New eatery concept for Fremantle
Frustration with the high price of eating out in Perth was part of the drive behind a new Fremantle venture that will house multiple restaurants, a bar and a commercial kitchen to be hired by the hour.
In what is being billed as a WA hospitality first, The Mantle will open its doors next week as an "incubation hub" that will allow small businesses to operate without the expense of setting up their own venue.
The former warehouse on Beach Street will house Don Tapa tapas bar, Magna Pizza restaurant and small bar Alter Ego.
An in-house commercial kitchen is already being used by local business Top Dub to make donuts but can also serve as a pop-up restaurant or be hired for cooking lessons or by caterers lacking their own facilities.
Irene Polo, one half of the husband-and wife-team behind The Mantle, said the idea was partly triggered when she and Anatoly Mazhov moved from Melbourne to Perth and wondered "why does it cost so much" to eat out. Under The Mantle's roof, businesses can operate with minimal overheads.
"(It will) provide operators a bit of a stepping ground to operate their own business but without having to outlay the crazy capital," Ms Polo said.
"That's a big part of the project - to provide already fitted-out restaurants to operators who might not have the opportunity or the finances."
The changing face of WA's restaurant and bar scene has made the pair confident the timing is right.
"I think there's been a lot of changes lately," Ms Polo said.
"People just want a different experience, people want different food. It's great because it drives other businesses to change what they've been doing for the last 20 years and offer something different."
Mr Mazhov said he hoped The Mantle would play a role in the revitalisation of the east end of Fremantle.
"We're not aware of anyone doing something like this in Perth," he said.
In keeping with the couple's E-Shed Markets tapas business, which has moved to The Mantle, the interior has been fitted out with revamped shipping containers.
A VIP launch is scheduled for next week and The Mantle will open Wednesday to Sunday for dinner and weekend brunch.
