19 April 2016

Cheap eats – Two Hands (Fyshwick)

| Amy M
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Two Hands Fyshwick

The Fresh Food Markets aside, Fyshwick doesn’t have a big reputation as a foodie destination. But there are more than a few great cafes tucked between the kitchen shops and furniture warehouses if you know where to look.

One of these is Two Hands on Lyell Street. When I used to work in Fyshwick it was my favourite place to grab lunch. It still is, if I’m on that side of town. The food is fast, filling and relatively inexpensive, but it’s also made with high quality ingredients and prepared with care.

two hands cafe

The other great thing about Two Hands is that it doesn’t feel like Fyshwick at all. The exterior is painted a lurid blue-green with white, pink and blue-green awnings. Inside, the art-adorned walls are orange, a vintage world map hides a crockery rack and there are several glass domes covering freshly baked biscuits and cakes on the front coutner.

The main lunch menu items are burgers (from $11), wraps (from $12) and salads (from $13.50), as well as a specials board that changes daily. On my visit the specials included Cajun fried fish, Thai green mango salad and chicken parmigiana with smoked leg ham and eggplant, all for under $15.

While the specials sounded good, I was in the mood for a big, juicy burger. I settled on the $11 classic burger (grilled beef patty with aioli, tomato relish, onion, mixed leaves and fresh tomato on a lightly toasted focaccia bun) and added a side of hand cut chips for $2.50.

It was a sunny day so I grabbed an outdoor table. With flowers in the window boxes, plenty of shade from a couple of leafy trees and retro plastic floral tablecloths on the tables, it’s a very pleasant spot to eat lunch. It’s also a very popular spot – even at 11.30am when I visited, only one outdoor table was free.

cheap eats two hands

After ten minutes my order arrived and it smelled so good that I almost forgot to take a photo before chowing down. The burger had a thick beef patty – the kind that’s partial to escaping out the other end whenever you try to take a bite; slow-cooked caramelised onion and a very tasty tomato relish (if it wasn’t homemade, I send my congratulations to the manufacturer for fooling me). I probably didn’t need to scoff down the chips too, but I’m glad I did because they were delicious too.

You can probably get a slightly cheaper burger and chips at a chain burger joint, but why bother when you can get food this good, and this fast, from a local small business?

What: Two Hands
Where: 3/30 Lyell Street Fyshwick
Opening hours: 7.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday

Website: https://www.facebook.com/TwoHandsCafe?fref=ts

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batmantrilogy4:25 am 05 Jan 16

burgers were superb and it surely was worth a visit.
+1 for them

My cousins are nuts over this place, their serving and the food.
Will have to check this out myself now after positive word of mouth from everyone .

I can vouch for the coffee too.

Holden Caulfield9:37 am 06 Feb 15

Gave Two Hands a whirl earlier this week. Great burgers and very filling!

Really love this little gem, coffee is by far the best I have had in Canberra and the homemade cuisine is outstanding. Such great value for money. If you have not tried you must do. The setting is cosy and unique, the staff are super friendly and there is free parking right outside the door. Well worth a visit, you will not be disappointed.

The coffee is fantastic!

+ they make very good coffee

I like everything about Two Hands, especially the location which is quiet and pleasant.
There are a lot of “colourful Canberra racing identities” operating businesses nearby which lends character to the place.
It isn’t pretentious either, like a lot of those wanky hipster places in the city.
It’s the best cafe by far in that X-rated suburb.

I haven’t been to Two Hands but my family members rave about it. Might have to have lunch there one day, followed by dessert at Flute Bakery.

Milly Withers1:37 pm 28 Jan 15

Two Hands is great. Some of the menu items probably wouldn’t qualify as cheap eats, but for good quality food at a decent price, it’s a winner. Try the meatloaf special if it’s on the blackboard. Very delicious.

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