THERE’S nothing quite like a rough Rotto crossing to work up a hearty appetite, especially when we’d caught the 6am ferry.
The vessel powered through huge waves, people screamed and some threw up, but the hardy D’Angers arrived ravenous and ready for breakfast.
We discovered Quokka Joe’s a few years ago so we turned our back on those predictable bods going to the bakery across the road and found outdoor seating with views between the old cottages to the sea.
Quokka Joe’s prides itself on healthy, home-style food, including vegan and gluten-free goodies—although there are plans to go more upmarket, and away from the display cabinet style for summer.
Braced by the sea and sand we couldn’t go past the pancakes ($14.95), served with a spicy, sweet compote of apple laced with cinnamon and cloves.
The homemade pancakes were light and fluffy, with enough flavour to carry them with just the maple syrup, but the apple mix lifted them to a whole new plain.
One of our small band went for the bacon and egg roll ($12.95), giving the well-filled roll the thumbs up.
We contemplated going back for lunch, drawn by good-for-you sounding things such as pumpkin soup, and home-made tuna patties and salad.
But our resolve wavered and with the sun sparkling off the azure ocean, and a gentle breeze whipping up white caps beyond the bay we headed to Aristos on the beach front to bask in the outdoor glory of a gorgeous spring day.
The upmarket eatery was pumping, with crowds over for Rottnest Carnivale, but staff were all smiles and service was as prompt as could be expected.
The bill of fare is on the steep side—one can imagine the rent the Rottnest Island Authority gouges out of traders—but that didn’t put me off ordering fish and chips ($25). A seafood platter for two is $134, and a Harvey scotch fillet $40.
My two large fillets of fish were firm and perfectly cooked and the generous serve of beer-battered chips magnificent, crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside and deliciously salty.
D’Angerous Dave’s fish burger ($24 with chips) was disappointing, the fish soft and rather flavourless, and the dressing too heavily on the sweet side.
We’d been tempted by the aroma as we walked past the pizza counter, and those at the table who succumbed to pizza (margarita $26, Italian $28) were very happy campers.
The bases were crisp with an authentic yeast flavour, and the toppings delicious and generous, they reported back.
One of my biggest disappointments is to find Dome and Subway infesting the island, like rabbits in a nature reserve.
With the Rottnest Island Authority having the power of a fiefdom, why oh why not insist on original “very Rotto” stores and cafes, instead of chain eateries you can find littering the place from Joondalup to Mandurah to Albany and Kalgoorlie, and everywhere in between.
by JENNY D”ANGER