Inthuthu Smokehouse - Subiaco

As a part of the Barbecue Club of WA we have "Meat Ups" from time to time at bars and restaurants. So with there not being all that many true American Style Barbecue joints in general in Perth, let alone any that I've been to worth mentioning, we were a bit apprehensive in booking a venue that calls itself a smokehouse.Sixteen of us turned up on the night and we all met out the front and funnily traded flavouring woods for our BBQ smokers in the car park. It was exciting to see that there was a Yoder Wichita smoker sitting in the front window and with an exhaust flue to extract the smoke which was even better to see because at some restaurants in the USA, the smoker and wood pile is just a mere show piece and they have a gas or electric smoker out the back as the work horse.It's important to note that there is a massive difference with the flavour but also with the sheer work and love that goes into an all wood cook and nine times out of ten you can taste that love. This is something that most of the restaurants lack here in Perth unfortunately and as mentioned, I have yet to have eaten at one that has met the expectations of a smokehouse for me.In saying that I really enjoyed the food at Inthuthu. They don't really embrace the low and slow style of American Barbecue but neither do they advertise as such. It's like a fusion between that and their former incarnation as Hippo Creek and it works for me. In particular the pork belly and all the steaks were awesome and my Dad enjoyed the pulled pork too. Overall the food was very good for me but some of the other attendees weren't as impressed as me but that's food and taste for you. There is no argument when it comes to taste, as people like what they like and that's that.Between us we ate a lot of food and also consumed our fair share of beverages. I had my first taste of South African beers and really enjoyed them and found they went well with what we were eating.The service was great from beginning to end and nothing was too much trouble. Even with us being BBQ nerds and being a pain in the bum about wanting to speak with the chef about BBQ or Barbecue (believe it or not, there is a difference) techniques, to which the chef obliged and all staff including the chef was a good sport about it.My only gripe with the food was the ribs, which I could tell had not touched the Yoder which was disappointing or if it did, they'd used the hot shot charcoal and no flavouring wood to impart that smokey flavour. I'm not sure how they were cooked but for the most part in Perth, ribs are boiled and then grilled but it's understandable in the difficulty to cook ribs on a restaurant production scale the way they do in the U.S.A without having a monstrous BBQ unit out the back to the the handy work.I'd definitely recommend Inthuthu to folks. I had an awesome night and reckon if you go in with an open mind and without expectations, that most will be impressed with the food turned out. In saying that there are a few things that they could tweak there to take Inthuthu from good to great.

I have been going to this steak house for years, but hadn't been back since it had a name change from Hippo Creek and wow what a let down.It's nothing like it use to be and very poor indeed. I had an inclining that something was amiss when i opened the menu and discovered that the first few pages were devoted to the chef writing an essay explaining why and how their steaks are cooked a certain way, like they were trying to justify something, not talk it up, very odd indeed. - The food is terrible, the steaks have no flavour anymore (the peri peri sauce was exceptional but that's just one of the items they have stupidly deleted from the menu). My mum ordered the fish and they tell us that they had run out. Ummm it was a Friday evening at around 6.30pm, we were some of the first to order and they have already run out of a main menu item? Seriously???- The wait staff all wear different clothing so you have no idea really who works there. They pretty much wear what ever they want. Very low standards.- The manager reminded me of Basil Faulty, she was all over the place and at times quite abrupt if you asked for anything. I had to ask for a glass for my beer from her 3 times before i got up and got my own.I'm sorry to say but since the name and owner change, this place has taken a massive dive. Sadly, its no longer the awesome place Hippo Creek use to be. Avoid it. Its also very $$$ and I expected a hell of a lot more from such an expensive meal.

Reserved a table for Friday night. Place quickly filled whilst we were seated but was still easy to have a good conversation. Service from the word go was great from every member of staff, both friendly and efficient. We had the pork belly to start, very nice, then came the mains. All our parties steaks were tasty though one member complained of the overwhelming smokiness which killed the flavour. The chips were just awful, over fried to the point that when I tried to put my fork into them they flew across the table. Having said that the teenagers with us thought they were perfect! Being greedy I had both the ribs and the pulled pork sandwich/waffle. Ribs were terrible. Dry, tasteless and cemented onto the bone. Pulled pork however was just delicious, loved it. Good service, nice restaurant but hit and miss food.

Great ambience and decent service, steaks cooked perfectly. The smokiness was too much for some of our party, overpowering the dish, for others it was a nice balance.

Family of 5, we were all very happy with our meals and the service. the biltong bread was delicious, loved the cheesy biltong dip.5 mains were all cooked perfectly, even our youngest who is a very fussy eater was happy with his meal! this is rare! steaks were cooked perfectly, chicken portion was huge, everything was great. And then the desserts! wow.We will be back!