Located in the popular Kingston area, Two for Joy can be a good option when some of the very popular spots are full on the weekend.
Offering both inside and outside seating, friendly efficient service, the great strength of Two for Joy is the large range of options on the menu.
There’s something simple like a generous serve of Raisin Toast $6….
…with good coffee…
…the regular offerings for breakfast…
….and lunch…
….and a changing list of specials.
The Spud Spot in Garema Place City, has plenty of potential for a quick casual lunch or dinner in the warmer weather when it’s nice to sit outside.
Offering large, very sharable serves of either white or sweet potato (or half and half) with a range of fresh and tasty toppings for $10-$13, it’s great value.
Choose between a suggested combination on the menu, or design your own from the hot and cold toppings available.
If you are wanting a lighter touch to your meal, choose more fresh ingredients and skip the hot options.
The vegetarian options also look very inviting.
Pulled Pork $12.90 – tender pulled pork with baby spinach, shredded cabbage, corn, peas and spring onions with light sour cream.
Half serves are also available ( at around $6.50 for one of the basic three options, with additional toppings for $1-$3) but these are limited and it’s better to share one with a friend if you can, or ask for a box and take some with you.
Closed Sundays, it also closes early, Monday to Wednesday.
Also good inspiration for easy quick meals at home….
Warm and cozy in the cold weather, with an attractive décor, Flavours of India is a great pick in the Woden CBD for a weekday lunch.
Sharing a couple of dishes, breads and rice works well, without being too filling. One of each between every two people works well (dishes are big enough for up to six to share, but double up when you need to).
Corkage is $8 per BYO bottle of wine and this can transform a routine lunch into a special event.
A 25% discount is offered for the Canberra Entertainment Book which makes it great value.
The Kadhai Lamb (Gosht) $17.95 is tender and lovely, a top pick.
The Kulcha Paneer with Onion and Marsala is a must have $4.50.
The Biryanis – e.g. the Chicken Biriyani for $19.95 is well sized and tasty, but can be fairly oily, so good to get some plain rice too.
Calling in at Koko Black for coffee is the perfect way to finish dinner. The coffee is great and a cappuccino ($3.90) comes with just the little bit of chocolate that would lovely when really don’t want dessert but something a little sweet would be lovely.
Hot chocolate $6.50
Flat white $3.90
More serious chocolate….
….and desserts $10:50, if you decide you do want some after all
Whisk has delicious flans and cakes, but equally good are their pies for around $5 each.
The pastry is delicate and flaky and the filling full of meat and flavour. A definite winner on a cold day with a coffee.
Whisk also serves a large bowl of hot soup and one of their rolls for $7. On the wishlist for next time.
The Hellenic Club in Woden has range of dining options, that vary in appeal, but one that surpassingly has much to offer as a lunch venue is the Trattoria.
It’s casual and definitely still ‘club-like’, but also friendly, quiet and pleasant.
Some versatile, attractive lunch special options are available for $12.
These are well sized and good for sharing.
Three dishes is enough for four modest appetites.
Add a glass of wine, starting from about $4, and you have the makings of a good lunch get together.
Menu choices include:
zucchinni ribbon, goats. cheese and pine nuts salad with calamari
Pon collo pizza with chicken, bacon and BBQ sauce (very tasty)
Wood -fired lamb and salad on pide bread (excellent).
A good tip is to get the oil/dressing son the side as these can be a bit heavy.
Open 7 days for members and guests.
Membership for one year is $8.80 (seniors $3.30).
The great strength of My Friend Vietnamese Restaurant is that it is ideal for introducing young children to the experience of dining out and trying cuisines from other cultures.
To start with, ‘My Friend’ Restaurant has an engaging child-friendly name.
Parking is close by at the Watson suburban shops. It’s easy and convenient even in cold weather, and the decor inside is welcoming and homely. Booking is not necessary.
It looks like a grown-up restaurant but feels very child friendly. Being a family run business, often the family, including other children, are dining too.
It’s not a quiet spot so normal children’s noise is no problem.
The menu includes lots of popular dishes that are easy for children to enjoy like Vietnamese springs rolls, Sate chicken and Honey Beef.
It is also very reasonably priced, making it easy to take the whole family out. Many dishes start at $13.50.
Serve sizes are very generous and easily shared. Two dishes and is enough for three adults, or two adults and several children.
One serve of rice $2.50, is enough for two people.
There’s a range of desserts that are bound to appeal to children , for $5.
Soft drinks are $2. Corkage is only $1 per person.
And if you have a Canberra Entertainment Book then My Friend offers a 25% discount.
