By Martin Eade – Morsels

It’s always difficult compiling a “best of” list as there are usually many options to choose from, and what is “best” is always a matter of opinion. When it comes to potato dishes it’s particularly tricky as almost every restaurant and cafe serves them in some form be it roasted, chipped or mashed. Here’s a selection of my favourite potato dishes from across Perth covering a selection of restaurant types and cooking method, including some you may not have thought of. Enjoy!

Breakfast at Ethos Deli
88 George Street, East Fremantle
Fremantle’s Young George is one of Perth’s finest restaurants, and its sister venue Ethos Deli & Dining Room finally opened last year after being delayed due to Covid. It’s a New York-style deli with strong Eastern European influences, serving many dishes you won’t find on any other Perth menu.
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to potato dishes, and they’re all as good as each other. There’s potato latkes with apple sauce, potato and cheese pierogis with fried onions and sour cream, and their version of Hungarian dish rakott krumpli with soft boiled eggs, smoked sausage and potato terrine covered with torched raclette.
On the counter you’ll find their version of New York street snack knish, a soft dough filled with mashed potato and onions.

Potato Gnocchi from Automatic Italian Kitchen
35 Mends Street, South Perth
Automatic is one of Perth’s best Italian restaurants, offering top class pasta dishes in a casual setting. They make this list for the hand-made potato gnocchi – it goes without saying that they’re soft and pillowy. Best of all, they come in meat (with pork & veal Bolognese) and vegetarian (tomato sugo, basil, mozzarella and spinach) versions. Both topped with the finest Parmigiano Reggiano, of course.
Hot tip: They also serve great truffle fries and their Roman-style pizzas are some of Perth’s best.

Potatoes, Odyssea
187 Challenger Parade, City Beach
Located on stunning City Beach, Odyssea is one of Perth’s most popular beachside dining venues, and one of the best locations for taking visitors from out of town to make them jealous about where you live. A keen supporter of WA produce, their side dish of fried potato discs elevates WA royal blue spuds with porcini salt, parmesan and chives. Crunchy, soft and deeply savoury.
For some more traditional roast potato dishes check out The Flour Factory, Clarence’s Company Store and Vincent Wine.

Pizza at Rossonero
18 Lyric Lane, Maylands
Arguably the home of Perth’s best pizza, Rosso Nero has two pizzas on the menu with potato as a key topping. It may sound weird, but don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
There are two potato-pizzas to try: the Dr McCreamy (speck, sliced potato, rosemary, mozzarella, pepper on a cream base) and the odd-sounding but quite spectacular Sticky Pig (bacon, sliced potato, feta, apple, thyme, butterscotch sauce on a white base).

Frites from Le Rebelle
676 Beaufort St, Mount Lawley
Everybody has their favourite fries, but this is no Macca’s vs KFC argument. I’m giving my award to Beaufort Street’s favourite French bistro, Le Rebelle. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they take French fries to the next level. The secret is a homemade version of classic American Old Bay seasoning, a blend of 18 spices and herbs including celery salt, paprika, and pepper.
Le Rebelle’s fries come with their confit duck and best-in-town beef tartare and or can be ordered as a side with bearnaise sauce.

Potato Rosti from Potato Potahto
3 Gemstone Bvd, Carine
One of Perth’s newest cafes, appropriately-named Potato Potahto has quickly earned a reputation for serving some of Perth’s best potato rosti. Available in a traditional eggs Benedict, underneath some great pork & fennel meatballs or just on the side of some fantastic scrambled eggs, these are well seasoned and simultaneously crisp and soft. A brunch-lovers dream.

Cheese Fries from Meet & Bun
609 Beaufort St, Mt Lawley / Trinity Arcade, Perth / 3 Cantonment St, Fremantle
Loaded fries have yet to reach their creative peak in Perth, but there are a few good examples to be had and I’m picking these as the perfect burger accompaniment. Meet & Bun’s cheese fries may appear simple, but they’re been carefully constructed so the oozy cheese sauce goes all the way to the bottom. Paprika seasoning gives some kick, and you can add bacon and jalapenos if you like.
This was a hard one to call, and I can happily recommend the loaded fries from Upperhand Burgers (Peking duck, chilli cheese and vegan jackfruit varieties) and the loaded tater tots from RoyAl’s Chicken and Burgers.