The Goldilocks guide to Canberra dinner spots: Not too fancy. Not too casual. Just right.
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Looking for a mid-week, mid-range date spot? Here are our top five spots for a trendy but casual dinner in Canberra.
Meeting up for dinner with a date or a friend mid-week can be difficult. You want somewhere nice enough for it to feel like an occasion, but not so fancy you have to change out of your jeans. Oh, and something that won’t break the bank.
It’s difficult, but not impossible, to find restaurants that fit this middle ground – and we have a list to prove it! Here are five restaurants around Canberra which offer a cool, trendy vibe but relaxed, affordable menu.
Senn Noods, Braddon
Senn Noods in Braddon is Zaab’s younger, more relaxed sibling. Also located on Lonsdale Street, Senn Noods is tucked away next to Paint and Pinot. Most of the seating is outdoors, making it a great spot for when Canberra (eventually) starts to get warmer again.
The menu has a focus on more traditional Thai dishes, but Pad Thai lovers, be warned: you won’t find any here. What they have instead is (in my humble opinion) the best green curry in Canberra, succulent Moo Ping pork skewers and a seriously more-ish Pad Ki Mao, known as ‘Thai Drunken Noodles’.
They’re open till late, which is great because over peak dinner time it can get busy. Take advantage of the quieter midweek period and don’t neglect their drinks menu.
Unit G02/27 Lonsdale Street, Braddon | sennnoods.com.au
Department of Pizza, Campbell
Department of Pizza in Campbell is not your regular pizza parlour. While the menu features all the classics you see elsewhere, they offer Neapolitan-style pizzas cooked to perfection in their wood-fire oven.
The decor is simple but refined, working just as well for date night as a slightly nicer post-work dinner and drink. They have a great wine list to accompany your pizza, and their tiramisu is the perfect end to a delicious meal.
They also offer gluten-free bases which (some say) are better than their normal ones.
2 Blamey Place, Campbell | departmentofpizza.com.au
Kita, Narrabundah
Kita in Narrabundah is technically a cafe, rather than a restaurant, but given its opening hours are from 6 pm to 6 am, I thought it deserved a spot in this article.
Kita proudly describes itself as Canberra’s only all-night cafe, and while that would be enough to attract those looking for somewhere to eat in the wee hours of the morning, the food and vibe are worth staying up for.
The food is Indonesian comfort food – think piping hot, slurpable laksa, a classic nasi goreng, and a curry of the week which never fails to disappoint.
The interior is cosy too, with a few couches available for those who manage to arrive at off-peak hours.
59 Boolimba Crescent, Narrabundah | kitakafe.com.au
Ikigai Ramen, Gungahlin
For Ikigai Ramen in Gungahlin, the goal was to create a space that replicated the flavour and vibe of a Tokyo ramen shop. It’s a high bar, and one they have exceeded. As soon as you step into Ikigai, you feel a world away from the town centre behind you.
The ramen is delicious, their spicy edamame is to die for, and their selection of small plates sets them apart from other ramen bars.
43 Hibberson Street, Gungahlin | instagram.com/ikigairamen
+84 Kitchen, Phillip
Although +84 Kitchen in Phillip is a fairly new entrant to the Canberra dining scene, it already has quite the reputation.
The Vietnamese restaurant is tucked away at the bottom of the WOVA building in Woden – so hidden, in fact, they have a video on socials to guide you to their door.
The husband-and-wife duo who run the restaurant know what they’re doing, and guests feel welcome when they arrive and satisfied when they leave. Their Beef Pho is described on the menu as the “Best pho in town”, and I have to agree.
Wova Building, T1-C04/6 Furzer Street, Phillip | @84kitchen.act
