Being a sucker for a sandwich board promising a sub $10 lunch Dickson’s Kagawa lured me in today.
I walked in the door at the dot of noon to find the place mostly empty, but not ready to do anything so crass as take my order.
After a couple of minutes playing around with a cash register [...]

[ 9 March, 2013; 2:00 pm; ]

Well this looks like fun:

The Small Brewers Beer Festival is about showcasing some of the unique and exquisite beers made by the smaller breweries and beer companies from around Australia.

Participation to this festival is strictly limited to small breweries as on-going battle to level the playing field against the big breweries.

Over 55 different beers [...]

Goodfood brings word that Canberra’s top restaurant (in vertical metres at least) is closing its doors after getting the love birds out tonight.
Two years of unpaid rent can do that to a business.

Walking down Lonsdale Street in Braddon today (as one does) I noticed the Ploy Thai restaurant and with the promise of an $8 deal how could I resist?
Curry puffs come extra at a dollar a throw and with a can of coke I had lunch and a drink for a mere $11.
I should have had [...]

Palace Electric Cinema is giving RiotACT readers the exclusive chance to win one of three VIP Electric Night Out experiences!
Be one of the first to experience the Electric difference at Palace Electric with two x VIP passes to any session of your choice, followed by dinner for two at Mezzalira to the value of $200 [...]

The Magistrates Court has released the findings of the inquest into the Hotel Diamant fire.
The background by Coroner Walker is certainly far reaching:
When humankind learned of the quality of fire as a tool in cooking, a seductively dangerous relationship emerged. Whether in the home or commercial kitchens, fires related to the cooking process are [...]

The Australian Hotels Association is still carrying on that people had fun at the Multicultural Festival without paying their members for the privilege.
“As the leading voice for hospitality and tourism in the ACT, the AHA-ACT welcomes events and festivals that attract tourists to Canberra and boost the local economy,” AHA-ACT Branch General Manager Brad Watts [...]

Here’s something new: a bike-path side café.
I was feeling a little lost as my daughter was off on camp, so I went for a ride, and came upon this little bit of free enterprise on the bike-path between MacArthur Avenue and David Street in O’Connor.  And yes, it’s all properly approved by the Authoritahs.
The very [...]

Your correspondent didn’t get to the Multicultural Festival this year. Quite how I missed my favourite event of the year is a source of some confusion but it involves my girlfriend, who did go to the festival, without me. Suffice to say I’m not very happy about all that.
So I’ll just have to note the [...]

Smoque (Pronounced Smoke) is a relatively new player in the restaurant game. It’s on Petrie Plaza just next to Ted’s Cameras off London Circuit.
They’ve gone to the trouble of making a sexy video which gives a feel for the place:

I had a dinner meeting for three to organise so foolishly thought booking a table a [...]

Last night instead of the busy Multicultural Festival, my boyfriend and I decided to go to Dickson instead. We stumbled upon a relatively newish place called ‘Hostage Bar and Tapas’.  The menu looked enticing so we decided to give it a whirl.
The place was practically empty – that should have been all the warning we [...]

Dear Mr Zucchini,
Despite none of your pizzas actually containing either zucchini OR brothers, we are big fans of your work, and lament your absence since December.
It was rumoured that you would be reopening mid-February but having recently tried to call you and found your number disconnected, and the location of your new digs clearly vacant, [...]

The Australian Hotels Association has a long history of trying to force Australians into a small number of horrible booze barns owned by their mates.
So it’s not surprise they’re bellyaching about Beer And Meat On A Stick Day:
Industry has expressed concerns about the double-standards being applied to the service of alcohol at Canberra’s National [...]

The Canberra Brewers Club is back at the Canberra Multicultural Festival this year. Once again we’ll be selling some great handcrafted beers courtesy of the Wig and Pen, including last year’s hit brew, The Malty Cultural.
This this year we’re also going to be conducting live brewing demonstrations.
If you’ve ever wanted to get [...]

I’ve been tasked with helping find a good caterer for the Honda Australia Rally Team that are attending the NatCap Rally on the first weekend of March.
Will be based out of the service park, power etc all supplied, and to feed approx 30 people for the weekend.
Who’s out there? Opinions? Recommendations?
Thanks

What a beautiful thing to see on the TV, international cricket live from Manuka Oval!
Hopefully they’ve fixed the “technical issue” which scuppered the beer filling machines at all the bars for the PM’s XI.

The Health Directorate has announced that kava will once again be gracing Beer And Meat On A Stick Day:
“The Pacific Island community has expressed the importance of kava use to their culture. This exemption will allow Pacific Island people to observe their customs on the occasion of the National Multicultural Festival each year, ACT [...]

The whereabouts of baby pigeons is much discussed on the internet.
Fortunately we can now say they’re behind the gas heater at O’Connor’s Duxton just one cold night away from tragedy.
Got an image of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email it in to images@the-riotact.com .

TAMS are making known the road closures around Civic for the 2013 National Multicultural Festival:
Only one lane along London Circuit, between Constitution Avenue and Northbourne Avenue, will be open to vehicle traffic in both directions from 10 am to 6 pm on Friday 8 February 2013. The speed limit will be reduced to 40 kilometres [...]

A friend needs to know for reasons we don’t need to go into here.
But as the matter is not easily googled we can perhaps provide a long term public service.
Anyone know?

The Centenary folks are giving notice that the times tickets to their Bubbly Bars are now available:
“I’ve tasted the tapas and the Centenary bubbly, and believe me at $15 for four tastes and a glass this is a fantastic bargain,” Robyn said.
“But basically this is more about being able to say you were there, to [...]

[ 9 February, 2013; ]

There is no day so joyous in the Canberra calendar as BAMOASD. So it’s with some joy I note the marquees are going up in Civic Square.

It’s coming up on 9 February.

Rhetorical question really. Quite a few good cafes although many are hidden in office blocks.
But a few months ago Pride of Asia opened on the corner of National Circuit and Bligh St, opposite the Hotel Kurrajong. This place is fantastic. Good cheap tasty Asian food, with a choice of four premade hot dishes plus [...]

I’ve been looking to take the missus to a bed and breakfast somewhere close by (preferably with a swank restaurant) and keen for some recommendations.
There appear to be any number of places around Bungendore, but they’re all self-rated, and the majority seem to have some pretty scathing reviews online.

My graduation dinner is coming up in a month or so, and family tradition is we go somewhere a little more expensive and fancy to celebrate when someone graduates university.
I am looking for suggestions of restaurants that have a good menu selection to keep everyone happy, and isn’t ‘little meals on big plates’ kind of [...]

Normally my morning tea of choice for catching up with friends is at the Hyatt but shock – horror – this is no more! The Hyatt now only offers afternoon tea with 2 sessions (starting at 11am) at a large-ish price……
Problem is I need a 10am start and I would rather not pay $52 per person!
Any [...]

For those looking for authentic sushi in Canberra, I highly recommend Ace Sushi at the Belconnen markets. Been there twice now and the sushi is excellent – very fresh and reasonably priced at $2.90 a plate. The sushi chef there trained in Hokkaido in northern Japan for a number of years and really knows his [...]

Back in autumn 2003 I went on a tour round the wineries on the eastern side of town with the other half. On that tour we bought a Gidgee Estate ‘Bush Fire Red’ made from the 2002 vintage that had been smoke damaged in its barrels in January 2003. The proceeds went to the Wamboin [...]

This surprises me on many levels.
It’s one thing to name an establishment for the street it is on. Quite another to take that name to the next premises with no connection to the name.
I will concede that Emu Bank doesn’t have quite the same ring to it.
TC25 has sent in the above picture with this [...]

On our way to the Phoenix last night for Bad!Slam!No!Biscuit! GoosePig and I stopped into Red Chilli, which has taken over the spot formerly occupied by the Singaporean based La Pasa.
Red Chilli is part of a Sydney chain of restaurants promising Sichuan food.
The fitout is certainly ornate but also tends to foodcourt with chain flyers [...]

Ive recently come across the Ginninderra Tavern , as well as the Pot Belly and was wondering if anyone has been to either and can offer their thoughts on them…. Does anyone know if the Ginninderra Tavern has a TAB?
Thanks guys

After spending a week near Tathra with Mrs AAM & AA kiddies I continue to despair about the quality of the food being served in many South Coast establishments, particularly RSL’s, Bowls & Golf clubs.   I know there are some places doing a great job in Tuross & Merimbula to name a couple but really a lot [...]