Taste of Bangladesh, Manuka – I still love it!

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.

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

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.

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).

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…

…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.

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.

Happy Hour at The Pedler, Campbell

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!)

…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!

Maple & Clove @MapleandClove

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.

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.

Little Bird, Barton – a second look! @littlebirdbarton

Having enjoyed Little Bird so much the first visit, it was time to go back and try a few more of the dishes on my wishlist.

The Reuben Toasted Sandwich $11.90 was absolutely delicious and very generously sized….

…with Corned beef, sauerkraut, pickles and swiss cheese

This was great to share with the Slow-roasted pumpkin salad with caramelised beetroot, avocado, lentils, fetta, almonds and sumac yoghurt $17.50.

Next time I’ve got my eye on the Grilled chicken breast salad and the roast pumpkin toasted sandwich with field mushrooms, basil pesto and feta.

Hoi Polloi – a first look @hoipolloioph

The Hoi Polloi, has a lovely, prime heritage position at Old Parliment House.

Dining there is a treat.

Wine by the glass is well priced.

There’s an option of small plates like the Hot smoked trout…

..with green apple, fennel, red sorrel and yogurt $12 (you can also get a larger serve for $16)….

….or larger bites like the Hoi Polloi Burger $19.50 on a mik bun with pickled beetroot, cheddar cheese, pineapple and fries.

There’re also daily specials worth checking out like Fridays Cheese or Charcuterie Board and a glass of wine for $20.

Open daily for lunch 11:30-2:00pm.

Little Oink, Cook, another suburban Gem! @littleoinkcafe

Little Oink in Cook is another suburban gem that everyone’s been talking about.

It’s open everyone day Monday – Friday 7am – 4pm and Saturday – Sunday 8am – 4pm and takes bookings (a good idea as it’s small and cozy) and has easy parking.

I loved the friendly and flexible service…

..the cute, relaxed, funky and casual decor.

…all the inexpensive options with low cost add ons $2-4 which were very popular…

….like two eggs any way, on a lovely thick slice of sourdough $10…

….or the Jordo $12 with smokey bacon, eggs, cheese and tomato on a brioche bun.

There’s also good larger meals to share, perhaps with some of the lovely autolyse bread like…

…fantastic Autolyse fruit bread $7

There’s also lemon myrtle tea on the menu!

Two Before Ten, Aranda – a first look @TwoBeforeTen

It’s taken a while to get out to Aranda to see what everyone’s been talking about at Two Before Ten , but there’s just so much to love about this opportunistic spot.

I love the easy parking, the casual, friendly and accommodating staff who are very happy for you to share dishes.

The coffee is roasted on site…

There’s an all day menu with lots of interesting bush tucker touches that includes the Lamb Burger with Slow Braised Lamb Shoulder with Pickled Onions and Roast Capsicum.

The pulled meat was very delicious.

It’s immensely popular but you can book and it’s open any day of the week 7-4 weekdays and 8-2 weekends.

And the prices are great, with lots of inexpensive great looking options like the

Eggs, Poached or Scrambled, with house tomato chutney $11

or $15 with Bacon, Mushroom or Salmon

On my wish list is…

BEAR: Boiled Egg with Smashed Avocado on a Rye Muffin $9

Big Bear (with extra egg) $11

Polar Bear (with salmon) $13

Brown Bear (with mushrooms) $13

Koala Bear (With Native Dukkah) $13

And tosties $11 that are large enough to easily share…

…with Roasted Chicken, Lemon Aioli, smashed avocado and provolone…

…or Braised Wallaby with Sauteed Mushrooms and Bush Tomato Chutney…

….Roast Pumpkin, Sage, Fetta and Spinach.

I’m also keen to try the Three Mills Raisin Loaf with yeasted sourdough (to achieve a lighter loaf) with house milled rye grain and fruit served with espresso butter $6.50

The Banana Leaf, Canberra City

Banana Leaf holds a prime position in the Canberra City. It has soft furnishings and lovely attentive service.

Catering for both Sri Lankan and modern Australian style dishes, meals are designed to be eaten by one person rather than shared.

Entrees include…

Vegetarian Delight – Potato and green pea with Sri Lankan spices wrapped in a triangle shaped patty pastry and lightly fried. Served with chilli yogurt $22.90 for three ($15.90 for two)

Garlic or Chilli Prawns – King prawns lightly pan fried with garlic-infused olive oil, cream and white wine Served with savoury rice and garnish $19.90

Chicken Pan Rolls – Mildly curried minced chicken and potato rolled in a crepe, finely crumbed and lightly fried, served with a garnish and sweet chilli $15.90

Wattleseed Mussels – Green shell mussels cooked in macadamia and olive oil with birds’ eye chillies, Spanish onion and garlic, served with wattle seed mayonnaise $17.90

Mains include….

Tasmanian Salmon- Pan-sealed and grilled Tasmanian salmon fillet on Sri lankan milk rice with mung dhal cake topped with mango and ginger gravy. $29.90

Pan grilled Barramundi – Grilled with lemon myrtle and dorrigo pepper, served on a bed of sweet potato and macadamia mash and vegetables of the day $28.90

Pork Black Smore – Slow cooked pork loin casserole prepared with black spices from southern Sri Lanka, Served with savoury basmati rice and sweet mustard pickle $28.90

String Hoppers – Sri Lankan rice noodle dough pressed through a special mould and steamed on string hopper mats, served with your choice of beef, chicken, fish or vegetarian curries and the traditional accompaniments $28.90

Spicy King Prawns Curry – Sri Lankan spice induced Prawn curry served with fried vegetable rice and pappadam strips accompanied with coconut and chilli sambol $29.90

Corkage is $12.90 per bottle, but wine is also available by the glass.

The Tree House, North Sydney

I know I’ve mentioned the Tree House before, but it truly is a great ‘go to’ spot if you need a place for coffee, brunch or lunch or just somewhere to camp and do some work before a meeting.

There’s plenty of cozy, quiet nooks…..

….great coffee…

….chai….

…..fruit toast $6…

…..bathrooms

Staff are endlessly flexible, friendly and accommodating.

Looking around, it seems it’s a favourite for work coffee meetings with many.

The North End Cafe, Maroubra

We didn’t quite have time to enjoy a spread like Not Quite Nigella, but the North End Cafe was a cute and friendly spot to enjoy a quick lunch in Maroubra.