Canberra Trip [Eating tips]

[pauly7]

Hi all

Have a Canberra trip booked mid August to meet some members of the fam down there for a catch up.

Flights (3 people flying in on QF from Syd, Mel and LST!) and Accom (Diamant Hotel) all booked, staying 2 nights, arrive Friday Lunch, leave Sunday late afternoon.

Have only been to Canberra a couple of times and was wondering if there are any locals on here who would recommend some nice places to see and eat at. Our fam are quite foodie people - work in the food and wine industry, so the ordinary resturaunts aren't really what I'm looking for.... around the 30-40 for dinner main is the $ incase i'm asked... Lunch 20-30.

I need 2 restaurants for dinner and 2 for lunch...

I've been recommended by a work person to check out Flint Dining Room (Edinburgh Avenue). And that's I'll Ive got!

Any ideas would be really appreciated. On the Sat will probably drive out and check out some wineries - so the lunch on Sat could be at a winery/country location - any great restaurants there?

I'm checking out all the usual suspects (DeGroots, Eatability etc) but love to get peoples personal thoughts on here!

Thanks v much

 

[Sprucegoose]

Pauly,

what type/style of food and what sort of interests would you like to visit?

CBR has some of the best resturants in Aus and some of the obligatory attractions, ie Parliament House, War Memorial, Museum of Australia, High court, National Gallery and some excellent cold weather wineries.

I remember quaffing a Clonakilla in F, a local legend.

Suggest you take a GPS with you, the roujndabouts stuff the visitors up. When are you travelling?

 

[pauly7]

Pauly,

what type/style of food and what sort of interests would you like to visit?

CBR has some of the best resturants in Aus and some of the obligatory attractions, ie Parliament House, War Memorial, Museum of Australia, High court, National Gallery and some excellent cold weather wineries.

I remember quaffing a Clonakilla in F, a local legend.

Suggest you take a GPS with you, the roujndabouts stuff the visitors up. When are you travelling?

Thanks - GPS already booked!

Going Mid August. Have the attractions pretty much selected - just looking for a good winery for lunch....

Food - anything goes! (except Indian, Asian)

 

[Sprucegoose]

GrapeFoodWine Restaurant at Madew Winery in Canberra from Rydges Hotels & Resorts


Madews was good when I lived there. Checking my local contacts.

 

[dejium]

I haven't actually eaten at Poacher's Pantry Poachers' Pantry :: Enjoy Gourmet Smoked Goods but have travelled out that way twice for their excellent smoked goods. They have a cafe/restaurant open weekends I believe, always seems to be busy. Worth the 30 min drive out of Canberra. Just rug up for the walk in fridge!

 

[pauly7]

Canberra Trip

GrapeFoodWine Restaurant at Madew Winery in Canberra from Rydges Hotels & Resorts


Madews was good when I lived there. Checking my local contacts.

Thanks - appreciate it look forward to hearing their thoughts too

 

[pauly7]

Canberra Trip

I haven't actually eaten at Poacher's Pantry Poachers' Pantry :: Enjoy Gourmet Smoked Goods but have travelled out that way twice for their excellent smoked goods. They have a cafe/restaurant open weekends I believe, always seems to be busy. Worth the 30 min drive out of Canberra. Just rug up for the walk in fridge!

Nice thank you

Don't worry have thermals packed!

 

[anchew]

Hi Pauly7,

Check out the following website OutInCanberra

I'd recommend the following restaurants (in no particular order):
Artespresso
Aubergine
Ginger Room - located at Old Parliament House
L'unico - not fine dining but one of the best Italian Restaurant I've been to
Portia's Place - also not fine dining but a Canberra institution
Chairman & Yip
Courgette, Water's Edge and Sabanyon - Water's Edge is next to the lake and is where the infamous Howard/Costello agreement scribbled on a napkin took place.
Podfood - Relaxed. Highly recommended. Great lunchtime location.

For breakfast, Silo is another Canberra institution.

A tip about dining out in Canberra
- Booking is essential. Most restaurants are very busy every day of the week and are often booked out on Fri/Sat.
- Enjoy the food and the company of your friends and family. Don't expect great service from the waiting staff. For some reason it seems that restaurants in Canberra are either understaffed or have staff that rather not be there, or both. It seems it's very hard to get good waiting staff in Canberra. But I have been happily surprised once in a while.

Hope this helps.

An.

 

[rtyuiop]

I can confirm Poacher's Pantry is pretty good eating - for somewhere a little less likely to be booked out, you could also try the restaurant at Lark Hill winery. Very tasty food, good wines.

Apparently it's also all 'biodynamic' produce, too. Not quite sure what that means though!

