Perth Breakfast & Brunch review: Local & Aesthetic, Mount Lawley is a delightful venue for Mother’s Day

When my mother says a dish is “interesting” it can mean one of two things. It may mean that she finds the taste, well, interesting. It can just as easily mean that only good manners are preventing her from resisting the temptation to regurgitate the contents of her stomach onto her plate. So when, on a recent visit to Mt Lawley’s Local & Aesthetic, my mother declared a new dish on the menu to be “interesting” I knew I had to return to find out which version of interesting it was. It feels fitting to review a cafe last visited with my mother for Mother’s Day: a day that calls out for a decadent brunch with too many coffees, calories and family members to comfortably sit at one table. As it happens, Local & Aesthetic is also ideal for group bookings: it’s roomy, with tables placed comfortably far apart and a small kids’ corner with toys and colouring. It also has lovely food and coffee but more on that to come. The dish my mother found so “interesting” was a rice pudding; specifically, a cardamom-spiced bruleed rice pudding. If you’re among that group of people who find rice pudding to be fancified baby food this is not a dish for you. If, however, you recognise it as a warm hug of a dish, this is one to try. The texture is bang on: soft and creamy with just enough bite so you have to eat, rather than drink, it. A crunch brulee top is a winner. And the cardamom hit truly is — there is no other word for it — interesting, adding a peppery sweetness that might be divisive. I loved it. Spiced nuts and some jam on the side offer both contrast and a chance to adjust the sweetness of the dish to your preference. Tofu scramble is another winner of a dish, with red pepper sauce giving it shakshuka vibes. The charred corn adds a pleasant smokiness that is a lovely counterpoint to the zingy pickled vegetables. Local & Aesthetic has a diverse and tempting menu, from pumpkin pie French toast to bagels and a cheesy, chorizo scramble. Coffee is excellent and the service goes above and beyond. On the day of my first visit, a friend mistakenly received a small coffee instead of the large she’d paid for and the server swiftly offered to bring her a second small coffee when she was ready for it. An easy and obvious solution, sure, but you’d be shocked how many venues fumble this kind of thing. Local & Aesthetic is not just an interesting venue — it’s a delightful one. Take your Mum. The verdict: 17/20 Interesting food gorgeously executed in a lovely, friendly space. Local & Aesthetic 769 Beaufort Street, Mount Lawley OPEN Monday-Saturday 7am-3pm, Sunday 7am-2pm CONTACT 0456 460 792 BOOKINGS Yes

Perth Breakfast & Brunch review: Local & Aesthetic, Mount Lawley is a delightful venue for Mother’s Day

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