PROFILED BY DEGROOTS MEDIAOpening in the 1890s, the Esplanade Hotel in Fremantle not only exudes colonial charm and historic appeal, it is also home to a great international buffet restaurant. With a recent overhaul of furniture and fixtures, the Atrium Garden Restaurant is now even more comfortable, with plenty of natural light and great views of the hotel’s pool area. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, there’s plenty of variety to choose from.
Breakfast caters to those who have both healthy appetites, with a continental or English buffet breakfast available. The lunch and dinner buffet menus are similar in content with an eye-popping array of fresh creations ready for the taking. The soup of the day is complemented with a selection of freshly baked breads, the platter of deli meats feature top quality cold cuts and the chilled seafood section boasts local prawns, tender baby octopus, mussels and a lovely seafood salad. Of course, there’s a carvery with a traditional roast as well as a great selection of hot dishes featuring fish, chicken, pasta and vegetarian offerings. As with any buffet the challenge is always about pacing yourself and leaving enough room to sample a little of everything – including the desserts. At the Atrium, the desserts are home-made and definitely worth trying. Petit fours, gateaux, mousse and cheesecake are garnished with fresh seasonal fruit while a wide range of international cheeses are present for those with a savoury palate. As I’ve always said, buffets are a great place for big celebrations, big appetites and big indulgences!
Karen Bilsby, April 2008
