Perfect for those big groups, indecisive diners or simply if you want to try the ‘best of’ the menu, these are our favourite restaurants in Canberra that do delicious set menus for under $100.
Corella – $95pp
An intimate restaurant serving wholeheartedly good food, Corella’s modern Australian menu is inspired by native flavours and ingredients with classic cooking techniques, giving you a great nostalgic kick and unpretentious experience. Running a popular set menu, where dishes like scallops with lemon myrtle and hapuka with tomato and sunrise lime salsa stand strong, the generous meal will give you the perfect taste of what they’re all about.
Eightysix – $86pp
A fast-paced restaurant where elegance meets contemporary Australian cuisine, Eightysix‘s menu uplifts some of your favourite ingredients and dishes to create something truly remarkable. Regularly changing the a la carte menu, the set menu also gets a bit of a changeover. However, you can still expect the crowd-favourite black chicken firmly placed on the menu, along with the banoffee pie making a regular appearance.
Bar Beirut – $69pp
A popular late-night venue championing big, bold and punchy Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, Bar Beirut wants you to experience their favourite dishes and the best way to do that is through the set menu. Taking you through famed Middle Eastern foods you may know, expect to also try the unexpected, from kingfish tartare with mandarin chilli dressing to roasted eggplant with lentil, mushroom and zhoug.
Raku – $50pp
Take your classic sushi roll lunch to the next level and head into Raku for their weekday express lunch. Presenting their fan-favourite dishes including sashimi, maki rolls, vegetable tempura, and a choice of New Zealand snapper or 150-day grain-fed scotch fillet. You’ll need to drag a friend along, but we can’t imagine it would be difficult.
Zaab – $59-85pp
Bringing traditional flavours from the humming streets of Thailand and Laos, and giving them a unique modern twist, Zaab’s intense, fiery and creamy flavours certainly pack a punch! In the ‘feed me’ set menus, expect some Thai favourites such as massamun beef curry and satay chicken, while also dabbling in the unexpected, through the scallop ceviche and roast eggplant. Taking you through an exciting variety of flavours, Zaab’s feed-me menu (vegetarians included!) gives you a delicious complete meal.
Agostinis – $80pp
Dining with Agostinis has a home-cooked, familiar feeling, through the presentation and taste of their authentic Italian dishes and the passionate people behind them. Changing with the seasons, enjoy dishes that you know the family are cooking in their own home, including antipasto and insalata caprese to start, followed by gnocchi and osso bucco, and those irresistible Italian desserts you just can’t live without.
Lanterne Rooms – $65-90pp
Lanterne Rooms serves bold Nyonya flavours presented with modern elegance and is a dining experience you often can’t fault. Offering one of those ‘I want one of everything’ menus, the set menu is often the favourite pick by diners. Available for lunch and dinner, try their famous bold and exotic Malaysian flavours through star dishes such as tom yum prawns with rockmelon and apple, Singaporean chilli whole fish, and slow-cooked Angus beef curry.
Lazy Su – $56-60pp
Continuing to push the boundaries with fun Asian fusion dishes and showing us time and time again how good vegan food can taste, Lazy Su is pretty hard to beat! Known for their wagyu cheeseburger spring rolls, kimchi fried rice, fruity cocktails and Golden Gaytime dessert baos (when they’re on the menu), expect to try Asian style combinations you never thought possible, but just work. While their regular and vegan set menu often changes, at least one of their crowd-pleasing dishes always remains, warming your heart every time you sit down for another meal.
INKA – $50-95pp
The famous Nikkei cuisine, marrying Peruvian cuisine with Japanese techniques is a must-try culture combination served at Inka. If you’re new to the fresh and vibrant nature of Peruvian food, there is no better way to experience it than through a tasting menu. Whether it’s through the express lunch menu or dinner tasting menu, try dishes such as traditional ceviche, chef’s selection maki rolls, Lomo saltado and more!
Miss Van’s – $39-88pp
Southeast Asian flavours with a refined Australian twist, Miss Van’s stems from family recipes promising food from the heart. Offering various set menus for lunch and dinner, with equally enticing options for vegetarians, start off by digging into Lao sausage before moving on to Gai Yang chicken and of course finishing off with a light dessert.
Akiba – $60-75pp
An Asian fusion restaurant with food, cocktails and vibes as bright as its neon lights, Akiba is the place to go for platters of baos and bowls of dumplings, especially when it all comes in their feed me set menu. While it may be street food style at heart, the explosion of flavours and excellent care in the kitchen takes it up a notch. Designed to share, the feed me menu showcases the most popular dishes on the menu. From kingfish sashimi, pork belly bao, prawn & chicken dumplings and beef short rib, you’ll be licking your fingers and battling with chopsticks for the last bite! With eight to ten heavenly dishes coming your way (depending on the menu you choose), you can rest assured your tummy will be full and happy too.
XO – $95pp
XO loves to excite diners with a new upbeat set menu, reflecting their modern approach to the nostalgic traditional flavours of South East Asia. With no two visits ever the same, the restaurant’s honest food says it all. Expect a more refined style of Asian cooking, through their presentation of dumplings, Thai salads and fiery marinated meats, with flavour combinations that sing in harmony. And the best part is, you can try seven of these dishes for under $100.
Want more insights into Canberra’s dining culture? Check out our hacks for eating fancy on a budget.
