So pleased that Taste of Bangladesh are doing Thalis at lunch again!!
Monday to Friday 12-2pm, they are offering what must be the best value lunch in Manuka.
$13 buys a large serve of rice, large pillowy naan, poppadom and three curries – a vegetable kadhi and two others that change each week.
This week it was a delicous butter chiken and beef vindaloo…so good!!
And if you fancy a glass of wine or best togo with yor Thali, just take it along, there’s no corkage charge!
The absolute best value lunch offer in town must be at Santa Lucia @ Salatto, newly arrived to Kennedy Street Kingston.
$9.90 will buy you a large glass of wine (beer or soft drink), some crusty fresh bread, and a chicken salad, pasta, risotto, pizza, canneloni, veal parmigana or focaccia.
It was so amazing I just had to see if it was true!
The foccacia and the chicken salad were both excellent.
INSALATA DI POLLO – grilled chicken salad with orange pieces dressed with a balsamic reduction
FOCCACIA CON POLLO – chicken schnitzel, bacon, parmesan, lettuce, tomato & basil aioli
Service was quick, even though it was busy. And staff were happy to accommodate requests like dressing on the side and a take home container.
The decor is homely, stylish, but with a touch of club/pub.
The secret is out, so it’s popular, but easy to book.
I’ve heard much about the French dishes at Les Bistronomies, so it was great to finally get there.
The decor is lovely, relaxed yet elegant and standards are high.
It’s beautifully presented food served with great passion!
At lunch there’s four choices for main course and we choose…
Beef Bourguignon: Braised beef cheek in red wine served with
speck, mushroom & Paris mash potato $35, which was a good choice and …
Whole lemon sole with champagne sauce served with warm potato salad $31…
…but I kind of wish we’d gone with the Corn fed chicken & truffle blanquette: Traditional French casserole with fresh Braidwood truffle, carrots, mushrooms & rice $36, as truffle season is nearly over in Canberra.
For dessert we chose..
Montblanc: Chestnut mousse, chestnut crumb & vanilla meringue $16..
And the very dramatic and delicious Vanilla bean creme brulee $16.
Currently Living Social is offering a two course lunch with tasty bread and whipped butter, $55 for two people. It’s a great deal!
And if you don’t have a Living Social Deal, the Canberra Entertainment Book offers a 25% discount.
Having enjoyed my first visit to Polo at the White Eagle Club in Turner, I was back this week again for the Wednesday night specials.
The menu was a little different this time and I think it keeps changing.
The Mushroom and Cabbage or Cheese and Potato Pierogi ($10 or $14 with a wine of beer) were still on…
….but there were also Koldunai – handmade Lithuanian dumplings – pan seared with bacon and camrmelised cabbage ($13 or $17 with a drink). These were offered in Beef with Horseradish and yogurt sauce….
…but my favourite were the pork and fennel with apple and fennel slaw.
The Veal Goulash $16 looked pretty good – wrapped in potato blintz with pickled fennel/kolrabi and sour cream.
There were also good looking ricotta fritters $10….
….Kodunai – handmade sweet cheese dumplings with chooclate custard $13…
…and another dessert….
…but I think liked the savoury dishes best.
There’s a nice choice of wine or beer to go with your special and wine pours are generous.
Opinions seem to be divided about this venue and not everyone agrees with me, but I love it here! It’s so relaxed and friendly and everyone is enjoying each other’s company as they share a simple meal and a drink.
…And it is noisey in some spots. But the library is a quiet spot (though it might be a bit too quiet for some) and surprisingly the main area (with carpet) is quieter than the room next door (with a wooden floor).
A couple of other things I learnt this time are…
I’m looking forward to another visit already!
The Canberra City Labor Club offers members ($5 joining fee) a $17.50 steak/schnitzel/fish with chips and salad along with a Dendy movie ticket (long use by date).
Diane or Mushroom Sauce is an extra $1
Clearly a club atmosphere, it’s a bargain nonetheless.
Wine by the glass starts at $5.
Little Brooklyn is good for burgers…and specials!
Burgers include the Big Brooklyn Burger – angus beef w bacon, cheese, pickles, caramelised onion, brooklyn ketchup & house mustard $19
But also has a nice Haloumi Salad – grilled haloumi & quinoa salad w baby spinach, roquette, roasted carrots, cherry tomatoes, yoghurt dressing & toasted sesame seeds $20
The Canberra Entertainment Book offers two meals for the price of one.
