The Hotel Kurrajong is all decked out for Christmas and the Chifley Bar & Grill has a new summer menu.
The starters include Pork Cheek Croquettes with green Apple Slaw $20…
..and a Grilled Haloumi and Mint Salad with halloumi cheese, orange, mint and roasted walnut $20.
The Chilled Gazpacho with Poached King Prawn $20 also sounds good.
The website menu is not up to date, but here’s the latest!
Barbers’ Inc. at the bottom of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet on Kings Avenue opposite the National Archives, is a great spot for a casual lunch catch up.
However, many don’t realise that it’s open to the public and everyone is most welcome.
Now the good weather is here, it’s lovely to sit outside.
The Spring-Summer menu includes some interesting dishes like…
Crispy Fish Tacos – nachos crusted fish with a roast corn, tomato salsa and lime and sour cream aioli, wrapped in a soft taco $15
Sweet Potato and Chickpea Falafel with parsley and quinoa tabouleh and carrot raita $15
Roasted Pepper Pear, Blue Cheese, Walnut and Rocket Salad $15
The Grilled Beef Salad Bowl with seasonal fresh salad, vegies, romesco and brown rice looked especially good on the way past – quite substantial and with lots of colour and salad/veg $16.90.
The menu isn’t on-line so here’s a peek at the current breakfast and lunch menus. There’s always plenty of daily blackboard specials too.
Maple & Clove in the Realm Precinct is still lovely for lunch.
In the spring weather it’s good to sit outside…
and enjoy the most delicious lunch dishes which were the ….
GRILLED BARRAMUNDI SALAD $24.5 – Roasted pumpkin, fetta, spinach, rocket, broccoli, asparagus, celery, tomatoes + pepitas…
The broccoli and pepitas added crunch and flavour to the leaves and supported the pumpkin, feta and barramundi as the feature ingredients.
Also looking lovely was the Seared Ocean Trout Salad at the next table with chat potatoes, free range eggs, green beans, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, asparagus, olives + salad leaves $24.50
The was also the breadless PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM BURGER – With tomato, avocado, roasted beetroot and creamy cucumber yoghurt with a side of sweet potato wedges $16.
A good choice, especially for brunch, but also availalbe for lunch, is the SAVOURY SPELT WAFFLE – Wholemeal spelt, zucchini + sweet corn waffles served with smoked salmon, smashed avocado, and slow cooked eggs $20
For something a bit simpler there’s EGGS ON TOAST
Poached, scrambled or fried on your choice of seeded rye or white sourdough $13.50
Or design your own meal, with gluten free bread.
Yogi’s Kitchen opened up in Barton in July and clearly it’s a popular spot for nearby workers on a weekday.
It was hard to pick from the range of great lunch options – but really, it’s a no brainer the $15 Lunch Thali is the best!
With a choice of two curries, it came with rice, naan, pickle, raita, pappadom and a gulab jaman – perfect on a wet rainy day.
But the real stand out for me was the service. Nothing was too much trouble. There were no free tables, but I still felt welcomed and like a special guest as I waited.
As tables became free, the best one was worked out for us. The best thali combo was offered with the flexibility to add in a (more expensive) cheese and garlic naan, and then finally…
…a whole selection of take home containers were provided to pack the remaining delicious flavours for later.
Such hospitality is hard to resist.
But I’m not the only one, so next time I’m going to book.
Buvette is fairly new to the Realm Precinct in Barton, but already it’s famous for it’s French cuisine and Petit Feast.
However, it is a well kept secret that Buvette is also a top lunch spot in Barton.
Decadent decor belies the modest prices for lunch options that are very genrously served with sides of salad and french fries, like the QUICHE OF THE DAY – $12
..or the delicious CHICKEN BAGUETTE – $16 Tarragon Aioli, Comte, Tomato, Baby Cos Heart
Also tempting are the CROQUE MONSIEUR – $14 Ham, Gruyère, Mustard, Toasted Sourdough and the SMOKED SALMON BAGUETTE – $16 Capers, Crème Fraîche, Red onion, Baby Cos Heart.
Don’t overlook this well priced, stylishly set lunch spot with a reputation for fine French dining.
1 On One Expresso is new to the Department of Finance Building, at 1 Canberra Ave, Forrest (Barton side).
It has an attractive decor….
….and interesting lunch menu with salads including a delicious haloumi fritters $17
..as well as a quinoa salad $16 (not quite as good).
Sandwiches ready to go are $8.50 and wine by the glass starts at $7.
Breakfast is avaialbe until 12 Noon, but a couple of the brekkie rolls are avaiallbe all day:
BACON AND EGG ROLL tomato or house bbq sauce $7
DELUXE BACON AND EGG ROLL rosti, smashed avo, cheese, house bbq sauce $10
Little Bird has a small but excellent menu, quick, friendly service and great prices!
The salads are great, but I do especially enjoy the roasted sandwiches.
Having savoured the Reuben I was keen to try the Roast Pumpkin.
ROAST PUMPKIN
Field mushrooms, basil pesto + fetta $11.90
It had just the perfect balance of fetta, pesto, nicely roasted pumpkin slices and large flavoursome field mushrooms.
The soup of the day was Winter Vegetable – a generous serve, also very much appreciated by my lunch companion!
SOUP OF THE DAY
with bread $12.90
Maple and Clove in the Hotel Realm precinct is a lovely spot with a clean eating menu that’s delicious.
The decor is attractive with both indoor and outdoor seating.
The menu includes….
BERRY SMOOTHIE Coconut water, strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, banana + dates $9
SAVOURY SPELT WAFFLE
Wholemeal spelt, zucchini and sweet corn waffles served with smoked salmon, smashed avocado, and slow cooked eggs $20
EGGS ON TOAST
Poached, scrambled or fried on your choice of seeded rye or white sourdough $13.50 plus a side of avocado….
…and TWO SLICES OF TOAST $7.50 With butter and preserves
Available in white sourdough, seeded rye or fruit and nut bread
There’s also ready to go sandwiches for $10.90.
It’s busy, but you can book.
Open weekdays & weekends for coffee, breakfast and lunch, it has an all day breakfast menu. For smaller appetites, it’s easy to share a dish.
Having enjoyed Little Bird so much the first visit, it was time to go back and try a few more of the dishes on my wishlist.
The Reuben Toasted Sandwich $11.90 was absolutely delicious and very generously sized….
…with Corned beef, sauerkraut, pickles and swiss cheese
This was great to share with the Slow-roasted pumpkin salad with caramelised beetroot, avocado, lentils, fetta, almonds and sumac yoghurt $17.50.
Next time I’ve got my eye on the Grilled chicken breast salad and the roast pumpkin toasted sandwich with field mushrooms, basil pesto and feta.
Barton is blessed with some great eateries serving the departmental workers close by, like Double Drummer (AGS)Ne Brindabella Cafe (DFAT).
But I think my favourite so far might be Barbers Inc. on the ground floor of Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
It’s well priced, and the menu varies offering ever changing curry, pasta and soup lunch options.
They day I visited there was a very beautiful and flavoursome Lamb Vindaloo with Eggplant and Lentils and rice $16
The lighter option was a very tasty chicken and rice noodle soup with spinach and toast $5.90 for a very generous serve.
There are also nude burgers with extra salad on offer made ready made and made to order sandwiches.
The atmosphere is good for a workplace cafe especially up the stairs.
It’s a great find that I know I will return to often!
Open weekdays 7am-5pm.
Fine Eating 