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Daana, Curtin – newly opened this week!

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Daana, has a new home! 

This week Sanjay and Sunita celebrated their re-opening in their new Curtin home, previously occupied by Silver Fox and Delissio.

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There’s a wonderful new menu full of regional specialties.

New dishes like Street Chaat – Dahi Vada $12 (a dish served cold)…

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…and a lovely traditional Kerala dessert Kei Paysam of rice cooked with ghee and jaggary, garnished with dried fruit and cashews $10.

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But there’s still  old favourites  like Idli with Sambar and coconut and tomato chutneys $12..

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…and those great prices that we love!

There are just so many new dishes to try – Bombay specials, Southern Delights, Daana Specials, Thalis, weekend specials and more, that it will take many trips to work through them all. I think I’ll just need to gather a group and order a bunch to share.

Next on my wishlist is the Kati Rolls, Samosa Chaat, Dosa and Kulfi Fulooda.

BYO wine is $6 a bottle and you can be relaxed and cozy inside or make the most of the sunshine outside.

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Do watch out for the Karma nights too – a great time of community and generosity!

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Parking is easy, close and free!

Address

83, Theodore Street, Curtin
Canberra, ACT 2605

Hours

Tuesday – Saturday 11am – 10pm
Sunday – 10am – 3pm
Monday closed.10% surcharge on Public Holidays.

Closed on Christmas Day.

Telephone

Sanjay – +61 429 945 500
Sunita – +61 435 849 970

Email

chef@daana.com.

Daana Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Avenue C Wine Co. Campbell- How good is this!

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If I was to design the perfect spot for a drink – it would be walking distance, have cozy indoor and sunset outdoor seating, a relaxed but stylish ambiance, good small share plate and I could buy a bottle of wine at a wholesale price to open – it would be Avenue C Wine Co!

Rachel and Peter are proud of their wines, it’s their passion and they want their guests to enjoy them too.

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So that’s why they offer wine by the glass …..

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….or by the bottle, with wholesale prices clearly marked and starting at around $23….

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…and often by the tasting too…

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This week Jane from Clonakilla was sharing their lovely Semillon Savignon Blanc, Viognier Nouveau, and my favourites… a 2015 Hilltops Shiraz and O’Riada Shiraz.

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Sign up to the Avenue C Wine Co. newsletter to find out what’s on when.

To accompany the wine, City News’ Wendy Johnston recommends Avenue C’s Grilled Haloumi with honey, lemon and oregano $14, Chicken liver parfait with toasted brioche $18 and the Rabbit terrine with toasted sourdough $19. On my wishlist!

Open from 10am till 11pm 7 days a week.

Avenue C Wine Co. Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Casey Jones Gastro Pub, Casey’s new local

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Casey Jones Gastro Pub is the hot new item in Canberra’s North.

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They are just so organised in their communications! Their online menu is fully of tantalising photos.

On a Sunday Casey Jones offers an all day breakfast-lunch menu….but how can you go past hotcakes that look like this!!!

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Citrus Hotcake $16 Pickled rhubarb, compressed honeydew, organic maple syrup, macadamias, pistachio $16

Although the Tortellini pasta with mushrooms, spinach pesto, young zucchini and Meredith’s cheese goat was also very delicious $22.

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For something traditionally pub like there is also the

Bacon and Eggs on a milk bun, award winning Pialligo bacon, fried eggs, ranchero relish, Iberico cheese $14

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Other great looking menu options are the Sourdough with Eggs, ancient grain sourdough, local poached eggs, avocado, fennel, garden kale, dukkah, grana padano and the Fruit toast with lemon whipped goats curd, banana, strawberry gel $13

Excellent opening hours!

Monday – Thursday Friday – Saturday Sunday
8:00am – 10:00pm 8:00am – Midnight 8:00am – 10:00pm
Breakfast Pizza & snacks Dinner
8:00am – 3:00pm 12:00pm – 9:00pm 5:00pm – 9:00pm

Casey Jones Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Local Press Cafe, Kingston Foreshore – trying the famous Green Pea Pancake

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Local Press Cafe is famous for it’s Green Pea Pancake so it’s been on my wishlist.

Luckily, the Brunch Menu is available all day so this week I tried it out for lunch…

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Green Pea Pancake with poached eggs, avocado, corn salsa, feta, chilli jam and mint $21

It’s good to try, but I think next time I’d go for the Wild Mushrooms sauteed in garlic, thyme and sage oil with pine nuts, almonds, meredith chevre, greens and poached egg on souorcough bread $19…

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…or customise a meal with things like smoked trout $4.50, kale and almonds $3.50 and tomato and basil $3.50 that all comes with sourdough toast.

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A lovely spot along the lake on a sunny day, it’s open six days for breakfast and lunch, but closed Mondays.

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The current menu also varies from that on line.

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Local Press Cafe Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

 

 

Little Brother, Red Hill Lookout – perfect for a weekend coffee @littlebrotherredhill

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Little Brother has the most gorgeous position, overlooking Canberra’s hills and valleys.

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It really is worth booking a table by the window to make the most of the great views.

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But if you miss out, it’s still cute and cosy anywhere.

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The brunch and lunch menus are great and if you have the Canberra Entertainment Book you can also have a 25% discount.

But if it’s too early for a glass of wine and lunch, or you just looking for a light brekkie or a coffee then it’s hard to beat the morish, thick slices of raisin toast, just $5 for two huge slices.

