Rubicon
6a Barker St
GRIFFITH ACT 2603
http://www.rubiconrestaurant.com.au/
The Good
A very nice, quiet venue in Griffith featuring perfectly cooked meats. The barramundi, gnocchi and pork assiette were divine. The offer to replace our BYO slightly-warm bottle of Moet with a chilled bottle from their cellar was a very nice touch from our server.
The Bad
Some of the dishes lacked creativity or genuine flavour – I am fairly confident the sauces with the barramundi and the steak were substantially identical or deceptively similar, to borrow from trade mark parlance. The confit duck was not very exciting.
Service-wise, there were some very, very long waits between courses. While it may be the case that this was due to the difficulty of a custom degustation for a group of six people, it is also the case that a restaurant should not encourage said custom degustation menus if it will result in serving difficulties. The delays also resulted in the wine pairings appearing stingy. Last, but not least, by the time the meal ended I had to walk up to the front of the restaurant and ask for the bill as everyone was packing up and there was no one in the back area to serve us.
The Meal
Amuse Bouche
WA red claw yabbies with leek and gorgonzola gratin, flying fish roe
Crisp skin Barramundi with crab, chive and potato dumplings, roasted tomato and fennel sauce
Roasted chive and potato gnocchi (flourless), confit tomato, basil, tallegio cheese
Intermezzo
Berkshire pork assiette – belly with chilli lime caramel; rolled shin and boudin noir with a crispy ear and herb salad
Confit duck, spiced plum salsa, pickled carrot, St Maure d’Poitiu goats cheese
Roasted lamb shoulder and grilled lamb loin, speck lardons, peas and mint
Chargrilled beef fillet in bacon, beef jus, sauce béarnaise, confit tomato, thyme roasted kipflers
Sorbet
Ginger and lime crème brûlée, crème fraîche sorbet, roasted passionfruit
Sage
Gorman House Arts Centre
BRADDON ACT 2612
http://www.sagerestaurant.net.au
The Good
A fabulous meal featuring excellent ingredients and presentation. While some of the dishes were creatively presented, I never felt that creativity came at the expense of taste, something which cannot be said of a number of other restaurants I have visited.
The menu changed in the days before our arrival, which unfortunately denied me a dish that I had been anticipating when I made the reservation. However, the dishes on the new menu did not leave me wanting at the end of the meal. The lemon sole and veal tenderloin, which featured a small addictive sweetbread, were particular standouts. I cannot fault any of the dishes, although perhaps the beetroot and carrot dishes lacked the punch of the protein courses.
Our server was friendly and helpful throughout the night. From the moment we sat down, he offered help us add additional courses to the autumn omnivore tasting menu should we desire. We did so desire after reviewing the a la carte menu and after a quick trip to the kitchens our server confirmed there would be no issues incorporating two extra courses (the pork and duck courses).
As for the venue, it is within walking distance from the centre of the city and thus conveniently located. The room is very nice with tasteful, modern furnishings.
While not an inexpensive restaurant, I regarded the meal as providing exceptional value for money in Canberra.
The Bad
There were four occasions during the nearly four hours we were dining that we had to wait more than is usual for our glasses to be refilled or for our next course. However, the issue was usually resolved before we began to get really irritated by the issue. In the case of the timing of the courses, this may have been the result of our adding courses to the tasting menu, which may have placed the kitchen out of synch, so I will not hold it against them.
The tables against the walls are probably too close ot each other for my comfort, but at least the music was at a low enough level that the restaurant never felt too crowded and one did not spend the entire night listening to his neighbour’s conversations.
Even though it is technically still Autumn, it got very cold in the restaurant each time someone opened the front and back doors to the restaurant.
