Lawnbrook Estate — Restaurant in Western Australia

We booked a table for 10 at the packing shed in advance for Saturday the 17th of May to avoid the hustle and bustle of Mother’s Day the previous weekend. We live relatively locally and decided to give the packing shed a go as we love supporting local businesses. The setting is gorgeous and gives traditional Australiana vibes in the best way possible. Nestled in a paddock amongst the gumtrees the intimate restaurant was bustling with patrons. On arrival we found our table inside (although we had booked outside) and lined up to let them know we have arrived- it took approximately 8 minutes in line behind only 2 people just to let them know we were here. The restaurant seemed understaffed and overwhelmed by the volume of customers which was not a positive start. Staff advised us that they had another table available for us outside but they were just clearing it away and if we could wait a few minutes that would seat us out there shortly. 15 minutes later they were apologetic when I asked how long it would be til we were seated and stated they were still clearing from the previous customers. We eventually got seated and we all looked at the menu- it is not a very extensive menu, very limited options for children, and limited explanations of dishes including whether items were entrees or mains. I approached the main counter to clarify this which again took several minutes as you had to wait in line to speak to staff. I have attached a menu for reference as I believe it’s important for people to know the first three items on the menu are considered an entree and the remaining items are considered mains according to staff. We proceeded to order and waited 35 minutes for 1/10 dishes to come out, 20 minutes later a second dish arrived, after an additional 20 minutes I approached the counter again and respectfully asked how our other 8 meals were going as we have two people already finished their meals and that is wasn’t really practical to deliver meals to a party of 10 at all different times- especially so far apart. Staff once again apologised and explained they were understaffed and running behind and our meals should be out within 15 more minutes, we were offered free desert for the inconvenience but declined as things were taking so long as it was. Once our meals arrived, I will say they were delicious- the satay chicken, sizzling garlic prawns, pork belly and fish were fresh and full of flavour. We also ordered several sides of rosemary and salted chips which were also amazing. The red wines that are produced on the property were also worth a mention and went down a treat during the meal. It was disappointing that the service was lacking on the day because I feel like this is a great little gem in the Perth hills that’s worth a visit, it just needs to improve the amount of staff it has on during peak times. We will visit again (maybe without the kids 🤣) as the food was delicious and hopefully they have sorted out their staffing...

This place is a hidden gem for a relaxed quality meal in the Perth Hills.

We visited The Packing Shed for a relaxed Mother’s Day lunch (day before actual day), the rustic appearance of the venue, along with its peaceful setting just minutes from Kalamunda, made for a lovely afternoon.

The staff were warm and welcoming, and although it the day before Mother’s Day, it wasn't too busy—so we were able to enjoy a quiet and leisurely meal.

We ordered a selection of dishes to share including: chilli squid, garlic prawns, pork belly and the cheeseboard - everything was packed with flavour and beautifully prepared. The chilli squid had just the right amount of spice and crunch, the prawns were fresh and sizzling, paired nicely with the focaccia. The cheeseboard, with a nice selection of cheese, fruit, GF crackers, and accompaniments, perfect for sharing. The only slight downside (if I had to be picky) was the pork belly crackling—it was tasty but too tough to cut with the provided knife. That said, we didn’t mind getting hands-on!

To finish, we indulged in a trio of desserts: crème brûlée, baked cheesecake, and a chocolate brownie - all absolutely delicious. Each one was satisfying in its own way: the crème brûlée had a perfectly crisp top, the cheesecake was so smooth and creamy (I only meant to have a little bit and ended up polishing it off!) and the brownie was dense and decadent. Followed by iced lattes and a cup of tea to round out the meal.

We had a lovely time and will...

Very disappointing. Decided to try this place due to positive reviews. Wish we hadn’t. They weren’t that busy but the service was very slow, staff appeared unenthusiastic and disengaged. Lots of standing around. Customer service was terrible. We had booked a table outside and as it was a beautiful day we were looking forward to it. They set up our table inside with no explanation and no option to sit outside. We had to ask 4 times for some water. The share platter was amateurish and lacklustre. Items listed on the menu were missing and in place of the focaccia they had placed a couple of slices of multigrain supermarket bread. No explanation given. When we asked about the missing food items, they said they’d run out. The child’s platter came with some cut up apple, rice crackers, massive blocks of cheese, a small sausage roll with enough tomato sauce for 10 sausage rolls, and a brownie. Not worth the money. My partner had the lamb shoulder which was lovely. Dirty plates sat in front of us for at least an hour after we’d finished our meals. Had to ask for them to be moved. Owner/manager was rude, is this the new standard in customer service in Perth? Not many positives so it’s safe to say we will not be back. Go to the Vineyard Kitchen next door instead, a thousand times better...