Pulp Kitchen is a popular spot for a weekend brunch (9-2pm) offering generous serves that can be shared between two ( e.g two eggs any style with toast and three sides $21) and smaller serves of traditional eggs benedict with spinach/ smoked salmon/ smoked ham for $10/$11.
Coffee comes in a cup $3.50 or a bowl $4.50 and parking is easy.
Coffe bowl
The Palace Cinema in New Acton is a lovely spot to see movies with friends with easy parking (a new open air area along Parkes Way as well as under cover parking in the Nishi Building).
But it’s always good to also have the chance to dissect the movie together afterwards and the newly opened Max Brenner also in the Nishi Building, New Acton, is another welcome and very convenient option for coffee.
Serve sizes are great for sharing, and staff are very happy to give you a box to take with you for what you would enjoy more again later.
Praline Meringue Extravaganza – plenty to share
New Acton Nishi
Corner Marcus Clarke Street & Edinburgh Ave
Canberra, ACT 2601
Ph: 02 62488993
Open 7 days 8am – 11pm (Sat 8am – midnight)
Having heard plenty of good feedback about the Green Herring Restaurant and it’s lovely open fire it was a good spot to head on a Saturday night in the middle of a Canberra winter. The duo of dips with bread $5, was a good nibble to have with wine ($9 corkage), but the accompanying thin garlic toasts were a bit too salty. I preferred the look of the cob loaf that went past (also $5). The steak was tender, tasty and well sized, but quite pricey at $38. The Venison was a smaller serve (also $38). The table next to us shared the dessert platter for two ($32), and it had interesting accompaniments along with the individual apple pie, chocolate spring rolls, brulee and steamed pudding. It could easily be shared between 4 people as it’s large and there are really four desserts on the plate. The fire was impressive, but a bit too warm. Service was efficient and included a surprise of complimentary chocolates. 
duo of dips with bread $5
Beef
Venison $38
dessert platter for two $32
Zen Yai is another good Canberra restaurant for Thai food, centrally located in the city, quiet on week nights, with a pleasant, tasteful decor, a nice feel, very reasonable corkage and mains that are well sized for sharing.
BYO is $3 per bottle of wine, $1 per bottle of beer.
Suggested menu for six:
Choose four mains and four serves coconut or plain rice.
The Stir fry dishes (e.g. Chicken with fresh chilli and basil) and curries (e.g. Massamun or Penang curry) make excellent choices, but also consider the house specials e.g. Gang Dang Ped, roasted duck in red curry with lychees, pineapple, tomatoes and sweet basil.
My favourite was the Beef Massamun Curry, followed in order by the Stir-fried Chicken with Chill and Basil , Beef Panang Curry with Beef, Roast Duck Red Curry with lychees and pineapple, Green curry with Prawns, Stir fried Chicken with Cashew nuts, Sweet and Sour Pork. (I have also heard the pork laab is excellent.)
Beef Massamum Curry $17.80
Stir fried chicken with fresh chilli and basil $18.50
Beef Panang Curry with Beef $21.50
Roast duck in red curry with lychees and pineapple $21.50
Green curry with prawns (quite spicy) $19.80
Stir fried Chicken with cashew nuts
Sweet and Sour pork with coconut rice
11 London Circuit, Canberra City
Canberra, ACT
Ph: 62627594
Open 7 days
Iori has been around for 14 years and has featured previously in Canberra’s Top Restaurant lists. Service is professional and personal. Director Mamoru is ‘hands on’ and friendly and chats with diners. He assured me that he tries to be as flexible as possible. This was true as we were able to swap the Miso Soup in the Ninja Banquet for Nasu Dengaku – Eggplant.
While the banquets (starting at $40 per person) are a delicious and easy option that let groups of at least four, try a range of dishes, like all banquets, you end up with way more food than you might otherwise order (making it hard not to overeat) and you may not try the most delicious options. I was told by xxx that it is possible to order a banquet for four to share between more people, which could be a good solution, but an alternative to a banquet that still allows everyone to try a variety, but to also stay comfortable, is to order specific dishes and share.
The best dishes from the Ninja banquet were the :
Seaweed Salad
Sushi & Sashimi with Special Sushi Rolls
Crab, Prawn and Vegetable Tempura
Terriyaki Chicken
$40 pp Ninja Banquet for Six People
Edamane
Age Dashi Tofu
Nasu Dengaku – Eggplant (Swapped for Miso Soup)
Seaweed Salad
Rice
Garlic Steak – Wagyu Premium Beef
Teriyaki Chicken
Crab, Prawn and Vegetable Tempura
Sushi & Sahimi with Special Sushi Rolls
Flavours of India, is Woden’s best spot for Indian food.
The Kadhai Murgh (chicken pieces tossed with onions, tomatoes and capsicums along with coriander and garlic), Paneer Hara Marsala ( cubes of fresh cottage cheese cooked with tomatoes in spinach based gravy and fenugreek leaves), Gosht Hara Marsala (boneless pieces of lamb cooked along with spinach and fenugreek leaves) and the Malai Kofta (cottage cheese dumplings stuffed with raisins and finished in a rich creamy tomato and cashew based gravy) are all delicious.
The Kulcha Paneer ( stuffed bread) was exceptional.
Suggested Menu
One dish, bread and rice per two people for lunch
Gosht Hara Masal, Malai Kofta, and Kulcha Paneer
Kadhai Murgh and Paneer Hara Marsala
Soju Girl Two for One Tuesday current menu
(02) 6257 5328
41/43-45 Northbourne Ave,
Canberra ACT 2601
Soju Girl says it’s menu ‘has influences from all over south-east Asia with a heavy focus on Korean, Japanese and Thai cuisine. Call it modern Asian fusion if you will.’
