Ducks Nuts is a new kid on the block in Dickson and has had plenty of promotion through Her Canberra and Food & Wine.
It looks promising with happy hour 4-6pm, some weekly specials and some lovely duck themed dishes.
But it is very noisey and very pubby with sport on the overhead TV.
The dishes are sadly not quite as good as they sound.
But good to give a new spot a try.
Peking Ducks Nuts Burger $19
Naked Buttermilk Fried Chicken Burger $19
Roast Duck Salad $19
Wine by the glass from $7.50
The Chifley Bar & Grill at Hotel Kurrajong, my new favourite for a weekday lunch in Barton.
I love a great setting for enjoying a meal and Hotel Kurrajong does heritage so very well.
With all its great style and service you might expect a high price tag, but surprisingly the menu is similar to what you would pay in most eateries.
Being a hotel restaurant, it is open every day from breakfast to around 10pm and staff are very flexible to cater for a large range of appetites and preferences.
Sandwiches are around $15 and arrive with Chips and aioli….
The roast lamb with grilled vegetables, Harissa and Mayo is good, but I think any of the sandwich choices would be excellent.
For a light lunch there are also salads or dessert to choose from for $15 -$17.
Stone baked bread with Pepe Saya butter is $4, and sides like the amazing pear and pecorino salad with baby spinach and candied walnuts are $8.
For two modest appetites it’s perfect to share a sandwich and a pear and pecorino salad.
Wine starts at $8 a glass.
I will definitely be back for another pecorino salad and I’d love to try the stone baked bread!
Last Monday, Sid treated the Canberra Food Bloggers to an evening of his new Movenpick Kingston Foreshore winter desserts.
Movenpick is new to Canberra- one of the 400 stores worldwide in 40 countries. The icecream is shipped frozen from its home of creation in Switzerland where it has been made since the 1960’s from ingredients sourced from around the the world. The pistachios are from Iran, rum from Jamaica, mango from India, coffee from Colombia, macadamias from Australia, strawberries from Poland, blueberries from France and chocolate from Venezuela.
Flavours are many and varied but my favourites were strawberry (50% fruit), vanilla brownie, caramel and coconut chocolate.
Sid and his team have been working hard to showcase the best to Canberra.
The winter desserts include the apple strudel (my favourite) and chocolate fondant – $14.95….
….and waffles or pancakes for $16.95 which you customise to your own pick your type of pancakes (eg nut or berry), sauce, icecream and garnishes.
The chocolate fondue is also impressive at $29.95 for two or $39.95 for four people.
Drinks include milkshakes like a blueberry cheesecake milkshake or a lovely lime sorbet.
In the icecream range there’s also some beautiful options like Decadence at $9.95.
A good spot for great traditional cone or a dessert to share to finish a meal out along the Kingston Foreshore.
Newcomer to the Hamlet in Braddon, Soul Cartel specialises in Southern American Creole/Cajun food.
Regular items on the menu are the Chicken Po’Boy $12 (top pick if you like something especially tasty in bread)…
Beef Po’ Boy $12 – a good pick if you like lean meat in bread
Soul Fries $6 – a great choice for something to nibble with a drink
And some specials which might include…
Beef and Bacon Hash $14, the tastiest option, but also quite oily
Southern Brunch $12 – very tasty, but again, the bread is oiler than the chicken Po’ Boy (similar chicken though).
Especially fun for a summer evening and BYO (drinks and glasses) but like most food stalls, it’s not as comfortable or as good value as sharing a few Thai dishes or curries and rice.
Opening hours
12 Noon to 3 PM
Mon Closed
Tue Closed
Wed 12 Noon to 9 PM
Thu 12 Noon to 9 PM
Fri 12 Noon to 9 PM
Sat 12 Noon to 9 PM
Sun 12 Noon to 3 PM
Public, Manuka has a lovely sunny corner and an interior that extends outdoors.
