Farmhouse Resturant, Pialligo, Canberra

The newly opened Farmhouse Restaurant on Pialligo Estate is really something special.

It is uniquely offers the rare combination of fine dining and open yet cozy, luxurious spaces, very close to the centre of Canberra. It highlights exactly what Canberra does so well – the best of relaxed rural living paired with city sophistication.

You can’t help but relax in the engaging rural setting and let yourself be spoilt by the hospitality and generosity of the Pialligo Estate team whose passion for beautiful fine food and wines and and elegant service is evident everywhere.

The Farmhouse Restaurant is the latest addition to what has been a working farm for nearly 200 years. It adds to the existing orchard, vegetable and herb garden, vineyard …..

2009 Pialligo Estate Riesling

Olive grove….

Extra virgin cold press olive oil

and smokehouse……

Smoked salmon, Smokehouse short cut bacon…

….smoked salt

….. and uses many of the products for its regional and seasonal menu.

Open for lunch Thursday to Sunday 12-4pm ( last orders 2:30pm) there is a choice of two courses $65 per person, 3 courses $80 per person or the 6 course chef tasting plate $110 per person.

And dinner Wednesday to Saturday from 6pm ( last orders 9pm) there is a choice of 2 courses $85 per person, or the 6 course chef tasting plate $110 per person.

The 6 course chef tasting menu may include dishes such as:

Starter/snack

Sabayon of salmon – Atlantic salmon, smoked salmon ( produced at Pialligo Estate), orchard apples, Chive oil and seaweed powder

Sea-weed cured bonito, green tomato, crispy chicken, radish and Dashi of it’s own bones

….or an alternate course for vegetarians ( and mums to be) Jerusalem artichoke, black figs, hazelnut, rosemary and tomato delta

Delicious sourdough bread and house made miso butter (don’t miss this, they are wonderful!)

New season Cipollini Onions, Pialligo Farm Chorizo, Nashi Paear and Young Mustard

Madura Valley Egg, Veal Sweetbread, Celeriac, Brioche and Pine Mushroom ( a favourite course)

Muscovy Duck, Musquee de Provence Pumpkin, Red Onion, Chestnut and Licorice

Valrhona Jivara Chocolate, Buck wheat, Caramelised Banana and Malted Milk

Coffee and Mignardises (strawberry marshmallow, dark chocolate with truffle, salted caramel ( fantastic)

There is also the option of wine pairings such as…

Ravensworth 7 month White Blend 2014 ( a Bryan Martin creation and excellent)
Pialligo Estate Reisling 2009 ( very good too)
Henriques and Henriques 10 year old sercial Madeira
Rippon Gamay Noir 2013
Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 2012

…the Farmhouse Restaurant also offers canapés for other occasions such as….
Potato baskets with truffle

Quail croquettes with bacon, garlic and Chive mayonnaise ( delicious, like tiny kievs)

Soon there will also be other dining options that will be well worth considering…
…a Farmhouse Marquee in front of the vineyard, for up to 200 people that would be perfect for a wedding celebration….

….and the near completion Farmhouse Pavillions that will hold 20-25 seated guests, or 30 for cocktails, and offer a more casual experience. The team at Pialligo are flexible about how these might be used, offering a range of service and menu options to fit the occasion and the price range.

The Farmhouse Restaurant is the perfect place to show visitors how special Canberra is, showcasing Canberra’s great views, local produce, relaxed living, city culinary sophistication and elegant hospitality.

(Don’t miss the amazing bathroom decor either!)

If you don’t have time for a meal with visitors, the local produce is ideal as a very Canberra gift.

Akiba, Canberra City, weekend Yum Cha

Akiba, Canberra City has an a la carte menu with some delicious choices, but on weekends a short version is still available, but it complimented by rotating options on the Yum Cha trolley.

Around 9 different types of dumplings ($10 for 4 pieces) are offered along with a small range of other dishes.

The creative dumplings are complimented by some very flavourful and wonderful dressings. Possibly the best could be the Chicken Shumai with Yauzu mayonnaise.. also available steamed

..but the Shitaki mushroom and water chestnut dumpling with red vinegar and chill oil are very good too.

