Moon & Mary — Restaurant in Fremantle

The short version: well-below expectation food, good service, fantastic location.

We had wanted to try Moon and Mary since they opened. Last Saturday night we did a speculative “walk in” and the staff were terrific - they made us welcome and gave us a nice table for two in the Dining Room.

Moon and Mary has been beautifully designed with multiple eating zones fed from one kitchen. They have preserved the heritage, and nicely decorated the place. It’s a really lovely atmosphere and setting for a great night out.

Firstly: shout out to whoever designed the cocktails. We had three (one a non-alcoholic version) and they were the best we have had in a long time. Refreshing, not cloyingly sweet, interesting, and not super high alcohol.

The server asked how we wanted the dishes to arrive, and the food arrived just as he said. But the kitchen was having a bad night. We ordered six dishes from the tasting/sharing and dumpling menus. First dish of dumplings arrived lukewarm and were cold when eaten, and pretty bland. The deep fried wontons were over-cooked (pastry dark and hard). The meat filling was a lump of pretty ordinary sausage type meat (or at least tasted like it after being fried too long). The barramundi was quite nice - not memorable but pleasant. The cauliflower and tofu dish was ok I guess… it was finely chopped, heavily sauced and cooked very soft. Once again not unpleasant, but not memorable. One bright note was the pumpkin: still firm but well cooked with a nice topping of sauce and flavoured bits. The pork belly bites were really bad: overcooked until hard and dry. Inedible really. We rarely complain in restaurants but this was like something out of a servo bain-marie We tried one piece and told the server we couldn’t eat it. This is where Moon and Mary redeemed themselves. The staff member has obviously been well trained because she apologised immediately on behalf of the restaurant, said she would pass on the feedback to the kitchen, and offered another dish or for us not to be charged for the dish. No defensiveness or attitude. Top marks to Moon and Mary for the way she handled it, and indeed every interaction we had with their front of house people was the same.

So we have mixed feelings: beautiful venue, really nice and professional front of house staff, but food court level food (on the night we went at least). Reading the other reviews and this seems to be a bit of a theme. It’s like the kitchen management needs a reset or rethink. Or something. That means we probably won’t go back… too many other great options in Freo who have never let us down. It’s a real shame given the work that has been put in to set up...

Last night, we dined in the bar side of Moon & Mary. The layout and location are fabulous - we loved looking out at the markets, oval, and synagogue. The interior is softened with lots of plants and dim lighting, making it quite inviting. Rather than table service, you order at the bar of via the app (which generally we're very happy to do). Looking over the menu, the bar snacks were definitely the highlight, which was also reflected in the food. We started with the crab and prawn wontons, duck wontons, and chilli squid - all 3 dishes were delicious with sauces that complimented each item. We then had the tamarind and lime crispy fish, with a side of rice. Unfortunately, the rice came out 5 mins after the fish. While the fish was tasty, the dish was lacking any sauce, which was a bit disappointing and definitely not as good as the entrees. We decided to try the parfait dessert. This is where the service started to drop off. We sat at our table for a good 15 minutes with no one clearing our plates. When our dessert arrived, it was dropped off so quickly that our pile of plates was ignored, and the staff member spun away before we could speak to him. After several attempts to get someone's attention, we gave up. The dessert was tasty enough.

Overall, we enjoyed the entrees and ambience, so we will try again. We would also like to try the dining area, which is only open on Friday or Saturday. At this stage, we would recommend it as a place to grab a drink and enjoy...

Food? Unreal. Drinks? Delicious. Ambiance, spot on. But here’s the truth: Plenty of places get the food and drink right —very few get the feeling and emotional connection right. That’s what real hospitality is. Years later, someone might not remember what they’d ordered, but they will remember the people who made them feel safe, comfortable and seen as a person, not just a customer.

That’s exactly who the manager of this venue is, on arrival he made us feel comfortable, and welcomed. Like we were part of the family. We were annoying with all of our requests, he was attentive and knowledgeable and went above and beyond to ensure we were looked after.

Halfway through the night I had a flash of déjà vu: this same guy served me many years ago at another restaurant. And I only remembered because he made me feel exactly the same —seen, cared for, and like I actually mattered. This is the true meaning of hospitality, he is an asset to the company and the industry.

The food was amazing, and catered to our dietary needs.

The venue itself is something else. Set in a beautifully restored old jail, complete with original cells turned into private dining spaces (yes, you can literally eat dinner where someone once served time), it somehow pulls off historic charm without being gimmicky. It’s tasteful, moody, and full of character—a total vibe.

This place nails it. 11/10, would dine in a...