9 July 2009

Intimate eats in the inner north

| Vonbare
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Hi,

Wonder if anyone can recommend somewhere nice for dinner……I’m after a cosy restaurant in Civic/Braddon for a meal tonight. Nothing too intimate, but somewhere really warm and friendly (not clean lines, modern-esque)– and nice place for two people to go to to sit, catch up, eat, drink wine and have the mood of the place wash over us.

Any recommendations?

Thanks!

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Wow. We used to go to Happy’s in, was it the late 60s?!

Does Happy’s still exist?

Yep, it sure does. Jason’s son is now running it and it’s still as good as ever.

Delissio Braddon

A little late but +1 to Pulp Kitchen in Ainslie.

Otherwise a touch further afield: La Cantina is excellent and cosy in Narrabundah

Also tried an excellent wood-fied pizza place in Dickson the other night – can’t remember the name of it though.

+1 lanterne rooms (although it’s a little more exxie)

bit late, but cafe pronto is worth a look.

venture a smaller distance into the ‘burbs and go to ‘lanterne rooms’ at campbell shops – shall not be disappointed by either food or ambience… but i’m guessing you’re there, wherever that is, about now…

Clown Killer8:49 pm 09 Jul 09

Does Happy’s still exist?

Sands said :

Cafe Pronto in Braddon is warm and friendly

Ah ha! When I first read this article, I instantly thought Cafe Pronto, but then couldn’t remember if it was still open. So second the motion.

I agree whatsinaname – never, ever, ever would I return to Mezzalira. Which is such a shame because I think it looks nice. But the unbelievable (and unwarranted) RUDENESS of the man running it was so astounding that our entire table left and went a few doors down. I honestly didn’t know what to say at the time I was so shocked by their arrogance.

Cafe Pronto in Braddon is warm and friendly or Blu Ginger – the new Indian place opposite Cream – has great food and service.

Mike Bessenger5:31 pm 09 Jul 09

or maybe it’s jimmys. one of the two anyway.

Mike Bessenger5:31 pm 09 Jul 09

sammys kitchen in civic. good chinese food.

SpellingAndGrammar5:22 pm 09 Jul 09

What about Sage in Gorman House?

I agree – Debacle definately too noisy. Sabayon is not bad either. Depends on how deep your pockets are too I suppose.

Sounds like a few people posting here owe us some proper restaurant reviews! I love reading those.

Given your criteria, the first thing that sprang to mind was Benchmark. I haven’t eaten there for a while, but the food was always good in the past, great deserts, nice atmosphere, and a great range of wines by the glass (something that Canberra restaurants tend to do very poorly, in general).

I wouldn’t recommend Vivaldi at ANU, pub food but with restaurant portions and prices. The Parlour Wine Room in New Acton has atmosphere and an extensive wine list.

whatsinaname said :

DON’T go to Mezzalira!! The service when we went was disgusting.

Unfortunately I have to agree, even though I recommended it.

It was always an old favourite, but the last 2 times I went, the service was way down on what it used to be. (One of the main reasons for returning was the amazing service)

Now I’ve gone the to Chairman & Yip instead. 🙂

Goodluck!

lol – thanks everyone for suggestions!

What about Cafe Creme in Civic? It’s got a bit of everything including plenty of passing trade to get into if you like people watching.

Woody Mann-Caruso3:39 pm 09 Jul 09

I’ve been reading too many police threads. I had to look twice when I read “Inmate eats the inner north”.

whatsinaname3:30 pm 09 Jul 09

grundy said :

Mezzalira or The Chairman & Yip.

http://www.mezzalira.com.au/

http://www.thechairmanandyip.com/

Though they might come under the ‘too intimate’ category.

DON’T go to Mezzalira!! The service when we went was disgusting. The staff spoke down to the patrons. One member of our party was actually ill from the food (as in straight away, not afterwards) and then, when it came to paying for the bill, we were accused of not giving them enough money. Clearly the guy taking the money couldn’t count because we’d actually given him more than what we should’ve. When we pointed that out, he threw the change at us and yelled at us as we left (something about “keep your bloody ten dollars then”). It was a very unusual (and somewhat disturbing) experience and I wouldn’t recommend the place to anyone.

Tilleys food has gone downhill recently imho. Second the recommendations for Chairmand and Yip or the Lanterne Rooms. If you like sushi/ Japanese I’d also highly recommend Iori for outstanding food and service and an initmate atmosphere.

Mrshmellowman3:08 pm 09 Jul 09

The place at Campbell (Lanterne, Lantern room?) is a cracker. I really liked it and it is intimate
Pulp Kitchen is really good too – BUT – everytime someone goes in or out a door the temp drops about 10 degrees. not a good choice for winter

Place at Campbell, where Chill used to be, might fit the bill. Vivaldi at ANU might too, if they don’t have any caterwauling on that night.

I had lunch at sage at gorman house recently with a few friends and thought it was excellent. intimate, but not too intimate

Holden Caulfield2:50 pm 09 Jul 09

– Sabayon, West Row, Civic.
– Anise, West Row, Civic.
– Pulp Kitchen, Ainslie Shops.

They don’t all fulfil your brief to the letter, but all should provide a good experience for two.

Are you really suggesting that clean and modern lines can’t be warm and friendly? 😛

heh, sounds like you’re speaking from experience Skid. 😉

Anyway, my first comment without links was:

Mezzalira or The Chairman & Yip.

Though they might come under the ‘too intimate’ category.

More than two links, gets you in mod.
Use a bad word, get into mod.
Continue hurl abuse at other Rioters, get into mod.
Continually break with forum etiquette, get into mod.
Tick off Jb, get into mod and stay there forever.

Hmmm, wondering why my first comment is saying “Your comment is awaiting moderation.”.

Is it some auto moderation flag when there are links posted in the comment JB?

Debacle is normally too noisy to ‘catch up’ with someone, unless you dont mind yelling all night. 🙂

Good otherwise!

Tilleys is a good suggestions, but a bit futher north/west than where you wanted to go.

Enjoy!

Tilleys or Debacle leap immediately to mind.

Mezzalira or The Chairman & Yip.

http://www.mezzalira.com.au/

http://www.thechairmanandyip.com/

Though they might come under the ‘too intimate’ category.

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