SAILING clubs – the last bastion of white middle-aged men wearing chinos, blazers with gold buttons and smoking cigars the size of a French baguette?
That was my life-long prejudice until I went to the South of Perth Yacht Club for lunch and discovered it was actually quite diverse and not elitist (well there was the odd blazer).
Situated on Canning Beach Road in Applecross, the main bar/restaurant at the club has sensational views – a multi-million dollar panorama of the Swan River, stretching from the Canning Bridge to Point Walter Jetty.
It really is jaw-dropping and the indoor/outdoor dining area is great, maximising the view while blocking the strong winds that can whip up in summer.
When my wife and I arrived for lunch on Friday, they were setting up for a wedding outside, so it’s clearly a popular and very picturesque spot.
Since my last visit they’ve upgraded the main bar/restaurant with some nice tables, smart tablecloths and just an overall better look and standard of service.
The menu has also been revamped with more high-quality dishes like charred lamb rack, vegetable filo and tempura crab.
Don’t worry, there are still all the old pub favourites and hearty dishes too.
I was feeling peckish after a morning of DIY, so I went for the steak sandwich with chips ($25).
It really was a superior offering with the thick steak, slightly pink and juicy in the middle, topped with bacon, gouda, lettuce and tomato.
I really liked the inclusion of the tonkatsu sauce and beetroot relish, which elevated the dish from a B+ to an A.
Rounding things off were two hefty slices of perfectly toasted sourdough bread and some crispy beer battered chips with smoky tomato sauce. Just the ticket after a few hours of gutting out an old shed.
Across the table my wife was getting stuck into here five spice pork belly bao buns ($24).
“The buns are lovely and soft, and the plum and hoisin sauce is nicely balanced and not too sweet,” she said.
“The pork belly is spot on – crunchy skin and tender meat – but it’s a bit odd how they give you four slices and three buns.”
“Nevertheless, they taste great when you add the cucumber and mint.”
Our dining partners went for the vegetable filo ($24) and chicken parmigiana ($27).
Here’s their take: “The filo pastry was crisp and the parcel was full of tasty vegetables, sweet potato, eggplant and caramelised onion. The dish was finished nicely with cauliflower florets and caramelised cauliflower puree.”
“The chicken schnitzel was huge and very tasty with some lovely crispy chips and fresh salad. Overall, an enjoyable, typical ‘pub’ schnitzel.”
With a variety of bars and function areas, there’s a good range of eating and drinking options at the South of Perth yacht Club. You have to be a member or guest to come down for a meal, but low-cost social and crew memberships are available with discounted food and drink. The food and service has ramped up a few notches since my last visit to South of Perth Yacht Club and it’s a great spot for a picturesque, casual lunch.
Definately more Jolly Roger than pants at half-mast.
South of Perth Yacht Club
2 Canning Beach Rd, Applecross
sopyc.com.au