23 January 2013

Good food in Barton?

| Aubergine
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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 rice for $12, plus at least 15 menu options cooked to order for $15-$18.

My favourite bit is that the rice is served in a separate bowl or takeaway container so it’s not all jammed together in a congealing mass.

Today I had just the best tamarind pork: big chunks of meat including some fattier pieces specially crisped up, in a minimum of spicy onion laden, smoked chilli-laced sauce.

Far beyond the usual pile of meat n veg swimming in industrial goop.

I’ve had five or six different dishes here and all have been winners. Friendly staff, nice tables and chairs, and Bundaberg Ginger Beer in the fridge – perfect! Highly recommended.

Adjourn to the Hideout coffee shop next door for some of the area’s best coffee plus a wall full of books and oddities.

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No, I don’t work there ainsliebraddon! Sorry if I got carried away; my review does look a bit ad-like. But it does do good stuff. When I started working in Barton 15 years ago there wasn’t a lot of choice and it’s so much better now.
Other good places: Cafe Brindabella in the DFAT building (enter off Sydney Avenue) has 5 or 6 different hot choices daily plus loads of their own pastries and slices cooked onsite. Maple and Clove is OK but as someone else pointed out a little overpriced for what you get. Hotel Kurrajong does nice stuff. Lachlan Cafe on Brisbane Avenue has great fish and chips. Umm… there’s not a lot really still! Have to go to Kingston for more choices. Avoid Silo – terribly overrated, overpriced and tedious stuff – no idea why that place gets so much press. I blame interstate writers who get told it’s good and don’t try anywhere else. Figaro was fantastic last time I went there. And so on.

ainsliebraddon said :

Do you work there? I have found the food ok, not amazing. Makes a change from the PM&C cafe and that canteen next to the Ottoman. But not worht the trip in my opinion.

That cafe next to the Ottoman is like a trip down a time tunnel..I worked in EBB 11 years ago and when I returned to work there last year I went across to check out the lunch offerings- it had not changed one iota-surely it’s not too hard to make a small change to the menu.

I tell you where isn’t good is that bloody Mavi turkish at the Realm – overpriced for what it is, the meat is always dry and the salads are damn near inedible

Maple + Clove is also ordinary – again, the food is always dry and they’re scant on toppings for things (like butters, syrups etc)…i blame the organic

there are a lot of little gems around…and actually starting to find Kingston better than Manuka for dining

neanderthalsis10:35 am 23 Jan 13

Holden Caulfield said :

Are they open for dinner?

To my knowledge, no. They are a welcome change to the usual grease, salad swimming in dressing or boring sandwich that is on offer at other places in Barton. My only gripe is that their sushi and rice paper rolls are rather expensive.

ainsliebraddon10:35 am 23 Jan 13

Do you work there? I have found the food ok, not amazing. Makes a change from the PM&C cafe and that canteen next to the Ottoman. But not worht the trip in my opinion.

Holden Caulfield10:00 am 23 Jan 13

Are they open for dinner?

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