Reviews (Around Canbera)

Petra Palace, Phillip – a great menu for six

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Petra Palace is another favourite of mine in Canberra.

I always love the dishes like the amazing Hummus $10 served with delicious breads…

..the Lamb Fatteh $25 – marinated lamb casserole, with crispy lebanese bread. spiced rice, garlic, mint, yogurt and tahini suace topped with pine nuts..

…or the similar Chicken Fatteh $25 (but the lamb is probably the best if you’re only choosing one).

I also really like the dry texture of the falafel $10 for 4 pieces served with tahini sauce, pickles and tomatoes.

If you need some salad then the Fattoush Salad is $15.

Choosing these dishes (with two hummus) is a good banquet for six.

It’s not BYO but the Willowglen Cabernet Merlot for $30 per bottle ($8 per glass) is a good choice.

Open Tuesday to Saturday 5-9pm it also offers two for one meals for holder of the Canberra Entertainment Book.

Petra Palace Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

 

Malaysian Chapter, Belconnen – a great spot for a group dinner

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Malaysian Chapter is still as good as ever!
It’s great food and great value (large dishes for sharing and 25% discount for Canberra Entertainment Book Holders as well as $5 per bottle corkage).
There’s also plenty of room for groups and it’s nicely carpeted and quiet for chatting.

 

My favourites dishes for sharing are:

Entree:

Roti Canai – Flaky bread, served with Lentil Curry $4

I just love the roti!

(one person person is perfect!)

Mains:
Nonya Prawn and Pineapple Curry $21.50
Rendeng Lamb Curry $21.50
Assam Fish $20.50
with the absolutely delcious coconut rice $3.50 per serve
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Three mains and three rice was perfect for 5-6 people
There’s other dishes to try like the Crispy Chicken and Belacan Fry $18.50…..
….but I still go back to my favourites.

Malaysian Chapter Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

 

 

 

Taj Agra Dickson – still a good option for Indian food

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The Taj Agra, in Dickson still offers good food at reasonable prices ($18.50-$19.50 for mains, rice $3, breads $3.50-$4.50) in a carpeted quiet setting.

It also offers Canberra Entertainment Card holers a 25% disount and corkage is well priced.

Taj Agra Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Copper Chimney, Canberra City – a great Palak Papdi Chat and Dal Makani

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I really like Copper Chimney on West Row.

The service is very professional and friendly and the decor attractive with soft furnishings and carpet that make chatting easy.

And the food is great.

There’s also a very reasonable corkage of $6 per bottle and a cheerful 25% discount for holders of the Canberra Entertainment Book.

The last time I visited we enjoyed the Chicken Chettinad $18.90…

Saag Lamb $19.90…

…Goat Bhuna Masala $20.90…

with rice $4 per serve…

Kulcha Marsala $4.90…

and Aloo Paratha $4.90.

But the stand out dishes were defieitely the Palak Papdi Chaat starter $13.90…

…and the Dal Makani $17.

I’ll be back for more…

Copper Chimney Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

 

Lunch @Space.Kitchen, Woden – such eating fun!

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Eating at Space is just the greatest eating fun!

The dishes are such works of art – an instagrammers delight!

So what better place could there be for a Canberra Food Blogger lunch.

Two of us shared the SPACE BENEDICT Pulled pork croquettes, beetroot hollandaise, poached eggs, corn bread & pea puree $18.90…

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…and the HOTCAKES Blueberry ricotta hotcakes, coconut ice cream, passion fruit & HOTCAKES Blueberry ricotta hotcakes, coconut ice cream, passion fruit & verbena custard, meringue 17.9, meringue $17.90…

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These hotcakes are just so amazing! The passion fruit sauce and verbena custard is delicious along with the meringue and coconut ice-cream, nicely paced with the plainer but still yummy, hotcakes. They just look so different to the first time I had them about 10 months ago on the first day Space opened!

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It’s just great that the favourites remain on the menu but keep reinventing themselves!

The other bloggers were also very pleased with their choice of CALAMARI Sumac spiced calamari, carrot hummus, quinoa tabouli & dill creme fraiche $19.90.

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It’s great to see Space as popular as ever and even though I can’t get there as much these days, I love it when I do!

Space Kitchen Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Ona on the Lawns, Manuka – lovely for lunch

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Ona on the Lawns in Manuka has a lovely spot for sitting out in the good weather.

I liked the relaxed service, the all day menu and that it was easy to share.

The coffee is great…

…and the trout salad $21 with torn Baguette, Jeruselum artichoke puree and trout fantastic, cherry tomatoes, zuchini nad gremolata is wonderful!


Still on my Wishlist are the Gouda and Potato Fritters $17 with poached eggs, corn, snowpea tendrils, coriander, aioli and lime….

…and the Fruit toast with mandarin ricotta and honey $11.

Open every day:

Mon – Fri 7am – 3.30pm

Sat – Sun 8am – 3pm
Ona on the Lawns Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Penny University, Kingston, two brilliant lunch choices @pennyuniversitycoffeeroasters

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It wasn’t easy to pick just two choices to share for lunch at Penny University, but the Chilli Scrambles $18 and the Roasted Cauliflower Salad $23 were wonderful and  memorable dishes!


The Chilli Scrambles – eggs with fresh soy beans and shitake  mushrooms  scrambled in tau ban chilli and served with a  shallot pancake and bean sprout salad was spicy and delicious!


The warm Roasted Cauliflower Salad with grains, herbs, baby spinach and crunchy roasted chick peas, preserved lemon and honey yogurt, hazelnut sukkah and pomegranate, had perfect  crunch and some gorgeous spices – cinnamon, cloves maybe allspice? It was a lovely dish too.


I love the all day menu and  that you can book for lunch.

Firmly on my favourites list!
Penny University Coffee Roasters Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Taste of Bangladesh, Manuka – I still love it!

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It’s been nearly 18 months since I discovered Taste of Bangladesh in Manuka and I still love it!

The prices are still absolutlely amazing – curries start at $14, rice and breads are about $3, entrees $7-9, sides $2-3, desserts $4.50 and BYO corkage for wine or beer is free!

Shafique has cooked at many Canberra restaurants and it’s easy to see his great passion for sharing his dishes.

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..and Gary does a great job of looking after the floor and is just such a nice guy too…

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I’ve got my favourites that are still hard to beat …but lately I’ve tried a few others.

Entrees:

I think my favourite is the samosas..two for $7…I love the crisp shell and the flavours and texture of the filling.

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Next would be the Onion Bhaji (onion fritters) …four for $7…so great to share with a group of four or more (you can always ask Shafique to add extra for $1.75 each).

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Then the Palak Papdi Chaat $9 – crispy spinach fritters on a potato salad with tamarind and yogurt

And then the chicken tikka $10 for four pieces

But I just love the Cheese and Spinach Naan $3.50 each…I always have to get that and it would make afine entree with some Raita $3.50 (yogurt and cucumber dip)

..I like it more than the Garlic Naan  $3 (which is also pillowy soft if your prefer a plainer bread)..

Mains

I still love the Chicken Dum Murgh $15.50 and the Fish Bengali best $16.50…

…but I am also a fan of the Beef dishes like Handi Dum Beef or Bhoona Beef $15 and the Khadi Lamb $16 is great too…

The Coconut Prawn or Fish Curry $16.50 are good…

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…and for variety the Palak Paneer $14 is great and the Dal Makani also good $14 and there’s the eggplant marsala $14 ( a bit like Fish Bengali but without the fish (which I prefer)..

…and rice $3 per serve

Sides are very inexpensive too like the kachumber $3 if you like a bit of salad with your meal.

And even if you can’t fit anything else in…a little Mango Kulfi $4.50 to share is a perfect way to end the evening.

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Open every night for dinner, it’s upstairs in the Style Arcade Manuka.

(Lunch bookings also available).

Best spot for parking is the Medical Centre on Furneaux Street, then just walk down Palmerston Lane.

Taste of Bangladesh Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

 

 

Happy Hour at The Pedler, Campbell 

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The Pedler has happy hour 4-6 pm every day!

…offering Beaumont Chardonnay and Cabernet Merlot for $5 a glass.

The Flatbread $13 with grilled zucchini, goats curd, grilled shallots and dried chilli is just so very good. The flavours just go so well together, it’s delicious. Such a great value, tasty nibble to share with a drink and I’m glad it’s till on the new menu.

And the new menu has this equally delicious Pan Fried Haloumi $15  with red onoin jam, Pedro Ximenez glaze and fresh oregano served on a garlic crostini (which is yummy!)

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…and I just love the friendly casual service!

If you end up staying longer, there’s some great looking mains that are very well priced!
The Pedlar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Maple & Clove @MapleandClove

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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.

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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.

Maple & Clove Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato