Four suburban food gems in your backyard…

Posted on 2 December, 2014

It may be the time of year where you expect things to start winding down, but really the fun for foodies is just getting started here in the Capital. Particularly if you’re expecting interstate guests or family who think Canberra’s only good for visiting our national institutions. Why not make a visit to these suburban gems you’ve might not yet tried? They might think Canberra’s uneventful, but at least you can sleep at night knowing that those who love their food are keeping you, the people of Canberra, happily fed and watered.

Little Brother @ Red Hill

There are few places better to grab a coffee and a snack while taking them in, than Little Brother café, located high up on Red Hill lookout. This little gem not only shares the same excellent views of Canberra as its big sister, but clearly comes from the same family with its younger, fresher and more light hearted approach to dining.

Fittingly, there is a strong, inventive selection of snacks and Tidbits (including Pig’s Ears with pickled zucchini and Deep-Fried Chillis with goats’ cheese) to take in alongside the remarkable views, coffee or a glass of wine. For something a little less filling but to subside a grumbling tummy, smaller lunch offerings include soups and sliders are also on the menu—perfect for a quick snack.

Enjoy a sweet bite to eat (ahem, white chocolate spongecake with double cream and fruits of the forest coulis) while taking in the breathtaking views of Canberra. Photo: Little Brother

Fill up on Confit of Chicken Thighs or Battered Bream Fillets, or play it safe with a range of pizza rounds. We hear the Wild Mushroom, Fetta and Thyme-topped pizza is pretty delish. There’s also blackboard specials that change regularly and a full little Kids menu too. Oh, but be sure to keep room for dessert.

White Chocolate Mousse with Tulles. Enough said.

Little Brother also has a pretty serious beer list with a selection from many of Australia’s emerging and popular craft breweries. But if you’d rather skip the hops, its wine list tips a hat with a few local offerings of its own including the always popular Mount Majura Pinot Noir.

The essentials
The place: Little Brother Café
Where: Red Hill Drive, Red Hill Lookout, Red Hill
When: 11am until late Thursday and Friday, 9.30am until late Saturday and Sunday.
How to book: Phone (02) 6273 1166 or visit Little Brother online.

Neighbourhood Food

Tucked away on the corner of Gungahlin’s Market Place on Ernest Cavanagh Street, Neighbourhood Food is your Italian local. Designed to serve the people of Gungahlin, Neighbourhood Food is simple home cooking in a relaxed dine in atmosphere. Perfect for an affordable night out without breaking the bank, Katrina and David Jukes are all about providing good food, great service and value for money.

Who said you don’t make friends with salad? Everyone is going to love this spring citrus salad. Haloumi, baby beets, carrots, citrus segments and walnuts in a citrus dressing. Photo: Neighbourhood Food

True to its Italian style, Neighbour Food serves up a great selection of pizzas (there’s so many to choose from), heart warming risottos, traditional pasta dishes (including Spaghetti Bolognese and Fettuccine Carbonara), beautiful bruchettas for entrees and much more. It’s perfect for a generous and hearty bite to eat when you’re looking for good comfort food.

Also, in an exciting recent development, their brunch menu has officially started and they’re now open from 9am to 2pm Saturday and Sundays.

Take the kids, meet up with friends or just take the two of you…Stay tuned for our review soon.

The essentials
The place: Neighbourhood Food
Where: Ernest Cavanagh Street, Gungahlin
When: Dinner from 5.30pm until late Tuesday to Saturday. Brunch: 9am to 2pm Saturday and Sundays.
How to book: Phone (02) 6241 5819 or visit Neighbourhood Food & Co online.

Fox and Bow

Fox and Bow is the kind of place that brings that ole milk bar feel back to the suburbs with its style and sophistication that is often poured into the city but not its fringes. With kids running around playing in the laneways and parents kicking back as they enjoy a moment of peace, Farrer’s latest resident is certainly a family-friendly hangout. Its menu changes regularly but brings with it a passion for good wholesome cooking including tapas and share plates to encourage groups to use and enjoy the space that its owners have created.

Fox and Bow is bringing style and sophistication back to the ‘burbs. Photo: Fox and Bow

For the coffee lovers out there, Fox and Bow  are serious about providing quality in your cup and pours its coffee from the beans of In Five Senses Coffee—a roaster yet to break into the nation’s capital but associated with the best eateries in Melbourne and Sydney.

If you’ve a sweet tooth you’re not forgotten either with a ‘healthy’ selection of tarts and pastries to choose from alongside an array of fresh juices, smoothies and milkshakes that should keep the young at heart happy.

Hang out at Fox and Bow on the weekend for its live music sessions that see acoustic artists from around Canberra share their sounds in an intimate setting. Oh and you’ll definitely want a few snaps of local artist, Steve Caddick’s huge graffiti wall mural.

Pick up a bottle of vino from The Post Office just a couple of doors down and try them out for a long lunch or dinner. Stay tuned for a review coming soon!

The essentials
The place: Fox and Bow
Where: Farrer Shops, Farrer
When: Open Monday to Wednesday and Sunday for breakfast and lunch, Thursday to Saturday for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
How to book: Make a booking online at Fox & Bow.
Bookings:  Bookings for 4 or more Monday to Friday are recommended. Bookings not accepted on weekends or public holidays.

Snapper on the Lake

Lake Burley Griffin means many things to many people, and we bet that great fish ‘n’ chips isn’t one of them. Then again we’ve heard it is a bit of a summer tradition for some. If you have enjoyed the typically beachside meal at Yarralumla, you might want to head back for another visit because the fish ‘n’ chips you think you’ve tasted are not what they used to be. Snapper on the Lake is a newly refurbed fish ‘n’ chip joint serving, you guessed it, fish and chips alongside a selection of wines and coffee too. With a simple menu from the sea you can’t go wrong with calamari, prawn cutlets, fresh fish or even a fish burger. But if you’re a health nut that likes your seafood to only be grilled then maybe give this one a miss or suck it up if you’re really keen and enjoy a crumbed or battered fillet of fish.

Don’t worry if seafood isn’t your thing Snapper also offers non-fishy dishes including chicken schnitzel burger and three different salads (Caesar, Garden and Smoked Chicken). You can even get a free fix of live music on Saturdays and Sundays.

So if you’ve not experienced fish ‘n’ chips by the lake or it didn’t impress you the first time around, then add it, quick smart, to your list of things to do this summer. Whether it’s a lunchtime spread across a picnic rug, a morning caffeine hit, snack or early morning breakfast, Snapper on the Lake is where you need to be.

The essentials
The place: Snapper on the Lake
Where: Lotus Bay, Mariner Place, Yarralumla
When: 8am to 8pm seven days a week
How to book: No booking necessary.