From iced matcha on tap to rooftop high tea: we’ve got (more) new places to eat in Canberra plus foodie events for your diary
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If your Canberra dining calendar is looking suspiciously full, we have some bad news: it’s about to get fuller.
There are new openings, second venues, pop-ups and plenty of reasons to book a table coming up across Canberra – from a new dumpling destination in Braddon to a community café with a much bigger idea behind it, plus local wine, pasta and an extremely tempting spring high tea.
Here’s what’s happening in Canberra’s food scene right now.
Kodo brings a new cafe to Wildbark
There’s a fresh reason to make the trip to Mulligans Flat, with Kodo at Wildbark opening today.
The new cafe will serve breakfast and brunch with a modern take on ancient grains and flavours, with the name Kodo referring to millet – one of the traditional grains of the Himalayan region.
Expect familiar cafe favourites alongside dishes incorporating the versatile grain, from a local, family-centred team with more than 60 years of combined hospitality experience.
Kodo will be open Wednesday to Sunday, 7 am to 2 pm, at Wildbark in Throsby.
Little Italy is bringing the whole neighbourhood to the table
Little Italy Village Café opens at Villaggio Sant’ Antonio in Page tomorrow (Friday 21 August), with the idea of turning the aged care village into a community gathering place.
Inspired by the traditional Italian village café, the new space is designed for residents, families, neighbours, workers, parents, children, dog walkers and anyone else who fancies a coffee and a chat.
The cafe will be the suburb’s only cafe and is celebrating with an opening special of coffee and cake for $6.
Little Italy Village Café will be open 7–11 am, seven days a week at 35 Burkitt Street, Page.
Dumpling Social’s Braddon venue opens tomorrow
More dumplings? Always.
Dumpling Social is expanding to a second Canberra location, with its new Braddon restaurant opening tomorrow, Friday 21 August, at 61/10 Lonsdale Street – next to Bamiyan and The Civic Pub.
The team is promising “the same Dumpling Social, bigger flavours”, with all the favourites from the original venue joined by more space, handcrafted cocktails, refreshing mocktails and, naturally, plenty of dumplings. And as an opening special, you get a dumpling of your choice when you spend $30+!
The original location will continue to operate, so Canberrans now have two places to get their dumpling fix. We see absolutely no downside to this development.
Bar Nova has an opening date
The wait is almost over for Kingston’s newest bar and restaurant. Bar Nova officially opens next Wednesday 26 August, taking over the Kennedy Street space formerly occupied by Onzieme.
The new venue is the brainchild of Canberra hospitality veteran Kierain Bunton, with Nick Peterson – formerly of Such and Such – heading up the kitchen. When we first spoke to the team, details of the menu were being kept firmly under wraps, but the promise was a venue driven by the team’s own taste rather than a desire to fit neatly into one particular box.
Given the pedigree of the people involved, this is one Kingston opening we’ll be watching closely.
Side Chick ruffles feathers in Phillip
Side Chick, the latest venture from the team behind Fox & Bow and Bravo Pizza is now open, and it’s bringing an old-school takeaway feel to Chaseling Street, with juicy rotisserie chickens and fresh sides at the heart of the menu. There’s also fried chicken for those days when crispy is calling.
It’s a simple proposition, really: grab a whole chook, add some colourful sides, and take dinner home. Did we mention there’s Axil coffee and iced matcha on tap? Get the full story here.
Café Momo is expanding to Braddon
Bruce institution Café Momo is heading south – well, south-ish – with an expansion into Braddon.
The cafe has been serving the Fern Hill precinct since 1996, with a broad menu spanning breakfast, lunch, burgers, pizza, salads and plenty of coffee.
Its existing menu includes everything from smashed avo and eggs Benedict to a full MoMo breakfast, breakfast burgers, pancakes and quinoa, zucchini and corn fritters – so there should be plenty to keep the brunch crowd happy.
We’ll bring you more details on the new Braddon location as they land.
Fresca coming to City West
The traditional Tuscan schiacciata sandwiches are a Queanbeyan fave and now Joshua and Melinda Kosteski are bringing Fresca to No Name Lane in City West (40 Marcus Clarke Street).
Fresca specialises in schiacciata (a traditional sandwich from Tuscany made with a range of local and imported Italian ingredients), and boasts options like the Mortadella Schiacciata (crema di pistachio, mortadella, straciatella, and crushed pistachio), the Mediterranean (basil pesto, arugula, fior di latte mozzarella, prosciutto di parma, mixed Mediterranean vegetables and balsamic) and the Tartufo with melted tartufo di pecorino, capocollo and truffle oil.
Yves Cuilleron x Tintino Dinner
At a loose end this evening?
For one night only, Tintino (4/11 Kennedy Street, Kingston) is hosting French winemaker Yves Cuilleron, showcasing his Northern Rhône wines. They’ll be pouring eight of Yves’ best, from textural Marsanne to the very special Côte-Rôtie ‘Bassendon’.
Expect a menu of innovative dishes, built around the very best of the season, that complements each of the wines offered throughout the evening.
It’s happening tonight, from 6.15 pm. Bookings essential, seats limited, $150 pp. Book here.
Paris is coming to Canberra – sort of
Fancy a little French flair with your Sunday? Le Marché – Sydney’s award-winning French market – is heading to Canberra for the first time, taking over the Exhibition Pavilion at Thoroughbred Park in Lyneham on Sunday 30 August, from 9.30 am to 3 pm.
The Paris to Canberra French Market will feature more than 45 stalls showcasing French and French-inspired food, drinks, products and businesses. Expect tarte flambée, raclette, crêpes, French pastries and macarons, plus a wine bar, gourmet saucisson, French cheese and even a French supermarket. There’ll also be French linen, perfume, antiques and local artisans to browse.
And because no French market would be complete without a little boulangerie energy, the event promises dog-friendly treats in the shape of croissants for four-legged visitors, too. Find out more here.
Wakefields is handing the kitchen over to Sal’s Pasta
Pasta night is getting a Canberra twist, with Wakefields (2 Wakefield Gardens, Ainslie) teaming up with Sal’s Pastificio for one very saucy Wednesday night next Wednesday 26 August.
The one-night pop-up will see the Sal’s family take over Wakefields with a special menu of handmade pasta and starters, alongside the bar’s wine and cocktails.
Sal’s has been making authentic Italian pasta in Canberra since 2016, inspired by owner Salvatore’s southern Italian roots, so expect plenty of handmade pasta, good wine and plates made for sharing.
Pour Folk is going deep on local wine
If you’ve been meaning to get a little more serious about Canberra wine this could be your excuse.
Pour Folk – Local Legends Wine Dinner Vol 2 is happening at Highroad (1 Woolley Street, Dickson) on Saturday 12 September, bringing together seven local wines with Mediterranean roots.
The lineup includes Mada Wines Prosecco, Sapling Yard Albariño, Linear Wines Hilltops Fiano, Pankhurst Wines Arneis, Mount Majura Vineyard Graciano, Mada Wines Bit of Heaven Sangiovese and Collector Wines Firebird Nero d’Avola.
There’ll be a four-course menu paired with the seven wines, with the evening designed to dig a little deeper into the varieties, their origins and the people making them here in the Canberra region.
Leyla throws a High Tea Soirée
For those who believe every problem can be improved with a tiny cake and a glass of something sparkling: Leyla’s High Tea Soirée is launching Saturday 5 September.
The two-hour experience will feature a buffet of sweet and savoury treats inspired by spring, including Strawberry Fraisier, Matcha Basque Cheesecake, Wagyu Croissant Sandwiches, Burrata Focaccia and Classic Tiramisu.
Coffee and tea are included, with the option to upgrade to two hours of bottomless Mimosas, Bellinis and sparkling wine.
It’s running from 11.30 am–1.30 pm, with tickets from $85 per person. Book here.
Because sometimes you simply need to spend a Saturday morning eating tiny sandwiches and drinking bubbles. It’s practically seasonal maintenance.
You can find Leyla at 1 Burbury Close, Barton.
Feature image of Side Chick iced matcha on tap by Ben Calvert.
