The Scholar, Yum Cha, Dickson

The Scholar, in Dickson is clearly very popular for Yum Cha which it offers daily Mon-Fri 11:45-3:00pm and Sat – Sun 10:30-3:00pm.

It’s a good idea to book a table. Nicest tables are near the window.

Dishes include:

Scallop dumpling $8.80

Steamed Prawn combo dumpling $7.30

Sui Mai (Pork dumpling) $6.30

Pan fried Chive dumpling $7.30

Combo dumpling $6.30

Vegetable in oyster sauce $8.80

Steamed BBQ pork bun $4.80

Coconut Jelly $6.30

Mango Pudding $7.30

Sesame Ball ( with red bean) $6.30

While all choices are good, they aren’t as good as Akiba’s Yum Cha, and the setting is not as nice. It can also be more expensive at the Scholar, as it’s hard to keep track of what dishes cost or how many you’ve had.

Meccabah, Manuka – excellent for solo dining!

While it’s always fun to bring people together over good food, it’s also good to know places to head if you need a quick meal on our own where you can order a meal but still leave feeling comfortable.

Meccabah in Manuka, offering Middle Eastern & North African cuisine, is such a spot.

Staff are very helpful and accommodating. They are quick to offer a container to take with you what you would enjoy more later, so it’s easy to order what you’d love to try.

The Harira Soup with lamb, chickpeas and vegetables $16 is steaming, comfort food full of flavour and comes quickly to your table. It is also huge!!! and could easily be enough for two people if you ask for some small bowls for sharing.

It’s a good idea to accept the take-away container so that you can also enjoy a scoop of the delicious ice-cream, especially the Halva, Date and Vanilla or Turkish Delight ($4 a scoop).

Staff happily offer a 25% discount for holders of the Canbera Entertainment Book.

No BYO but wine by the glass starts at $8.

If you do head there with a group try a shared tasting menu for each 4 people with modest appetites of:

1x Harira Soup with lamb (by enough share as a small starter if you ask for extra bowls) (do ask for it to not be too oily) $16

1 x Pide – try a mix of lamb meatballs with egg and spicy tomato sauce $25 and Spiced chicken with mnt yogurt drizzle and snow pea shoot salad $24

1 x Tangine – Beef with ras el hanout spices, sweet potatoes, carrot and preserved figs $25 (share this using the soup bowls)

1 x scoop ice-cream each

$20 per person ($15 with the 25% discount for holders of the Canberra Enertainment Book.)

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Metro, Central Plaza, Woden

The Metro in the Central Plaza in Woden, has a key location for lunch for workers in nearby buildings.

The menu offers a wide range of dishes including Malaysian, gourmet burgers, fish and chips, salads, soups, and specials.

Prices are reasonable for large serves which could easily be shared.

Possibly the gourmet burgers are the best choices.

Vegetable Laksa $11.80

Chicken Laksa $11.80

Nasi Lemak with Chicken Sambal $12.80

Thai fish cakes with salad $11.20

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A $20 banquet idea for a large group Christmas Party

If you are planning a Christmas Party for a large group (like a work team or Branch) but need to stick to a budget so that everyone can afford to come, then a $20 three course Bangladeshi Banquet including corkage, may be your answer.

Taste of Bangladesh offers food that is a hit with everyone who visits. It’s great value with large sharable serves, there’s no corkage charge on beer or wine and Shafique, your host is very keen to be flexible to meet your needs.

Special dietary requirements can be met easily. Most options are gluten free, some also dairy free and the spiciness of dishes can be easily varied.

A $20 per person plan could include:

Complimentary pappadoms to start

Entree:

1 onion Bhaji per person $1.75 (4 pieces for $7 and $1.75 each for extras) with tamarind chutney and mint chutney

Mains:

1/2 Cheese and spinach naan per person ($1.75)

4 Dishes per 5 people $12.30 per person

Good choices are:

Dum Murgh (chicken)

Fish Bengali

Palak Paneer (vegetarian)

Chicken Biriyani

2 serves plain rice per 6 people (this enough if also getting a Biriyani) $1 each

1 Raita per 7 people $0.50 each

Dessert

1 serve Gulab Jaman (halved pieces) and 1 serve Mango Kulfi per four people ($2.25 per person)

Free corkage on wine and beer

And for those who would prefer something different, there’s also a range of good pizza for $12 like the Tikka Pizza (may also be an alternate entree).

Cream, Canberra City, a look at brunch

Cream in the centre of the Canberra City restaurant strip on Bunda street has a great location for a weekend brunch if you’re shopping. It gets busy so you may need to book. It also gets noisy.

Service is attentive and efficient.

Breakfast options start at 7:30 and run until 2:30pm on the weekend. (Mon – Fri: 7.00am to 11.30am).

A good option is the Big breakfast $20 -free range eggs poached, scrambled or fried on toast w/ bacon, chorizo, button mushrooms, oven roasted tomato & chat potato

From 11:30am salads, burgers, pastas and mains are also available.

The Pulled pork Burger served with chips is a good pick $19 – sticky bbq pulled pork w/ chimichurri, seeded mustard slaw, spiced crispy onions (usually served with a brioche bun, but here the bun is swapped for Turkish bread, a good choice, and sourdough is another possible swap).

No BYO, but it is licensed with a good selection of wines.