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Available all day, it’s the perfect comfort food in cold or cloudy weather.

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Little Brother Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Road testing the Thali Lunch at Taste of Bangladesh, Manuka just $13

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So pleased that Taste of Bangladesh are doing Thalis at lunch again!!

Monday to Friday 12-2pm, they are offering what must be the best value lunch in Manuka.

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$13 buys a large serve of rice, large pillowy naan, poppadom and three curries – a vegetable kadhi and two others that change each week.

This week it was a delicous butter chiken and beef vindaloo…so good!!

And if you fancy a glass of wine or best togo with yor Thali, just take it along, there’s no corkage charge!


Taste of Bangladesh Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Wheat & Oats, Phillip – trying the brekkie menu!

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Wheat & Oats is a long time favourite of mine for lunch but I’ve never been before for the all day brekkie.

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Easy parking, great prices and friendly, relaxed service has long been a great draw card. So has the 25% discount with the Canberra Entertainment Book.

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There’s some great options like the Herbivorous $15 with haloumi, rosemary mushrooms, eggs, avocado and sourdough

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Breakfast salad $15 with kale, avocado, eggs, quinoa, beans, beetroot, pepoitas and citrus dressing

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Kale Omelette $15

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 With indoor and outdoor seating it’s good in all weathers, open six days for breakfast and lunch (closed Sundays).
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Wheat & Oats Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Elk & Pea, Braddon – trying the Sunday brunch! @elkandpea

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Elk and Pea has long been on my wishlist to try.

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While Sundays only offer an all day breakfast menu, it includes some good options for lunch like the  Smoked Salmon Salad $19 with a delicious combination or fresh herbs with the crunch of seeds and nuts..

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…or the plentiful Smashed Avocado and Mushrooms $19

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 But the Grande is also a good choice $25…
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 ..available in both vegetarian and non-veg.
Definitely somewhere I’d go back for brunch and enjoy the same dishes again.

The Elk & Pea Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Buvette, Barton – great lunch fine dining at mid range prices!

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Buvette is fairly new to the Realm Precinct in Barton, but already it’s famous for it’s French cuisine and Petit Feast.

However, it is a well kept secret that Buvette is also a top lunch spot in Barton.

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Decadent decor belies the modest prices for lunch options that are very genrously served with sides of salad and french fries, like the QUICHE OF THE DAY – $12

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..or the delicious CHICKEN BAGUETTE – $16 Tarragon Aioli, Comte, Tomato, Baby Cos Heart

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Also tempting are the  CROQUE MONSIEUR – $14 Ham, Gruyère, Mustard, Toasted Sourdough and the SMOKED SALMON BAGUETTE – $16 Capers, Crème Fraîche, Red onion, Baby Cos Heart.

Don’t overlook this well priced, stylishly set lunch spot with a reputation for fine French dining.

Buvette Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Soi Noodle Bar, Canberra City – ticks all the boxes @soinoodlebar

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The Soi Noodle Bar is a perfect spot for a pre or post movie drink and casual meal. Located in the Canberra Centre close to Dendy, parking is easy and it’s open every day until late.

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Not licensed, it very helpfully offers BYO wine at $3 per person.

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You can choose from differently sized Japanese, Thai and Korean dishes to suit your appetite and budget.

It’s great value, offering a 25% discount for Canberra Entertainment Book holders.

Service is swift.

The decor is chic, with some very impressive branding…

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…that even extends into the kitchen!

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Soi Noodle Bar has  a friendly atmosphere and it’s the kind of place you can chat to fellow diners. At the table next to us we met Tam, Minh, Jenny and Tam who were lovely.

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They are studying at ANU and enjoying Canberra, especially its food culture.

When it came to the menu, I loved the interesting mini-dishes especially the soft buns (3 for $15, $5 each for any extra).

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These buns are teriyaki chicken, but the soft shell crab, spanner crab, prawn tempura or lamb all sounded great too.

Other great choices were the spicy edamame beans $5….

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….and the delicious miso eggplant $10.

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One order of each of these would be perfect to share between two with a glass or two of wine ($18 each including corkage or $13.50 with the Entertainment Book discount).
However, there’s also larger main meals on offer like the..

SLOW COOKED BEEF CHEEKS With salad & black rice $24

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Or if you’d like, you can create your own noodle, curry, ramen or rice dish from a range of ingredients for around $14 (vegetable) to $19 for combination meats.

Serve sizes are very generous, ideal for sharing.

GREEN CURRY
Thai green curry with coconut milk zucchini, eggplant, green beans, bamboo shoot & sweet basil (medium spicy)

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RAMEN – Chicken broth ramen noodle soup, topped with the meat of your choice, wakame, nori, chopped shallot, bamboo shoot, boiled egg and fish cake.

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PAD SEE EW – Stir-fried thick rice noodles with Chinese broccoli, egg & sweet soy sauce

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YAKIUDON – Udon noodles with soy, oyster ,fish sauce, cabbage, chopped shallot, onion, carrot, mushroom, egg and topped by bonito flakes & sesame oil.

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The staff were friendly and accommodating.

They even sent us out some complimentary slushies to try –

LYCHEE SAKURA – lychee, lime & mint, 

COCO-MANGO – coconut, mango & mint, 

WATERMELON SUIKA – watermelon, mint & lime 

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Usually $6 each they were a perfect way to end the meal.

Soi Noodle Bar ticks all the boxes for me and will be my ‘go to’ pick when I’m heading to the movies.

Soi Noodle Bar Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato