Santa Lucia, Kingston

Santa Lucia in Kingston is a nice spot for Italian dishes.

The decor is light and cheerful.

Serve sizes are generous and good for sharing even between six. BYO corkage is $9 per bottle.

A good sharing plan is to order four dishes and a salad or two per six people. A mix of pasta, risotto, gnocchi and pizza works well.

The Penne Con Salsicce special is really excellent $22 with Italian pork sausage sauteed with capsicum. zucchini and mushroom in a rich tomato sauce with penne.

The Vedura pizza $22 is also great with a great crust, grilled eggplant and artichoke.

Gnocchi Con Tre Formaggu $21.50 with gorgonzola, mozzarella, parmesan and cheese is quite good.

But the Risotto Scampi $26.50 is not as good as the others.

Insalata Capresi $14.50 with tomato, basil and bocconcini is a good compliment.

Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner, Friday to Sunday for lunch and weekends for breakfast.

Chomolungma Nepalese Restaurant, Manuka – trying some more dishes

Chomolungma Nepalese restaurant opened in March and is well worth checking out.

Tucked away down the lane near the lawns in Manuka, it’s just across the road from the easy parking after hours in the Medical Centre car park on Furneaux Street, making it a great spot to head in cold or wet weather.

It’s cosy and friendly and the decor is welcoming. Service is attentive and very efficient.

Start with a drink and some complimentary pappadoms while you ponder the menu.

BYO wine or beer corkage is $2 per person.

A plate of momos as a starter is essential as these are excellent and accompanied by a tasty broth and delicious tomato and sesame chutney.

The steamed pork momos are possibly the top pick ($12 for 10).

If you are with a group, consider sharing one of the other entrees too. The Kima Bara – marinated mince with sunshine egg, Sichuan pepper and tomato chutney $8, is also tasty (and a good option for those needing a gluten free alternative to momos as these have a similar flavour in the marinated mince).

For main course choose one of the thali styled meals for $15 -$20 (depending on what type of meat you choose).

Flavoursome curries are accompanied by rice, a tasty dahl, a smokey spinach side and very pleasant crisp vegetable side as well as a spicy mango pickle.

The Garlic chilli prawns $20 (8 prawns) are very hard to beat.

The next top pick may be the chicken $15..

…followed by the goat $18…

…then the lamb $17….

..then the pork ribs $18.

There is also a pan fried vegetable option $15, that is likely to be very good too.

Order some roti to perfectly complete the meal (about 1/2 per person).

All options except the momos and roti are gluten free (just double check the noodles in the the soup and chow mien).

The dishes can also be nut free.

There are also a chow mein (pork/chicken/vegetables) $13 stir fried noodles with garlic, ginger vegetables and herbs and a Thupa (noodle soup with pork/chicken/vegetables and herbs and vegetables) $13 options that can be prepared for those who prefer a low level of spiciness.

Open for dinner 6 days (closed Sundays.)

phone: 0450 317 346

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Bollywood Dimensions, Braddon

Bollywood Dimensions in Braddon is a great spot for a group shared meal, especially if you are sticking to a budget.

It has efficient and helpful service, is cozy, carpeted and quiet for conversation…..

… and offers well sized served of a range of mains, breads and side dishes that can be combined to create an interesting and diverse menu.

The dishes are flavoursome, but quite spicy, so choose a mild or medium spice level.

Combine one main dish, one side dish (like a dah), one bread and two serves rice per two people to share. However four people could share two different types of mains, sides and breads for variety.

Methi Chicken (mild, medium, hot) – $18.50 Chiken with fenugreek leaves, a good choice

Yellow Dal Tadka $8.90 – a full-flavoured lentil dish with curry leaves, mustard seeds, coriander leaves, mint and cumin (tasty)

Kheema Naan Naan bread stuffed with ground lamb mixed with chopped coriander $4.50 ( really wonderful!)

Saffron Basmati Rice $ 3.25

… I think the Steamed Basmati Rice $3.00 would be better

For a group of four (or more) I’d try:

2 serves steamed basmati rice

Awesome Butter Chicken (Mild) $18.50 Boneless Chicken pieces cooked in Tandoor and finished in a creamy butter and tomato sauce. A creamy and fairly mild dish

Majestic Chicken Tikka Masala (mild, med, hot) $18.50

boneless chicken pieces cooked in a Tandoor with capsicum, onion, ginger & garlic, sauteed with crushed tomato

and

Marvelous Lamb Pasanda – a chef’s special $18.90 lamb marinated overnight to ensure that the meat is tender and full of flavour

Angelic Lamb Saag (mild – med) $18.50

Lamb with freshly ground spinach, sauteed in butter, ginger & garlic and finished with cream. A traditional dish from North India

with

Mesquite Dal Makhani $8.90

A rich, creamy dal preparation with lentils and red kidney beans cooked with an aromatic combination of spices

and

Yellow Dal Tadka $8.90

and

1x Kheema Naan $4.50 (cut into 1/4)

and

1x Paneer Naan $4.50 Traditional Naan Bread stuffed with cottage cheese and baked in Tandoor (cut into 1/4)

About $20 per person (or $15 with a Canberra Entertainment Book discount)

BYO Corkage $5 per bottle

Open 7 nights for dinner 5:30-10pm and lunch Tues-Fri 12-2pm

Licensed with wine by the glass starting at $6.50

25% discount (up to $25) for holders of the Canberra Entertainment Book

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Garnish, Garema Place, Canberra City

Garnish of India, has a great location for a warming winter dinner out. Parking is close by at the Dendy end of the Canberra Centre and it’s a short skip across Bunda Street into the arcade and up the stairs to Garnish.

Comfortable bench seats overlook Garema place. Perfect for families.

The host of Garnish is extremely welcoming and informative about the best dishes to order.

Dishes are excellent and well sized for sharing.

An entree, one dish with rice and naan is perfect for two people.

The Murgh Tikka Tandoori – marinated boneless chicken roasted in a tandoor is very good $9.50.

The Paneer Hara Masala – cubes of fresh cottage cheese cooked with tomatoes, spinach based gravy and finished with fenugreek leaves $14.50 is delicious…

…as is the naan $3…

…and perfectly cooked rice $3 for a generous serve.

Corkage is $8 per bottle and pappadams are $2 per serve of 4.

A 25% discount is offered to Canberra Entertainment Book holders.

A range of lunch specials are also available.

Trying some entrees at Taste of Bangladesh, Manuka

Still a favourite, Taste of Bangladesh can’t be beaten for value and hospitality.

Shafique and Fahana always make sure you enjoy their food and prepare dishes freshly and with passion. Serves are generous and corkage and pappdoms are complimentary.

The Fish Bengali is still a top pick and Dum Murgh. Palak Paneer and Goat Curry are excellent too.

But the Fish Korma $16.50 is very delicious and I suspect the chicken, beef or lamb korma would also be very good. It’s also a milder dish for those who prefer less spicy dishes. Worthy to be added to the favourites list.

The Beef Vindaloo $15 is very tender and flavoursome, but quite spicy.

The cheese and spinach naan $3.50 is exceptional.

But don’t miss the wonderful Onion Bhaji (4 for $7) served with tamarind and mint chutney and mint yogurt. These are crisp and morish, a truly delightful surprise.

The Samosas are also good at $7 for two, but it’s hard to beat the Onion Bahji.

Perhaps the best shared menu for four includes:

Papadoms to start

Entree:

1x Onion Bhaji with tamarind and mint chutney and mint yogurt $7

Mains:

1x Fish Bengali $16.50

1x Dum Murgh $15.50

1x Palak Paneer $14 or Beef Korma $15

2x Cheese and spinach naan (2x $3.50) (quartered)

2 serves rice (2x $3)

Dessert:

1x Gulab Jaman $4.50 (halved)

1x Mango Kulfi $4.50

Total including free corkage: $76 ($19 per person)

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Chong Co, Southern Cross Club, Woden – lunch special

Chong Co at the Southern Cross Club, is a firm top choice for lunch in Woden.

Not only for members (although members get a 10% discount) Chong Co diners can go straight up the stairs to the restaurant. There is also free parking under the club if you validate your ticket at reception as you leave.

At lunch time it is possible to order from the lunch special menu that ranges from $13 for a vegetarian stirfry with rice, to $16 and includes noodle dishes, soups, curries and stir fries.

These come with rice and can be good options if dining alone or there is an odd number sharing in a group, but otherwise, the best option is to order dishes from the main dinner menu ($19-21) (larger and tastier than the lunch specials) and to plan for one dish and one serve of rice per two people.

(For example up to six people can share a dish, but six people with need three different dishes and three rice serves).

It’s good to order a mix of curries (the beef massaman $21 is excellent as is the chicken green curry) and stir fries (chicken and cashew nut with chilli jam is hard to beat, but the lamb prik khing dishes is also good).

Four Musketeers entrée $12 includes a prawn roll, money bag, fish cake and satay chicken

Vegetarian stir fry with tofu $13 (lunch special)

Chicken Basil stirfry and fried egg $15 (lunch special)

Prawn tom yum noodle soup $16 (lunch special)

Prawn Singapore Noodle $16 (lunch special) stir fried vermicelli noodles with prawns, egg, mild yellow curry powder and vegetables

Chicken cashew nut stir fry $14 (lunch special) stir fried chicken with mild chilli jam, onion, shallot, vegetables and cashew nuts

Beef massaman curry with roti (main menu) $21 (excellent)

Stir fried Chicken with basil and chilli (main menu) $19

Box Diner, Fyshwick

The Box Diner may seem out of the way in Tennant Street Fyshwick, but it’s rural outlook and open spaces feel is very appealing.

Serves breakfast and lunch weekdays, it looks very popular and busy.

Eclectic indoor and warmed outdoor seating is fun and works well.

Staff are friendly and welcoming. keen to please.
The menu is varied and offers a good range of burgers, salads, pastas and specials as well.