But as part of the Cocu group..it is just one of many specials on offer during the week!
The Dock on Kingston’s Foreshore offers two for one deals, happy hours a lovely outlook on a sunny day and one of the very best chicken burgers.
Mondays is two for one pizza, Tuesdays two for one burgers and Wednesday two for one Southern Fried chicken.
Happy hour is Monday to Thursday 4-6pm.
The SFC (Southern Fried Chicken) Burger – with cos lettuce, aioli & beer battered chips $18, is truly excellent! One of the best!
Marble & Grain is a great spot for $15 lunch specials any day of the week.
It’s a warm and cozy place in winter, with excellent and accommodating service and an inviting interior.
The current specials are five including a good looking salad and a generous chicken schnitzel.
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Just in case you missed the Canberra Times Food and Wine last week, here’s Canberra’s guide to weekly cheap eats, meals deals and food specials
I would add Thirst’s two for one deal on Mondays and Tuesdays and the Polish Club’s Wednesday Peirogi night.
A BAKER Two course lunch plus a house wine, beer, soft drink or coffee for $24. Monday to Friday
A BAKER Two course dinner plus a house wine, beer, soft drink or coffee for $49. From 5.30-7pm. Monday to Thursday.
BEACH BURRITO COMPANY $10 burritos until 3pm Monday to Friday.
BETTI BRAVO’S Three course banquet for two or more people, $49 per person. Lunch or dinner, seven days.
DURHAM $10 burgers, $10 schnitzels, $14.50 parmigianas and $15 T-bone steaks 12-3pm, Monday to Sunday.
THE DUXTON $10 lunch specials from 12-3pm, Monday to Thursday
ELK AND PEA $20 lunch special for a burger or salad plus a house beer or wine. Monday to Friday.
HOPSCOTCH Schnitzel with chips, salad and sauce plus a drink for $15. Monday to Wednesday, all day.
JAMIE’S ITALIAN Two courses for $25 or 3 courses for $30. 12-5pm Monday to Friday.
MARBLE AND GRAIN $15 lunch specials, 12-2pm seven days a week.
SIREN BAR $10 lunch specials, Monday to Thursday.
TRANSIT BAR Pizza and soft drink for $10 from midday-2pm, Monday to Saturday.
TREEHOUSE $9 lunches Monday to Friday from 12pm. Plus $3 glasses of house wine, beer or soft drink.
THE LOFT Three course dinner for $49, Wednesday to Saturday night.
DEBACLE Two-for-one pizzas for lunch and dinner.
EDGAR’S $15 chicken, beef or vege burger and chips or salad (or both for $1.50 extra) with beer, wine soft drink. From 5.30pm
GRYPHONS Special Mexican menu with meals ranging from $13-$15 for dinner.
THE DOCK Two-for-one pizzas all day.
THE DURHAM Two-for-one steaks, schnitzels and fish and chips for dinner.
THE DUXTON $10 schnitzel with chips, slaw and sauce. From 5pm.
LITTLE BROOKLYN $15 burger and Boags beer, house wine or soft drink All day.
MOOSEHEADS Steak or burger with house beer, wine or spirit for $15. All day.
OLIMS BAR $15 nachos for dinner.
PUBLIC Two-for-one pizzas, lunch and dinner.
SHORTY’S Burger with chips plus house beer, wine or soft drink for $15. All day
SIREN BAR Pizza with a pint of tap beer or glass of wine for $15. Dinner only.
SMOQUE Chicken wings only 50c each. Lunch or dinner, eat in or takeaway.
SUB-URBAN 200g rump with chips and salad with a beer, wine or soft drink for $15. All day.
BEACH BURRITO COMPANY All tacos $3 each. All day.
DEBACLE Two-for-one pizzas for lunch and dinner.
THE DOCK southern fried chicken or beef burger 2-4-1 lunch and dinner.
THE DUXTON Two-for-one pizzas all day.
EDGAR’S INN $15 rump steak with sauce, and chips or salad (or both for $1.50 extra), plus beer, wine or soft drink. From 5.30pm.
