It's high time that some of these suburbs out of inner North and South started blossoming with culinary potential, and Ellacure in Bruce is showing it can be done, and done well!
I had the best steak I've had in Australia here, and some of the best wine-parings ever recommended for a meal.
Really accessible and knowledgeable staff, and this place is great for groups or small celebrations, catching up with friends, and dates.
Would give it 5 stars if there was more consistency in meals from one week to the next. And once, a pasta dish was a bit too....fresh? chewy? I don't know the right description...something. If it was supposed to be like that the waiter should have prefaced the dish....a 3.5 experience amongst an otherwise 5 star dining night.
Random location, places like Bruce need places like Ellacure more than places like Ellacure need places like Bruce, but the upside is you can almost always get in (do recommend booking on the weekends (as I have been shut out)), and there's almost always easy, free parking!
Help support a new interpretation of the local food movement if you live in Belconnen and check this place out, and if you're from other parts of the city this place is worth a trip if you want to branch out.
How I'd do it:
The "Conventional:" (requiring a very very early booking to beat the crowds): Visit Ellacure as part of a footy game day or concert experience since it is juxtaposed with AIS, and Canberra Stadium. This place fills up on those nights, though, so book early and often.
The "Extraordinary:" This restaurant is just off a couple of great cycle paths and near two really nice walks. Turn your trip into an unpredictable night out by cycling to the restaurant. Even better, if you can work in either "alleged" Bruce Ridge (really just the Bruce Ridge Trail) or the "actual" Bruce Ridge/Gossam Hill then combine your trip with with stellar walks/explores to here: -35.247183, 149.115377 or here: -35.246162, 149.081361, respectively, (or if you have kids, check out the simple but nice Fern Hill Park and Playground at: -35.246162, 149.081361). Hidden gems are all around if you make time, and Ellacure is just that: an unexpected, hidden gem.
Also, Ellacure is just off of a busy bus route as well so that is another way to check it out with drinks (without risking a night in a Belco gaol) along with its focused, fantastic wine selection and they seem to welcome BYO. read more