Pretty darn hip y'all. Eighty Six is definitely one to hit while you're living/visiting Canberra…read more Its a small but well formed space and the best seats in the house are for sure over the kitchen. Order one (duck bun) or two (another duck bun) starters and watch young chefs show off their skills. Eyeball their creations and let that help you decide what to order next. At a glance the menu could be Italian - scratched onto a dark wall in white chalk - but when you read (el loco hot dogs, ceviche taco) its more City of Angels (Ghetto Beef) meets mod Euro (sangria ragu parpadelle). My one dish recommendation is the Lemon Ricotta gnocchi with asparagus. *Drool* . I just need to get over the prices! Is all Canberra this way?? EightySix feels like a passion project of the new school cool. Dude chefs. Dude food. Dude music. Dude, it's good.

86 in restuarant parlance means "we're out", however, here 86 is "in" It's hard to snag a table…read moreeven in somnambulant Canberra unless you book in advance. A friendly staff is there to greet and seat. Everyone was knowledgeable about the menu, what went into what and how it was prepared. Good job of enlightening the crew who all knew what to do or feild any question. Plunk this hot spot down in New York or LA and blows the clouches of Momofuku or Trois Mec. The physical plant is warm and the atmosphere sizzling. Prime spots are at the bar just 18 iinches away from the kitchen infantry mad prepping and plating a constant assembly line of the good stuff. And good stuff it is. The menu changes quicker than Bruce Jenner's gender, so if you really lust after something (the food, not Jenner), go twice in a week. The Vitello Tonnato was a deconstructed version, and me, personally, I prefer it as if Marcella Hazan made it. Straight forward as it was originally created, but here the separated components really work and give you a chance to savor each layer of flavor. Like moving the egg off the Eggs Benedict. Ghetto Beef was nothing any self respecting ghetto dweller could ever afford. A ghetto in Canberra? Paleeze. A ghetto of YUPS and DINKS maybe. Cutsy name notwithstanding this was a terrific dish. Chunks of spoon tender Wagyu beef and aioli all spread out over a plate of Rocket. Cauliflower with Dukkah was perfect too. Crisp florets dusted with house made North African spice took me back to my days in Cairo (and I thought nothing would get me back there). A Pickled Terrine of Pork with Tartar Sauce tickled my fancy as well. This was surprisingly good. No surprises or duds in this place as everything was spot on. Then it happened. I watched the cook in front of me at the bar whack off the crispy end of a freshly grilled Roo Tail. Into the trash bin it went. It was all I could do to keep from lungeing like a Manchester United Goalie over the counter to collect those tasty chef's nibbles. You'd pay extra for them "Burn'd Ends in Chicago or Kansas City. Having that snipped tip tossed was such a waste. (Just ask Bruce Jenner). The chef smiled and said the Roo medallions needed to be uniform in size for presentation. Next time I plan to take my own BBQ fork and spear them before they're dispatched. Finally, Banoffee Pie landed before me. A Dulce de Leche Tart, Banana, Whipped Cream and Crushed Pretzels was decadent but even so, leaned to the light side if such a dessert can manage it. And it got washed down with a brace of Espresso Martinis. Frangelico, Amarettto, and Espresso in a glass. After two of those I was both wobbly and bolt upright at the same time. The full bar is solid and rocks. I'm no mathematician, but I know I can always count on you, 86.

Lanterne Rooms is honestly such a cool spot for Malaysian/Asian food. The tom yum prawns were my…read morefavourite - super tasty and the perfect amount of spice. Service was really friendly, and the vibe is cozy but still a bit fancy. Great place for a date or just a nice night out with friends.

The interior of Lanterne Rooms appreciates and promotes the beauty of culture. The multiple wall…read moreand ceiling fans take it to another different level, it imitates the breeze that can only be achieved by being in that certain country itself. This restaurant delivers you to another place and for that I'm blown away. To be frank, the food was quite pricey. I ordered a salmon (fish of the day) in tamarind sauce for takeout. In small containers, it was $35 in total including the white rice. However, $35 is TOTALLY worth it after tasting the first bite! The dish is beautifully cooked! Amazing job! The place is also perfect for semi-casual business meetings and compatible with semi-formal attires. The waiter is friendly and helpful. I haven't seen enough of this place and I will be sure to drop by next time I'm in the area. I will also be sure to update this review next time I visit.

Good restaurant with a fabulous view. But pricey. The portions are small --tapas style -- and are…read morearound $20-$30 each. You need 2-3 to make a decent meal. The roo was tender and the rest of the meal was good, but it only gets 2 stars for the exorbitant price.

Had a fantastic experience! Staff were really friendly,…read moremade great suggestions, and just generally made the night memorable. The vegetarian food was delicious, and the wines were magnificent! The view is spectacular, and along with great service and meal... as I said - fantastic. Couldnt be happier.

After being told this place is a must when visiting Canberra, I thought we'd give it a go…read more After arriving a couple of minutes late, we were told our table had been given away. We were then told there was another table for us, and were quickly seated. We ordered a bunch of starters and mains. The dips were excellent, but the accompanying bread wasn't enough and we had to ask for more - which we were charged extra for. The cocktails were alright. My espresso martini was very strong. Our mains arrived and were cold and chewy, and were a massive disappointment. Service was attentive but amateurish. It certainly didn't feel like a high end restaurant. At the end of our meal, our bill had an additional item that we hadn't ordered. This was subsequently removed, and after discussing the mains, we received a partial refund. I'd like to think this was a bit of a once off thing and will give this place another shot when we're back in Canberra.

Visiting Canberra to see the fly over celebrating 100 years since the foundation of the RAAF we…read morelooked for restaurants near our hotel and found Ottoman Cuisine. An excellent dining experience followed. We began with a tray of dips with house made Turkish bread all tasty but exceptional were the spicy beetroot and baba ganoush. Main meals for sharing were veal medallions and lamb kofta - both very nice. Finally we shared a baklava. All washed down with a Yarra Valley chardonay.

Here for a wedding event so this review is mostly for this as well as the venue…read more Estate (Pialligo Fields) was lovely with beautifully maintained plants and flowers. The wooden decor adds to a wonderful feel and the canapes served (muchroom arancini, salmon bruschetta, pork belly) were all delicious and staff were all nice and polite. I enjoyed the beef app and calamari more than the steak entree though. Beautiful space for an event. Their dining or restaurant area is very nicely decorated too. cant tell how the food is but it seems it may actually he goof if they serve the same food we had during the wedding we attended.

We were charged for bottle of sparkling wine instead of a glass on our wedding anniversary lunch…read more Went back the next day with receipt for refund but manager not there. We were given the contact number for manager who promised refund. Now, one month later after several messages have still not received a refund and no response from latest message. Hugely disappointed by their conduct. Would definitely NOT recommend.

This is really tasty. It has a nice family atmosphere, the banquet is great value and way to much…read morefood. I've never had anything I didn't like there and some nights there's even belly dancing for entertainment. They also do great takeaway if you prefer.

If it hadn't been for McDonald's looking like the only other breakfast option in Dickson the other…read moremorning, we could have eaten somewhere else and missed out on the swank and sass of Trev's. Situated across the road from Trans ACT, you can get to Trev's by bus off Northbourne Ave, or by parking in one of the streetside pay per park bays. If you're visiting by night, you can try parking in the Trans ACT building carpark, however I spent another meal (somewhere else) muttering 'are we gonna get towed?' over and over like a mantra. If you're a local, you probably know better. Ambience **** Sitting outdoor or indoor, you'll find yourself happily perched in a fashionable space in what the owners have made a modern trendy spot called Trev's. We sat inside, amidst the specials board 'thyme and feta cigars', the barista/ cashier island, and swimming in chic decor coloured in natural woods, greens, browns and cream. Trev's oozes cool through every sense, the attitudes of the wait staff and barista, echoed off by the visual and auditory provisions. What could have been a Ministry of Sound chillout mix played in the background, lending your Monday brain to forget the hectic office while you sip what might be your first espresso of the day. My one and only gripe with the atmosphere was the interruptive 'clank, clank, clank' of the coffee bean grinder going off as coffee orders came through. On the one hand it shook my easily irked morning mind, on the other, it reminded me we were in an energetic place where I could take on the same chilled buzz. Service ***** The guys and girl at Trev's in the morning have brilliant smiles, infectious energy and an oomph that just doesn't quit. From the moment we were offered a choice of tables to the end of our meal we were attended to perfectly. The barista service is spot on with the barista knowing his weekday regulars by face, and engaging the customers while brewing their usual cuppa. The very close attention of the wait staff paid off because often I hanker a second cup of coffee, and having been checked on meant they got another two drinks out of us. Food ***** When our meals came out, my first reaction was that we hadn't been given much. Then, upon pulling maple drowned bacon off my French toast, I realised a bit humbly that the portion was actually quite perfect. Later it made me really ponder the quality vs quantity problem facing us growing Aussies. In the end, the tightly presented sex-on-a-plate made for a more fulfilling meal than an over-size portioned big brekkie slapped together. The baguette had been thoroughly covered in egg mix and melted in hot sweet eggy goodness in my mouth. Hubby's fried eggs were overdone - he usually enjoys dipping his toast into the yolks but they were too cooked to do so. The bacon on both our plates was crispy and in my case rich and sweet at the same time. I'd never been an advocate of maple on bacon until a cafe I used to cook at put it on the menu. Since, I've never looked back, it's really too good to resist trying, and the chef at Trev's makes a delectable sample of it. Additionals If we hadn't gotten lazy tonight, I'd have loved to try the pizza menu for dinner - 2 for 1 Wednesdays, dine-in. Unfortunately our whirlwind trip won't allow for us to fit it in between now and the rest of our time in Canberra, but if we are in this end of the world again, I'll make it for breakfast or pizza (or one of the interesting looking specials) for sure!

