Blacksmith Perth — Restaurant in Highgate

PARENTS BEWARE. PEOPLE WITH FOOD ALLERGIES BEWARE.

I had heard from my parents group that this café has garnished a BAD REPUTATION when it comes to addressing concerns from customers with allergies. Just take a look at the series of 'low rating' reviews reflecting the awful management and discrimination against people with allergies particularly by the manager/owner minimising allergies as 'dislikes' of certain food.

Sadly, I can confirm that reputation is 100% correct. Parents specifically OR anyone who has concerns about food allergies should STAY AWAY. In my experience the owner is unemphatic and unapologetic when it comes to these issues. Not to mention the dirty state of the cafe - with uncleared tables despite bored work staff and food and other rubbish on the ground including in the children's 'play area'. The pathetic 'play area' which consists of a dirty sandpit filled with rubbish, a blackboard in an empty little room and a few dirty truck toys (literally NO other toys) was such a waste of time for my toddler and his friend.

My child has an egg allergy with severe anaphylaxis to egg. Due to this and as concerned parent (who is not allergic) - I do not eat egg as to avoid unnecessary risk to my child. As a sensible person I obviously understand that a kitchen café is an egg-prone environment, so I have to ask the question every time I eat out. On that basis, I enquired with the manger about eggs in my meal and whether there was an option to substitute the eggs off my meal for something else (of lesser monetary value), due to my child’s allergy and my concerns. What happened next can only be described as an attack and an attempt to marginalise and publicly belittle me. Rather than a polite decline (which honestly would have been OK) or even a basic professional and coherent response - there was instead a tirade of personal and emotional ranting on the manager’s behalf, and a series of verbal rubbish that came next.

It was a lot to endure, but a few highlights from the discussion:

Manager repeatedly not addressing the fact I was talking about a severe allergy and instead referring to it as my one year old sons “dislike for eggs” (despite reiterating that this was not a “dislike” to the manager and that it is a health concern of my child - this did not seem to matter or phase them). I believe this was attempt to passive aggressively, continuously, and consciously belittle).

The manager engaged in long-winded and unnecessary story regarding “the business model” and that they pay the “head chef” a lot of money to specifically create these “ unique and intricate dish palate” so substitutions shouldn't be made or it will change the "flavour profile". It's smashed avo's and benedicts...you're not changing the world with your cafe menu. The manager didn't know what to say when I enquired why if I pay extra for another side e.g. bacon or eliminate egg (without any cost difference) this is allowed and doesn't 'change the flavour profile curated by these head chefs'.

There seemed to be a cascade of thinly veiled passive aggressive comments not even addressing my question to make me feel marginalised. This included the owner/manager saying that she's sorry if I feel 'ashamed about the allergy'. I was appalled as the only thing shameful was her behaviour.

In summary, I would say that in my opinion, there seems to be a huge personal and unprofessional vindictiveness from management regarding customers with allergies. I am not sure what has happened in the past that means this is the ‘everyday response’ from the business when these questions are asked. This situation personally was regarding the health concerns of a child and the manager/business was not interested at all in responding to the query in a professional or constructive way but designed to make me feel like the problem.

Be better.

I also implore you to review the other 1-star reviews – they are all validating the same concern. My parents group will never go there and I urge you to...

The reason for going to Blacksmith was to have buttermilk pancakes. Normally pancakes are light, fluffy circles of deliciousness topped with fruit, berries, mascarpone, maple syrup or ice cream. Often they are topped by a combination of 3 or more of the above. At Blacksmith my pancakes, not so light nor quite so fluffy, had berries (fresh strawberries and a compote of blue- and raspberries) and a measly serve of maple syrup. I also ordered and received bacon on the side. The end result was an unfinished plate of pancakes and bacon. Whereas most pancakes are sweet, fluffy, and somewhat bouncy these were not. For starters (excuse the pun) they were flatter than usual and drier and almost crumbly. They could be described as the almost savory cousins to what I am used to. The berries were meagerly arrayed on top of the stack of 2. The syrup was delivered in a tiny bowl of the kind usually reserved for pink salt; there was barely enough. And that was all there was to aide mastication. Needless to say I ordered 2 cups of mocha to keep my mouth moist. Where was the cream or ice cream? Where was the something to make this a sweet breakfast option? The accompanying bacon was neither bountiful nor brilliant. Cooked somewhere in between soft and crisp the 2 slices didn't punch the pancakes to a higher place. They might have had there been any syrup on them but that wouldn't have been possible with the amount given to me. In the end I was unable to finish the meal. With pancakes that never happens unless the stack is monumentally large. I could have finished but there was no enjoyment in the experience and there was no need to have a third coffee. The place though was very popular at 9.30am on a Thursday so there must be good things on the menu. The service was attentive...

Had a horrid experience here. The food was great, all of us enjoyed our meals: a great range, delicious and fantastic presentation. tldr: hosts seem inexperienced; lower your expectations, not kid friendly.

Initially, the maître d' made us wait until the last guest (party of 5) had arrived (despite being on time and ready to order), but while we waited she had given our table away and we had to wait another 20 minutes (with bored, hungry, small children). We were seated at 3 different tables, due to giving away our table, and couldn't order a coffee until 45 minutes after our booking time. The maitre got aggressive with one of our party and ended up blaming us, claiming we didn't even have a booking (contrary to her previous claims). Totally unprofessional, a simple apology could have turned the experience around.

Eventually we ended up on a table for 3 (a barrel), despite having two children with us. The host said they don't count the kids in the booking (so pro tip: count any kids as adults when you book). For a place claiming to be kid friendly this is awful.

The table serving staff didn't seem to have the authority to add something to our bill either, the kids wanted a juice from the fridge (RTD), but that took 20 minutes to arrive as they had to get a waiter to retrieve it.

Overall this seems to be run by an inexperienced team. It wasn't hugely busy (though I wouldn't say quiet) when we were there but the rude maître d' and lack of autonomy/trust in the table staff dragged out our experience, creating hangry children (and adults!) that made this a very...