Ginger Room, The

2 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  3      Value  1     

We went to the Ginger Room as a treat for a 50th birthday. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed. Really overpriced and not brilliant dishes. I guess this isn't the place to come if you're vegetarian but they did have a few dishes on the menu that looked a bit different.

The lentils were just piled on a lump of goats cheese with asparagus on top, the basil dumplings were so smokey, I couldn't eat the last one and that is saying something cause they were only the size of 50c coin. Both dishes were really quite sickly. My partner had the prawns and the Pork, he said both were fine but not outstanding.

We were intending on having 3 courses but after the first 2 decided not to go for the 3rd. That worked out to be $30 for each course, we won't be back.

Apr 22, 2012 

4 Below Average

Food  1      Ambience  7      Service  7      Value  1     

Well, what can we say? Plenty actually, after the relatively rave reviews, was expecting a mildly spectacular degustation, with “matching’, with delicious sounding dishes and exceptional, polished service.

The Ginger room was set not to disappoint, but alas, it did... royally. It started well with a glass of roderer, and then promptly descended into a disappointing degustation.

We won’t go into too much detail here, as the time the Ginger Room spent on making the food warrants a equal amount of effort on our part,we were offended by every dish, and now will hopefully repay the expensive favour with an honest appraisal of the dismal meal we sadly endured.

The first dish, a tuna concoction was in fact was a skanky bit of less than super fresh fish (yes we know Canberra is nowhere near the sea and ought to have known better) served with bits of supermarket standard “Kalamata” olive, some curly lettuce and less than fruity olive oil.

I will now skip through a series of ordinary RSL style catering dry and unimaginative dishes to the final insults... the cheeses were ordinary at best, and the citrus souffle an inedible example of food crime for which the chef, the apprentices and more importantly the owners really do need to be sentenced to culinary prison for indecent assault.

The maitre’d however was gorgeous, and possibly slightly embarrassed by the whole disaster and we will not be back, after reluctantly giving it 1/10 - and that being solely for service. Ginger Room STOP CATERING, everything tasted like day old catered food from a public high school function for which everyone paid handsomely but you knew they would be too pissed to eat so you didn’t make an effort. Even the matching wines were poorly matched and there was no sommelier present to explain the raison detre behind the less than inspired choices.

Grrrrr utterly disappointing.

Feb 05, 2012 

9 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  9      Value  9     

Coming from Sydney, I really loved this restaurant. The venue, service and quality of the food for the price could not be matched up here! Our waiter (Bruno?) was fantastic, we stuffed him around a bit with numbers and bookings but he was great. Will definitely try to return next time I'm in Canberra.

Sep 09, 2011 

9.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  9      Service  10      Value  10     

I took my partner here for his birthday a few weeks ago and it was absolutely wonderful. I had made a booking here and at another restaurant and was tossing up between the two until literally 40 minutes before the booking, and am So pleased with my choice!

Despite the fact that we sat looking out the window straight at Parliament House, the fact that we were in Old Parliament House was wonderful in itself.
The service was perfect. I have not had service like that anywhere in Australia before. The sommelier was really helpful and lovely and although I was expecting to have a heart attack when I opened the wine list, there are So many reasonably priced options! We had a stunning GSM that I've not been able to find anywhere since and it was under $50!

The food was delicious, although the portions are a Tiny bit on the small side. Absolutely more than enough for me and you could always just order more courses if you felt it was not enough.

All in all, to get away for under $250 for 2 people to have a wonderful dinner like that is more than worth it. Would highly recommend it!

Apr 27, 2011 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  8      Value  9     

One of the few fine dining places in Canberra. Tremendous wine cellar, would love to do a horizontal tasting of Wendouree reds as a part of a degustation (just a thought for the restaurant to consider).

Whilst it is definitely a special occasion venue, it is also simply one of those places that you can visit to soak up the grandeur of Old Parliament House.

Oct 07, 2010 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  9      Service  6      Value  7     

Have been here twice. First time at the end of 2008 was absolutely amazing and probably the best dining experience I have ever had. The second time in May 2010 was not up to the standard of the 2008 experience especially in terms of service. When you are paying fine dining prices you shouldn't be expected to tell the waiter who has ordered what and you shouldn't have to wait more than a few minutes for your wine to be re-filled. It was also very disappointing that our drinks order was messed up every time.

There were some issues with the food too. I ordered the rabbit special and, unfortunately, pulled out two long, thin and very sharp bones and 3 large pieces of cartilage. When I politely showed them to the waiter there was absolutely no apology, all she said was 'I'll tell the chef'. Most of the other food was good, in particular the tomato four ways and the cheese course.

Will give this restaurant another go, and hopefully do the degustation.

Jun 19, 2010 

7.5 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  8      Service  7      Value  7     

Really enjoyed The Ginger Room. There is something to be said for treading the halls of the old Parliament House for creating instant atmosphere. Atmosphere is not enough to make a great restaurant, however, luckily the Ginger Room also delivers on beautifully cooked food and good service.

May 30, 2010 

8.5 Highly Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  9      Value  8     

A great fine dining restaurant. Our very attentive waitress told us the degustation menu changes all the time, we chose instead to have entrees, mains, cheese and then dessert, all of which were superb. Great wine list, and whilst for each variety only one type was available by the glass, the pinot, shiraz and muscat on offer were great. Recommended, but book well ahead.

Mar 08, 2010 

8 Recommended

Food  9      Ambience  8      Service  6      Value  9     

This is our pick of the Caberra scene when we go down there and although the service is often not up to the standard of a fine dining restaurant it sees us coming back time after time.

The food is simply divine and compliments the extensive wine list perfectly. Every time we go back we are introduced to a new menu of goodies to choose from. Looking at the January menu on the website I am salivating at what we will try at our visit this month.

Jan 06, 2010 

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

We dined at the Ginger Room for a romantic dinner and enjoyed a lovely meal, with excellent service. Finally a restaurant which seats smaller groups at one end of the restaurant, away from the larger groups. It is pricey, but the food is interesting and delicious and the set price menu is a great way to go. Try the coffee creme brulee.

Aug 30, 2009