Trev's serves good Australian/Italian cuisine in a relaxed and informal setting. Mains were about…read more$30, entrees and desserts around $12 and pizza for $18. Wine is by the bottle with some by the glass. Overall impressions were positive. Service was friendly if a little in-attentive. Food was good with the odd blemish - the duck confit was a little dry, passion fruit tart had come away from the pastry casing. The room was a little noisy, with even the waiter having difficulty hearing our orders. Perhaps some softer furnishings or wall coverings are required. Might try it again for lunch :)

I don't often go out to Gungahlin but I love Pho and so was drawn to this restaurant like a moth to…read morethe name. I was a little disappointed to see that the place had all the charm and ambience of a Subway (one of which is located next door, for those interested). But we were there for the food, not the decor. When we ordered our pho, the waitress advised that they were out of bean sprouts and had not been able to source any more and asked whether that be OK. What the pho? We said it would be OK, but we didn't really mean it. Come on, pho without bean sprouts, really? We spent a minute pondering this apparent Gungahlin-wide bean sprout shortage and the possible existence of a billionaire bean sprout trader attempting market monopolisation. I then walked the 30 metres to the supermarket DIRECTLY ACROSS THE ROAD. To my absolute amazement, about 10 bags of bean sprouts had magically appeared in all their leguminous glory. I purchased one bag for all of $2.20, returned to Simply Pho and advised the waitress of this unexpected change in bean sprout market conditions. As you would expect, she was as surprised as I was. So surprised, in fact, that we didn't see her again. The cook delivered the bowls of pho to our table together with two of (and I am not exaggerating here) the most wilted shoots of Thai basil that I have ever seen embarrass a bowl of pho. And I have eaten a lot of pho. The Thai basil proved to be the proverbial canary in the culinary coalmine as a gastronomic tragedy unfolded before us. This pho, even after adding the Sriracha and hoisin sauces, the chilli, lemon juice and the basil, was easily the worst pho I can recall having. Ever. I could name at least half a dozen places I have had pho in the last few months and Simply Pho is simply the worst of them all. The broth, the key component of a pho, had the flavour of dishwater. Clearly, they do not add enough bones and/or do not simmer the broth long enough. Nor do they add much of anything else to provide any interesting complexity to the flavour. In fairness, the place is called 'Simply Pho', not 'Complexly Pho'. And, in keeping with their name, the pho is weak and one dimensional. After consuming perhaps a quarter of it, we just couldn't see the point in continuing. This is the first time, in the dozens of times I have had pho of all kinds - from great pho, to good pho, to fair pho, and even to poor pho - that I have not finished my pho. Because this was not even poor pho. It was unpleasant pho. On the bright side, we had ordered the regular, not the large. But even that was as or more expensive as similar or larger, but definitely better, pho elsewhere. Speaking of elsewhere, much better pho is available at (surprisingly) Majura Park. But the best pho in the Canberra region is still Sai Gon Pho in (again, surprisingly) Queanbeyan. So, if you live in Gungahlin, the Majura Parkway is your gateway to a better and brighter pho future.

Left Sydney late afternoon with family and looked on iPhone for a place for dinner. Needed gluten…read morefree options for wife and son. Arrived at 9:10pm and was lucky to get a table as they close at 9pm.. Very friendly and welcoming staff/owner and we were offered easy options. Good rice paper rolls, not special but good. Pho is their specialty and we were not disappointed. I had combo beef, wife had simply pho and my sons had a chicken pho and pork with rice. Everyone loved it! (although rice and pork did not look as appetising as the soups. Hearty meals, tasty as well as cheap. $75 for a family of four was great. If you are looking for a hot noodle soup drop by for a simple Pho! We did (on the way back to Sydney) as requested by the kids and it was only $50 (without flavoured drinks)