Eat

P.J. O’Reilly’s, Canberra City

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PJ O’Reillys is conveniently centrally located, on the corner of West Row in Civic, Canberra City centre.

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Meals are well priced ($18 – $27 approx) and serve sizes generous. Wine by the glass is also well priced starting at $6.
In addition to the menu, there are blackboard specials. The Lamb Shank special was delicious and a bargain at $23 for two shanks.

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Weeknights also have regular specials (e.g. Monday is Atlantic Salmon with Sav Blanc night $20 (usually $24).

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The Eye Fillet at $27 (not as good value or as nice as some other meals).          Atlantic Salmon $18

PJ O’Reillys also offers two meals for the price of one, in the Canberra Entertainment book (but not on the weeknight specials).

However, it has to be said, that it’s noisy (footy on TV, trivia night, drinkers after work) and you never forget that you’re in a pub.

PJ O'Reilly's on Urbanspoon

Global Cafe Ethiopian – my favourite Canberra cheapie

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Located centrally on Northbourne Ave, next to the corner chemist, the Global Cafe doesn’t look much from the outside.

But the food is wonderful and the hospitality generous and welcoming.

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Meat & Veg Combination $18.90                                    Vegetarian Combination $15.90   (both includes rice and extra injera)
The combination injera meal serve sizes are large and made for sharing. There is no corkage cost for wine. This might just be the very best value in town.

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Samosas $2.50 each

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Open Monday to Friday only, for lunch and dinner, the cafe closes around 8:00-8:30pm. Bookings are taken.
The Global cafe website hosts some excellent background information on Ethiopian cuisine that adds great value to this global culinary experience.

Global cafe and bar on Urbanspoon

Pride of Siam, Deakin

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Pride of Siam, is a little known suburban gem in Deakin that is a stronger contender for one of Canberra’s top Thai restaurants!

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Don’t be discouraged by the exterior or if it’s quiet when you enter. The decor is very pleasant, staff are gracious and attentive, the food is very delicious and the value is exceptional.

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The Red Duck Curry may be Canberra’s best, the Massaman Lamb Curry (both $17.50) rivals that of Chong Co.

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The Pad Thai ($16.50) is excellent and serve sizes are very generous and great for sharing between six.
Four dishes and rices (coconut rice $3, is lovely) between six people is a good ordering plan.
Corkage is a low $4 per bottle.
…and Entertainment Book holders are eligible for a 25% discount.

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Crispy crab dumplings $9.50 per 4                              Duck spring rolls $9.50 for 4

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Chicken and Cashew nut stir fry $17.50                   Two serves Roti bread $3.50 per serve

Pride of Siam on Urbanspoon

Boffins Restaurant, Acton, Canberra

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Located in University House at ANU , this historic restaurant, offers white linen table cloths and heritage decor.

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The Beef fillet is tender and a good choice.                  Vegetable stack

The menu is quite short but sufficient, and wine is reasonably priced. (No BYO).

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The complimentary bread is delicious as is a complimentary d’oevre (this time cucumber, pumpkin and pine nuts). Try to book the tables rather than the booths for better ambiance.

Boffins on Urbanspoon

Bentham Street Pizza Bar, Yarralumla

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Bentham Street is so much more than a Pizza Bar…it’s a very local, Yarralumla, community caring, eatery that takes good care of it’s guests who are clearly well-loved regulars.

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Equally welcoming to new comers, it’s easy to feel like you are eating in someone’s home, rather than an impersonal restaurant. And it’s lovely.

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Great for a group wanting to share a meal, but keep to a budget, Bentham Street offers a large range of interesting pizzas for $21-22 and lovely salads for $10.50-$16.50.
Ordering three different pizzas (up to 4 different pizzas per 8 people for everyone to get a piece of each) and two different salads per six people is about right for a group.
BYO is $5 per bottle and cakeage is $2 per person (and very useful if your group needs to stick to a budget of about $20-25 per person (including wine and cake).

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Favourite pizza was the No.5 Four cheese bocconcini, blue, fetta dna mozarella with red onion, baby spinach on a creme fraiche base
Followed by No. 14 Spanish Chorizo, capsicum, fetta, onion, tomato and mozarella

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and then No. 11 Gourmet vegetarian and lastly the no. 12 Pumpkin, fetta, bacon, and spinach on a creme fraiche base.

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Favourite salad was the feta salad with mesculin, feta, rocket, olives, tomato and roast capsicum with balsamic dressing, rather than the pear rocket, walnuts and shaved parmesan salad, both $12.50.

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However, both the smoked salmon salad $16.50 and the chicken salad $15.50 are also excellent as is the caprese salad with tomato and fresh basil $15.50.

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Bentham Street Bar n' Pizza on Urbanspoon

Spicy Ginger Cuisine – Canberra City

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Spicy Ginger Cuisine is a popular spot for Sichuan cuisine, close to ANU on the corner of Childers Street.

