Standard Gauge — Restaurant in Chidlow

Wow!!! What an experience! Hidden in the village of Chidlow in the Perth hills, this gastronomic experience is worth the trip from anywhere in the metro area and beyond. In a quaint repurposed shop, with charming decor and subtle lighting, Michelin Star chef, Alan Wise, and his award winning apprentice Lexie, prepare, present, and serve up a 7 course meal that will delight you and satiate your appetite beyond measure but don't expect some pretentious and loud boss in the kitchen, Alan is a talented and laconic aussie with a wealth of knowledge who loves to see people indulge and enjoy his culinary creations. He and Lexie are both hands-on with all aspects of this degustation adventure, from preparation, cooking, plating, serving, and even clearing and washing up, along with explaining what each course is and adjusting and allowing for food allergies and preferences with alternative versions of the dishes. All this takes place in an intimate setting for up to 24 patrons, all of which have a full view of what is happening in the kitchen area. Don't be fooled by the size of the portions either, because you will find yourself full and satiated by the end of the 2 hour or so experience. It is BYO. However, there is a selection of non alcoholic drinks and sparkling water that is included in the price, (and a bottleshop next door!) Our group was celebrating a milestone birth, so it made the night in the hill so much more enjoyable. More people are discovering this unique hidden treasure of cuisine, so plan well...

We just had an amazing dining experience in Chidlow! Great friends Anthony and Shirley (who live in the little village 50kms out of Perth), invited us to come along.

The restaurant is called 'Standard Gauge' and is run by a Michelin Three Star chef - Alan Wise, who lives locally. He chose the name as he wanted to bring something new to Chidlow and in talking to the local pub owners, he discovered back in the days when the trains ran through Chidlow, it was a narrow gauge system, so he decided to bring Standard Gauge to the village.

The restaurant offers a Chef's menu of seven courses, the menu changes according to what local produce is available and the restaurant only sits a maximum of 24 people. Be warned, although very new, it's become extremely popular and you need to book, often weeks in advance, especially for a weekend. It's BYO, but there is a liquor store next door.

Our courses included everything from Potato Fingers, through Risotto to Lamb, absolutely delicious, all accompanied by Alan's laconic Aussie sense of humour. He describes each dish as its brought to the table. If you're looking for great food and a great quirky restaurant, this is the spot. It's very much a 'Who you know' scenario - you'd never know or find the place if somebody in the know hadn't whispered in your ear. But be warned - don't eat lunch or nibble on anything the day...

Well, I had a bad day until I entered through the SG door. The food is something that you cannot find in Perth and I looked for it for a decade now. The skills of the chefs goes well beyond what you could expect: on a 7 course dinner, not a single meal is overpowering the other, each of them is balanced with texture, taste and presentation being impeccable. You are full at the end but not too full. I do not know how they do it. Each day will have a different menu which should tell you that you are in a special place like the Mirazur (the restaurant where you never eat the same meals). Chef Alan is also making this experience like a very casual one, interacting with the tables all the time and keeping the pace. And personnalised as well if you have some allergies. I cannot say more. You must go. It is AMAZING. Forgot to mention that the young chef he is training will go very far I believe: somebody to watch. Is it expensive to eat michelin star cuisine? not at all and that was...