EATING OUT in Canberra
With the arrival of TOP-CLASS hotels, restaurants, CAFES and wineries, FAMILIES are spoilt for CHOICE when it comes to EATING OUT in Canberra.
THE MERE MENTION of family holidays evokes memories that are framed around food. We’re talking shared meals at restaurants, the promise of ice-cream around every corner, a stroll around farmers’ markets, enjoying autumn’s apple harvest at a roadside stall or queuing at that cult food truck. Following are a few exceptional places to eat out at with the family in Canberra.
WILDFLOUR BAKERY
Wildflour Bakery is an optimal place for breakfast. As well as being a place where a beguiling cast of locals come together, the artisan bakery and cafe has an undercover courtyard overlooking play equipment, which will keep the kids happy until their mini French toast and chocolate croissants arrive. Take your pick between options such as smashed avo and shakshuka before getting properly caffeinated with a cup of ONA coffee. Pick up paninis to go. wildflour.com.au
EAST ROW
Bring your Instagram-obsessed teens to East Row so they can refresh their social feed with images of doughnut French toast with peanut butter snow or the not-so-humble lamb burger built around a charcoal bun. The contemporary cafe, which also serves ONA coffee, is housed in the revitalised Sydney Building and is full of hip locals who arrange themselves artistically on the apple-green banquettes. eastrowspecialtycoffee.com.au
THE PLOT AT PIALLIGO
Clink glasses and toast to your success in finding a licensed cafe attached to a winery that comes equipped with a fully fenced sensory playground. The menu at the Farm Shop Cafe will placate parents who want their children to eat well with its focus on seasonal, ethically sourced, sustainable produce. Rub shoulders with rugged rugged-up locals over a croque madame while the kids tuck into a Pialligo Mini Me Grazing Board. theplotatpialligo.com.au
CBD DUMPLING HOUSE
You will get dinner and a show at the CBD Dumpling House as the chefs prepare thousands of dumplings a day in full view of their customers and passers-by. This noted dumpling den – the go-to choice for everyone from fat-cat politicians to students – is a decidedly fun place to enjoy xiao long bao (Shanghai soup dumplings) until you pop. Kids love the ice-cream with waffles, which arrive with a snowfall of sprinkles.
VERITY LANE MARKET
In suitable weather, the laneway tables within the iconic Sydney Building maximise Canberra’s chilled hipster vibe. But, like most places in Canberra, Verity Lane Market is not too cool for school and you’ll get a warm welcome when it’s cold outside. The upmarket street-food market has a convenient CBD location where families can choose between vendors such as Pizza Artigiana, Ramen Daddy and Enoki Project. veritylanemarket.com.au
BRODBURGER AT CAPITAL BREWING
The original red caravan where Brodburger began life is now housed in the familyfriendly courtyard at Capital Brewing Co. and its disciples look like they eat here more than in their own homes. And why not? The flame-grilled burgers are some of the best in all the land: grownups should get the bigger-than-ya-head Deluxe stuffed with eggs, bacon, lettuce and onion while kids can order the same in a ‘Baby Size’ version. brodburger.com.au
PATISSEZ
The home of the world-famous FreakShake is now known for so much more. The menu at Patissez pushes the same kind of pimped-up food that put the bakehouse on the map in the first place. Head to the cafe, tucked away in a suburban shopping strip, for loaded Tijuana tacos, Patissez fried chicken and Hangry Burgers aimed at children who are still growing and feeling hungry + angry. patissez.com
SNAPPER ON THE LAKE
Sit outside at the Southern Cross Yacht Club in Yarralumla and enjoy the crisp Canberra air while the kids kick a ball around. As the name suggests, the eatery is right on the lake overlooking Black Mountain, skewered as it is by the iconic Telstra Tower. Order the Whipper Snapper fish and chips from the kids’ menu and crumbed snapper fillet and chips, which arrive wrapped in a custom newspaper printed with dad jokes. cscc.com.au/snapper
LAZY SU
Teach your children to appreciate good food and retro-chic decor at Lazy Su in Lonsdale Street where these two components collide to great effect. Watch the chefs cook up a storm with dishes everyone seems to order such as Korean buffalo wings, charred broccolini and beef short-rib bibimbap. Families should arrive early for dinner at the Japanese-Korean-Americana eatery, as the place turns up the volume as the night progresses. lazy-su.com.au