STM Hottest 100 restaurants, bars and cafes, part six: the New Kids on the Block Jamie's Italian, 140 William St in Perth. So far, we've looked at Breakfast, Sunday lunch, BYO, Cheap eats and Bars. Now it's time for the New Kids on the Block, a step-by-step look through WA's new establishments that have popped up over the last year. Has STM missed any top new places? Let us know, comment below. The Old Crow, 172 Newcastle Street in Northbridge. The Old Crow 172 Newcastle St, Northbridge, 9227 9995 This urban restaurant jagged a star when head chef Ben Atkinson left Mount Lawley's Cantina 663 to take up residence in the kitchen. His delectable slow-roasted beef, chargrilled brussels sprouts and Cajun-spiced fried chicken ensure the Northbridge venue is packed after dark. Housed in an old-school cottage, it's heavy on charm - staff even wear suspenders. While it's open for lunch, dinner is when the atmosphere is best. The must-eat dish? The chimichanga, a mini burrito of beans, corn and pulled-beef goodness. Miss Kitty's Saloon Bar 882 Beaufort St, Inglewood, 9272 6669 Redefining our perception of North American fare, Miss Kitty's is a sassy, brassy, larger-than-life restaurant that pumps after dark. The menu celebrates modern Canadian and American food with a cheeky twist. Pork nuggets and fried pickles make for a fun encounter, while chilli infused confit chicken atop mini tortillas get the party started. The house-made Quebecois poutine, combining hand-cut chips, gravy and curd, is all about comfort and decadence, heightened with optional foie gras. Roast suckling pig and charred beef seal the deal, together with cans of cheap Mexican beer and free peanuts. Wee Bar, 406 Oxford Street in Mt Hawthorn. Wee 406 Oxford St, Mount Hawthorn, 9444 3406 At only 43sq m, Wee is indeed small. But good things come in small packages, and here those things have a decidedly French bent. There's a beef bourguignon cook-up weekly, along with duck pie specials and pulled-pork sangas on Sundays. Keep an eye on Wee's Facebook page, with Scottish chef and owner Iain Lawless cooking up one-off dishes according to his whim - they sell out quick. Cheese or chocolate fondues make for late-night treats, chased with a warming sherry. The fit-out is pure op-shop and eBay, with plenty of personality. Varnish on King 75 King St, Perth, 9324 2237 Given American whiskey is the poster boy for this bar, you might expect the food to play second fiddle. But not with chef David Allison at the helm. Bringing his expertise from lauded Melbourne restaurant Vue De Monde, the menu rises above. Beef cheek and marrow is presented in a bone; prawn and lobster is blended into a hot-dog sausage; and sweet scampi is split in two and grilled to perfection. Artisan grunge may be the theme but foodie heaven could be another description. The atmosphere is busy - it's a basement bar with barely a sign, so naturally it's packed - so be prepared for close quarters. Sushia Izakaya and Bar, Brookfield Place, 127 St Georges Terrace in Perth. Picture: Alf Sorbello Source: PerthNow Sushia Izakaya & Bar Brookfield Place, 125 St Georges Tce, Perth, 9322 7771 Expectations were always going to be high for Sushia, having poached three chefs from Nobu Perth. Fortunately, its blend of traditional Japanese with contemporary fusion more than delivers, coupled with the warm service, classy surrounds and artistic food presentation. Our pick is the soft-shell crab, which combines deep-fried crispiness with watermelon cubes doused in amazu ponzu, chilli, onion, seeds and herbs. The signature smoked wagyu is another winner, while the rich, caramelised patagonian toothfish is worth savouring. The sashimi, prepared in the open kitchen, is the embodiment of fresh. Silks Crown Perth, Great Eastern Highway, Burswood, 9362 7551 The latest glamazon restaurant in Crown's offering wows even the most jaded of high-rollers with its gold-wrapped aromatic chicken, a highlight on the menu, which also devotes a page to abalone four ways and $168 bird's nests. The fine-dining Chinese restaurant maintains a mix of opulence and bling - three massive Ming vases dominate the room and sliding doors cordon off private dining rooms. Fitted out at a cost of $10 million, it's the largest restaurant within Crown Perth. It tones things down with the dim sum menu, adding some affordability to the offering if you stick to the basics. Uncle Joe's Mess Hall, King Street in Perth. Uncle Joe's Mess Hall 74-76 King St, Perth, 9321 4502 It's a toss-up between the delectable baked goods sprawled over the stainless-steel counter, and the inventive all-day brunch menu at this industrial hole-in-the-wall. Accessed off King St, the back-of-house cafe at Uncle Joe's has a tasty, oft-changing line-up that appeals as much to the fashion strip's modelling crowd as it does the tradies hammering in shop fit-outs. Pick between chorizo and beans sweetened with maple syrup, a smoked bacon and relish sanga, or an egg-white omelet served with cutesy toast soldiers. The in-house pastry chef offers peanut butter and chocolate cupcakes, lemon curd and blueberry slice and pear, pistachio and cranberry loaf. Yum. The Laneway Lounge 414 Murray St, Perth, 9321 2508 This sexy little number is as sultry as the jazzy tunes that fill the discreet laneway space each night. A number of the cocktails use smoked ice cubes - not to be confused with tacky dry ice - giving the liquor a heavenly, charred dimension. Dude food gets the menu (designed by Sydney celebrity chef Danny Russo) rolling, with prawn popcorn, duck sliders and BBQ wings on the starters list. Firm food trends make up the balance - think chargrilled rib eye, fennel-piqued pork belly and a signature cheeseburger. Jamie's Italian 140 William St, Perth, 9363 8600 It's fun, it's fresh and it's fabulous. Jamie's has been packed out since it opened in March, not least for the fantastic value it serves up with every dish. The queues may be a battle, and the wait for food tiresome, but the polenta chips make up for it, chased with a side of crunchy apple slaw. Then you can just settle back and enjoy the fennel sausage pappadelle pasta or the creamy blue swimmer crab risotto. Servings are generous enough to opt for entrees, and that means you'll only break a $20. Solomon's Cafe 487 Beaufort St, Highgate, 9328 7995 Solomon's makes for a novel mix. A famous hip-hop artist is behind the restaurant; the 100 per cent organic food redefines the term "healthy," but still tastes good; and it caters for every food intolerance imaginable. It's like nothing else in Perth, what with its grass-fed meat, heirloom vegetables and quinoa-lashed everything. Paul Reid, better known as Drapht, is the rapper driving the good-living train, ensuring that a palpable level of hip - rather than hippie - is imbued to the vibe. He's conscious that rabbit food puts people off, so while he does offer green smoothies and raw cheese cake, he gets diners onboard with tasty black bean and purple carrot sliders, vitamin-boosting kale salads, cacao crepes and roasted, salted coconut shavings. His sushi, which swaps rice for quinoa, is another example of Solomon's new world order. STM Hottest 100, part five: Bars