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The decor is and atmosphere are inviting and attractive and staff are friendly and efficient.
Dishes are delicious and serve sizes are generous, great for sharing between even six or seven people.
Four dishes with rice would be suitable for four to six people.
Prices range, but some of my favourites were the least expensive. Rice is only $2 per serve.
BYO is available at $8 corkage per bottle.
Parking can be tricky if it’s busy, but after hours, it’s worth trying near the Drill Gallery on Kingsley Street.

My favourites were

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Cumin seeds spicy flavoured lamb $22.80                    Gongbao chicken $18.80

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Chilli beans (stir-fried fresh runner beans and pickled vegetables with Sichuan dried chillies) $ 15.80
Chicken sang choy bao (four serves) $14.80 – great for an entree

(This menu with rice is $80 -$84 for 4-6 people, $14 – $20 per person )

Others enjoyed the Braised eggplant in hot pot $14.80.

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The Sizzling beef in black pepper sauce $18.80 and     Scallop and prawn balls with ginger and shallots $ 24.80 (quite hot with lots of chilli) were also good.

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Rice $2 per serve.

Spicy Ginger Cuisine Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Noodle Cafe, Canberra City

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While there’s plenty of Canberra City eateries offering week day lunch specials, Noodle Cafe offers a terrific Saturday lunch special.

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Centrally located in Garema Place, this friendly family run restaurant offers great food, generously served at great prices. It’s a good spot for a casual Saturday lunch group lunch.

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Combination Laksa                                                            Nasi Goreng

The laksa is as good as any in Canberra and I’ve heard the Pho is very good too.

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Little complimentary extras are a welcome treat.

BYO is welcome at $3 per bottle of wine $1 per bottle of beer.

Also ideal for including as a dessert stop on a Canberra City street food tour.

DESSERTS

Black Sticky Rice $5.50 (Sweetened black sticky rice pudding topped with coconut milk)

Fried Ice Cream $6.00 (Topped with Chocolate, Caramel or Strawberry syrup)

Banana Split and Ice Cream $6.00 (Topped with Chocolate, Caramel or Strawberry syrup)

Fried Banana Fritter and Ice Cream $6.00 (Topped with Chocolate, Caramel or Strawberry syrup)

Chinese Pancake and Ice Cream $8.00 (A specially made Chinese style fried pancake with red bean filling and ice cream)

Noodle Cafe on Urbanspoon

Bellucis Woden – a good Woden lunch spot

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The lunch special weekdays in Woden at Bellucis are one of the best midweek lunch with friends options around Woden.

At $19.90 you get a glass of wine, beer or soft drink and can choose from a number of pastas, pizzas, salads and risottos.

The salads are great especially the Chicken Caesar salad and the Roast Tuscan Vegetable salad with Goats Cheese Fritters. But the Roast Vegetable Pizza (Verdura) and Caramelised Pumpkin Risotto with Walnuts are great too.

Best option is to get a selection and share dishes as the risottos, pastas and pizza are all filling, quite dense and very tasty.

You can easily order fewer than one dish per person here if you like to leave feeling comfortable as serve sizes are generous. However you need to order from the main menu as the policy is one lunch special per person. Belluci’s has a good atmosphere which gets even better at night.

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Caramelised pumpkin risotto                   Chicken rissotto

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Rigatoni Ciacciatore                      Spagetti alla bolognese

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Penne Bellucis

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Spinach and ricotta cannelloni

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Chicken Ceasar Salad  (great with dressing on the side)

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Roast Vegetable Salad

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Rockmelon and proscuitto salad

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Bellucis special pizza  (excellent)

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Belluci's Italian on Urbanspoon

Maple & Clove, Barton – a quick look at lunch

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Very pleasantly located near the stylish Hotel Realm in leafy, spacious Barton, Maple and Clove is open 7 days for breakfast (all day on weekends) and lunch.

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Bookings are taken and both indoor and outdoor seating are lovely.
Focussing on whole foods and alternate grains, it pays to order dishes that include some strong flavours.
The smoked salmon tartine is delicious and well sized for sharing.

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Smoked Salmon Tartine – Zucchini, lemon, chives, ricotta, smoked salmon + rocket — $18

(French style open-faced sandwich served on thinly sliced toasted wholemeal spelt bread)

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One serve split for sharing                       Half a Smoked Salmon Tartine

Maple & Clove on Urbanspoon

Waldorf on London, Canberra City

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The Waldorf on London is a business hotel restaurant that caters well for those staying in nearby accommodation or those wanting a quick meal before the Theatre.
Mains are well sized with tasty accompaniments. They are attractively presented, delicious and good value for $25. (If you hold a Canberra Entertainment book, then they are exceptional value as one main is complimentary).

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Bread is complimentary. No BYO, but happy hour 5-7 pm Mondays to Fridays offers $5 house wine/beer.

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The panko crusted fish was particularly good with excellent flavour and texture.
The red cabbage with the beef cheek was also memorable.

Open Monday to Friday from 6.30am until 9.30pm for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Saturday at 7.30am for breakfast, 6pm for dinner. On Sunday 7.30am for breakfast only.

Waldorf on London on Urbanspoon