The Blue lamb burger with blue cheese, grilled vegetables, a lamb patty, fried egg, beetroot and aioli is delicious $18.

The Chicken Schnitzel Burger and wedges special $15, also very good.

Canberra Entertainment Book holders are offered two meals for the price of one.

Plenty of ready to go options and it’s easy to take with you what you will enjoy more later.

Definitely worth stopping by if you are heading to Fyshwick.

Local Press, Kingston Foreshore

Local Press along the Kingston Foreshore, must be one of Canberra’s nicest spots for brunch with it’s sunny views of the waterfront and promenade and it’s interesting menu, accessories and decor.

The coffee is good and the dishes are beautiful and well sized for sharing, especially the fruit toast with ricotta.

The Pancake of wholemeal oats, banana and coconut with fresh seasonal fruit, mint and whipped mascarpone $18 is a good pick.

But The Green Pea Pancake with poached egg, macerated avocado, corn salsa, feta. chilli jam and mint garnish $20 is would also be a wonderful and unique choice.

Open daily for breakfast and lunch. Sadly, doesn’t take bookings so avoid the very busiest times or be ready for a short wait for a table.

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Malaysian Chapter, Belconnen

Malaysian Chapter recently reviewed very well in the Canberra Times Food and Wine.

And justly so. This family based restaurant has great food and very friendly, welcoming service.

It is also very good value offering $3 per person corkage and a 25% discount for holders of the Canberra Entertainment Book.
Serve sizes are good for sharing in a group to taste a number of dishes.
Particularly excellent is the Nyonya Prawn & Pineapple Curry ($21.50) (includes a generous serve of 9 prawns, great for sharing).

…And the Roti Canai ($4.50) with Dahl (consider asking for the dahl to be warmed)

…also very good is the Nasi lemak with Lamb Rendang ($22.50) with beef rendang, half boiled egg, roasted peanuts, anchovy sambal. However, this can’t be shared between more than three people as serves sizes of the dish components are relatively small.

…and the coconut rice( $3.50 per serve)

(Two serves coconut rice)

The Assam Curry Fresh Ling Fillet/ Prawns or Soy Fish in a spicy tamarind sauce with tomatoes, pineapple and okra.
Fish, Prawn or Soy Fish ($20.50) is also good, but may be too spicy for some.

Chicken 65 (15 bite sized pieces of nicely spiced chicken) ($13.50) needs to be pre-ordered.

Also worth considering trying green bean and vegetable “belachan fry” ($14.50) but this needs to be pre-ordered as it’s not currently on the menu.

A great sharing menu for 6 is:
3 serves Roti Canai with Dahl (halve the roti)
2 Nyonya Prawn & Pineapple Curry (2x $21.50)
2 Nasi Lemak with Chicken Rendang (2 x $19.50)
2 Coconut Rice (2 x $3.50)

OR
6 serves Roti Canai with Dahl (halve the roti)
1 Nyonya Prawn & Pineapple Curry (1x $21.50)
2 Nasi Lemak with Chicken Rendang (2 x $19.50)
1 Coconut Rice (1x $3.50)

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Me and Mrs Jones, Kingston, another look at lunch

Me and Mrs Jones, in Kingston is still immensely popular and bookings are recommended.

Helpfully open both Saturday and Sunday, it serves both
breakfast and light lunch from 8:00am until 2:30pm.

It is also one of the few restaurants of it’s type that allows BYO with a reasonable corkage ($5.50 per person) and it also offers cakeage for $2.50 per person. Also offering one complimentary main meal (when two are ordered) for Canberra Entertainment Book holders, it is excellent value for couples or small groups on a budget.

On weekdays breakfast is offered from 7:00am until 11:30 then lunch runs from 11:30 until 2:30pm.

It’s also open for dinner from 6pm until late everyday except Sunday when it closes at 4pm. Sundays there is also a 10% surcharge (and 15% on public holidays).

From 2:30-6pm coffee, cakes and lights snacks are available.

There’s also the option of take away.

Takeaway all burgers $15
Egg and bacon roll $7.50

Specials such as Pork and pistachio terrine with toasted brioche and balsamic reduction & onion jam $17, are listed on the blackboard.

Delicious terrine (and better without the onion jam) but best shared between two perhaps along with another small option. Also a good idea to ask for extra plates as it’s tricky to eat from the serving board.

Open steak sandwich $22 – Grilled garlic sourdough, beef eye fillet, smoked onion and chilli marmalade, gorgonzola and wild roquette (great for plainer eaters).

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Fine Eating

Hints Hacks and Highlights

Reviews (Around Canbera)

Santa Lucia, Kingston

Chomolungma Nepalese Restaurant, Manuka – trying some more dishes

Bollywood Dimensions, Braddon

Garnish, Garema Place, Canberra City

Trying some entrees at Taste of Bangladesh, Manuka

Chong Co, Southern Cross Club, Woden – lunch special

Box Diner, Fyshwick

Local Press, Kingston Foreshore

Malaysian Chapter, Belconnen

Me and Mrs Jones, Kingston, another look at lunch

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