Other options include the Satay pork dumpling with Satay sauce (very delicious)

Fried prawn Wontons

Lamb and mint dumplings

The mango and coconut sticky rice with macadamia and palm sugar ice-cream is a delicious way to finish.

Jasmine tea is complimentary.

Akiba is also much quieter and less busy on Sundays than during the weekend when it very popular with city workers.

Snapper, by the Lake

Inspired by the Food Marshall’s post on Snapper, at the Southern Cross Club Canberra Yacht Club, by Lake Burley Griffin, it is certainly a unique and special spot.

Possibly it is the only place on the lake where you can have the benefits of taking your own picnic (like choosing your own spot, taking wine and drinks, nibbles, cake, keeping costs down, space for kids to run around) but also have the luxury of hot tasty fish and chips (around $12)….

…or a nice smoked chicken and avocado or Caesar salad ($10) ready to go …

Garden salad $6

….along with a manicured lawn, great view, and live music (Sat and Sun from 12).

Snapper does have tables, but these fill quickly and may not always be shady/sunny, so it pays to bring your own chairs as well as a back up.
They also sell alcohol, cakes and are open 8am-8pm every day!

It’s just such a treat to have the flexibility to buy or bring as much or as little as suits you on the day, every day of the week, for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Hard to beat as a great spot in the good weather, particularly for families.

Old Parliament House Cafe, Canberra

At the moment the Old Parliament House Cafe is a great summer find open everyday except Christmas Day until 5pm, serving bargain-priced sandwiches and cakes in atmospheric heritage surroundings.

Currently occupying an a sunny nook in the courtyard while the front of house Kitchen Cabinet is being renovated, it is just the spot for a relaxed, stylish coffee or light lunch.

Share two warm scones with jam and cream between two for $4 or a large sandwich $8 or roll $10 with coffee and enjoy the memories of a past era.

Current specials include 4 scones and a pot of tea for $12.50 or a complimentary side of salad with your sandwich or roll.

Other regular options for a special occasion include High Tea $39 or Devonshire Tea $12.50.

The indoor seating with a view of the courtyard, is cozy if it’s chilly or wet.

Visit the Beyond the Lines exhibition while you’re there and have a chuckle at the year just past.

Stroll through the gardens (also a wonderful spot for a picnic) before you leave.

Cork Street Cafe, Gundaroo – a great lunch spot with kids

Cork Street Cafe is worth the 40 min country drive. It has a lovely sunny setting that is also cosy in winter, friendly relaxed staff, great food and good prices.

Set back from the road, the space and casual environment is great for kids.

The menu great for young kids with finger foods like homemade baba gnash and hummus dips with focaccia and veggie sticks, gourmet pizza and some delicious potato wedges with sour cream and sweet chilli sauce $9.

Half Tiger Wazza, half Columbian $31 Family sized

Tomato and bocconcini salad $16

Team this with a salad to cater for adults as well and everyone can help themselves from these shared dishes.

BYO is $2 per person and cakeage is $1 per person making Cork Street a good spot for celebrating.

Canberra Entertainment book holders are offered a 25% discount.

Claypot Chef, Farrer – a hidden Sri Lankan gem

Like the Burmese Curry Place and the Global Café (Ethiopian), the Claypot Chef in Farrer offers an exceptionally good, lesser known cuisine, at an unbelievably good price

The Claypot captures authentic South Asian flavours and is a great place to try many of the Sri Lankan classics like Chicken/lamb/prawn Curry $14/$15, Kottu Roti $10-$13 (a little like a fried rice made with diced roti breads served with curry), Biriyani $13.50, Watalappam $4 (like a baked coconut milk and cardamom custard) , String Hoppers $8 (great with curry), Coconut Sambol side dish $5…..and if pre-ordered, or usually on weekends, also Egg Hoppers $2.50 each, Pittu (rice flour and grated coconut cooked in a cylinder shape and served with coconut milk and sambol $4 (minimum of 5), Goat or Black Pork Curry $15 and Lamprais (a Dutch influenced dish) $18.

Serve sizes are generous and ideal for sharing a few dishes up to six people.

Kottu Lamb $13 Devilled Chicken (a favourite) $15

Prawn Curry $15 Large rice $3

Green Beans Curry $10 Delicious plain roti $2 each

Seeni Sambol $5 (quite spicy) Pappadoms 2 for $1.50

Four dishes with a large basmati rice $3 and roti $2 each (so delicious that you will want one each) is plenty for 6 people (especially because Claypot is so lovely and may offer complimentary extras like rice re-fills, pappadums (usually 2 for $1.50) and cooked milk, palm sugar, cardamom and ginger sweets.

Cardamon & ginger sweets Watalappam $4

At around $12 per person, this is a delicious feast,cooked by people who genuinely want to share their love of Sri Lankan food with Canberrans.

As the Claypot is primarily caters for takeaway customers, inside seating is limited. However groups of up to 10 can be comfortably accommodated indoors and up to 30 can eat al fresco, which is very pleasant on a warm summer evening.

It’s good to phone ahead and book, especially if you’d like to try the dishes that take much time to prepare.

So don’t let the casual nature of Claypot distract you from trying the great food, it’s well worth the visit to Farrer shops (next to IGA) and a worthy suburban dining opportunity to support.

Open Tuesday to Thursday 4-8pm and Friday to Sunday 10am-8pm.

Closed Mondays.

Phone 02 62868081

Tossolini’s, Canberra City – a quick look at lunch

Tossolini’s on the corner of East Row and London Circuit is conveniently open 7 days for breakfast lunch and dinner (10% surcharge Sundays).

Prices seem a little high, for what you get and corkage is $12.50 per bottle, but if you have the Canberra Entertainment Book, it helpfully offers a complimentary main meal.

Atmosphere is more ‘cafe’ than ‘restaurant’ and it lacks a bit of charm and style but can be useful for a casual lunch.

If you are eating ‘light’ then the Chicken Salad at $17.90 is useful with satisfying flavours.

Insalata di Pollo (gf) 17.90

Marinated chicken, crisp kipfler potatoes, sun dried tomatoes, baby spinach leaves, rocket leaves and shaved parmesan tossed with balsamic vinaigrette

If you would like something more filling, but not a full main meal, then the open chicken or veal focaccia at $18.90 might appeal.

Open Grilled Focaccia served with chips 18.90

Grilled veal steak, beetroot dip, fresh tomato, mixed leaves and grilled onions

Gryphons, Griffith, Canberra

Located at Griffith shops, the parking is easy. Gryphons is also open at very useful times, e.g. lunch Sundays, breakfast.

The pulled pork burger is delicious, $18. The pizza (e.g. Little Tokyo pizza, a special, $20 with prawns, pumpkin, karaage chicken and katsu sauce), also good.

The couches and lounge chairs are a cozy option. Not BYO, but the Forest Pinot Gris $8.50/glass is consistently good. Good to know if ordering steak, be aware that it seems to often be more rare than expected.

Eighty Six, Braddon, Canberra

Eighty Six in Braddon, has been immensely popular since it opened.
The menu is not available on line, but is up on the blackboard on the wall.

It changes seasonally, and includes a very varied range of interesting dishes like smoked beetroot risotto, bag salmon with pickled ginger…….

scallop with black pudding and fennel $8 each, black chicken with butter milk slaw $34 for two Marylands….

lamb shoulder (1 kg lamb for $64), ceviche with pita crisp…

Caramel Popcorn Sundae $14….

Bananoffee Pie $14 (both rich and delicious, and best shared)

Dishes are designed for sharing and it’s best to go with a group so that you can try a whole range of different dishes which are usually a lot more interesting than they might first sound, so to be adventurous.
Prices vary, but most dishes are around late $20s early $30s.
Wine though is quite expensive, double many other places at around $16-17 a glass, and bottle prices match. There is no BYO option.
So that makes it a very expensive meal if you include wine.
A great place to go with a group of friends who want to share tastes of a wide range of dishes, but gets expensive if including a lot of wine.