Alegra Cafe, Waldorf Arcade – Canberra City

The Alegra Cafe is the new beaut V Spot Cafe, that has moved and re-invented itself.

It’s easy to find in the Waldorf Arcade, off Akuna Street.

Still offering it’s trademark hits like Raw Cakes (vegan, gluten free, sugar free) Alegra also now offers some meat containing dishes.

Cozy and friendly Alegra’s greatest strengths are Chrissie’s warm hospitality that makes you feel right at home, the ‘home-cooked’ style and daily specials, the great value prices and the light and wholesome approach to both serving sizes and use of heavy ingredients.

It’s just the ideal spot to head it you need a little lift in your day. Chrissie will make you feel welcome and wonderful. Your choice of lunch will be warm and homely without weighing you down (or perhaps a delicious light and wholesome sweet treat with coffee.)

If you own a Canberra Entertainment Book you can even get a 25% discount.

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Saigon Fresh, Gungahlin

There are several good revi ews about the rolls at Saigon Fresh in Gungahlin. They certainly do look very inviting full of colourful fresh ingredients.

Holders of the Canberra Entertainment Book are also able to get two for the price of one ( i.e. two rolls for $6.50, a true bargain).

The salads are very good, especially the fresh coriander, and the pate is tasty, but the processed meats…

….both in the pork roll…

and chicken rolls ……

…..is not so great.

Also, the chilli can be super hot, so miss this if heat is a problem.

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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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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.

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

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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Public Bar, Manuka

The Public Bar like Me and Mrs Jones, Cream and Urban Pantry offers a vibrant, indoor and outdoor atmosphere, extended hours 7 days a week, serves an interesting menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner and, for Canberra Entertainment Book holders, two mains for the price of one.

Lovely outside in good weather, it also has useful bench seating for solo diners.

Perhaps the best choices at lunch are the shared plates or the burgers.

Other choices include:

SLOW COOKED LAMB $23 with quinoa tabouli, mint yoghurt, fresh pomegranate & pistachio crumble. Still looks beautiful, but the flavours are some how not quite the same as they used to be.

FISH & CHIPS $21 Beer battered fish fillets w/ salad, tartare & lemon.

However breakfast (available until11:30am on weekends) would be well worth checking out too, especially in the good weather.

No BYO but wine available by the glass.

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CocoNine, Kingston Foreshore

CocoNine is not as busy and popular as the other Thai restaurants on the Kingston Foreshore (Morks and Chong Co) but it’s still definitely worth a visit.

The flavours are a little different to usual expectations and the presentation is very appealing. Serve sizes are good for sharing even between up to six people.

The Beef Massaman $19 is excellent ….

…as is the Chilli Basil Chicken stirfry $19….

…the Pork Pad Prik Khing also is very good $19..

and so is the Siam Aromatic Spicy Duck (a larb styled salad) $27.

While there’s plenty of stir fries and curries for around $19, some dishes seem quite pricey so it pays to make use of the Entertainment Book 25% discount or any other offers and deals.

A good tip is to start at the back of the menu where the more modestly priced stirfries and curries are listed and then work forwards to the more expensive duck and seafood specials.

Generous serves of rice are $3.50 and corkage is only $5 per bottle which is helpful for budgeting.

Service is friendly and very quick. Gluten free ordering is also very easy.

CocoNine also has a good lunch special for $10.90, weekdays.

Mood Food, Braddon

Mood Food is a relatively newcomer to the eateries in Lonsdale Street Braddon and now promoting itself through the 2015/16 Canberra Entertainment Book (two mains for the price of one).