Red Teapot

My husband threw a surprise birthday party for me at Red Teapot. I thought that we were heading off to a romantic dinner for two and completely blanked my friends who had already arrived and were seated right in the front the restaurant. The food was delicious. A friend we bumped into on the way there said to try their fragrant chicken which was very good advice as it was sooo good. Great for solo travellers as they have a bar counter by the window so you can eat on your own and people watch on Northbridge's William Street.

What can i say, i had heard soooo many good reviews about the "little gem" of a restaurant that myself and my wife finally decided to pop in for lunch - big mistake.

Firstly - "the food"  - if you like everything coated in soy to mask the flavor of the unusually poor ingredients then this is the place for you - you are better off going to "blue dragon" section in coles or your local IGA.

The squid which i had heard so much about (crispy, salt and pepper style with chilis), very crispy - too crispy and clearly a ploy to hide the acrid tasting frozen tentacles that were probably caught last year.

The icing on the cake(S) - Whilst on route to the toilet i discovered a half dressed chef smoking a fag over the top of a crispy duck in the kitchen, my eyes diverted but for only a second to notice the choi sum in a washing basket on the floor next to the toilet..... This was all unfortunately played out after i had eaten the food.

Do yourself a favor and don't go, the foods terrible and the hygiene levels put your life at risk.

(1 star all round as i could not rate 0)

The Red Teapot is a very intimate Chinese restaurant in Perth's bustling suburb of Northbridge.  The food is as good a value as you will find anywhere in Perth, the soft-shell crab and the prosperous chicken are real delights.  As there is limited seating inside, I would recommend making a reservation, particularly if there is a number of you dining on a weekend.  Mid-week solo diners will find it easier to get a table.    The service and atmosphere here are standard.  The staff are friendly and knowledgable, withour setting the world on fire.  The tables are very close together, almost cramped, but the decor is better than many other Chinese restaurants.  It is the ideal place for backpackers who would like a good value meal for less than the cost of their hostel accomodation!  Should you not be lucky enough to get a table they also do take-away.