GRYPHONS 200g steak with chips and salad and a schooner James Squire or house wine or soft drink for $10.
GREASE MONKEY Buy your burger and get a drink for free. All day.
HONKYTONKS Two tacos and a beer for $10. All day.
LITTLE BROOKLYN Schnitzel with chips and salad plus a Boags beer, house wine or soft drink for $15. All day.
MOOSEHEADS Pizza and house beer, wine or spirit for $12. All day.
OLIMS Schnitzel and parmigiana for $15. Dinner only.
SHORTY’S $15 schnitzel with chips and salad, or parmigiana with chips plus house beer, wine or soft drink. All day.
SIREN BAR 250g scotch fillet with chips and salad plus a beer or wine for $20. Dinner only.
SUB-URBAN Any pizza with a beer, wine or soft drink for $15. All day.
THE DOCK Two-for-one fried chicken. All day.
THE DURHAM $10 burgers for lunch and dinner.
EDGARS INN $15 schnitzel with sauce, and chips or salad (or both for $1.50 extra) plus a beer, wine or soft drink. From 5.30pm.
GRYPHONS $20 pizza and pint. Lunch and dinner
LITTLE BROOKLYN 1kg of wings plus Boags beer, house wine or soft drink for $15. All day.
MOOSEHEADS Steak with chips, salad and gravy plus a house beer, wine or spirit for $18-$25. All day.
OLIMS BAR AND BISTRO $15 steak with chips and salad. Dinner only.
SHORTY’S Steak with chips, salad and sauce plus house beer, wine or soft drink for $15. All day.
SIREN BAR Pie or pasta with a beer, wine or soft drink for $20. Dinner only.
SUB-URBAN Any burger with a beer, wine or soft drink for $15. All day.
THE DUXTON Burger and beer for $15. All day.
THE DURHAM $10 schnitzels, $14.50 parmigiana or $15 sirloin steak. Dinner only.
LITTLE BROOKLYN $15 steak night with chips and salad plus Boags beer, house wine or soft drink. All day.
MOOSEHEADS Schnitzel, chips and salad plus a house beer, wine or spirit for $12-$14. All day.
OLIMS $15 fried chicken. Dinner only.
SIREN BAR $10 chicken or bean nachos and $10 margaritas. All day.
SUB-URBAN Chicken schnitzel with chips, salad and gravy with a beer, wine or soft drink for $15 all day.
MOOSEHEADS $12-$15 menu including steak, schnitzel, fish and chips and burgers with a house beer, wine or spirit. All day.
THE DUXTON $20 roast all day
The Wednesday Pierogi Special night at the White Eagle Polish Club across from the O’Connor shops, has been on my wish list ever since CBR Foodie recommended it .
There’s a good looking menu Thurs -Sat, but Wednesday night is special night!
On Wednesdays there’s a choice of 4 different types of pan seared Pierogi Polish dumplings for $10…
…or $14 with a beer or wine.
The Beef with Horseradish ( with yogurt sauce, bacon, carmelised cabbage) was sold out, so it may be the favourite choice. But the Pork and Chicken served bacon and caramelised cabbage was very good.
Fellow diners reported that the Pork and Chicken was the pick over the Cheese and Potato or the Mushroom and Cabbage Pierogi.
But if you don’t fancy the Pierogi, then the Golabki – pork, beef and rice stuffed cabbage leaves, with sour cream and tomato sauce $16 looked very good. It’s a large serve and could easily be shared (for a light meal with a drink) or with a serve of dumplings for a larger appetite.
Other Wednesday options are Ricotta Fritters $10 – cinnamon tossed dumplings with rhubarb compote that sound particularly good to try. (Maybe share a plate of savoury and sweet dumplings between two or three). Dishes do sell out though, so the earlier diners have more choice.
Pierogi may not be everyone’s choice, and it may be an option to ask for boiled rather than pan fried (either way, plenty of sour cream is good to ask for). However, it’s a great value menu and the staff and atmosphere are friendly and homely.
Not at all fine dining, it’s noisey, buzzing and casual but it feels like visiting friends of friends and a great place to meet up.
Wednesday – Saturday evenings from 6pm
Facebook is useful for keeping up to date with the specials and the Saturday Continental Deli I’ve heard is good.
Fine Eating 