The Meal
House baked bread
Artisan churned butter with sea salt
beetroot variations
eucalyptus smoked trout, freeze dried mandarin, coriander
honey peppered heirloom carrots
malt, yolk, ricotta, olive powder, brioche
tuna & foie gras
sashimi, mojama, crackling, chervil, PX dressing
pork ‘all sorts’
slow cooked belly, braised cheek, choucroute, baby vegetables
lemon sole
potato crumble, cauliflower, parsley, capers, red wine jus
veal tenderloin
sweetbreads, forest mushrooms, sweet potato, soy & maple glaze
muscovy duck
orange, carrot, pickled red cabbage, licorice
rhubarb & raspberry
quinoa crunch, creme brulee foam, rose petals
chocovado
chocolate cremeux, hazelnut cocoa crumble, lemon gel, avocado cream
autumn scenery (an alternate for my wife to the chocovado course)
chestnut log, chocolate branches, malt, apple sauce
Chianti Classico
160 Hutt Street
ADELAIDE SA 5000
http://www.chianticlassico.com.au/
The Good
An excellent lunch featuring some of the best pasta I have ever had in the form of the tagliolini with a rich sugo featuring many, many chucks of spanner crab meat. The offer of a dessert tasting menu when we could not decide on our dessert options was a fantastic service touch.
The Bad
None.
The Meal
House bread with olives and olive oil
Arancini alla Boscaiola
Lightly fried risotto croquettes flavoured with wild mushrooms, black truffle and parmesen
Fiori di Zucchine
Lightly fried zucchini flowers filled with ricotta cheese and pine nuts, served with tomato relish
Tagliolini con Granchio
Fine pasta ribbons with a rich sugo of Queensland spanner crab meat, tomatoes and basil.
Pappardelle con Anitra
Handmade broad pasta ribbons with roasted duck meat, red capsicums, spinach, pinenuts and olive oil.
Dessert tasting platter
semifreddo, Torta di cioccolate, zabaglione, panna cotta amongst others
Ellacure
Corner of Braybrooke and Battye Street
BRUCE ACT 2617
The Good
A quick lunch at Bruce’s favourite restaurant featuring very friendly and efficient service. The food was good for what is was, and I would be happy to return to obtain a better idea of the restaurant’s capabilities.
The venue is very nice and perfect for a lazy weekend lunch.
The Bad
As odd as it sounds to say this, the service, while friendly, was perhaps too casual with the staff talking to my wife and I in a jovial manner that was initially off-putting given we had never been to the restaurant or met our servers before.
The Meal
Fresh bread with chive butter & olive oil
Spaghetti with prawns, garlic, olive oil, lemon, chilli & cherry tomatoes
Bean and Grain
Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets
12 Dalby Street
FYSHWICK ACT 2609
The Good
While breakfast may remain the star attraction, my lunch at Bean and Grain only served to confirm the talents of its chefs who are obviously committed to using quality ingredients to turn out what may be the best representations of basic cafe, or even bakery, dishes in the city. I must admit to being curious as to what these chefs are doing the rest of the week when the Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets are closed.
I would happily order any of the dishes below again, although perhaps next time I will save some space for the gigantic sausage rolls I saw a few other people eating. I wonder if they do take-away?
Friendly service.
The Bad
The cafe was extremely crowded at about 1pm but slightly better when we returned half an hour later. The next time I visit for lunch, and I will be back, I will have a late lunch at 2pm to avoid the crowds.
The Meal
A close-up of the Sourdough Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Oriental Twist Tea
ORIENTAL TWIST has power of the ancient Chinese super food, lychee, blended with the delicate Jasmine Flowers and Green Tea to deliver a unique tasting oriental tea experience. Rejuvenate & Revive.
34 Isabel Drive
Murrumbateman NSW 2582
http://www.flintinthevines.net.au
The Good
A good meal, shared with friends celebrating a big occasion, complemented by excellent local wines and stunning countryside vistas.
The Rabbit & Pistachio Terrine was particularly impressive of the starters while the pizzas provided some interesting combinations with the brie, mango and salami pizza offering a surprisingly tasty flavour combination. The sole dessert was fantastic, albeit a little too rich for those of us who had overindulged on the savoury courses and excellent wines.
