Perth Food Review

O n the Monday afternoon of the recent long weekend, a group of four us went to the Bell House Cafe at about 5pm for coffee and cake and were turned away abruptly- with the reason that they were setting up for dinner bookings. We have been to the restaurant previously for coffee and cake and have been accepted as late as 6.00pm - however on one prior occasion the manager grudgingly told us that we could come in - but had to leave in about 20 minutes! Call us foolish - or perhaps optimistic we decided to give them a second chance and returned on the long weekend. Last Monday, like previously, the restaurant was no more than one third full - and people were certainly not eating dinner at 5.00pm.

We walked up Mend Street and enjoyed coffee and cake at the Dome Cafe which was teaming with people. As we departed we walked by the Bell House - to find that at 6.45pm they still were at less than 30% capacity.

Why would they send us away? Surely it makes good business sense to be serving coffee and cake to four people rather than to have empty tables - and that doesn't even take into account the negative PR of sending people away from an almost empty restaurant.

We are a group of semi retired and retired baby boomers with time and money to enjoy dining at friendly and well serviced restaurants. We dine at restaurants at least twice a week. We - and I daresay none of our extended group of friends will be dining at this restaurant in the future ..... well at least until the management changes. It is a stunning location and has such potential - what a shame the service is so poor.

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