Joining Canberra’s kaiseki-inspired Japanese restaurant, KOTO, at the revitalised The Lawns of the Lobby precinct, three new dining concepts are set to follow, with the rollout beginning in February 2024.
Award-winning, two-hatted Australian Chef, Shaun Quade is set to lead as Group Culinary Executive for the all-day garden bar and kiosk, Rosa’s, and Ballyhoo – a fiery bar and restaurant.
With the National Rose Gardens as its playground, Rosa’s will be serving pizza by the pie or slice, as well as takeaway coffee, sandwiches, and pastries. With sunny deck seating during the day before transforming into a vibrant bar come night, this casual new addition will add to The Lawns’ culinary diversity.
Meanwhile, Ballyhoo will be pushing the boundaries with its unconventional menu fuelled by fermentation and fire. Set to make plenty of noise in Canberra’s dining scene, expect more ‘fun dining’ than fine dining.
Marking a new era for Quade, who most recently has been working in Silicon Valley’s food-tech industry, researching and developing novel protein alternatives, The Lawns will mark his first return to Australia and to the hospitality industry in four years.
“I never thought I’d leave LA to move to Canberra—but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work on this project. I think we’re going to see enormous growth in the local hospitality industry over the next few years, fuelled by our proximity to high-quality produce and winemakers, as well as a strong community appetite for new dining experiences”, says Quade.
Also signalling the comeback of weddings and corporate and private events, the third dining concept will see catering offered on-site, utilising the many indoor and outdoor event spaces.
Nestled in the heart of Canberra’s National Triangle, The Lawns of the Lobby has reimagined the existing building and landscape to curate and offer locals and visitors a premier dining and events precinct.
Awarded a portion of the 2022-23 ACT Tourism Product Development Fund to contribute to the building of a catering kitchen and garden bar, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr says he sees the potential influence the precinct could have on Canberra.
“As stage 2 of the Lawns of the Lobby precinct is unveiled, we’re opening the doors to a whole new set of experiences and more reasons to visit Canberra. This infrastructure opens avenues for large-scale events and activations, inviting experiences and vibrancy into the National Triangle,” says Barr.
With 2024 fast approaching, first-look tickets will be released for Ballyhoo in the coming weeks. Visit https://thelawnscbr.com.au/ and subscribe to be the first to know.
