taste but there was more than enough to go around.
Despite having to return one stone-cold meal that looked like it had been returned to the kitchen the night before, our dining experience at The Gate was an absolute joy, made even more pleasurable by attentive and friendly staff.
The Gate Bar & Bistro
816 Beeliar Dve, Success
Open every night except Christmas Day
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