Bokhara2

Off to Canberra for the Ballets Russes this weekend and would like to find somewhere good for Saturday & Sunday night dinners. Problem is, most of the restaurants I know or have read about are closed Sunday nights. Have pencilled in Waters Edge, but wondered whether you might have a better/ more interesting suggestion.

Cuisine: Anything goes, although preferably not Chinese. Too close to Chinese New Year's excesses - and to our late friend, Neil Oz's favourite, Ruby, where I had a lovely night with him & Robyn last year.

Ideally, we'd like somewhere with interesting food and a winelist with a good variety of local wines by the glass. After a couple of days gallery walking, I'd rather not have to queue for an hour or find there's no table at the inn, so it would be good to be able to book.

Staying in Forrest, but will have car & driver (great joy to have a teetotaller in the party), so location is open.

Saturday night: Thinking about Boathouse by the Lake; Ginger Room at Old Parliament House. Haven't been to either, but locations & menus look interesting. Very open to anything more casual, so if your favourite is a hole-in-the wall, please suggest it.

Many thanks all

Susan7

For Sunday how about Parlour Room? I went there last year for dinner with a large group after a conference. It has an excellent wine list and they do very nice small tapas-type dishes.

http://www.parlour.net.au/

peterSale

We liked the revolving restaurant in the Telecom Tower, but that was a f10 years back or so. No idea what it is like now.

We ordered food that was cooked at our table. Most entertaining for the people around us as well.

Mucky

Hi Bokhara2
We slummed it a bit in Canberra, found a pub that served stodge and lots of beer. But the restaurant up the top of the Rydges looked nice, but I bet you tried that already haven't you lol

Have a good time.

Muck

Bokhara2

Thanks all - Susan, Parlour looks perfect!

Peter - we were there about the same time. It was a spectacular Winter's day and took friends from Germany & Uganda & they loved it.

Muck - your stodge serving pub might have been just the thing, had you not had so many beers that its name slipped your memory Hope you were sampling Australian beer!

Susan7

For Saturday night, have you tried Ottoman for modern Turkish? I try to go there every time I'm in Canberra. I love the food and the ambiance--it's like a summer house. There's now a branch in Sydney but it's not as good.

http://www.ottomancuisine.com.au/Canberra/Canberra.html

Bokhara2

Hi Susan,
I love Ottoman too - was so tempting to go there again, but thought I should try something new. Not been to the Sydney one, but the general opinion seems to be that the original is way ahead of it.

I'm thinking Ginger Room at Old Parliament House for Saturday and Parlour Room for Sunday night. http://www.gingercatering.com.au/area.asp?aID=25

Any thoughts on the Ginger Room?

farrermog

Sorry Bokhara, just caught this. You might also consider and check out on http://www.eatability.com.au/au/canberra/ & etc -

http://www.flint.net.au/index.php
(near Parlour Room)

http://www.italianandsons.com.au/
Lonsdale St, one block north of Bunda St Civic
(had a very nice lunch there last month)

on opposite corners in Bunda/Genge Sts Civic there's
http://www.creamcafebar.com.au/
and
http://www.bluginger.com.au/

James Mussillon's restaurants
http://www.courgette.com.au/
and Waters Edge and Sabayon

at Griffith, next to Manuka there's-
http://www.auberginerestaurant.com.au/
(had a great dining experience there several years ago when it was Mussillon's)
and
http://www.rubiconrestaurant.com.au/home

and always meaning to check out this on Red Hill -
http://www.onred.com.au/

A favourite in the (southern) 'burbs -
http://www.ramas.com.au/

Bokhara2

Thanks farremog! Love a bit of local knowledge.

Susan7

I remember Neil Oz warned against Ginger Room, I think his SO indicated it was so-so.

Fab list Farrermog!!!!!

lavandula

Great thread, we are travelling to Canberra in April, albeit with 2 yr old. Maybe somewhere nice to have lunch!


Lavandula

farrermog

Bokhara - you might be interested in the National Library's very strong dance collection -

http://www.nla.gov.au/dance/index.html

(and lunch or a snack at the Library cafe Bookplate - inside or terrace - is always pleasant).

BTW, Coffers Cafe hidden in the ground floor of the Treasury and Finance building, but open to all, across the road from the Library is also a good place for a cheap lunch during the working week.

