Subiaco Hotel

Heading to the Regal Theatre in Subiaco for a local production of Kinky Boots, my friends and I decided to try the Subiaco Hotel for dinner. “The Subi’ has been a much-loved mainstay of the area for more than 120 years. A makeover in 2014 brought the hotel into the contemporary era but the Covid pandemic forced a shutdown for much of 2020 and enabled the old hotel to have another reinvention.

While the front bar has been updated and is still a familiar place for locals to enjoy a drink, it is the restaurant area that has been given a completely new look.

Instead of the elegant dining area there is now a much more contemporary vibe with wooden tables and wooden but comfortable chairs.

The casual feel of the restaurant extends to the Subi menu, which is basically all pub grub with the innovation of a WA Safe App, QR code on the actual menu, which saves customers signing in at the door.

Small plates and shares ranging in price from $10 chips to a $36 charcuterie board included baos, tacos and wedges. We chose our meals from the pub classics and opted for two Chicken Schnitzels ($25 each), two Spiced Steak Sandwiches ($26 each) and a Backyard Burger ($24). Our vegetarian friend enjoyed the Backyard Burger of haloumi and mushrooms with grilled onions, avocado, tomato kasundi, chips and salad. It was the hit of the evening.

My chicken schnitzel was very good, a large portion of tender chicken, crumbed and fried well but the accompanying chips on the plate were not good – frozen chips that had not been cooked long enough. The spiced steak sandwiches were not spicy and the steak on one friend’s sandwich was so stringy and full of fat that we complained about it. To give the hotel its due, a manager came over and was very apologetic about the steak sandwich not being up to the Subi’s usual standard and refunded the cost of both Spiced Steak Sandwich meals. We were happy with the customer service. I always feel that the mark of a good restaurant is when management acknowledge mistakes and put things right.

The hotel’s Hay Street Terrace was popular even on a not so balmy autumn evening but we didn’t manage a peek at the new look courtyard – that will be next time around.

There was a good atmosphere inside the busy restaurant and because the customer service was good, we will be visiting again.

Quiz evenings, functions, live music, happy hour and dining specials are big attractions at the hotel and there is no doubt that it is still a much loved place for locals and visitors.

By the way – Kinky Boots was excellent – kudos to all performers but especially to Manuao TeAotonga who played Lola brilliantly.

Address: Corner of Hay Street and Rokeby Road, Subiaco

Phone: 08 6118 6920

Reservations: Yes

Opening hours: Seven days, 11am-12am

Gluten-free options: Yes

Vegetarian options: Yes

Restrooms: Accessible restrooms are located in the Front Bar or via a lift to the top floor. Other restrooms are at the back of the restaurant.

Parking: The Subiaco Hotel has a small parking area on Hay Street. A multi storey Wilson car park is further north on Hay Street and there is a large car park behind the Dome on Rokeby Road.

Website: www.subiacohotel.com.au

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About Hazel Broomhead

My name is Hazel and I am a Perth senior!

Originally from Edinburgh in Scotland, my husband and I moved to New Zealand with our children in 1974. As my husband is in the oil business, we moved to several other countries including the Sultanate of Oman, the Netherlands, Singapore, the Philippines, the USA, Russia and Kazakhstan during the next 36 years before retiring to Perth.

We have six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who live in different parts of the globe – New Zealand, Scotland and Colombia - which makes a great excuse for us to travel and visit.

My career background is in radio and print journalism in Scotland and New Zealand as well as public relations in various other countries.

We love to eat out, walk, travel and enjoy the wonderful lifestyle here in Western Australia.