Chifley’s Bar & Grill is a superb Canberra steakhouse and bar located within the historic Hotel Kurrajong Canberra. It’s named after the 16th Prime Minister of Australia, Ben Chifley (a frequent diner from the beginning) and features a menu of premium beef and locally foraged seasonal produce. Under the keen eye of multi-hatted local chef, Michael Chatto, Chifley’s prides itself on using the the best local and national quality produce, including a choice of 18 different steak cuts.
Oysters $48 doz
As always we started with oysters. These plump little gems of the sea had a lovely creaminess to go with their meaty texture. Served with picant bois boudran that added a delicious kick to each mouthful.
Kingfish Cevich $23
A delightful seafood starter full of fresh ingredients and flavours. The fish was firm and clean on the palate while the vibrant salsa verde added a pleasant herby flavour.
Handmade Pumpkin and Ricotta Tortellini $35
Any time I see the words “Handmade Pasta” on the menu my interests immediately perk up. These were everything I expected, silky sheets wrapping a warm creamy filling. The butter sage sauce matched this perfectly with its rich aromatic body coating the plump parcels to perfection.
Carpaccio of Rangers Valley Eye Fillet $19
Always a sucker for that thin sliced meat, the real winner of this dish was the surprise dukkah crusted soft boiled egg. One slice and the yolk gloriously oozed out. A much appreciated and rich sauce to smother the beef in.
Sous Vide Veal Cutlet $46
The table favourite, the veal simply melted in the mouth with the richness of the hazelnut butter sauce to compliment each mouthful. A nice addition was the succulent sweetbreads, like little meat gems that soak up the flavours of the plate and worked perfectly smothered in the smoked eggplant base.
450g Rangers Valley Black Angus Rib Eye $49
Priding itself on being a top class steakhouse, Chifley’s certainly delivered with this gorgeous slab of meat. Rich and full flavoured the steak had a perfect crust and was cooked to perfect pink perfection. Sensational!
Braised Angus Short rib $40
Sticking with sensational was this ridiculously good short rib. Cooked for god knows how long, the meat basically disintergrated into a suburb savoury flavour. Amazing!
Shaved Fennel Salad & Broccolini
Chifleys also have a huge and delicious array of sides to choose from, from fresh salads to crispy pomme frites.
Mandarin Soufflé with Dark Chocolate Sauce
Finally after a full and hearty meal we only had room for one dessert. But what a dessert it was! The golden and fluffy soufflé was light as air but packed full of intense mandarin flavour. The chocolate sauce making it into my favourite combo ever. It really shows the amazing skill of the kitchen to get something like this perfect.
All in all a fabulous dining experience here. Matched with our wonderful stay at Hotel Kurrajong we left Canberra with full bellies and satisfied smiles on our faces.
Chifley’s Bar & Grill
Hotel Kurrajong
8 National Circuit,
Barton, Canberra 2600
2 Hungry Guys dined as a guest
