Public Bar, Manuka

The Public Bar like Me and Mrs Jones, Cream and Urban Pantry offers a vibrant, indoor and outdoor atmosphere, extended hours 7 days a week, serves an interesting menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner and, for Canberra Entertainment Book holders, two mains for the price of one.

Lovely outside in good weather, it also has useful bench seating for solo diners.

Perhaps the best choices at lunch are the shared plates or the burgers.

Other choices include:

SLOW COOKED LAMB $23 with quinoa tabouli, mint yoghurt, fresh pomegranate & pistachio crumble. Still looks beautiful, but the flavours are some how not quite the same as they used to be.

FISH & CHIPS $21 Beer battered fish fillets w/ salad, tartare & lemon.

However breakfast (available until11:30am on weekends) would be well worth checking out too, especially in the good weather.

No BYO but wine available by the glass.

If you liked this post, then please do follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

The Merchant, Kingston Forshore

The Merchant on Kingston Foreshore has much to offer. It’s open 7 days for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has large serves sizes that are great for sharing.

Corkage is free if you buy your wine at the co-owned Prohibition Bottle Shop around the corner and show your docket.

There’s a lovely fun decor with both inside and outside seating.

While it’s popular and can get busy, the Merchant is happy to take bookings.

The menu changes every season but the current menu still includes many popular favourites.

The Almond Crossiants $8.50, are baked in house and must be the absolute best in Canberra. They are amazing!

There is also great flexibility offered in the menu. Breakfast is served until 3pm every day and bagels, baguettes and sandwiches are available from 6:30am until the afternoon.

The baguettes $13/$14 are huge and enough for two modest appetites.

The French Baguette $14 is especially good toasted, with plenty of persian feta, prosciutto, cranberry sauce, mixed greens and pear slices.

Service is very welcoming and accommodating making it a true pleasure to dine here.

(10% surcharge Sundays, 15% surcharge public holidays)

If you liked this post then please follow fineeating on Twitter and Facebook.

CocoNine, Kingston Foreshore

CocoNine is not as busy and popular as the other Thai restaurants on the Kingston Foreshore (Morks and Chong Co) but it’s still definitely worth a visit.

The flavours are a little different to usual expectations and the presentation is very appealing. Serve sizes are good for sharing even between up to six people.

The Beef Massaman $19 is excellent ….

…as is the Chilli Basil Chicken stirfry $19….

…the Pork Pad Prik Khing also is very good $19..

and so is the Siam Aromatic Spicy Duck (a larb styled salad) $27.

While there’s plenty of stir fries and curries for around $19, some dishes seem quite pricey so it pays to make use of the Entertainment Book 25% discount or any other offers and deals.

A good tip is to start at the back of the menu where the more modestly priced stirfries and curries are listed and then work forwards to the more expensive duck and seafood specials.

Generous serves of rice are $3.50 and corkage is only $5 per bottle which is helpful for budgeting.

Service is friendly and very quick. Gluten free ordering is also very easy.

CocoNine also has a good lunch special for $10.90, weekdays.

Kinn Thai, Canberra City

The new to town Kinn Thai in the Canberra Centre is really worth checking out.

Attractive decor, generously sized dishes ideal for sharing, and devious flavours, make it one of Canberra’s top places for Thai food.

As other reviewers have said, Kinn’s Dishes are great choices.

(They also mention the Crab Prawn Rools $7 for 4 pieces and Crispy Pork Belly $24).

The Crispy Barramundi $25 is the best…

…but the Chilli Jam Crispy Soft Shelled Crab $23 comes close…

….as does the Massaman Lamb Shank $19.50 (with a roti)(similar to Chong Co’s in flavour and presentation).

The Chilli Green Peppercorn Eggplant $16 is not as good.

Rice serves are large for $3 and one may well be enough for two people.

Two serves rice and three mains are just right for 5 medium appetites.

Corkage is $3 per person.

Can be a bit noisy for larger groups and for conversation, but great food and good value.

Taste of Bangladesh – a perfect menu for 12

After much trialling of different dishes the very best combination at Taste of Bangladesh for a group of 12 just has to be:

Pappadoms to start (complimentary)

Entree:

3 serves Onion Bhaji (12 pieces) with tamarind chutney and mint yogurt ($7 each serve)

Mains:

3 serves Fish Bengali, medium spice level ($16.50 per serve)

3 serves Dum Murgh Chicken , medium spice level ($15.50 per serve)

3 serves Palak Paneer, medium spice level ($14 per serve)

4 serves rice ($3 per serve) (5 or 6 serves for larger appetites)

6 Cheese and Spinach Naan ($3.50 per serve)

3 serves Eggplant Bhorta ($5 per serve)

Dessert:

3 serves Gulab Jarman ($4.50 per serve)

3 serves Mango Kulfi ($4.50 per serve)

Total cost per person: $17.75

Free corkage for BYO wine

If you liked this post, then please do follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Mood Food, Braddon

Mood Food is a relatively newcomer to the eateries in Lonsdale Street Braddon and now promoting itself through the 2015/16 Canberra Entertainment Book (two mains for the price of one).

It is helpfully open for Breakfast lunch and dinner 7 days.

Breakfast options are available until 12 weekdays and 2pm weekends.

The atmosphere is pleasant and the service is good.

