The Chifley Bar & Grill, Barton – my new favourite for lunch @chifleysbarandgrill

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!

Soul Cartel, The Hamlet, Braddon – A first look

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

Urban Pantry, Manuka – still a lunch favourite

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!)

Yat Bun Tong Dumpling House, Braddon

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

Sunday Lunch Special at Marble & Grain, Braddon

Marble & Grain is a great spot for $15 lunch specials any day of the week.

It’s a warm and cozy place in winter, with excellent and accommodating service and an inviting interior.

The current specials are five including a good looking salad and a generous chicken schnitzel.

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Pialligo Estate launches its ‘The Butcher, The Baker & The Merrymaker’ July Winter Event Series

Something special is happening in July out at Pialligo Estate.

They are making the most of winter in Canberra with eleven mid-winter/Christmas in July themed events...

…. and Canberra Food Bloggers were treated to a preview this week.

Showcasing wines from Pialligo Estate, Schnapps, wonderful gluwein and gin from Wild Brumby Distillery near Jindabyne and boutique beers from Pact, there was plenty to toast to the success of the venture.

Rohan from Pialligo Estate, Anne-Marie from Wild Brumby and Kevin from Pact introduced guests to their unique local products and partnership.

The Hot smoked salmon, Salmon gravolax, Pialligo ham and air dried beef with roast veg and accompaniments were amazing, as was Mel’s mum’s recipe for Christmas pudding with brandy custard.

A wonderful taster for what’s on offer to Canberrans making the most of winter.

Pialligo Estate is hot right now in Canberra and in winter it’s also cosy.

Not only is the Farmhouse restaurant lovely and welcoming but the pavilions, usually open in summer, are now toasty and warm.

The event calendar includes:

1 July Midwinter Christmas Feast $150pp ( three course)

3 July Kirsty’s pudding making day ( and champagne lunch) $150pp

7 July Sunset drinks $40pp local and regional wines and produce

9 July Feather and bone Masterclass $120pp – butchering, cooking and enjoying a Texel lamb

10 July A Feast of the beast from feather and bone $145pp – 5 course menu of meat dishes and wines

14 July Bastille Day truffle dinner $150pp – French truffle feast with paired wines

16 July Cape Grim and Flinders Island age of meaty innocence $145pp – a lavish lunch

21 July Smoked, cured and grilled $145pp

23 July Pact full of surprises $110pp – four course afternoon soirée with beer matches from Pact Beer Co.

28 July Wildbrumby Schnapps Banquet $145pp four course meal and schnapps tasting

31 July The Christmas Sunday Roast $110pp

31 July Family Market Day free – market stalls showcasing local produce

#butcherbakermerrymaker

@butcherbakermerrymaker

@butchbakemerry

Debacle

Debacle ticks lots of boxes for a group lunch – it’s central in Lonsdale Street, Braddon, open every day, and you just order and pay at the counter.

But perhaps best of all, it’s got a range of options to suit everyone.

If you are eating light then there’s the side of steamed vegetables or mashed potato for $8 (a half serves pictured here)…

…. and the six slices of pizza bread for $5 is a bargain and tastes fantastic with the anchovies and parmesan…

…other smaller dishes include the tapas like the Seared Chorizo and Prawns (tossed with lemon, chilli and shallots) $12..

…or a shared pizza like the Bombay Chicken with tandoori chicken, spanish onion, raita & papadums (large $30 pictured here with 8 slices, medium $21 is six slices, small is $14 for small slices)

Then for something more substantial off the menu there’s the Chicken Burger – $20 with southern-fried chicken breast, avocado, tomato, lettuce, blue cheese aioli & beer battered chips

…or the Seafood Linguini $26 with king prawns, mussels & scallops in a spicy tomato sauce…

…or the Fish and Chips with grilled snapper $25

But there are also the black board specials like….

Pho $13.50 (not the strongest dish)..

Mexican Chicken Breast $16.50…

Thai Beef Salad $16.50…

Char-grilled lunch steak $16.50

Mondays and Tuesdays are two for one specials and there’s also Happy Hour Monday to Friday 3-5pm.

Public, Manuka – trying more lunch choices

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.

Ivy and the Fox, Acton – a new lunch menu

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.

Wilbur’s Cafe Bar Hackett – trying the new menu

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.