Pho Phu Quoc Vietnamese Restaurant, Dickson – one of Canberra’s best

Pho Quoc just to be one of Canberra’s very best eateries. It’s no wonder it gets so busy. In fact they are moving to larger premises around the corner in June.

Corkage is cheap at $1.10 per person and serve sizes are truly generous.

They spring rolls really are very good (4 for $5.90)

So is the Birdnest Seafood $19.90 (would also be good with chicken $16.90) a birds nest made of shredded potato (yummy) filled with braised seafood and vegetables.

The Garlic Prawns in Claypot $21.90 (12 prawns) is very good and would be a good alternative to the very good Pepper Fish in Claypot $21.90.

The Crispy Skinned Chicken is not quite as good a pick as the others $15.90.

Rice serves are very generous ($2 per person) and prawn crackers are complimentary.

A good menu for 4 to share is:

4 spring rolls $5.90

Birds nest Chicken $16.90 or Seafood $19.90

Garlic Prawns in Claypot $21.90 or Pepper Fish in Claypot $21.90

Caramelised Pork and Prawns $18.90 or Caramelised Pork $16.90.

3 serves rice $6

Total cost of food: Approximately $71 ($18 per person)

25 % disount for holders of the Canberra Entertainment Book ($13.50 per person)

Corkage $1.10 each extra.

Open for Lunch and dinner 7 days.

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Coal Loader Cafe, Ball’s Head, Waverton, Sydney

Coal Loader Cafe has a gorgeous outlook over the beautiful waterways and harbour of Sydney.

It’s the perfect spot for a casual lunch or just a glass of wine and a nibble.

Well priced, with generous serve sizes, it’s great value.

The Haloumi and Hummous is lovely with Lime and can easily be shared $11.

Wine starts at $6.50 for a large 187ml serve, which although is is uniquely served in it’s own little bottle which can be a bit surprising, it’s actually a great idea if you don’t end up wanting to drink all of it at once (just hang on to the top).

The spinach and cheese filled pastry $14 looked fantastic too.

Service and hospitality is warm, friendly and unpretentious.

A newcomer to the area, it’s certain to be a popular favourite with locals.

2 Balls Head Drive

Waverton, New South Wales, Australia

0422 887 396

Flavours of India, Woden

Flavours of India at the corner of the Westfield Mall, is one of Woden’s best central lunch spots for groups sharing dishes.

Three dishes, three serves rice and three breads is a good amount to order for six modest appetites.

Good choices are the Butter Chicken $17.90

Aloo Palak (or Paneer Palak would be very good too) $15.50

Lamb Biriyani $20 (excellent)

Kukcha Paneer (Naan stuffed with cheese and onion) $4.50

2 serves rice ($3 per serve)

Carpeted and quiet, it’s a good spot for easy conversation.

Flavours also offer Canberra Entertainment Book holders a 25% discount.

South-east India Food Tour – Suggested Itinerary

Tamil Nadu

1. Chennai

Why Go?

Chennai the gateway to Tamil Nadu and a major airport in Southern India

Where to Stay?

Best location in Chennai to stay is T.Nagar near the Pondi Bazaar and some good spots to eat.

The Residency Towers has a good buffet breakfast great for sampling South Indian breakfast

Where to Eat (Chennai is famous for idlis)

Saravana Bhavan

(Pondy Bazaar and near Kapalweeshwar Temple)

Murugan Idli Shop

What to See

Koyambedu Market

Kapalweeshwar Temple

Top ten in Tamil Nadu Map (source Lonely Planet – South India and Kerala)

2. Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram)

About 1-1 ½ hours south of Chennai on the coast.

Why Go?

Visitors stop here to see the World Heritage listed temples and carvings, particularly lovely at sunset, but I’m hoping to sample the fish curry at the Seashore Garden Restaurant, that Rick Stein declared was the best curry in all of India.

Where to Stay?

Grande Bay Resort and Spa

2. Puducherry (Pondicherry)

Why Go?

A former French colony on the coast, where Indian and French foods and architecture blend to achieve some lovely street scenes, good shopping and creole cusine.

Where to Stay?

L’Orient Hotel

Les Hibiscus – A Lonely Planet Guide top pick in Tamil Nadu

What to do?

Sita Flavours Cooking Class and Bike Tour

And two stops in different Chettinadu towns:

4. Karaikudi

Why Go?

Stay in a mansion and enjoy authentic spicy Chettinad cuisine.

Where to Stay?

The Bangala – Famous for it’s food – the set lunch or dinner is a Chettinadar wedding feast

5. Kanadukathan

Why Go?

Stay in a beautifully restored mansion and enjoy authentic spicy Chettinad cuisine.

Where to Stay?

Visalam – A Lonely Planet top pick in Tamil Nadu, a gorgeous art deco restored mansion with great style and a lovely pool and garden.

6. Madurai

Why Go?

One of the oldest cities in India, that traded with Ancient Rome and home of the amazing Meenakshi AmmanTemple

Foodies Day Out tour.

Where to Stay?

West Marrett Hotel

7. Kodaikanal

Why Go?

A misty hill station in the Palni hills. Popular for it’s spectacular lookout points, waterfalls and very pretty lake.

Where to Stay?

Lonely Planet’s top picks:

Villa Retreat

Great views over the valley

8. Wellington/Coonoor

Why Go?

Coonoor A hill station with beautiful scenery in the Nilgiri Hills and on the Nilgiri Toy Train Railway line.

Where to Stay?

180 McIver – A Lonely Planet top pick in Tamil Nadu and a classic 1880s British bungalow

9. Ooty

Why Go?

Ooty another hill station of the Raj era in the Nilgiri Hills with great scenery.

Where to Stay?

Savoy Hotel

How to get there?

Take the famous toy train to Ooty

10. Mysore

Where to Stay?

Royal Orchid Metropole

What to Do?

Royal Mysore Walking Tours

Mysore Palace

11. Madikeri

Why Go?

The centre of Coorg culture and cuisine, coffee plantations and hill stations.

Where to Stay?

Gowri Niwas

Serene Woods

12. Bangalore

Where to Stay?

Casa Cottage

What to Do?

Bangalore Flower markets

Where to Eat?

Mavelli Tiffin Rooms

A good deal for Canberra Eateries worth checking out!

Global Village Deals have an attractive offer for $12 for 25% off three Canberra Eateries (you can pick 3 from a list of 18).

The best part of the deal is the up to $75 discount offered on the bill at Taste of Bangladesh (which is excellent value anyway for great food), so you could take a group of 15 and enjoy a three course meal (order together and share dishes) including free BYO (wine and beer) corkage for $15 each.

It’s also a good spot to go with children or even a smaller group. The top picks for ordering are: Complimentary poppadoms, Onion Bhaji, Cheese and Spinach Naan, Fish Bengali, Dum Murgh, Chicken Biriyani, Palak Paneer, Gulab Jaman, Mango Kulfi

The deal is valid for 90 days from when you purchase it and it’s worth sending on to anyone else who you think might be interested too

Other good choices on the list of eateries include:

The Merchant

Santa Lucia

Coco Nine

(This one is also in the Canberra Entertainment Book if you have it already and don’t want to double up).

Garnish of India, Garema Place – good for a group!

The great strength of Garnish of India is the hospitality of Ash, who goes to great lengths to ensure your meal is a success.

Whether it’s a quiet meal for two or a dinner for a group, Ash takes equally good care of his customers.

This makes Garnish a good spot for a group catch up.

Order 4 mains, 3 breads and 3 rice, 1 Raita to share for for 6 people.

Top choices include the Chettinad Chicken (from TAMIL NADU) A Spicy treat from the Chettiyars of Tamil Nadu $16.50

..and the Paneer Hara Masala – cubes of fresh cottage cheese cooked with tomatoes, spinach based gravy and finished with fenugreek leaves $14.50

The plain $3 or garlic naan $3.50 – Indian garlic bread that is baked in Tandoor

Aloo Paratha $4 – a wholemeal bread with a spicy potato filling

And the Mixed Raita $4 – Plain yoghurt mixed with cucumber & cumin

Steamed plain rice

The Chicken is the most tender, juicy meat, and a paneer dish is a good idea too, but other tasty dishes include:

BEEF HARA MASALA

Diced beef cooked to perfection in a spinach based gravy & flavoured with fenugreek leaves.

KUMBH MAKAI PANEER

Fresh mushroom, fresh corn, and dices of paneer a medium spicy preparation (really very good with fresh ginger too)

ERACHI VARATHADU –LAMB (KARNATAKA)

Tender lamb in a thick gravy made with the spices special to the region of Coorg.

It might also be good to try a Biriyani (and order one less rice).

Being upstairs and overlooking Garema Place, there is plenty of people watching to occupy young children.

Corkage is $8 per bottle of wine and Pappadoms are $2.

Ash very happily offers a 25% discount to holders of the Canberra Entertainment Book (up to $30 for one card).

