Canberra

Canberra: Where the locals dine

Canberra Insider

Dickson Asian Noodle House

Don't get stuck tucking in to overpriced (and under good) grub at touristy restaurants. Our Insider tells you where the locals dine in Canberra.

Griffith Vietnamese Restaurant

This is unpretentious, cheap and yummy 'namese. The staff are happy and friendly and the food tasty. And I'm not the only one who thinks so — the walls are papered with the autographs, doodles and recommendations of our nation's politicians! Everyone from Peter Garrett to Brendan Nelson noodle nosh at Griffith. Take cash, though, as there's no ATM nearby. (6B Barker Street, Griffith Shops; phone (02) 6295 6505.

Satis

Satis, a tiny cafe, is a surprise around the corner from the main drag of the Watson shops. The size lends to a good vibe, and everyone's conversation washes over as punters watch the kitchen staff work. The food is vegetarian and organic, and as environmentally friendly as possible. The super friendly staff at Satis serve tasty lunch platters, but I'm also a fan of their breakfast with a fair-trade coffee.

Debacle

For some reason Canberra doesn't do pubs quite the same way other Australian cities do. Braddon's Debacle fills this gap in the Canberra scene. The bar offers a huge range of import beers and a scrumptious complementary tapas and pizza menu. It gets packed out on the weekends but you'll also find it pumping on Mondays and Tuesdays when the locals flock to take advantage of their famous 2 for 1 pizza deal.

A Bite to Eat, A Drink as Well

A Bite to Eat, A Drink as Well serves fresh, seasonal food good enough to warrant the hike from the city centre. It also has a bar and does frozen food for self-caterers.

Italian and Sons

Date night? Italian and Sons Vino e Cucina is just right. Mixing up mama-style authenticity with city-chic this place will please from antipasti right up to the hard decision between delectable dessert and the many cheeses on offer.

Café Essen

With a whole menu devoted to coffee and tea, it's no surprise the brews at Café Essen are delicious (and the pots of tea big enough for two). The staff can swing between friendly and aloof but it's always hugely popular and a meeting place for all. It's nestled between Gus' and Milk and Honey, two other Canberra favourites.

Tilley's Devine Café Gallery

Tilley's Devine Café Gallery was opened in reaction to the hegemony of the old-boys-club mentality of Canberra. When it first opened men were not allowed to dine without the company of a female. Now the gender rules are more relaxed but the opulent interior and mostly female staff remains. Live music comes and goes, check the website for details. I love to indulge in long winter afternoons of coffee consumption huddled in a booth and outdoor breakfasts in summer.

My Rainbow Dreams

My Rainbow Dreams boasts delicious vegetarian lunches and an interesting drinks menu served with a smattering of ideology. The curry of the day is the perfect in between sight-seeing lunch.

Courgette and Aubergine

Courgette and Aubergine, formerly sister restaurants, both do uber-nice fine dining. They're my pick for elegant options, and they're both well acclaimed.

Brodburger — Flame Grilled Burgers, Food Caravan

The Brodburger lakeside caravan is swarming with hungry hoards waiting to get their hands on Canberra's fave gourmet burgers. Bring a picnic rug and something to drink and enjoy a tasty cheap meal while watching the sun go down over Canberra.

Have you eaten at any of these places in Canberra? Know of any others worth mentioning? Tell us about it using the comments form below.

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User comments

Thirst wine bar & eatery on West row, in the Melbourne Building in the City. This place is fabulous, funky, relaxed and great value. We go every week now, the food is all Thai and the best I've had in Canberra, great, fresh flavours, a mixture of classic and modern Thai There is never a problem when we bring the kids, who love the satay, spring rolls and sticky rice. While we devour the sausages and trout green curry. Delicious!

you have a story on canberra eateries with a pic of the dickson noodle house then don't mention it?? it's in woolley street, dickson, which is canbera's little chinatown - also excellent here is the tak kee roast duck restaurant, the wonderful pho quoc vietnamese and yum cha on weekends is at the chinese scholar. sammy's kitchen in the city is also brilliant with the best shan tung chicken on the continent. also in town, in the bus interchange, is tasuke, the best place for japanese. always filed with japanese and locals who have lived there, a good sign... bon apetit.

Went to Griffith Vietnamese restaurant recently with a large group for a farewell lunch. The waiter took everyone's order except mine and took ages to come back after he was notified that he'd missed my order. My veg curry dish was boring, my colleague ordered rice paper rolls and they had a piece of glass in the dipping sauce which she found in her mouth. She told a staff member and they took her plate with apologising, offering to replace the meal or a refund. Very disappointing place.

It did say formerly....

The Turkish Grill in Erindale is always a winner. Best Turkish food in Canberra

AUBERGINE AND COURGETTE ARE NOT SISTER RESTAURANTS.

i'm not sure that corguette and aubergine are sister restaurants anymore - i think aubergine has been re-opened by someone else. still really good food! now how could you forget rubicon - given that everyone goes on about it all the time?! it's quite nice too. but my absoulute favourite is alto tower in the black mountain telstra tower - it is wonderful - great views and sumptious food - if you can afford it - go for it. sabayon in civic is lovely, ardeche is a cheaper french restaurant but still good. wasabi for japanese down south you should try out china tea house for chinese and ramas for indian there's stacks of restaurants in canberra. and i think you'll find that the locals eat at most of them!

My wife and I recently ate at Waters Edge and were very impressed. The meal didn't feel expensive even though by most standards it was. That alone was worth the outing. We have tried a lot of places in the region and were definitely not disappointed here.

Have to disagree with Ellacure Rhi. It used to be my family's fav spot too but seems to have hiked the prices up and quality down lately. I think if we're looking at places not to pricey as well Courgette and Aubergine shouldn't be in there. For Asain Sammy's or the noodle house in the city are great. Plus for Turkish a banquet at the Turkish Pide house is the best value around!

The best restaurant in Canberra is Ellacure, it is located in the northern suburb of Bruce. I'm pretty sure it won best restaurant last year in the "out in canberra" awards. The food is lovely, not too over-priced and the service is friendly. I go there all the time with my fiance, they know us by name. Always book ahead to get a table, even on a Monday night it can be packed, but if you can't get a table you can always get take-away from there too.

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