25 May 2009
Christine Salins
Diamant Hotel, 15 Edinburgh Avenue, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
+61 2 6162 4588.
The casual, relaxed feel comfortably caters for everything from hotel breakfasts to high tea, light meals, coffee and pastries, or a full dining experience. The modern fit-out blends effortlessly into the hotel’s Heritage surrounds, and cosy banquettes along some of the walls add to the European cafe feel befitting the name. The lunch menu offers some of the dinner menu options, but also boasts a good choice of light meals, pasta and risotti, and mains with European and Asian influences. Most impressive is the oven-roasted lamb rump served with a delicious mint and pistachio crust, and a nicely contrasting green olive and tomato salsa. Dream of the tropics with the coconut bavarois dessert, served with mango coulis and rum-infused lychees, or put aside the guilt and choose from the inviting selection of cakes, pastries and tarts. Along with the bread, these are all made in-house and displayed in a cabinet, adding to the cafe ambience.
Open: daily from 7am. Licensed. Mains $16-$27.
Source: Qantas The Australian Way June 2009