It is always difficult to properly judge service standards at a restaurant whilst sitting at a 20+ person table, so I will simply acknowledge the lack of any noticeable with the service or the speed with which dishes or beverages were brought out.
The Bad
Not much to report on this visit other than the fact that one needs to carefully choose a designated driver for the 40 minute drive back to Canberra afterwards.
The Meal
Escabeche of WA Sardines with candied lemon, fennel, parsley and Rabbit and Pistachio Terrine with grape & tarragon salad, toasted brioche
Flint’s Calamari with chilli seasoning, blue cheese aioli & lemon
Seasonal Wild Mushroom Pizza with roquette & white truffle oil
Pulled Chicken Pizza with basil pesto, caramelized onion & sun-dried tomato
Pear & Gorgonzola Pizza with fresh sage
Brie, Mango & Salami Pizza with mascarpone, fresh mango & coriander
Roquette & parmesan salad
Chocolate Terrine with crème anglaise, confit lemon & cinnamon ice cream
What?
Bean and Grain
Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets
12 Dalby Street
FYSHWICK ACT 2609
The Good
Presently in my mind Canberra’s best breakfast venue. The addition of a free smoothie shot with every hot breakfast is a nice touch, but getting a free large smoothie when asking if the smoothies are sold separately is even better!
Very friendly service.
The Bad
None.
The Meal
Latte
Country Benedict
Two poached free-range organic eggs, house made English muffin, sausage patty & sausage béchamel, served with a smoothie shot and a potato croquette topped with crème fraiche & chives.
Rockmelon and Passionfruit Smoothie Shot
Two poached free-range organic eggs, house made English muffin, sausage patty & sausage béchamel
A potato croquette topped with crème fraiche & chives
Bacon Buttie
Crispy bacon rashers between buttered sourdough toast
Benchmark Wine bar
65 Northbourne Avenue
CANBERRA ACT 2600
http://www.benchmarkwinebar.com.au
The Good
An excellent meal from start to finish shared with two friends. Bookended by complimentary appertizers and pre-dessert courses, we shared six tapas-style dishes all prepared with good technique and ingredients. The anchovy crostini, cuttlefish and foie gras were particular standouts.
Service was helpful, friendly and attentive throughout the meal.
The wine list is fantastic, unsurprisingly for a wine bar, with some marvellous Chianti Classico wines available.
While the restaurant furnishings are basic, as befitting a wine bar, the space and tables are very comfortable. Most importantly, there is excellent spacing between tables so you are not forced to intrude on other tables’ private conversations.
The Bad
The prices are consistent with the most expensive restaurants in Canberra ($45 for duck liver pate? Ouch!) so the restaurant is definately not priced for casual visits unless one is there only for a glass of wine and perhaps one or two tapas dishes. However, the prices are not unreasonable when the quality of the overall meal is taken into consideration.
The Meal
Amuse Bouche
PORK BELLY with pickled daikon and alpine pepper
ORTIZ ANCHOVIES on crostini with truffled salsa
ZUCCHINI FLOWERS stuffed with goat’s cheese, finger lime and capers
CUTTLEFISH with a thai pomelo salad and fresh coriander
DUCK LIVER lafitte ‘foie gras de canard’ with fig sauterne sauce
SAUSAGE PLATE with lamb merguez, beef tomato and onion, veal and herb, pork, fennel and white wine sausages, served with tomato chutney
Sorbet
What?
Dickson Dumpling House
2 Cape Street
DICKSON ACT 2602
The Good
Excellent dumplings and main courses served very quickly. The Shang Tung Lamb is fantastic.
The Bad
This is not the sort of place for attentive service – go in, sit down, order, eat, pay the bill and get out. The golden soft shell crab, while good, was far too much fried goodness for two people.
The Meal
Peking Duck Pancakes
Peking Duck with skin, pancake, cucumber, hoisin sauce
A Peking Duck Pancake
Pan-fried Prawn and Pumpkin Dumplings
Golden Soft Shell Crab
fat man, thin wallet 