Reviews (Around Canbera)

Pork Barrel Cafe, Friday Night Pizza 2 for 1

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The Pork Barrel Cafe has a lovely setting in the gardens in front of Old Parliament House. On a Friday evening there’s a special offer of two pizzas for the price of one, perfect for a group.

The Pommodoro $33 for a large has pancetta, provolone and semi dried tomatoes.


The Deli is also a good choice with spinach, raosted pumpkin, spanish onion, fetta and olives, also $33 for a large sized.

Two large pizzas is a comfortable amount for six people and works out at $5.50 each.

Add a garden salad for $10.50 for a large size.


Not BYO but a large glass of house wine is $7.

An especially good option when Elighten is on each March.


  
Pork Barrel Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Chong Co, Woden – perfect for creating an easy dinner party with take-away

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Buying some good quality takeaway that can be easily shared and replacing it at home is a great way to cater for a group without too much fuss or cost.


Chong Co in Woden has great dishes that are well sized for sharing.

Good choices include…
Thai beef salad $17.90


Prawn lemongrass stir fry $20.90


Beef massaman curry $16.90


Pork panning curry $16.90


Chilli basil mixed vegetables with tofu stir fry $14.90

(but better with chicken)

Add some steamed rice…and it’s done.


Chong Co efficiently wraps the takeaway in glad wrap so it stays warm enough for summer eating for ups to one hour without reheating.
NB The Fried tofu and sweet chilli sauce is not such a great choice as it’s fairly bland.


Chong Co Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Dionysis Winery, Murrumbateman

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Dionysis Winery, very near to Four Winds Winery, at Murrambateman….

…..is another Canberra winery where you can taste the wines….

….and enjoy a glass for $7.50 with some eats.

(The white wines are especially good.)

At the moment Dionysis is renovating so Michael and Wendy are offering just the cheese platter at $16 for one, or $30 for two people…..


The cheeses are delicious.

It makes a lovely spot to enjoy with friends on the weekend.

Saigon Foodies, Kingston – a quick drop by

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Saigon Foodies in Kingston is a small friendly spot offering quick Vietnamese street food options.

Sticky Rice with Sweet Corn and Roast Pork is $9

The Rice Noodle Salad with Chicken or Pork and Spring Rolls is $15.

Fresh spring rolls filled with Tofu,Sweet Potato and Wood Ear Mushrooms or Chicken and Avocado are $7 for two.


Food is tasty, but like most takeaway Vietnamese, there’s plenty of noodles to fill out the serve.

Saigon Foodies Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Public, Manuka – trying more lunch choices

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Public in Manuka is one of the best spots for lunch in the area. There’s both indoor and outdoor seating, friendly staff, efficient service and a range of menu options.

One way of sharing some new options is to order a couple of the appetisers.

The Calamari with roquette, pecorino and balsamic dressing $18 is well sized for sharing and has a great texture and flavour.

The Soft shell crab tortillas with corn salsa and chipotle, also $18, is not quite as good, but again a good size to share.

Canberra Entertainment Card holders need only pay for one meal, so it’s also great value.

Public Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

 

Ivy and the Fox, Acton – a new lunch menu

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Ivy and the Fox in Old Canberra House has a new menu. There’s till plenty of the old favourites, but a few newbies as well.


The Codfather is now grilled $20.90 for fresh market fish fillet with delicious roasted zucchini, lemon and mayonnaise. Not large enough to share, but perefct for a satisfying but light meal.


The Prawn Tagliatelle $24 is new. The fresh pasta is quite heavy with an oily dressing and dotted with prawns, chilli, garlic, basil and mushrooms. A heavier option, but good for sharing.


The Reuben and Big Salad both $17 also sound like good options to try.

Wine by the glass starts at $8.


Ivy and the Fox Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Wilbur’s Cafe Bar Hackett – trying the new menu

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Wilbur’s is a great local!

Offering relaxed, friendly hospitality it has a range of good value specials, like happy hour drinks 4-6pm ($5.50)…

..$10 pizzas or two for one burgers $22.50 on Sundays from 4pm (definitely a great time to go as there’s live music as well 3-6pm)…and two meals for the price of one for Canberra Entertainment Book holders.

There’s a regular menu offering dishes like the Veal Marsala with mushroom, bacon and marsala sauce on sweet potato mash for $26.90….

…as well as weekly blackboard specials like the pan-fried salmon with sweet potato chips, confit tomato, bocconcini and baby spinach salad with lime  coriander aioli $28.90.

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Like always, it’s good to order a lighter salad with a heavier meal and share.

There’s also some delicious looking deserts on offer at reasonable prices.


            
Wilbur's Cafe Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Me & Mrs Jones, Kingston – trying a couple lunch salads

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Me & Mrs Jones is a one of the best places in Kingston for lunch.

It’s open everyday, has a broad ranging menu and offers two meals for the price of one if you have a Canberra Entertainment Card.



The salads make a good lunch choice, especially sharing a couple between two, or sharing one with another dish.


The SMOKED CHICKEN $18 with Treacle smoked chicken, crispy speck lardons, garden peas, mint, marinated feta, shredded baby cos, white balsamic reduction w/ brioche crisps is full of flavour but quite rich.


The SPRING LAMB $21 with Rare spring lamb, mixed seeds & nuts, currants,kale, pomegranate, mint & a fresh yoghurt dressing is perhaps the better choice, being a little lighter, with good textures and garnishes and full of colour.


If you want an even broader choice for lunch, get there before noon on weekday to be able to order from the breakfast menu too. (Lunch menu starts at noon).
Do book as it gets busy and if you’d like to BYO wine it’s $5.50 corkage per person.

Me & Mrs Jones Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Belluci’s, Manuka – trying the lunch special!

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Belluci’s is one of the best spots for a weekday lunch in Woden, and so Belluci’s Manuka has long been on the wishlist.

It has a prime and inviting location on the corner of Franklin and Furneax Streets. Is also just across from the medical centre where parking is nearly always easy (and very reasonable), even during business hours.

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Like Woden, Manuka Belluci’s offers a great lunch special that includes a glass of wine, beer or soft drink for $19.95.

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The menu in Manuka is familiar but refreshingly different with some of the favourite pizzas and pastas, but also two different lovely salads (salt baked salmon or pulled lamb), a delicious sounding pulled pork burger, a pizza with creamed taleggio, buffalo mozzarella & corella pears and a great looking pappardelle with beef shin and tomato ragu.

The salt baked salmon with quinoa, radicchio, asparagus, cherry tomatoes & orange is excellent. The dressing is quite heavy so best to order it on the side.

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The chicken risotto with pancetta, button mushrooms & broad beans is similar to Woden’s but a little lighter and fresher.
It’s still quite a heavy dish and best shared with a salad and a friend.

Belluci’s is also very versatile, providing takeaway containers if you’d like to take some with you and allowing BYO wine at $5 per person corkage and $2 per person cakaege. There’s also a 25% discount for holders of the Canberra Entertainment Book (including the lunch special).


Belluci's Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Pho Phu Quoc – still great value

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Pho Phu Quoc really does have Canberra’s best Vietnamese food. And it’s such great value.

Rice is $2 per person, corkage $6 per bottle, there’s a 25% discount for Canberra Entertainment Card holders and serve sizes are large and plenty for two people.

One of the best dishes is the Bird’s Nest Seafood $18.90 (also good with chicken $16.90 and I’m sure Vegetarian style $13.90).

Open everyday for lunch and dinner!

Pho Phu Quoc Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato