Grill’d, Woden, a wide range of good gourmet burgers

Grill’d, in Woden, but also a Manuka location with a pleasant setting…

….and a Belconnen and City branch….

….is easy to overlook as just another quick service restaurant.

But in fact it has some delicious gourmet burgers, that are well priced (especially if you use the two for one Canbera Entertainment Book Vouchers).

In good weather, it is also possible to sit outside in a sunny quiet nook making it a good spot for a quick (and service is quick). inexpensive lunch catch up with friends.

The menu is informative with plenty of nutrition information and staff are very helpful if you have special requests.

SIMPLY GRILL’D/ 2300kJ / $9.90

Grilled grass fed lean beef, salad, relish & herbed mayo – add tasty cheese + $1.0

‘SIMON SAYS’/ 2240kJ / $12.50

Grilled chicken breast, avocado, crispy trim bacon, salad, relish & herbed mayo

MOROCCAN LAMB/ 2100kJ / $13.50

Grilled 100% grass fed lean lamb, roasted peppers, tzatziki, salad & relish.

The Hungry Buddha Nepalese Restaurant, Curtin – uniquely offering half serves!!!

The Hungry Buddha is possibly Canberra’s oldest Nepalese restaurant. located in a cozy warm spot down the stairs at the Curtin shops.

Serving a range of both Nepalese and other Asian mains, the best pick is possibly the delicious Goat curry $20 – KHASI KO MASU exquisite village style curry of tender boneless goat enriched with the flavours of fenugreek, cinnamon, tomatoes, coriander, bay leaves, ginger & garlic – a famous specialty of Nepal.

But the very best thing about Hungry Buddha is that it offers smaller 1/2 serves of any dish you fancy.

This is great for smaller appetites or for trying a range of different dishes when there’s only a couple of you.

It also leaves room for the amazing ice-creams!!!

Worth also trying the Makkai tareko – corn kernels sautéed with onion, ginger, garlic and other herbs served with lemon wedge and garnish $8.50 that looks good…Or a Daal Bhat $24 a traditional Nepalese set dinner of rice & daal served with a choice of meat together with a traditional vegetable dish, homemade pickle & a papad.

Dishes include:

Momo ( 4 per serve) $9 – traditional nepalese steamed chicken dumpling served with homemade tomato sauce – quite spicy.

Jhinge Tarkari – $22 – tiger prawns simmered in the paste of traditional Nepalese spices, lemongrass, lime leaves & coconut milk.

Roti $4 (2 serves shown here)

Rice $3 per serve (1 serve and 2 serves shown here)

Golbheda Ko Archer side of tomato pickle $2.50 (very good)

Corkage $6 per bottle

Service is welcoming and friendly. Plenty of room, but it can be noisy for conversation.

25% discount offered to Canberra Entertainment Book Holders.

Kusina, Coolemon Court, Weston

Perhaps, Canberra’s only Philippino restaurant, Kusina has an interesting and unique range of dishes offered for breakfast lunch and dinner.

The Ukoy prawn fritters are always excellent. At lunch they come as a welcome side with the Adobo Set.

Chicken (using wings) or Pork (Belly) Adobo has a uniquely Philippio flavour from a lovely vinegar and soy marinade and the garlic rice that accompanies it is also delicious.

$14.50 in the Express Lunch special.

The Pork Adobo Set is a great pick.

The Chicken Inasal (Grilled spring chicken with lemon grass, ginger and soy) is also good at $14.50 for lunch.

Kusina offers a 25% discount for Canberra Entertainment Book holders.

San Churro Chocolateria, Woden – great for coffee

San Churro Chocolateria in Woden is a great spot to go for coffee. It’s a fun décor and a special experience to be surrounded by so many delicious, beautiful chocolate options.

The coffee is good and includes some special options like Spanish latte and iced Spanish latte ( a little like the coffee you find in countries like Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos).

But one of the best things about San Churros is that you can choose as little or as much chocolate or dessert as you desire, to have with your coffee. The options range from the tiny chocolate taste that comes with your coffee to delicate individual chocolates for $2 each, up to large pieces of San Churro chocolate Cake $8.95.

And for something a little less chocolate, there’s a range of churros and also some very nice looking icecream.

Breakfast churro $4.95 Churro for one $8.95

Taj Agra Indian Restaurant, Belconnen

Taj Agra Indian Restaurant in Belconnen is a great spot for a group meal when you want easy parking and a pleasant, quiet place to chat over a good shared meal.

Soft frunishings and thick carpet, make talking very easy.

Service is friendly and efficient and mid-week the restaurant is quiet and provides a lovely private feel.

The Taj Agra Banquet is $32.50 and includes:

Pappadoms and raita

Entrees

Aloo Tikka – potato patties with mint sauce

Chicken Malai Kebab (very good) boneless chiciken matrinated in cream cheese, fresh chilli and mint and cooked in a clay oven with tamarind sauce

Mains:

Butter Chicken (really very good)

Lamb Rogan Josh

Vegetable Korma

Naan and Rice

Dessert

Gulab Jaman and Icecream

Corkage is $5 per bottle and the restaurant offers a 25% discount for Entertainment Card holders making the Taj Agra banquet aroudn $24 per person.

It can also work well to design your own banquet and order fewer serves of your preferred dishes to share. This can be a more comfortable amount of food and more budget friendly. It also ensures you get the dishes that you like best.

The mains with an extra dish not usually included in this banquet Alu Palak – potato and spinach curry with spices

If you liked this post, then please do follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Lava Expresso Bar, a cozy spot in Phillip for coffee and light lunch

The Lava Expresso Bar, in Colbee Court Phillip and within walking distance of Woden is a cosy spot for coffee and a light lunch.

The coffee is good and it has a long sunny table at the front strewn with newspapers for relaxing and offers some interesting well priced, well sized toasties and fresh sandwiches (also good for sharing between two modest appetites).

Toasted options include sourdough fruit toast for $4.50, smashed avocado and Persian feta on sourdough $9….

…pulled pork burger (usually on a brioche) $11, but here on bread.

Fresh options include Tarragon chicken with mayo, semi dried tomatoes, cheddar and watercress $9 and vegetarian $8.50 with artichoke, roast capsicum, beetroot tzatziki and cheddar.

If you liked this post, then please do follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Cream, Canberra City, a look at brunch

Cream in the centre of the Canberra City restaurant strip on Bunda street has a great location for a weekend brunch if you’re shopping. It gets busy so you may need to book. It also gets noisy.

Service is attentive and efficient.

Breakfast options start at 7:30 and run until 2:30pm on the weekend. (Mon – Fri: 7.00am to 11.30am).

A good option is the Big breakfast $20 -free range eggs poached, scrambled or fried on toast w/ bacon, chorizo, button mushrooms, oven roasted tomato & chat potato

From 11:30am salads, burgers, pastas and mains are also available.

The Pulled pork Burger served with chips is a good pick $19 – sticky bbq pulled pork w/ chimichurri, seeded mustard slaw, spiced crispy onions (usually served with a brioche bun, but here the bun is swapped for Turkish bread, a good choice, and sourdough is another possible swap).

No BYO, but it is licensed with a good selection of wines.

Canberra Entertainment Card Holders are offered a complimentary main when two are ordered.

If you liked this post, then please do follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Plumb on Tennant, Fyshwick

CBR.foodie’s recent post is a good reminder just how good Plumb on Tennant is.

Despite the industrial area location the decor is pleasant, service is great, food is excellent and good value.

Open 7:30 – 3 weekdays, breakfast ends at 11:30am. (Also open Saturdays).

The lunch menu includes plenty of favourites, like gourmet burgers, focaccia, pasta and salads but also some more unusual dishes like zucchini feta dumplings. Serves are generous and great for sharing.

Wagyu Beef Burger $17.50

But on weekends breakfast runs from 8:00am until Plumb closes at 1:00pm which adds to the lunch options.

Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon $19.50 ( butter and sauce on the side)

Plumb Big Breakfast $19.90

Takeaway is a great option too, and prices are even less.

Wagyu beef burger (takeaway) $9.50

Plumb offers holders of Canberra Entertainment Card two meals for the price of one.

If you liked this post, then please do follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Bicicletta, New Acton

Bicicletta in the Peppers Gallery Hotel some lovely settings to enjoy a range of good Italian dishes, well priced and well sized for sharing with friends. Situated in the nostalgic old Acton Hotel it has a restaurant, library bar and courtyard (great for summer) to choose from.

The pan di pizza is a good way to start as 8 well sized pieces are included, great for sharing.

