Bread in Common

Bread in Common opened in 2013 inside a heritage-listed building on Pakenham Street in Fremantle. The building was originally constructed in 1898 as a pharmaceutical warehouse, and its restoration has won awards. The result is a large, open space where the kitchen, the bakery and the dining room run into each other, with exposed brick, tin and big shared tables.

As the name suggests, bread is the foundation. The restaurant bakes its own artisanal loaves, and the founding bakery was set up with help from Gotthard Bauer of Yallingup Woodfired Bread. Pallets of flour around the room are a reminder of the bakery at work. The menu is designed for sharing, so dishes arrive in the middle of the table and everyone helps themselves. The kitchen works with seasonal and local produce and does much of its own preserving, fermenting and pickling, and it chooses responsibly sourced seafood. The menu changes with the seasons, so check the current version online before you go.

To drink, the wine list draws on local, national and international producers, and the bar makes its own sodas and cocktails. Staff are described by the restaurant as knowledgeable, and they are on hand to guide diners through the wine list and the menu if you are unsure where to start. Prices on the menu include GST.

The communal format suits groups of friends and families who like to try a bit of everything, and it is relaxed enough for a casual lunch while still feeling like an occasion at dinner. The large warehouse room has natural light by day and low, warm lighting at night, so lunch and dinner feel quite different. If you have dietary requirements, contact the restaurant ahead of your visit.

Bread in Common is open daily from midday, closing at 10pm from Sunday to Thursday and at 11pm on Friday and Saturday. Bookings can be made online and are recommended for dinner, especially later in the week. Note that payment is by card only, as no cash is accepted. Being in central Fremantle, it fits well into a day in the port city alongside the markets, the prison and the waterfront museums.