Best of the Best – Favourite eating spots in Canberra

Favourites for Curries

*Taste of Bangladesh (for Onion Bhaji, Cheese and Spinach Naan, Fish Bengali, Dum Murgh, Chicken Biriyani, Palak Paneer, Gulab Jaman, Mango Kulfi and BYO no corkage, complimentary poppadoms)

*Copper Chimney (BYO Corkage $6 per bottle of wine)

*Malaysian Chapter – for Nonya Prawn and Pineapple Curry, Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai for an entree – BYO $3 per person

Chomolungma (for momos, Dal Bhat – BYO $2 per person)

*Taj Agra Dickson (BYO $4 per bottle)

Favourite for Nepalese

Chomolungma (for momos, Dal Bhat – BYO $2 per person)

Favourite for Vietnamese

*Pho Quoc – (BYO $1.10 per person)

Favourites for Thai

Kinn Thai – for Kinn’s Dishes, BYO $3 per person

Thirst – (BYO about $10 per bottle but not on Mondays and Tuesdays)

*Baan Latsamy – for crispy eggplant with chicken and seafood for entree , BYO $5.50 per bottle

Chong Co – for Beef Massaman, Green Chicken Curry, Chicken and Cashews with Chilli Jam Stir-fry, Pork Prik Khing – BYO $3 per person

Favourite for Ethiopian

Global Café, BYO no corkage

Favourites for Sri Lankan

Ceylon café, Farrer

*Camellia (currently moving) (BYO $10 per bottle)

Favourites for a very special occasion

Courgette (BYO $15 per bottle)

*Sage (BYO $15 per bottle)

Yet to try but have heard good things:

Italian and Sons

Favourites for a rather special occasion

*Pistachios – for the tasting entrée trio $20 and tasting dessert plate $20 (good to share) – $7 per bottle corkage

*Chairman and Yip – (BYO $10 per bottle)

Akiba (for soft shelled crab/ pork belly buns, dumplings and mango and coconut sticky rice with macadamia and palm sugar ice-cream) No BYO

Eight Six (expensive drinks though)

Yet to try but have heard good things:

Elk & Pea

*Ox Eatery

CIT Restaurant (No BYO but wine $5 by the glass)

Favourites for a bit more upmarket

*Urban Pantry (BYO $5.50 per person)

*Copper Chimney (BYO $6 per bottle)

Kinn Thai (BYO $3 per person)

Favourites for lunch in Woden CBD

*Belluci’s (for the $19.90 lunch special including a wine/beer)

*Flavours of India

Chong Co

Urban Bean

Favourites for lunch close to Woden CBD

Favourites for lunch under $10 close to Woden CBD

*Wheat & Oats (for the daily specials on display and the goat curry)

Whisk Bakery & Patisserie (for the pies, toasted focaccia and gourmet sandwiches and soup and roll)

Favourites with young children

The Mandalay Bus (summer only) (BYO no corkage)

Snapper – best in Summer (BYO no corkage)

Brodburger – best in Summer (BYO $2.50 per person)

Taste of Bangladesh (for Onion Bhaji, Cheese and Spinach Naan, Fish Bengali, Dum Murgh, Chicken Biriyani, Palak Paneer, Gulab Jaman, Mango Kulfi and BYO no corkage, complimentary poppadoms)

Broddogs at the Hamlet (BYO no corkage)

Global Cafe (BYO no corkage)

Dickson Dumpling House (BYO)

Favourite deals

Thirst ( for the Street Stall Banquet $14.90 on Monday and Tuesdays when all entrees and mains are two for the price of one ($10 BYO but not on Mondays and Tuesdays)

Treehouse Bar (for the Wednesday $10 gourmet hot dog and house wine/beer/cider, Thursday two for one gourmet burger and house wine/beer/cider, Friday two for one starters and tapas and happy hour $5 drinks)

Debacle two for one pizzas on Mondays and Tuesdays (no BYO)

The Parlour Wine Room – $16 Lunch special including wine Tuesdays to Sundays (no BYO)

Yet to try but have heard good things:

Edgars Ainslie, $15 Monday to Wednesday meal and drink

Favourite dinners $15 and under

Taste of Bangladesh (for 2 people order- 1 Samosas (2 pieces $7 , 1 Cheese and Spinach Naan ($3.50), 1x Fish Bengali ($16.50) /Dum Murgh ($15.50)/ Palak Paneer ($14) and 1 x rice ($3) – BYO no corkage, complimentary poppadoms)

The Mandalay Bus (summer only) (BYO no corkage)- under $10, get a range and share

Snapper – best in Summer (BYO no corkage) for fish and chips under $10

Brodburger – best in Summer (BYO $2.50 per person) (for Baby Brodburgers around $9 – (try Baby Brodsalmon with blue cheese)

Global Cafe – for the meat combo on injera read with rice to share between two $18.90 (BYO no corkage)

Broddogs at The Hamlet (BYO no corkage)