There’s a good range of dishes on offer including the steak and chips (tender steak and crips delicious chips)….

….and the lamb burger which is very good with the fresh mint and goat’s cheese really adding some outstanding flavours.

Well worth trying out.

If you liked this post, then please do follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Santa Lucia, Kingston

Santa Lucia in Kingston is a nice spot for Italian dishes.

The decor is light and cheerful.

Serve sizes are generous and good for sharing even between six. BYO corkage is $9 per bottle.

A good sharing plan is to order four dishes and a salad or two per six people. A mix of pasta, risotto, gnocchi and pizza works well.

The Penne Con Salsicce special is really excellent $22 with Italian pork sausage sauteed with capsicum. zucchini and mushroom in a rich tomato sauce with penne.

The Vedura pizza $22 is also great with a great crust, grilled eggplant and artichoke.

Gnocchi Con Tre Formaggu $21.50 with gorgonzola, mozzarella, parmesan and cheese is quite good.

But the Risotto Scampi $26.50 is not as good as the others.

Insalata Capresi $14.50 with tomato, basil and bocconcini is a good compliment.

Open Tuesday to Sunday for dinner, Friday to Sunday for lunch and weekends for breakfast.

Chomolungma Nepalese Restaurant, Manuka – trying some more dishes

Chomolungma Nepalese restaurant opened in March and is well worth checking out.

Tucked away down the lane near the lawns in Manuka, it’s just across the road from the easy parking after hours in the Medical Centre car park on Furneaux Street, making it a great spot to head in cold or wet weather.

It’s cosy and friendly and the decor is welcoming. Service is attentive and very efficient.

Start with a drink and some complimentary pappadoms while you ponder the menu.

BYO wine or beer corkage is $2 per person.

A plate of momos as a starter is essential as these are excellent and accompanied by a tasty broth and delicious tomato and sesame chutney.

The steamed pork momos are possibly the top pick ($12 for 10).

If you are with a group, consider sharing one of the other entrees too. The Kima Bara – marinated mince with sunshine egg, Sichuan pepper and tomato chutney $8, is also tasty (and a good option for those needing a gluten free alternative to momos as these have a similar flavour in the marinated mince).

For main course choose one of the thali styled meals for $15 -$20 (depending on what type of meat you choose).

Flavoursome curries are accompanied by rice, a tasty dahl, a smokey spinach side and very pleasant crisp vegetable side as well as a spicy mango pickle.

The Garlic chilli prawns $20 (8 prawns) are very hard to beat.

The next top pick may be the chicken $15..

…followed by the goat $18…

…then the lamb $17….

..then the pork ribs $18.

There is also a pan fried vegetable option $15, that is likely to be very good too.

Order some roti to perfectly complete the meal (about 1/2 per person).

All options except the momos and roti are gluten free (just double check the noodles in the the soup and chow mien).

The dishes can also be nut free.

There are also a chow mein (pork/chicken/vegetables) $13 stir fried noodles with garlic, ginger vegetables and herbs and a Thupa (noodle soup with pork/chicken/vegetables and herbs and vegetables) $13 options that can be prepared for those who prefer a low level of spiciness.

Open for dinner 6 days (closed Sundays.)

phone: 0450 317 346

If you liked this post, then please do follow Fine Eating on Facebook and Twitter.

Bollywood Dimensions, Braddon

Bollywood Dimensions in Braddon is a great spot for a group shared meal, especially if you are sticking to a budget.

It has efficient and helpful service, is cozy, carpeted and quiet for conversation…..

… and offers well sized served of a range of mains, breads and side dishes that can be combined to create an interesting and diverse menu.

The dishes are flavoursome, but quite spicy, so choose a mild or medium spice level.

Combine one main dish, one side dish (like a dah), one bread and two serves rice per two people to share. However four people could share two different types of mains, sides and breads for variety.

Methi Chicken (mild, medium, hot) – $18.50 Chiken with fenugreek leaves, a good choice

Yellow Dal Tadka $8.90 – a full-flavoured lentil dish with curry leaves, mustard seeds, coriander leaves, mint and cumin (tasty)

Kheema Naan Naan bread stuffed with ground lamb mixed with chopped coriander $4.50 ( really wonderful!)

Saffron Basmati Rice $ 3.25

… I think the Steamed Basmati Rice $3.00 would be better

For a group of four (or more) I’d try:

2 serves steamed basmati rice

Awesome Butter Chicken (Mild) $18.50 Boneless Chicken pieces cooked in Tandoor and finished in a creamy butter and tomato sauce. A creamy and fairly mild dish

Majestic Chicken Tikka Masala (mild, med, hot) $18.50

boneless chicken pieces cooked in a Tandoor with capsicum, onion, ginger & garlic, sauteed with crushed tomato

and

Marvelous Lamb Pasanda – a chef’s special $18.90 lamb marinated overnight to ensure that the meat is tender and full of flavour

Angelic Lamb Saag (mild – med) $18.50

Lamb with freshly ground spinach, sauteed in butter, ginger & garlic and finished with cream. A traditional dish from North India

with

Mesquite Dal Makhani $8.90

A rich, creamy dal preparation with lentils and red kidney beans cooked with an aromatic combination of spices

and

Yellow Dal Tadka $8.90

and