LOCATIONIn Mount Lawley, five minutes from Perth city.
PROFILED BY DEGROOTS MEDIAThere’s nothing worse than paying almost $40 for a medium-rare steak only to have it delivered to your table either still mooing or burnt to a leathery crisp. At Lava Stonegrill in Mount Lawley, you can cook your own steak on 400-degree volcanic rock and, if you burn it, you’ll only have yourself to blame! Modestly decorated with bright walls and simple furniture, there’s way too much to do at your table to worry about the lack of interior decor. After all, you will be too busy ensuring your meal is cooked to perfection. As well as it being a unique and interactive style of dining, the method of cooking on the volcanic stone is very healthy since no oils are used and all meats are completely trimmed of fats. It also seals in all the natural juices of the food, providing diners with a tender meal packed with flavour.
There are a great number of entrees and mains to choose from like the tiger prawns or tasting plate complete with olives and fetta (obviously not intended for the grill!), chorizo, marinated chicken, rosemary lamb, tiger prawns and beef medallions. It’s a great way to get a knack for this cooking method before your mains arrive. The game platter from the mains menu is a sight for sore eyes with crocodile, venison, wild boar and kangaroo testing the outback cooking skills of many, while the beef and reef seems to be a hands-down favourite. All meals served on the stonegrill come with gourmet potato and salad garnish, making it a complete feast if you’re willing to share your selection with dinner guests. Don’t be shy – tackle the grill!
Karen Bilsby, January 2009