Ordering a mix of salad, pizza and pasta to share is a good plan.

The 4 formaggi (cheese) pizza is excellent as is the insalata di stagione.

The pappardelle al braciato di agnello and gnocchi parmigiana are also good choices. (Gnocchi is a smaller serve size).

Bicicletta can get busy as it also caters for hotel guests and room service, so it pays to order promptly.

No BYO option. Glasses of wine start at $8 and serves are generous.

25% discount up to $40 offered to holders of the Canberra Entertainment Book.

Starters

pan di pizza $12 (8 slices)

freshly cooked pizza bread with rosemary and

extra virgin olive oil or garlic and chilli or tomato

and chopped mushrooms

Pasta

gnocchi parmigiana $24

house made potato and parmesan gnocchi, sautéed

with roasted tomato sauce, sautéed eggplant, roasted

bell peppers and fresh ricotta cheese

pappardelle al braciato di agnello $26

house made pasta with braised lamb in balsamic,

truffle oil, thyme and grated pecorino cheese

ravioli di ricotta $25

house made ravioli filled with fresh ricotta and

spinach, sautéed with tomato and burnt butter

sage, artichoke petals v

spaghetti allo scoglio $26
fresh mussels and little neck clams, king prawns and
baby squid, sautéed in chilli and garlic, tomatoes and white wine sauce

Salads

insalata di stagione 16

crispy pancetta, tomatoes and butter lettuce, poached

egg and black olives, parmesan scales and Italian dressing gf

Pizza

Formaggi $22

mozzarella, Italian cacio di bufala, Italian

parmigiano and pecorino served with fresh rocket v

verdure $20

tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and grilled

seasonal vegetables v

Dessert

Gelati $4 per scoop

Pistachio and Chocolate

Suggested shared menu for six

Starters

pan di pizza $12 (8 slices)

freshly cooked pizza bread with rosemary and

extra virgin olive oil or garlic and chilli or tomato

and chopped mushrooms

Pasta

2x pappardelle al braciato di agnello $26

house made pasta with braised lamb in balsamic,

truffle oil, thyme and grated pecorino cheese

Pizza

Formaggi $22

mozzarella, Italian cacio di bufala, Italian

parmigiano and pecorino served with fresh rocket v

Salads

2x insalata di stagione $16

crispy pancetta, tomatoes and butter lettuce, poached

egg and black olives, parmesan scales and Italian dressing gf

$19.70 per person

(can also stretch to 7 people or even 8 (add an extra salad) if you ask for the pizza to be cut into 8 pieces).

$16.80 per person for 7 people, $16.75 per person for 8

Monday to Sunday 5.00pm to 10.00pm

If you liked this post, then please do follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Gryphons Caffe Bar, Griffith – good for a casual weekend winter lunch

When it’s cold or rainy, but you’d still like to head out for brunch or lunch, it can be good to know somewhere where you can park very close, nip inside quickly for a casual meal and stay warm.

Gryphon’s Caffe Bar at the Griffith shops is like that. It’s open 7 days, early (food from 8am ) until late, and while it can get busy, there is usually room for a couple more, even if you don’t book ahead.

There’s a range of tapas, gourmet burgers, pizzas, salads and mains, as well as plenty of popular breakfast dishes and some changing specials.

If you are an Entertainment Book holder, you can get two meals for the price of one.

A pizza and a burger make a good combination to share for a winter lunch.

Hickory Dickory Dock Pizza (special) $20 (nice with the prawns)

Soft-shelled Crab Burger $20 (with a good sourdough roll)

No BYO but wine by the glass starts at $7.

If you liked this post, then please do follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Fine Eating

Hints Hacks and Highlights

Canberra Entertainment Book

Grill’d, Woden, a wide range of good gourmet burgers

The Hungry Buddha Nepalese Restaurant, Curtin – uniquely offering half serves!!!

Kusina, Coolemon Court, Weston

San Churro Chocolateria, Woden – great for coffee

Taj Agra Indian Restaurant, Belconnen

Lava Expresso Bar, a cozy spot in Phillip for coffee and light lunch

Cream, Canberra City, a look at brunch

Plumb on Tennant, Fyshwick

Bicicletta, New Acton

Gryphons Caffe Bar, Griffith – good for a casual weekend winter lunch

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: