I think their plan is to have a break then look for new premises in the Woden valley area. The new owners of the building – sons of the old owner of the building – were looking for more rent.

chow said :

I think their plan is to have a break then look for new premises in the Woden valley area. The new owners of the building – sons of the old owner of the building – were looking for more rent.

Good to know they’ll be back. There’s definitely a place for those old-style european eateries. Gosh, my ancient history class had a dinner there back in the very early 80s!

EvanJames said :

chow said :

I think their plan is to have a break then look for new premises in the Woden valley area. The new owners of the building – sons of the old owner of the building – were looking for more rent.

Good to know they’ll be back. There’s definitely a place for those old-style european eateries. Gosh, my ancient history class had a dinner there back in the very early 80s!

But that’d be ancient history…

What was on the menu then, figs stuffed with larks’ tongues?

I was devastated when I saw this over chistmas. I will miss there lasagne

Story I heard was that the building owners had upped the rent to an unpayable amount. If true I hope it stays empty for years.

Man I hope they keep that ’70s decor, talk about a step back in time.

Our family has had special occasion dinners at Plaka for over thirty years.Their pizza’s are the best you’ll find southside at a reasonable price.
But typical of a landlord to screw the long term tenant, there are only two people who will send you broke,the tax dept. and your landlord.

colourful sydney racing identity said :

I was devastated when I saw this over chistmas. I will miss there lasagne

Story I heard was that the building owners had upped the rent to an unpayable amount. If true I hope it stays empty for years.

+1

cross said :

Our family has had special occasion dinners at Plaka for over thirty years.Their pizza’s are the best you’ll find southside at a reasonable price.
But typical of a landlord to screw the long term tenant, there are only two people who will send you broke,the tax dept. and your landlord.

Agreed. I remember going there in the 70′s (gulp)
Great pizzas and a awesome meal. Lets hope they open up again soon.
You would think that after paying rent for all those years (and try and find a place that has been in the same premises for this long, would be a hard stretch) you would have thought that the lessor would have given them a bit of a break. Assuming this is the case of course.

I think I’ll miss the decor more than the faux-(yet stupendously delicious)-Tournedos Rossini.

That’s terrible news. I really hope they do reopen soon! The food there was really top notch, me and the wifey went there one a fortnight. I can’t think of another restaurant around like it? Hmmm, fried Camembert with cranberry sauce!

Okwhatever said :

Man I hope they keep that ’70s decor, talk about a step back in time.

Me too – it was part of the charm. Definitely a Canberra institution.

Wow, I remember my family having dinner there back in March 81 when we stayed at the Ambassdor Hotel across the road. It was one of the first restaurants we would have eaten at, in Canberra, having arrived from Interstate at the time.

A terrible loss. The Plaka actually brought pizza to Canberra when it opened in 1972, when Southlands itself opened. Prior to the Plaka you couldn’t buy pizza in Canberra at all. A few months after the Plaka opened, Pizza Hut opened on the corner of Callam St (then known as Launceston St) and Irving St Phillip next to the squash courts.

SnapperJack said :

A terrible loss. The Plaka actually brought pizza to Canberra when it opened in 1972, when Southlands itself opened. Prior to the Plaka you couldn’t buy pizza in Canberra at all. A few months after the Plaka opened, Pizza Hut opened on the corner of Callam St (then known as Launceston St) and Irving St Phillip next to the squash courts.

My bad, it is still Launceston St.

SnapperJack said :

A terrible loss. The Plaka actually brought pizza to Canberra when it opened in 1972, when Southlands itself opened. Prior to the Plaka you couldn’t buy pizza in Canberra at all. A few months after the Plaka opened, Pizza Hut opened on the corner of Callam St (then known as Launceston St) and Irving St Phillip next to the squash courts.

Good recall.

I have a feeling the owners dont realise what a following they have, lets hope they get informed of this thread. Last meal I had there (anniversary) was sensational.

The pizza hut I remember well, as a kid of course there were the usual urban myths about glass found in pizzas etc. but I do have fond memories of it as well (my taste buds as a kid were obviously malformed).

Okwhatever said :

Man I hope they keep that ’70s decor, talk about a step back in time.

If you miss that vintage ambience, you can always try the Charcoal – neither the decor, the menu nor the patrons have changed since the 70s. (The food is really good, though!).

Plaka was pretty good and will be missed – but at least there’s another old favourite right nearby (in the same centre in fact!). I went to the Mawson centre to get some dinner and found Plaka closed, but I saw’s Con’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant – so went to have a look. It is fantastic! I had not been there in 20 years. It has been upgraded since my last visit – but they still serve the same delicious food and have a fully stocked bar with all the old favourites! I had fresh lobster , whilst my friends had the seafood platter for two — which is one of the most nicely presented and delicious seafood degustation meals I have encountered in the whole of Australia! It was surprising since Canberra is inland — I dont’ know where they source their fresh seafood from… but it is great! They have also added a lot of non-fish dishes since I was there last… I will be back there soon to try their steak and tornados! I suggest you all try Con’s too – if you liked Plaka – you’ll love Con’s Steak and Seafood!

I hope you paid for that ad.