Service is incredibly fast, so there’s no long waits for children. Complimentary prawn crackers appear straight away. (If however you’d like a break between courses then it’s a good idea to mention that to wait staff).
Six seafood rolls with sweet and sour sauce are $5.50
The Peanut Beef $14.50 is a better dish than the Chicken with Lemon Grass and Chilli $13.50 which is very spicy, especially for children.
Some of the other dishes that are popular include:
Vietnamese spring rolls $5 for 4
Peanut Chicken $14.50 or Peanut Lamb $15.50
Sate Chicken $13.50, Sate Beef $13.50, Sate Pok $14.50 or Sate Lamb $15.50
Peanut Chicken $14.50, Peanut Lamb $15.50
Curry Chicken/Beef/Pork with Vegetables in Coconut Cream $14.50 or with Lamb $15.50
Honey Beef $14.50
Caramelised Pork $13.50
and Pork/Chicken with lemongrass and chilli $13.50 or with Lamb $15.50
Banquets are also available, but these would be more expensive and more food than you’d need.
Cafe Alibi is in a quiet spot in New Acton, in between Marcus Clarke Street and London Circuit. Open weekdays 7:15 am – 4 pm it is well located for office workers during the day.
Interior decor is small and fairly plain, but large open windows make it light and pleasant.
The Breakfast menu is well priced and includes many popular dishes.
The Lunch menu offers lighter meals like salads and bruschetta as well as main meals like risotto and pasta, schnitzel and gourmet burgers with chips. There are also blackboard specials.
Serve sizes are generous and easy to share. Takeaway is also an option.
BYO is $5 per bottle
The Sticky Pulled BBQ Pork Burger $17.5 – pulled pork & onion reduced in BBQ sauce, cos lettuce, tomato, cheese, chips, is tasty but quite rich.
Cafe Alibi offers Canberra Entertainment Book holders two mains for the price of one or a half price main if dining alone.
Grill’d, in Woden, but also a Manuka location with a pleasant setting…
….and a Belconnen and City branch….
….is easy to overlook as just another quick service restaurant.
But in fact it has some delicious gourmet burgers, that are well priced (especially if you use the two for one Canbera Entertainment Book Vouchers).
In good weather, it is also possible to sit outside in a sunny quiet nook making it a good spot for a quick (and service is quick). inexpensive lunch catch up with friends.
The menu is informative with plenty of nutrition information and staff are very helpful if you have special requests.
SIMPLY GRILL’D/ 2300kJ / $9.90
Grilled grass fed lean beef, salad, relish & herbed mayo – add tasty cheese + $1.0
‘SIMON SAYS’/ 2240kJ / $12.50
Grilled chicken breast, avocado, crispy trim bacon, salad, relish & herbed mayo
MOROCCAN LAMB/ 2100kJ / $13.50
Grilled 100% grass fed lean lamb, roasted peppers, tzatziki, salad & relish.
The Hungry Buddha is possibly Canberra’s oldest Nepalese restaurant. located in a cozy warm spot down the stairs at the Curtin shops.
Serving a range of both Nepalese and other Asian mains, the best pick is possibly the delicious Goat curry $20 – KHASI KO MASU exquisite village style curry of tender boneless goat enriched with the flavours of fenugreek, cinnamon, tomatoes, coriander, bay leaves, ginger & garlic – a famous specialty of Nepal.
But the very best thing about Hungry Buddha is that it offers smaller 1/2 serves of any dish you fancy.
This is great for smaller appetites or for trying a range of different dishes when there’s only a couple of you.
It also leaves room for the amazing ice-creams!!!
Worth also trying the Makkai tareko – corn kernels sautéed with onion, ginger, garlic and other herbs served with lemon wedge and garnish $8.50 that looks good…Or a Daal Bhat $24 a traditional Nepalese set dinner of rice & daal served with a choice of meat together with a traditional vegetable dish, homemade pickle & a papad.
Dishes include:
Momo ( 4 per serve) $9 – traditional nepalese steamed chicken dumpling served with homemade tomato sauce – quite spicy.
Jhinge Tarkari – $22 – tiger prawns simmered in the paste of traditional Nepalese spices, lemongrass, lime leaves & coconut milk.
Roti $4 (2 serves shown here)
Rice $3 per serve (1 serve and 2 serves shown here)
Golbheda Ko Archer side of tomato pickle $2.50 (very good)
Corkage $6 per bottle
Service is welcoming and friendly. Plenty of room, but it can be noisy for conversation.
25% discount offered to Canberra Entertainment Book Holders.
Fine Eating 