places|wa|perth|bar%20138%20on%20barrack
BAR138 on barrack is an intimate and relaxed metropolitan bar, fast becoming popular with the local "suits" scene and local CBD residents.
BAR138 on barrack boasts a spacious terrace that occupies the site of the famous Railway Hotel, one of Perth's first Hotels built in 1847 (First known as the commercial hotel) with the naming of the Railway Hotel was at the same time the Fremantle to Guilford railway commenced construction, and reflects the great impact of the railway development on the commercial life of Perth at the time.
Editorial
If it wasn't for the bold red and grey decor of Bar 138 on Barrack, you might miss it. Tucked behind the heritage-listed Railway Hotel facade on the ground floor of Medina Executive Apartments, the red lounges inside this simply decorated venue do their job by catching the eye. In a similar style to funky day/night hotspots on Melbourne's Greville Street, everything about this place points towards a bar yet the food is surprisingly good.
In addition to a full breakfast menu, the twist to simple pub grub reveals the chef's time spent in Kuala Lumpur through green chicken curry, Asian fish cakes and chicken satay sticks. Pub classics such as fish and chips, steak sandwiches and the "138 chicken burger" all arrive in gigantic portions with enough fries to feed Perth's entire seagull population. Although you may be thinking "quantity rather than quality", do not be mistaken - this food has been made with as much care as any classy restaurant yet you get to enjoy it without the snootiness. A word of advice: if you're into judging a place by its table settings and restaurant charm, then go somewhere else or arrive after dark when the interior lighting puts Bar 138 at its visual best.
Karen Bilsby-Butler, May 2007
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