Chomolungma (for momos, $15 Chicken Dal Bhat – BYO $2 per person)

Pizza Gusto – Pizza $20 to share between two BYO no corkage

*Café Arirang – for Pork/Chicken Kathu Set and Seafood pancake (BYO $4 per bottle)

Ceylon Café, Farrer

Favourite for Yum Cha

Akiba

Favourites for ice-cream

Frugii Dessert Laboratory – two flavours house-made ice-cream in cone or cup $5

Thirst – house-made ice- cream and sorbet $2.90 per scoop

Favourites for dessert

Akiba for mango and coconut sticky rice with macadamia and palm sugar ice-cream

Frugii Dessert Laboratory – two flavours house-made ice-cream in cone or cup $5

Yet to try but sounds good:

*Hungry Buddha for Gulab Jaman ice-cream, pistachio ice-cream (made by Frugii) and nepali rice pudding ice-cream $7.50 each

Favourites for breakfast/brunch

Favourites for coffee

Koko Black – for cappuccino with chocolate flakes on the side

The Merchant – for the house-made almond crossiant $8.50

Tilley’s Lyneham

Yet to try but have heard good things:

Two Before Ten

Favourites for groups (should have carpet)

*Taste of Bangladesh (BYO no corkage)

*Copper Chimney (BYO $6 per bottle)

*Baan Latsamy (BYO $5.50 per bottle)

Favourites for Sunday lunch

The Merchant – for the baguettes, sharing chattuecuterie plate – no corkage if purchased from the Prohibition Shop

Bookplate at the National Library

The Parlour Wine Room – $16 Lunch special including wine Tuesdays to Sundays

*Cork Street Café, Gundaroo –especially for wood-fired pizza (BYO $2 per person)

Autolyse, Braddon

*38 Expresso

*Favourites in the Canberra Entertainment Book

Pistachios (BYO $7 per bottle)

Chairman and Yip (BYO $10 per bottle)

Urban Pantry (BYO $5.50 per person)

Me & Mrs Jones (BYO $5.50 per person)

Pho Quoc (BYO $1.10 per person)

Copper Chimney (BYO $6 per bottle)

38 Expresso

Sage (BYO $15 per bottle)

Baan Latsamy (BYO $5.50 per bottle)

Café Arirang (BYO $4 per bottle)

Belluci’s

Malaysian Chapter (BYO $3 per person)

Cork Street Café (BYO $2 per person)

*In the Canberra Entertainment Book ($60 per book) offering 25% discounts or two for one offers

Taste of Bangladesh, Manuka – an excellent Chicken Biryani!

Just when you thought you’d had the very best at Taste of Bangladesh, something new makes it to the favourites list!!

Once you have the Chicken Biryani $15.50 it’s impossible to order just plain rice again.

And the Bhoona Beef $15 is tender and has a tasty sauce, good for a change but just misses the ‘favourites’.

Still on the favourites list though, is the Cheese and Spinach Naan $3.50. This is a must have, always.

Palak Panner $14 is popular with many and a good choice for variety.

2 mains dishes, a Biriyani and two naan are plenty for four people.

With complimentary pappadoms and no corkage, the value is very hard to beat.

Add a warm and cozy setting, home style hospitality, close and free at night parking in the Medical Centre on Furneaux Street and there is no better spot for a winter night out.

Favourites to date:

Entree

Onion Bhaji

Mains

Fish Bengali

Dum Murgh

Chicken Biriyani

Palak Paneer

Sides

Eggplant Bhorta

A close second:

Bhoona Beef

Goat Curry

Malaysian Chapter, Belconnen – a perfect meal for two!

Malaysian Chapter in Weedon Close Belconnen offers delicious food, great value, a cozy warm atmosphere and easy parking close to the door (great for Canberra winters).

It is open Monday to Saturday for dinner (Tuesday to Friday for lunch) and also offers Canbera Entertainment Book holders a 25% discount.

BYO wine is $3 per person.

There are many great choices (in fact I think you can’t go wrong). (The Malaysian Curry Fish is on my wishlist for next time too.)

However a perfect meal for two that includes two of the top picks but still leaves you feeling comfortable at the end of the meal is 1 serve Nonya Prawn and Pineapple Curry ($21.50) (generous with 9 prawns)…

…. 1 serve jasmine rice ($3)….

….1 serve Roti Canai with dahl (4.00) (ask for it to be warmed)

This is great value at $28.50 for two people ($21.75 with the 25% discount).

But perhaps best of all, is you leave feeling just right, having enjoyed a fabulous meal, in just the right amount, in a warm, cozy and welcoming spot. Something you could easily do often!

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