27 March 2013

Sabai Dee lunchbox. $10 lunch review

| johnboy
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sabai dee

Barcham and I attempted to lunch today at the new cafe in Odgers Lane. But they were full. So we decided to take up a reader recommendation and try the new Sabai Dee which has taken up residence where the old Shalimar used to be.

Praise be on arrival they had a $8.50 lunch box deal with selections from the now obligatory bain marie.

The honey chicken was good, and not too gloopy, but is never going to be a standout. The pad thai noodles were solid.

But holy moly that green curry was something else.

Full of crisp and varied flavours. Better than all the green curry I’ve had in Thailand or elsewhere.

It really deserves better than to be coming out of a warmer for a cheap lunchbox.

While the place was empty for our visit (Hobart Place around the corner being a lovely spot to eat take away) the menu has some intriguing items on it. So I might have to take them for a dinner spin soon too.

A worthy entry in the annals of Canberra’s $10 lunch spots.

(For more sub $10 lunches in Civic check the tag, if you’ve got recommendations let me know.)


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Instant Mash8:26 pm 31 Mar 13

Honey chicken can potentially be excellent. However, I have had some poor honey-soaked excuses for food in my time.

Honey chicken! – how could that ever taste good? Why would you bother killing a chicken if you’re going to do that to it .

Instant Mash8:08 pm 30 Mar 13

That may be some very average looking honey chicken, but it still makes me hungry for it.

AsparagusSyndrome4:17 pm 30 Mar 13

Roundhead89 said :

That’s a good photo, the food looks delicious. It is often hard to take good pics of food without adding a lot of Photoshop. My Nikon D5100 has a Food setting on the scenics menu but the pics still come out looking so-so.

If you take photos of family or friends, or people in general, using the ‘food setting’, do they look good enough to eat? This kind of technology could encourage cannibalism, in the wrong hands.

That said, I agree, a nice looking photo of a lunch in a box. Quite like the lawn backdrop too, and the composition – the way the sun glints off the beans and chicken like that. These autumn days make for good sun angles.

That’s a good photo, the food looks delicious. It is often hard to take good pics of food without adding a lot of Photoshop. My Nikon D5100 has a Food setting on the scenics menu but the pics still come out looking so-so.

The Sony Nex range are quite amazing. And direct sunlight does wonders!

Happened to stumble upon this place a few weeks ago. Their Rogan Josh is really good as well.

Mmmmmmmm. Looks delicious! I’ll have to try that.

Try the Laotian sausages – absolutely amazing. Pork with lashings of fresh lemongrass and tasty (not hot) spices. The owner really appreciates people ordering his Lao dishes, which are worth trying. The Thai items are very good too.

Growling Ferret7:13 pm 27 Mar 13

Had it three times now – for 100% happy. The green and red curries are superb.

That little thing in Odgers lane smells like Mugga Lane. The Hipsters can have it.

That does look good, I know this place and despite the reno, it has a very unassuming frontage. They need to open it up a bit and get some people in. Many more inviting places around that arguably aren’t as good.

I can make an appeal for the address, or rough description of the location (or even the GPS coordinates) to supplement Google Map view? Thanks.

9/34 marcus clarke street

Madam Cholet5:06 pm 27 Mar 13

Hobart place is a lovely spot to sit and have lunch if you have time. My place of work is right there, and I must admit I do not take advantage of it enough. More shade would be good in the summer though.

I was thinking just the other day on passing by the excellent café two before ten, that this little nook of the town is a bit lacking in vibrant places to eat. If you want to walk a bit further there’s quite a smorgasbord to be had, but around Hobart Place it’s pretty desperate. The new sushi bar that has opened that faces both Hobart place and University Ave is really good, but a bit pricey too.

Conan of Cooma4:37 pm 27 Mar 13

I would love to see you hit up Fyshwick Markets. Some great grease available there.

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