Pistachio’s Dining, Torrens, Canberra

Pistachios really rates highly on all measures, making it a true all rounder and one of Canberra’s best restaurants.
Meals are well priced ($30 mains).
It’s BYO at $7 corkage.
Staff are friendly and service good.

Decor, though perhaps dated, still sets a good standard with thick carpet, white linen table cloths and soft lighting.
It has a true ‘Canberra’ quality, non-pretentious, stylish and confident, but conservative and not trendy.
The feel is relaxed yet special.

12 hr slow roasted lamb shoulder (excellent) Grass fed beef sirloin with garlic broccolini, blue cheese and herb butter, smoked bacon and potato (Mains $30 each)

Green beans with toasted almonds and parsley side $8

The special of the day, Wagyu with clams and gnocchi (delicious)

Serve sizes are generous. And so are all the extras at no cost like nuts as a starter (pistachios naturally), bread on the side and an exquisite chocolate with coffee.

But perhaps the absolute best things about Pistachio’s is it’s Trio of entrees ($19) and Tasting platter of all desserts ($19, best shared between too) a wonderful opportunity to try seven dishes.

Trio of entrees

Dessert tasting platter with poached apple with nut butter and rhubarb compote and oat crumble (an unlikely absolute stand out), passion fruit parfait (delicious), lemon verbena panaccotta and chocolate and pear gateau.

Dessert tasting platter with Macadamia nougatine with banana puree, Scottish shortbread, dried flowers, pop rocks and pistachio biscotti, Apple and lemon tart with sugar crust, saffron anglaise, nut butter ice-cream, Lemon syrup cake with mascarpone, strawberries,, oat biscuit, Dark chocolate hedgehog slice with chocolate ice-cream, caramelised condensed milk, warm chocolate sauce

And if you are sharing a couple of entree tasting plates between three, staff thoughtfully serve it very helpfully.

The food is of a very high standard and equal to other fine dining Canberra modern Australian restaurants.

While it’s a little out of the way, tucked away in Torrens shops, parking is very easy.

Grazing, Gundaroo, NSW

Grazing is Gundaroo’s offers prompt and attentive service, a cozy country atmosphere, but is ‘rustic ‘rather than ‘fine dining’ feel, so best suited to a more casual occasion.

Allow at least 30 mins driving time from north Canberra. This together with the more casual setting possibly makes Gazing a good choice for a special lunch rather than a special occasion dinner.

In winter it can also be a bit chilly, even with the open fire.

Decor Entree platter

Mains

Desserts

The Palette Cafe, Deakin, Canberra – a quick look at lunch

The Palette, located at the Beaver Galleries in Deakin is a little cafe with plenty of class and a good, though small menu.

Cream of Mushroom soup with garlic butter $10.90 & Mixed leaf salad $7.50

Sourdough bread $4 Slow roasted duck with beetroot rocket and orange $23.90

However, prices are quite high and serves small. Booking is important.

38 Expresso, Kingston Foreshore

38 Expresso is great value on the Kingston Foreshore for breakfast or lunch and coffee – open 7 days, 7am-3pm.

Banana bread $4 and Rye/Fruit Toast $4-5 are great options for breakfast and the toasties $11 each are full of delicious fillings with generous serves for lunch (2 between 3 is a good option).

Chicken toastie – Chicken mozzarella avocado caramelized onion chilli jam $11

Reuben toastie – Corned beef, dill pickle, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Russian sauce $11

Staff are friendly and relaxed and there’s pleasant indoor and outdoor seating.

On Red, Red Hill Lookout, Canberra

On Red has an undeniably outstanding view over Canberra and it’s hard to beat for a great setting.
It also helpfully offers a wide range of smaller entree sized serves, designed ‘for you to ‘build your own’ tasting menu’.
The options are three $67, four $78 or five $89 dishes.
However, while dishes sound interesting and creative flavours are not as outstanding as other similarly priced top Canberra restaurants.

Cork Street Gallery Cafe, Gundaroo

Cork Street Gallery Cafe in Gundaroo is a lovely spot for lunch on a sunny day.

The gourmet pizzas are good value and have a gorgeous thin crust. (Half and half toppings available.)

BYO only and corkage is low.

The setting and atmosphere is relaxed, casual and child -friendly.
Great pick for a weekend lunch and worth the drive (39km from Canberra).

(25% discount for Entertainment Book holders).

Public Bar Dining, Manuka – a quick look

The Public is a good spot for a meal with friends or a drink, but does get busy and noisy. Two for one pizza night on Mondays is good value.

Moroccan Lamb Pizza $22

Salt & pepper squid salad $21 Shredded iceberg, fresh chilli, crisp basil & nam jim dressing

Slow cooked lamb $23 With quinoa tabouli, mint yoghurt, fresh pomegranate & pistachio crumble

Burger $20

Malaysian Chapter Canberra – on my wish list

Her Canberra’s Malaysian Chapter review

Me & Mrs Jones, Kingston – a quick look at lunch

Me & Mrs Jones on the corner of Giles and Kennedy streets is one of my favourite spots for lunch. It is helpfully open 7 days for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I particularly like that is serves breakfast until 2:30 on weekends as plenty of breakfast options are also suitable for lunch. (10% surcharge Sundays & public holidays).

It has a good atmosphere that projects style and class and professional, efficient service.

Prices are standard Canberra prices and corkage is $5.50 per person (bottles of wine start at $39), If you have the Canberra Entertainment Book, it generously offers a complimentary main meal.

If you are eating ‘light’ Vodka Cured Salmon is a good option with interesting flavours.

Vodka cured salmon $22 with bavarian rye crisps, lemon fennel jam, baby capers, shaved tuscan onion, fresh ricotta and watercress

But I particularly like the option to order breakfast until 2:30 on Saturdays as plenty of breakfast options are also suitable for a’ light’ lunch.

Smashing persian $16 smashed avocado, persian feta, soy linseed toast and poached eggs

Or construct your own dish by adding some sides to your style of eggs with sourdough toast

two free range eggs cooked how you like on toast $12

with any of the following: baked garlic mushrooms, confit tomatoes, chat potatoes $2

or: bacon, sausages, smoked salmon, avocado, baby spinach, white bean cassoulet, grilled haloumi $3

Trilogy, Cafe Bar and Grill – a good Woden lunch spot

Trilogy, located next to the Hoyts movie theatre at Woden Westfield is a good option for a weekday group lunch in Woden. Serve sizes (including wine by the glass) are generous making sharing easy. Two dishes is plenty for four people. A salad and pizza work well together and pizzas can be ordered with two toppings. The pumpkin and cashew, tandoori and ham and pineapple pizzas are excellent as is the pumpkin and baby spinach salad.

Staff are also happy to offer containers to take extra servings away to enjoy again later.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays Pizzas are two for the price of one.

Greek salad $13.90 and two large pizzas is plenty for six people.