A familiar face – that of chef Tom Harper – is back at Besk in West Leederville. After a stint as head chef at Cottesloe’s Indigo Oscar and a reign as the barramundi king of Australia, Harper is back and better than ever. The brains behind many of Besk’s most popular dishes – including the bang bang chicken and the seasonal gnocchi – he’s supplementing the old favourites with new dishes including steak tartare with shoestring fries and egg yolk; yellowfin tuna tostadas with a fermented chilli kick; and spanner crab toast with cucumber and espelette crisp.
When he’s not cooking up seafood or adding new dishes to the menu at Besk, Harper is grabbing conti rolls, downing a Guinness at a local Irish pub or getting his red meat fix as a self-confessed “beef tartare addict”. He sat down with Broadsheet to chat all about where he eats when he’s off-duty.
What’s your go-to for a quick takeaway?
The conti rolls from The Re Store are always superb and very generous. Great to pick up when heading to the beach!
Never miss a Perth moment. Make sure you're subscribed to our newsletter today.
SUBSCRIBE NOWAnd for a drink and snacks?
Wines of While is somewhere I always go back to. A great selection of drinks and delicious snacks to match. I like being able to sit out on the street and allow the hours to go by.
If it’s a special occasion, where are you headed?
I love Si Paradiso. The food is fun and delicious. The crab crespelle! The pizza is great too and it’s nice to be able to crack on in the garden for a drink and sometimes a dance after.
Where’s your favourite for great baking or pastries?
I’m not much of a sweet pastries person but I love to get a little French cheese and ham baguette from Chez Jean-Claude Patisserie. And occasionally I’ll grab some of their doughnuts too.
And where do you think does the best coffee in town?
Myrtle Ivy is my favourite and it’s right next to Besk, so it’s perfect for when I need to grab a coffee on my way to work.
How about a meal with a big group of family or friends?
I went to Threecoins & Sons recently for a friend’s birthday. It has a great menu and fantastic vibe for a group. There are loads of small plates to choose from and the pinsa was super tasty. They also had homemade limoncello, so good!
And what about the best food close to where you live?
I live in Doubleview so Corner Dairy and St Brigid are great locals to have in walking distance. The beef tartare, ceviche and the desserts at Corner Dairy are always quality!
What’s your favourite late-night spot to head after work?
I have to be honest, I’m rarely out late anymore, but being an Englishman, I just love going to the pub for a few beers after work, so if I’m not having a beer at Besk, I’ll often pop round to JB O’Reilly’s for a pint of Guinness.
What’s your personal favourite dish on the menu at Besk? Tough one I’m sure.
The menu is changing quite often at the moment, so not sure I have a favourite just yet. I’m a bit of a beef tartare addict, so maybe the tartare?
And is there a hidden gem that you think is underrated but great?
Another place close to me that’s a bit of a hidden gem is Samari Cambodian Restaurant. We often pop in there for curry with roti when we are feeling too lazy to cook. Simple tasty food and it’s BYO!