Canberra Entertainment Card Holders are offered a complimentary main when two are ordered.

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Urban Bean, Woden – good lunch options

Urban Bean , Scarborough House has a very convenient location for many Woden office workers and can be a great choice for lunch weekdays.

Menu options are interesting, well priced and generously sized for sharing.

The Warm Chicken Salad $14.90 is a good light option..

or with extra bread on the side could easily be shared.

…and the Char-grilled Lamb Wrap $13.90 also excellent…and shareable.

Take with you containers are cheerfully provided.

Plumb on Tennant, Fyshwick

CBR.foodie’s recent post is a good reminder just how good Plumb on Tennant is.

Despite the industrial area location the decor is pleasant, service is great, food is excellent and good value.

Open 7:30 – 3 weekdays, breakfast ends at 11:30am. (Also open Saturdays).

The lunch menu includes plenty of favourites, like gourmet burgers, focaccia, pasta and salads but also some more unusual dishes like zucchini feta dumplings. Serves are generous and great for sharing.

Wagyu Beef Burger $17.50

But on weekends breakfast runs from 8:00am until Plumb closes at 1:00pm which adds to the lunch options.

Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon $19.50 ( butter and sauce on the side)

Plumb Big Breakfast $19.90

Takeaway is a great option too, and prices are even less.

Wagyu beef burger (takeaway) $9.50

Plumb offers holders of Canberra Entertainment Card two meals for the price of one.

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Belluci’s Woden, still a great $19.90 lunch special

Belluci’s in Woden is still offering their great lunch special for $19.90 including a wine, beer or soft drink.

The Chicken Caesar Salad is as good as ever…

…and serve sizes are good for sharing in a group and presentation is excellent.

Risotto with Caramelized pumpkin, baby spinach & gorgonzola dolce w/ roasted walnuts.

Bicicletta, New Acton

Bicicletta in the Peppers Gallery Hotel some lovely settings to enjoy a range of good Italian dishes, well priced and well sized for sharing with friends. Situated in the nostalgic old Acton Hotel it has a restaurant, library bar and courtyard (great for summer) to choose from.

The pan di pizza is a good way to start as 8 well sized pieces are included, great for sharing.

Ordering a mix of salad, pizza and pasta to share is a good plan.

The 4 formaggi (cheese) pizza is excellent as is the insalata di stagione.

The pappardelle al braciato di agnello and gnocchi parmigiana are also good choices. (Gnocchi is a smaller serve size).

Bicicletta can get busy as it also caters for hotel guests and room service, so it pays to order promptly.

No BYO option. Glasses of wine start at $8 and serves are generous.

25% discount up to $40 offered to holders of the Canberra Entertainment Book.

Starters

pan di pizza $12 (8 slices)

freshly cooked pizza bread with rosemary and

extra virgin olive oil or garlic and chilli or tomato

and chopped mushrooms

Pasta

gnocchi parmigiana $24

house made potato and parmesan gnocchi, sautéed

with roasted tomato sauce, sautéed eggplant, roasted

bell peppers and fresh ricotta cheese

pappardelle al braciato di agnello $26

house made pasta with braised lamb in balsamic,

truffle oil, thyme and grated pecorino cheese

ravioli di ricotta $25

house made ravioli filled with fresh ricotta and

spinach, sautéed with tomato and burnt butter

sage, artichoke petals v

spaghetti allo scoglio $26
fresh mussels and little neck clams, king prawns and
baby squid, sautéed in chilli and garlic, tomatoes and white wine sauce

Salads

insalata di stagione 16

crispy pancetta, tomatoes and butter lettuce, poached

egg and black olives, parmesan scales and Italian dressing gf

Pizza

Formaggi $22

mozzarella, Italian cacio di bufala, Italian

parmigiano and pecorino served with fresh rocket v

verdure $20

tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and grilled

seasonal vegetables v

Dessert

Gelati $4 per scoop

Pistachio and Chocolate

Suggested shared menu for six

Starters

pan di pizza $12 (8 slices)

freshly cooked pizza bread with rosemary and

extra virgin olive oil or garlic and chilli or tomato

and chopped mushrooms

Pasta

2x pappardelle al braciato di agnello $26

house made pasta with braised lamb in balsamic,

truffle oil, thyme and grated pecorino cheese

Pizza

Formaggi $22

mozzarella, Italian cacio di bufala, Italian

parmigiano and pecorino served with fresh rocket v

Salads

2x insalata di stagione $16

crispy pancetta, tomatoes and butter lettuce, poached

egg and black olives, parmesan scales and Italian dressing gf

$19.70 per person

(can also stretch to 7 people or even 8 (add an extra salad) if you ask for the pizza to be cut into 8 pieces).

$16.80 per person for 7 people, $16.75 per person for 8

Monday to Sunday 5.00pm to 10.00pm

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Fine Eating

Hints Hacks and Highlights

Eat

The Scholar, Yum Cha, Dickson

Meccabah, Manuka – excellent for solo dining!

Metro, Central Plaza, Woden

A $20 banquet idea for a large group Christmas Party

Cream, Canberra City, a look at brunch

Urban Bean, Woden – good lunch options

Plumb on Tennant, Fyshwick

Belluci’s Woden, still a great $19.90 lunch special

Bicicletta, New Acton

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