THE wind shook my rugged hiking umbrella like a wet puppy and huge raindrops bounced thigh high as my mate and I made a mad dash across the road to George Street Quarters.

We were spurred on as much by hunger as wanting to get out of the weather, and safely inside headed for a secluded table in the industrial-grunge eatery.

Great photos of old Fremantle grace the walls and the tables are mostly rugged timber benches.

• Photo by Meagan Barrett

Funky and moody

The Quarters has a split personality; while the eatery is funky and moody — in part thanks to the super-high, black, industrial ceiling — the other half is the light, bright George Street Merchants.

The merchant is full of great-looking gourmet health foods, including plenty of locally made products.

There’s also a cabinet full of rolls, tuna patties, gourmet pies and mouthwatering salads — and cakes.

In need of something substantial to fight off the bone-chilling cold we went straight to the mains menu.

The soft-shell crab brioche, with beetroot slaw ($21) sounded good, but the Fremantle whiting, with hand-cut chips ($24), had a warming appeal.

The crisp batter on the whiting was just the shot, and the soft chips had an appealing home-made flavour and texture.

My mate went for the Moroccan chicken on a bed of wild rice ($22). She raved about the char-grilled beans, succulent broccolini, and the soft, creamy lemon labne: “And the best thing is the wild rice.”

But while the serve of chicken was generous, and flavoursome she felt it was a tad dry.

We finished our meal with a creamy coffee for my mate and a lemongrass tea for me.

And of course cake, although we softened the calorie guilt by sharing a deliciously moist orange and cardamom cake. It was so good I regretted my virtuousness and contemplated taking a slice back to the office for afternoon tea.

by JENNY D’ANGER

George Street Quarters 
71 George Street, East Fremantle
9339 6352
7 days breakfast and lunch, 
Wednesday -Sunday dinner
Licenced