Ishka Restaurant

LOCATION
At Hillarys Boat Harbour, 20 minutes’ drive north of Perth CBD on Mitchell Freeway.

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
The recent opening of The Breakwater at Hillarys Boat Harbour is still being talked about among those who have made the trek north to visit this fresh new venue. Venture upstairs from The Breakwater and you’ll find the sparkling and impressively decorated Ishka Restaurant. Derived from the Irish Gaelic word “uisce” (pronounced Ishka) meaning water, the harbour views from this elevated restaurant are nothing short of spectacular. Plenty of natural light, illuminated orange and yellow pillars, and a cosy marble fireplace combine with a grey colour scheme to create a very stylish and sophisticated interior. Chef Mark Toomey has devised a menu that features the best fresh local produce our state has to offer while keeping dishes relatively simple yet flavoursome.

The beetroot, ricotta and asparagus salad with smoked salmon wanton and creme fraiche is a sexy little number to start with if you’re looking for something light and tasty. A little more substantial is the crab and prawn ravioli with dill sauce, twice-crumbed brie, rocket and Cumberland sauce. When dining by the ocean, I usually like to indulge in seafood. The seafood platter at Ishka has everything you might expect from a harbour-side location, such as Western rock lobster, lemon and garlic tiger prawns, half-shell seared scallops, fish of the day, smoked salmon and oysters dressed with lemon sorbet and vodka. There’s also the Margaret River lamb rack with dauphinoise potatoes and the seared kangaroo fillet with potato hash, roasted beetroot and native pepper jus. Both of these dishes are cooked medium-rare, keeping the meat succulent and tender. Ishka Restaurant is a delightful addition to the Harbour and although it may be a little noisy at times with The Breakwater below, it offers delicious cuisine and sparkling views.

Karen Bilsby