Whale & Ale — Restaurant in Western Australia

The Whale and Ale Pub – A Reliable Gem in Clarkson

Situated conveniently on Key Largo Drive in Clarkson, The Whale and Ale Pub offers the kind of laid-back charm that makes it a solid choice for a casual meal out. With ample parking both at the front and in the large rear car park, getting there is hassle-free—a small but appreciated detail after a long day.

The venue is thoughtfully divided into a lively sports bar and a family-friendly restaurant area, complete with table service. For those with little ones, the secure play area is a brilliant touch—plenty of toys to keep kids entertained, plus a window so you can keep an eye on them without hovering. It’s family dining without the usual stress.

If you’re keen to catch the latest cricket or football match, one side of the restaurant boasts a big screen TV, blending dining with the best of the sporting world. Prefer a quieter setting? There’s a more secluded area perfect for relaxed, intimate meals, plus an outdoor seating space for those who enjoy a bit of fresh air with their fare.

Now, onto the food. After a busy day, my wife and I decided to skip cooking and unwind at The Whale and Ale. She opted for the buttermilk chicken burger with chips, requesting the chicken grilled instead of breaded. The kitchen obliged without fuss, serving it just as she liked—juicy, flavourful, and perfectly done. I went with the trusty chicken Parmi, chips, and a fresh green salad, as the elusive beef & Guinness wasn’t on offer that evening. Both meals were spot-on: generous portions, great quality, and served promptly.

While The Whale and Ale isn’t a fine-dining establishment (think a solid 3-4 star experience), it excels at what it sets out to do—serving up hearty, well-priced pub favourites in a welcoming environment. The beer selection is impressive, catering to a range of tastes, and the staff deserve a special mention: polite, efficient, and attentive without hovering when your drink’s barely touched the bottom.

All in all, it’s a dependable spot for a relaxed, satisfying meal, whether you’re with family, friends, or just looking to unwind. Definitely recommended if you’re after great food...

You know when you have 'heard' stuff, (Good or Bad) but not checked it out for yourself, so can only believe what you have heard?

Well that was me on the Whale and Ale...... the reviews were a bit of a mixed bag, but for different reasons.

So, we decided to try it for ourselves with a party of 18 for Xmas in July.

Now...... we did get off to a poor start, maybe not so much the pubs fault as we were booked in for 12 PM...... but we said to our guests to arrive for 11:30 AM onwards....... and could not access our table till 12 as the dining room did not open until then.

Moving on..... when we became seated, and had settled, many of the group were seniors and had already made the choice of the Xmas 3 course seniors special for $40.

However others looked at the alternative Xmas special menu, and could not help themselves with the delicious individual selections.

And then......... their was the a'lacart menu with a Wednesday special, and other tempting dishes that my partner decided to order.

It was then mentioned, to keep things simple as far as payment..... that drinks could be ordered and paid for individually at the bar.......a good idea I thought.

As you will see from the photos, the food did not dissappoint, and it was smiles around, especially given the very reasonable price.

The service by Tom, Gina? and the other staff was fun and friendly.......

The atmosphere, given that it is a huge pub, was ok, because of our own group dynamics..... but on a Wednesday afternoon...... it was very quiet.

Overall though, we thoroughly enjoyed our Xmas in July and I for one am looking forward to popping in at a more sociable time and date, with a...

Left sad. Took a little while to get seated despite not being particularly busy, just waiting for a server to seat us as the sign indicated to do so. crispy skin pork belly with green beans pork belly meat was well cooked, good flavour, but was not crispy skinned, in fact I could bend it like elastic and was more likely to have just been seared, if not lightly toasted. The green beans, all three string beans (side note: three string beans is a garnish not a side) of them, were perfectly cooked and so too was the mountain of potatoes. the jus was flavourful, almost too much, and could do with a bit more stock perhaps to thin it out as it was quite overpowering. I got half a chip in my potatoes too so that was kind of exciting. -steak and salad with chips and mushroom sauce steak was cooked well, the chips were good, the salad was good, especially appreciated was the baby kale and the lack of snow pea sprouts (because honestly who actually likes them so this was a good call), but the mushroom sauce was not mushroom but garlic sauce. ordered the deep fried oreo special but after waiting over 30 minutes decided to cancel and get the bill instead.

If any suggestion could be made, perhaps thin down the menu, do a few things well rather than over-extend and disappoint.

I have previously had the beyond burger and that - I might get again, with maybe half the amount of...