On Tuesdays Soju Girl used to offer ‘Two for one Small Plates’ making it a good night to share a range of interesting dishes in a group, at a very affordable price. The two dishes didn’t need to be the same, but you paid for the most expensive option. (Soju staff have always be very helpful at pairing up similarly priced dishes.) However, this great offer has stopped (but hopefully might return sometime!!).
Suggested shared menu:
Order 1 -2 small plates per person (total)
Four of my favourites on the current menu are the:
Zucchini flower, sushi rice, tomato capsicum compote $7 each (or two for $7 on Tuesdays)
Cauliflower flowerets, puff rice, horseradish foam $15 (or two for $15 Tuesdays)
Eggplant pickle, goma siracha paste, sesame crisp $14 (or two for $14 Tuesdays)
Miso pork stuffed eggplant, sweet soy, fried basil $22 (or two for $22 on Tuesdays)
No BYO
Zucchini flower
Cauliflower flowerets
Eggplant pickle, goma siracha paste, sesame crisp
Miso pork stuffed eggplant, sweet soy, fried basil
OPEN 5 DAYS
Mon | Closed
Tues | 5pm – Late
Wed + Thurs | 12-3pm
Wed + Thurs | 5pm – Late
Thurs + Fri | 12pm – Late
Sat | 2pm – Late
Sun | Closed
Brodburger in the Glassworks Building Kingston is famous for it’s gourmet burgers.
Brodveg
But they are HUGE! That’s OK if you’re happy to share one, but a less messy alternative is to order the perfectly sized Baby Brodburger.These are just the right size for around $8.
Baby Brodchicken $9 with a side of chips $2.50
My favourite is the Baby Brodsalmon $9 with blue cheese added. It is divine.
BYO wine. Corkage is $7.50 per bottle.
However Brodburger doesn’t take bookings and has long tables that are shared with other groups. Good to get there early.
You can also phone and pre-order and any burger can be made into a brod mama burger which are made with a well done beef pattie, egg free aioli, and your choice of Swiss or cheddar cheese.”
It’s best in the good weather when you can sit outside and enjoy a lovely Canberra summer evening. You can even take your burger and some wine and head to the lake. In winter it can be a bit chilly, even inside.
OPENING HOURS:
Lunch: 11.30am – 3pm (Tue-Sat)
Dinner: 5.30pm – Late (Tue-Sat)
Sun Lunch: 12.00pm – 4.00pm
Coffee / Cakes from 10am
Closed Mondays
LOCATION
Canberra Glassworks
11 Wentworth Avenue
Kingston ACT 2603
PH: 0261620793
Inspired by Her Canberra‘s review it was great to try the Parlour Wine Room in New Acton recently.
Refurbished after the fire in 2011, it is beautifully furnished in period style and I’m told, still retains some of it’s old characteristic atmosphere.
The $16 lunch special (Tuesday to Sunday) (+ 10% surcharge on Sundays), is excellent value and includes a generous serve of house wine ( the shiraz was excellent) and a slice of sourdough bread and olive oil.
The Battered Calamari with chipotie aioli and pickled cucumber was our best dish followed by the Spanish beef and potato stew (once with beef and another time with pulled pork). Next best was the Pappardelle pasta with pork belly and sofrito and lastly the Fried free range eggs with piquillio peppers and jamon.
Battered Calamari with chipotie aioli and pickled cucumber
Spanish beef and potato stew
Spanish beef and potato stew (with pulled pork)
Pappardelle pasta with pork belly
Fried free range eggs with piquillio peppers and jamon
CONTACT
16 KENDALL LANE, NEW ACTON, ACT
PH: (02) 6257 7325
Sutton Forest Estate Wines
A real gem on the Hume Highway.
This Winery and Cafe is a great find and the only real alternative to roadhouses and quick service restaurants on the left hand side of the highway. Helpfully, it is also midway between Canberra and Sydney. (On the right hand side, almost opposite, Sutton Forest Estate Wines, is Eling Forrest Winery, also good for a stop when heading back from Sydney on the other side of the highway. However, it gets much busier than Sutton Forrest winery and it can be worth crossing over the overpass for quicker service and a quieter spot.
Sutton Forest Estate Wines can be a bit tricky to find the first time. Head up to McDonald’s but drive past the drive through entrance and keep going, almost as if you are getting back on to the Hume highway, but take the last exit on the left down a small road. There are usually signs out to indicate the right way to go.
The turn off to the winery from McDonalds Heading back the other way to get back on to the highway
Sutton Forrest Estate winery and cafe is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 9-5pm (sometimes a bit earlier).
Nic and his wife Santina are lovely, They make great coffee and wonderful focaccias with Santina’s home roasted vegetables, and salami or ham.
They also have Alpine gelato, torte delle nonna, jam tart (homemade) , minestrone soup and a wonderful looking antipasti platter for two or more ($19) which I’m told comes with plenty of bread and would be great with a bottle of their own wine ($20-$27 per bottle, also available by the glass). (I suspect a platter for two could be enough for more than two.)
Torte della nonna $9
While you’re waiting for Santina to cook your focaccia, you can taste some of the wines on offer.
On sunny days it’s nice to sit outside and the view of the vineyards is terrific.
On cold or rainy days the open fire inside is gorgeous.
For me, no trip to Sydney is complete without a stop here.
Fine Eating 