Danny

 

[pauly7]

Canberra Trip

An and Danny thanks so much for your input

Will make certain I book ahead thanks for that tip!!

 

[jamesatfish]

A few of my favourites:

Waters Edge / Courgette - both by the same chef, who spends most of his time at Waters Edge these days. As it's winter the Waters Edge advantage of a fantastic view is somewhat diminished by the sun setting so early, so which ever is closer to the rest of your night out would be my recommendation. Sabayon (again by the same chef) is a little simpler and not the fine-dining you're after. Great tasting menu if you're interested in that sort of thing.

Ottoman - the chef who started Ottoman has moved to Sydney (running, unsurprisingly, Ottoman at Dawes Point), but the restaurant carries on strongly. Great turkish food, ideal if your party likes to share tasting plates rather than stick to the entree-main-dessert standard. Just ask them to bring out food, and tell them to stop when you're full. Desserts aren't their strong suit so keep eating mains until you're done and wash down with turkish coffee. Salmon Dolma and Zucchini Flowers are mandatory.

On Red - probably better for lunch than dinner, as aside from the food one of the great advantages of On Red is the view out over the city during the day. They've been featured numerous times in the Qantas in-flight magazine. If it's on the menu, their rabbit dishes always seem to be very tasty.

Aubergine - another good lunch choice - was started by the chef from Courgette who sold to his Sous Chef when he opened Waters Edge. They've taken their own direction and I prefer them for lunch rather than dinner these days, but they're still a fine dining restaurant and would suit for either.

Enjoy your trip to Canberra!

 

[gregcuthbert]

I haven't actually eaten at Poacher's Pantry Poachers' Pantry :: Enjoy Gourmet Smoked Goods but have travelled out that way twice for their excellent smoked goods. They have a cafe/restaurant open weekends I believe, always seems to be busy. Worth the 30 min drive out of Canberra. Just rug up for the walk in fridge!

I second that - had a several pleasant meals at Poachers...

Also worth trying Cafe Essen if you need a late brekky (not a restaurant but might be required after a big night out)

Cheers

Greg

 

[MatF]

I'll probably get howled down, but we can't resist going to Wagamamma (usually for lunch) when we're in Canberra.
I imagine it'll wear off sometime

 

[pauly7]

Canberra Trip

Thanks v much James, Mat and Greg!

Looks like poachers is a def for the country drive lunch! Now I have lots of work to do picking thru all these great recommendations!!

 

[Siegfried]

Its been a while since I was in Canberra, but does anyone know if the Charcoal is still a going concern? Many good steaks and bottles of red had there!!

 

[MissBurrill]

Dobinson's bakery on Bunda Street in Civic for breakfast. When I visit Canberra I pay my rent by taking my friend there. Their banana cream caramel tart is wow but that's morning tea.

 

[ctrunfree]

Nice to find this thread - eating being a passion of mine! Some comments on what has already been offered and a few of my own:

Artespresso - has changed hands yet again recently, no food reports yet

On Red is also a very goodnight time venue - the lights of Canberra make a great show and the food is good and very well priced

Ginger Room - great venue but food can be patchy

Podfood - about to pass from current chef/owner to new hands

Mezzalira in Civic is associated with Italian and Sons - the former seems to have slumped in quality (but has a new chef) but the latter has recently been very highly acclaimed

Lark Hill restaurant had a terrible review in The Canberra Times recently

Sage at Gorman House is about to expand, due to finish in October - food very good

Lanterne Rooms is an attractive venue and the food is fine, service excellent

Silo has very good food, somewhat spoilt by the service ethic there - pretty poor at times

Pizza Gusto at Red Hill shops - excellent thin crust pizzas, no delivery

Love that banana cream tart at Dobinsons!

 

[BVT]

Two suggestions for you, both conveninetly located in Dickson - cannot remember the name of the street, but it is where the shops and all the cafes are:

Ferkertes Ethiopian and the Indian place next door on the corner.

happy grazing.

 

[pauly7]

On Red is also a very goodnight time venue - the lights of Canberra make a great show and the food is good and very well priced

Lark Hill restaurant had a terrible review in The Canberra Times recently

Just to let everyone know what we did end up doing! Thanks to all who inputted.

National library cafe for a casual lunch in the sun over looking the lake - was fantastic and the cakes amazing.

On red for dinner. Great view, service and food. Could not fault.

Lark Hill for lunch. Sat down, look at the menu, service was weird so we just up and left! Went to Flint restaurant in the vines which was good.

Only average experience was a casual Italian place - very average food and took ages to come out... Can't remember the name!!

EDIT : l'unico was Italian restaurant to avoid.

Thanks all

 

[crisg]

i am just about visit Canberra and i would love to know about the special food or drink one must have there.