Lavandula - Rendezvous Restaurant in an arcade at Manuka has been good for eating out with kids -

http://www.lerendezvous.com.au/default.htm

Pleasant outdoor sites for picnics with kids include Lennox Gardens (including the Canberra - Nara Japanese gardens) behind the Hyatt, Bowen Park on Wentworth Avenue at Barton (miniature boats if you're lucky and swans), Commonwealth Park (the Floriade site) near Nerang Pool, the National Carillon on Aspen Island (access by footbridge) and Weston Park at Yarralumla -

http://www.tams.act.gov.au/play/pcl/...rks/westonpark

- but take care with the water, UV radiation and idiots on bikes at all locations.

lavandula

Oh farrermog, thanks very much for that. We were wondering what to do with our little one and wondering if she's too young for Questacon - I think she's probably not quite there yet. These recommendations are great! Also thought about Cockington Green, although I don't think I've visited it since I was a child myself. Specially pleased to see they seem to like children at the restaurant!
Will slip, slop, slap on our days out!

Might have to submit a trip report on child-friendly Canberra ...

Lavandula

Bokhara2

Lavandula, you (and your bub) might also like the Pork Barrel Cafe, just near the Rose Garden & Old Parliament House.

It's very casual, and you can sit inside or outside under the trees. There were quite a few littlies when I was there last March.

http://www.porkbarrel.com.au/Home.aspx

Mucky

Of course I remember lol
It was King O'Malleys Irish bar. Great music, food stodge and I drank Guinness.

lavandula

OK Bokhara, will check it out. Thanks!

Lavandula

JackDarcy

Hey Bokhara2!
Just you have wrote here about Ottoman. I want to ask you about Ottoman, is really nice.

Bokhara2

Thanks everyone, for your suggestions, much appreciated.

We had the weather gods on our side and, apart from a light shower from Lake George into Canberra on Saturday afternoon, had great weather until we arrived back into Sydney last night, contrary to predictions.

JackDarcy: Ottoman is really very nice indeed. We didn't go there this trip, but I've been on other occasions and always enjoyed it very much. The restaurant itself is a beautiful space, small dining rooms decorated individually; moorish touches in archways; and a main dining area with glass on 3 sides. The food is superb. I've only been at night, but would love to go for lunch in Autumn or Spring. http://www.ottomancuisine.com.au/Canberra/Canberra.html

Here's where we did go:

Saturday morning drive down to Bowral, coffee & book browsing at Berkelouws. (Through Springetts Arcade & around to the right, tucked away near the carpark. Or turn left into Boolwey street & park in the carpark on the left). Good coffee and an enticing menu of breakfast/brunch & lunch offerings.

Bowral must have a very well read populace; there's a plethora of bookshops. Recent discussions drew our attention to The Brown Bookshop right next to Angus & Robertsons in the main street.

We'd browsed a little too long along Bong Bong Street and hit The Elephant Boy Cafe (Bong Bong Street) when the available tables & lunch options were both pretty limited. However, we both had the duck salad and it was very good.

The owners had the Rangoon Racquet Club in Crows Nest for many years and the "British Raj" decor and quirky touches are repeated here. The service was fine, but had it been on the slow side, there was a fascinating collection of old editions in the bookshelves that would have kept us happy.

http://www.holidayz.com.au/cafe-rest...-boy-caf%C3%A9

As we were in Canberra to see the Ballets Russes exhibition, the Portrait Gallery and both Houses of Parliament, we decided to stay at Rydges Capital Hill. The property is a little tired, but the staff are excelent (as they are at Rydges Lakeside). I was happy with the price of $161/room/night including breakfast, parking and 1pm check out; happier still when they upgraded us on arrival to a rather nice corner suite.

Despite some misgivings, we stuck with The Ginger Room for Saturday night dinner as my friend had his heart set on eating in the old Parliament House (and Ottoman was booked out, so my gracious deferral wasn't quite as altruistic as he thinks )

We had a nice table beside a window, views across the park behind Old Parliament House. Very pleasant on a warm evening.

The food was good. Not great - but better than "Satisfactory".
We had the Rock Oysters with ponzu dresing & sake sorbet (that was delicious); Twice Baked Tallegio souffle, watercress, candied walnut & honey. Very subtle, not quite as light as I'd expected, but good flavour.

Mains were a Beef Fillet on dauphenoise potatoes, with glazed shallots. Cooked to my friend's liking and nicely presented. I had a Rabbit & Quail special which was very good, except that the quail was just slightly overcooked.

I, at least, should not have had the "Mr Curly Comes Back" - not because the "whimisical rhubarb & lemon curd tuile with Italian baked meringue" wasn't good (if a bit too sweet for my palate) - but my eyes were bigger than .... oh you know - your mother probably told you the same thing!

My friend had no such problems with his strawberry souffle with blackberry ice cream; although I scored a small spoonfull in the interests of taste testing, there was no offer of seconds. Unlike the politician in former PM Paul Keating's firing line, this souffle rose & performed very well.

What wasn't so impressive was the service with our wine. We'd ordered a rather nice pinot noir, but it needed a few minutes in an ice bucket or cooler and this seemed to be an almost insurmountable challenge. Our waitress couldn't do it - she had to find the wine waiter (the same who'd taken our original order for food and wine). He must have gone to Murrambateman to find a wine for someone else.

Two requests later, we'd finished our entrees and initial glasses, the mains presented and two thirsty diners were getting more than a tad disgruntled. Finally, after yet another waitress informed us she would need to find the wine waiter and didn't, I went in search of the missing wine myself. Located it on a nearby sideboard and had my hand on the icebucket when the elusive wine waiter materialised. He was pleasant enough, but ignored my friend's request to simply leave the bottle on the table and we'd deal with it ourselves as the wine was now a little cooler than we'd had in mind when making the original request.

Tiring of the "catch the wine waiter's eye" game when we daringly wanted a little more to finish our mains with; my friend located & removed the bottle and we were childish enough to enjoy the consternation & anxious discussion between "our" wine waiter and another as to the whereabouts of it when, some considerable time later, he must have decided it was time to offer us the refill we'd already enjoyed.

Was our night ruined? Not at all - but the food wasn't spectacular enough to slough off the wine chase entirely.
So, Susan, NeilOz and others ... you were right. It is OK, but not wonderful.

The Ballet Russes exhibition is, though! Spectacular costumes from a vibrant and exciting era in Ballet, shown to perfection at such close quarters that you can see the fine details of workmanship & fabrics. Much more extensive than I'd imagined and with a very good audio. It's on until 20th March - if you have a chance to see it, don't miss it.

http://nga.gov.au/Exhibition/BalletsRusses/

Susan7

Excellent report, Bokhara. I love stopping at Berkelouw's and then that huge barn with lots of antiques in Berrima. Where did you eat on Sunday?

Bokhara2

Hi Susan,

Didn't dare stop at the big Antiquities barn - we'd have been crawling into Canberra at midnight!

Sunday was Gallery Day and we were in the first group into the Ballets Russes.

Coffee break in the Members' Lounge (very good menu - I think James Kidman probably supplies it from the new Gallery Cafe). Late breakfast and promise of lunch kept us to coffee only. But a girl can look at the menu, can't she?

Late Lunch at the Pork Barrel Cafe to get some fresh air. http://www.porkbarrel.com.au/

Very good salmon for my friend and I had a very nice little Provincial pizza.

I think this is a great little cafe. Right next to the Rose Garden; there's plenty of parking nearby, either in the street or in the carpark on The Lobby side street. It's within short walking distance of Old Parliament House or a longer stroll to either the Gallery or New Parliament House. The menu is interesting and well executed. More than reasonable winelist, with a good local representation. Moderate prices. Open 7 days 8-4 and dinner a few nights.
On the weekends, kids & dogs accompany cyclists; everyone lazes & enjoys their coffee/papers/meal. Just an easy, well done cafe, in my book.

We ended up having dinner at Waters Edge. Ducked into Parlour Room around 6:30 to have a look as we were in the area. There were only 3 occupied tables and when someone came to greet us, her opening words were, "The kitchen is closing at 8." Fair enough, but as we'd booked for 7:30 without any mention of it then, we thought somewhere else might be a better option for a leisurely dinner. Any place can have an off night and perhaps Sunday nights aren't Parlour Room's strong suit. I'd give it another try, but probably with a different dining companion ... this one was a bit put off. Spoilt by too long away, perhaps.

Waters Edge was wonderful. Loved it. Corner window table gave us Lake & sunset views. Everything from the professional & friendly acceptance of our booking-on-the run for 7:45 to our farewell around 10:30, with the remains of our red automatically capped & handed to my friend, contributed to a most enjoyable experience.

I had the Prawn & Salmon Sausage and the Lamb Rump (which was a Rack on the night) and he the Rabbit & Quail Pithivier and the Beef Fillet (I know, I know - but he's still a country boy at heart & has been away from good Australian beef for a while. Besides, he had a very light salmon lunch)

That smoked swede puree with my lamb was the smoothest, lightest, silkiest thing I've tasted in a very, very long time. Lorrrrrrrrd only knows what the poor kitchen slave strains it through to achieve this gossamer texture without sacrificing the flavour. (And I'm not sure I really do want to know.) Luke Mangan did a similar thing with a potato mash at Salt, a thousand years ago.

We finished with a shared Cherry Souffle and a cheese platter.

The only thing I'd change about Waters Edge is to beef up the local wines in their cellar. We were on a mission to drink only ACT region wines and, apart from a very enticing 2004 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier at more than $100 more than my lanky friend had paid for those in his cellar, there wasn't a lot of other locals to choose from. However; mine host found us a 2006 Pankhurst Cab Sav which was rather good and not on the menu.


http://www.courgette.com.au/watersedge/index.html