Loading...
It has taken next to no time for Market Eating House to become synonymous with the coastal city of Bunbury.
Since opening in 2015, it has quickly grown into a destination restaurant and a place that those from the big smoke are planning their weekend trips around.
For owners Brenton and Bec Pyke, it was about the opportunity to fulfill their dreams of a restaurant and a family.
"We saw a business opportunity here really, and somewhere as well where we wanted to raise our family," Brenton said.
"Where we could still have the sort of restaurant that we’d always dreamt of, and still be able to maintain that work and life balance which is so crucial."
In a career that has seen Brenton head up Little Press and Cellar for George Calombaris in Melbourne as well as one of Perth’s favourite small bars Andaluz, the lure of creating something for the good people of Bunbury brought the Pyke’s home.
The kitchen features a custom-made charcoal grill and wood-fired oven, allowing Brenton and his team to ‘explore the honest relationship between food and fire’.
Our restaurant is built around the concept of sharing, people coming together and wining and dining, that is how we eat at home with friends and family
It is a model that has proven very successful for the Pykes who have collected a stack of awards for their Victoria Street gem, including most recently a top 50 gong in WA Good Food Guide’s best restaurants, bars and casual venues.
With seasonal menus and a focus on fresh locally sourced ingredients, that model has helped to embed the family and their acclaimed eatery into the local community.
"We made a choice, to have a sustainable business model, with a sense of belonging in the community," Brenton said.
Always evolving, the Pyke’s can now be seen out and about at local events offering ‘Market on the Road’ catering, collaborating with local wineries, or hosting behind the scenes cooking experiences.
Market Eating House is a true success story for Bunbury and something the community – that has made the Pyke’s so welcome – can be proud of.
Bunbury’s a place to belong, a really fantastic sense of community here
"A lot of other people that we get our product off are also small, family-run businesses with young kids, so really supporting them which ties in with the sense of community that Bunbury brings – everyone is all one big family."
For those who are yet to enjoy the Market experience, mark it in your diary for dinner (Wednesday to Saturday) or lunch on Friday or Saturday.