It also offer Canberra Entertainment Book holders two meals for the price of one.
So it’s a good spot for a weekday lunch with some tasty dishes on the menu.
Chicken schnitzel with chips, salad & choice of pepper or mushroom sauce $22
Hamburger with bacon, cheddar, pickles, tomato relish & chips $21 – excellent flavours and textures.
Briscola Pizzeria is a warm and friendly spot to share pizza and red wine on a chilly Canberra Evening.
Offering BYO wine at $4.50 per head and a 25% discount to Canberra Entertainment card holders, it’s also good value.
Gianni is a welcoming and warm host who is keen to help you choose well.
One large pizza per two people is perfect. These range from $25 to $30.
Good choices are…
Pulcinella…. with mascarpone + gorgonzola + pancetta + fresh pear (medium shown $23.50)
Toscana….. with mozzarella + mushroom + grilled eggplant + roasted red capsicum + artichokes + basil pesto (vegetarian) (large shown $27)
Gran Sasso…..with bocconcini, italian sausage + grilled eggplant + mushroom + black truffle oil (medium shown $21)
Which are better choices than the…
Scampi…with bocconcini + garlic prawns + sautéed zucchini + cherry tomato + chilli (medium shown $23.50)
Puttanesca…. with bocconcini + salami + anchovies + capers + black olives + chilli gran sasso bocconcini + italian sausage + grilled eggplant + mushroom + black truffle oil (medium shown $21)
It’s tempting to also order the gelati ($9 for two scoops/$12 for three scoops) flavours like salted hazelnut, zabaglione or orange blossum and rose water, or an affogatto ($9-$13) but it’s also a very satisfying evening just enjoying the pizza and wine.
Always lovely for lunch, Urban Pantry again has a relaxing atmosphere good specials like the Creamy Leek, Potato and Gorgonzola Soup $16…
and offer two meals for the price of one to Canberra Entertainment Book holders.
The Grilled Chicken Burger with oak lettuce, avocado, tomato, pineapple relish, lime aioli, on a brioche bun served with french fries is good for $21…
….but perhaps not as good as the Bourguignon Burger sounds like a better choice with it’s 180g angus brisket patty, onion & mushroom jam, seeded dijonnaise, lettuce, tomato, aged cheddar on a brioche bun with french fries $21. (Next time!)
Seems like such a long time since I last went to Space and I’ve missed it.
The menu has changed a little and now includes a new Warm Lamb Salad $19.90…
…as well as a Thai Chicken Salad.
But the favourites are still there including the Breakfast Fritters which are as good as ever $19.90.
Eddie and his lovely wife have sold the Woden Dumpling House and recently opened the Yat Bun Tong in Lonsdale Street.
The menu is similar to Woden’s, but with some new surprises.
Service is truly lovely with plenty of staff attending to all your needs.
BYO wine is $9 per bottle (but wine by the glass is $6) and some of the best choices have small price tags like the BBQ Duck Spring Rolls $6.80 for two (delicious and not very oily) and the Shanghai steamed bun $13.80 for 10.
The handmade noodles are also very good althought the fried noodles are quite oily like those with Black Pepper Beef $15.80….
…so perhaps ask for less oil.
Not as good choices are the Hot and Sour Soup $5.80….
…the Shallot pancake $7.80 which both lack flavour.
The Shanghai Fried Pork Bun $14.80 are quite good but the steamed bun are better.
Can get noisey, but still lots of fun.
Address: 10-12 Lonsdale St, Braddon ACT 2612
Phone:(02) 6152 0880
Hours:
Friday 11am–3pm, 5–10pm
Saturday 11am–3pm, 5–10pm
Sunday 11am–3pm, 5–10pm
Monday 11am–3pm, 5–10pm
Tuesday 11am–3pm, 5–10pm
Wednesday 11am–3pm, 5–10pm
Thursday 11am–3pm, 5–10pm
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!
Fine Eating 